Episode 60 – Torture Rush

How in the world did someone get so close to a classmate who had only been involved with her for a month or so? Even I, looking back on my past, would tilt my head and wonder, “Where was the turning point?” I was living alone in an apartment, and I was in the same neighborhood as my classmates.

In the apartment where I live alone, Kohinata, sitting on the floor wrapped around my leg, is probably the most popular person in the school, as nine out of ten people would agree.

When I was a freshman, I used to wonder why she was so exceptional, but after spending time with her, I can’t help but understand why. She is too cute in many ways.

She is currently glued to the TV screen, but as I am watching her from right behind me, I am more interested in Kohinata than in the anime. It can’t be helped.

As the tenth episode of the anime ended, Kohinata looked up at me with great energy.

With her head stuck to my chest, it’s like she’s saying, “What’s going to happen to this?!”

“you know, the kind of development that makes you wonder what’s next.”

“………… (kokkoku).”

In response to my words, Kohinata nodded her head, seemingly saying, “Yeah, yeah”. I could understand what she was trying to say without her having to open her mouth. This is what I call experience. When did I get so advanced?

I stand up from Kohinata to set the next DVD. Every two episodes, during the DVD exchange, we both finish using the restroom and refill our tea from the fridge. Kohinata was currently holding a cup of tea on the table with both hands and clearing her throat. Yes, angel.

I finished setting the DVD containing the last 11 and 12 episodes and returned to my original place. Then I sat cross-legged so that I could wrap my hips around Kohinata’s buttocks. At first I was confused and embarrassed, but this is already the fifth time I’ve done this action. Familiarity is a scary thing.

Kohinata also accepts my action as a matter of course and immediately leans against my chest. The light weight of Kohinata’s body was transmitted to my body with warmth. At first, I couldn’t help but feel a little on fire, but now I’m not so sure.

“No, never get used to it. ……”

I mumbled these words unintentionally, and Kohinata looked up at me with a scowling face.

“It’s nothing. Here we go.”

When I said that, Kohinata nodded once and turned her eyes to the TV. And then she rubbed the back of her head against my chest.

I wondered how many of the people who saw this scene would believe that I was not her boyfriend. I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought.

☆ ☆　☆　☆　☆

Difficulties, hardships, and other such not-so-good events, in my experience, somehow tend to come in clumps. Often, I think, “You’ve got to do it in smaller chunks”. I really wonder why.

“Kohinata, what about your bath ……?”

I ask Kohinata timidly after we finish watching the anime and talk a little leisurely. By the way, Kohinata was still completely snuggled up in my feet.

I wondered if I could just fry up some cold fried rice and heat up some retort miso soup for dinner – I realized that I hadn’t thought anything about a bath when we talked about it.

In response to my question, Kohinata reached over and popped her own backpack.

“Hmmm…… luggage–wait, you mean there’s a change of clothes in there–Hnaa! That means you’re going in at my house!? No, I don’t mind, but is it okay with you, Kohinata?”

“………… (kokukoku)”

Oh, I see……… don’t you mind………

“B-by the way, do Shizuka-san and Yuka-san know about this?”

“………… (kokukoku)”

“Oh, I see. …… family-approved.”

I’m in trouble.

No, it’s not like I’m in trouble, but I’m in trouble. What do I mean by that? I don’t know.

I took a deep breath, almost like a sigh, and then spoke to Kohinata as if to warn her.

“Listen, Kohinata. A girl in high school usually doesn’t stay over at the house of a boy classmate who lives alone, or take a bath with him, right?”

“………… (kokkoku).”

“I’m worried about you. No matter how well you get along with someone, you can’t just go around staying at guys’ houses, you know? Some of them might think bad things about you.”

“………… (kokukoku)”

“Do you really know what you’re doing?”

“………… (kokukoku)”

“T…… then it’s okay, though……”

No, it’s not good! Why am I being convinced only by affirmation! Is it Kohinata magic?

“A-anyway. But I’m not going to do anything that Kohinata won’t like, so don’t worry. I won’t peek into the bathtub, okay?”

–I was in a hurry, so I added an unnecessary word.

This makes it sound like I’m aware of Kohinata’s bath event. I am aware of it, though! I’m trying not to care!

In response to my words, Kohinata silently stared into my eyes. It was an unreadable, straight stare. She stared at my eyes, which were shaking from side to side, for a while, and then rubbed her head against me.

I wondered what on earth was going on …… between now and then.

Perhaps she thinks I’m going to ‘peek’ at her or something? It is okay right?

As I watched Kohinata’s movements in cold sweat, she began fidgeting a bit and playing with her phone. Then, while facing the front, she showed me the screen of her phone,

“Sugino, you said you’d do anything.”

There was a line of text that I had seen before.

And just below that line, a new sentence was added–,

“Sleep with me.”

Who could blame me for being speechless and freezing for about ten seconds when I saw the screen displaying such a sentence?