Chapter 44 Returning Home After Two Days
#Sareta OtokoReturning Home After Two Days
I returned safely from my parents’ house and arrived at my room around 5 p.m.
I immediately called Iroha-san and told her, "I’m home now. I am sorry for worrying you," and she said she would come to see me right away.
Although it was still light, I felt bad that she had to come over alone at this time, just because we hadn’t seen each other for two days. My hangover had improved a lot too, so I didn’t think she should worry. Besides, I was pretty tired from the trip and wanted to relax tonight, so I tried to politely decline. But she insisted on coming over and said, “I’ll leave as soon as I see your face,” so I reluctantly agreed and said, “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m going to your place. Please wait for me.”
Despite her looks, Iroha-san is really stubborn.
Once she makes up her mind, no matter how much I tell her, she won’t listen.
I’m really tired, so I might stay there overnight too.
I have classes tomorrow, so I should take my textbooks and notes with me.
I haven’t unpacked my bag yet, but I put my study materials and the souvenirs I bought into the backpack I always use for university and rode my bike to Iroha-san’s apartment.
As usual, I parked my bike in the parking lot and rang the doorbell at the entrance. Before she could answer, the door opened, and she hugged me without saying a word.
“Eh!? What happened!? Is something wrong??”
“I was worried. And I was so lonely….”
Oh, how brave and cute!
I haven’t seen this side of her lately, so I’m filled with affection and my tiredness disappears.
I’m glad I came to see her after all.
“We met every day without fail. So two days apart made me lonely.”
“I see….”
I gently stroked Iroha-san’s head, and she looked up at me with tears in her eyes.
I immediately realized that she wanted me to kiss her, and just as I was about to do so, I noticed something.
“Iroha-san, did you cut your hair?”
When I called out in surprise, Iroha-san ignored me and leaned in to kiss me.
While I was surprised, I concentrated on the kiss and intertwined our tongues, but I was still curious about her hair, so I forcibly parted our lips.
“What happened to your hair!? You cut it short!”
Iroha-san has always had long hair since we met, and even when she had it cut at the salon, she only cut the ends and straightened her bangs, and her long braided hair was her trademark.
But now it’s a bob that reaches her shoulders.
“I had it cut because I have an interview for my teaching practice. Does it look weird?”
“No, it doesn’t look weird; I’m just a bit surprised….”
“Oh, sorry to do this here! Come on in! Have you had dinner? I’ll prepare it right away.”
“Yes, I’ll come in.”
I was allowed into her room, and while Iroha-san was in the kitchen preparing dinner, I gave her the cherry cake I bought in my hometown, saying, “Here, this is a souvenir.” And since I wanted to take a shower, I asked, “I came over without taking a shower after I got home, so can I borrow your shower?” and took a shower by myself.
While I was showering, I couldn’t get the image of Iroha-san cutting her hair out of my head. Feeling anxious, I got out of the bath only to find that Iroha-san had prepared a change of clothes for me. As I left the bathroom, I could smell dried fish being grilled.
“Thanks for the shower. Are you having dried fish for dinner tonight? It looks delicious.”
“Yes. I was going to Taichi-kun’s room, so I didn’t prepare anything, so I’ll just use what I had.”
“It looks delicious enough. Thank you as always.”
“I’m doing this because I like it, so don’t worry.”
Lately, when Iroha-san was cooking, I would help her too, but this time, when I tried to help, she said, “You’re tired, Taichi-kun, so please sit down and wait,” and wouldn’t let me help.
So when dinner was ready, we sat side by side at the low table and started to eat, and I asked her again about cutting her hair.
“Well, I cut it in preparation for the interview at my alma mater, but the day before you went back to your hometown, when you stayed overnight, I told you right, ‘Thanks to you, Taichi-kun, I didn’t feel lonely living alone.’ But when you went home and we were separated, even if it was only for two days, I suddenly felt so lonely, and I realized that I depended on you more than I thought. And I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do my teaching practice, let alone the interview if I went on like this. So, to get myself together, I went to the barbershop this afternoon and got a haircut.”
“Unn….”
“Does it not suit me?”
“No, no, no, it suits you very well, and you’re cute. In fact, I’m afraid you’ll become even more popular than before.”
“Oh, you’re saying that again. I wish I could be like you, Taichi-kun, and pick up a bamboo sword and get serious, but this is all I can think of right now. But I cut my hair short, and it feels quite refreshing.”
I reached out and touched Iroha-san’s newly cut hair, and she smiled a little shyly.
“Yes, it’s really refreshing. It’ll make a great impression on your interview.”
“Ufufu, I hope so.”
“But come to think of it, you’re going back to your parents’ house next week. Is everything okay with your family? Won’t they tell you to quit school and never come back here?”
“According to my mother, they seem to have given up for now. I’m more stubborn than ever and won’t give in, and it seems that my father has finally given in.”
“Then you should be able to go home next week and start your teaching practice next month.”
“Yes. It’s all thanks to you, Taichi-kun.”
“I don’t think I did anything to your family, though.”
“Yeah, let’s just say that.” Ufufufu.
I was more tired that day, so we didn’t do anything naughty and went to bed early. The next day, we went to the university together in the morning, attended a lecture, and completed the necessary paperwork and report that I had been approved for my teaching practice. After those things, we went back to Iroha-san’s room, and since it was Friday, I stayed there until Sunday morning. During that time, we had a lot of s🬀x, which was unusual for us, and on Sunday I went to work at my part-time job at the bookstore.