Chapter 8 A Happy Morning

A Happy Morning

A faint, sweet scent, invitingly delicious, invaded my nostrils.

“Hmm…?”

When I drowsily opened my eyes, the world outside the window was already bright, and the chirping of birds could be heard.

However, the sunlight coming through the window wasn’t the gentle morning kind but rather a bit strong.

“Ugh, my head… What time is it?”

Rubbing my blurry eyes, I reached for my smartphone, still in my pocket.

“10 o’clock… Good, it’s not time to go to work yet.”

I stretched and tried to sit up from the sofa, but I felt a soft, squishy sensation under my hand.

“Good morning, Ariga-cchi. It’s a nice morning, isn’t it?”

“…Uh, yeah. Good morning…”

After exchanging greetings, the conversation from yesterday suddenly came back to me.

It couldn’t be helped, given the influence of alcohol.

It’s easy to justify it that way, but…

Just thinking about the fact that I had talked about divorce and exposed my pathetic self made my face burn with embarrassment.

I was sure my face was turning red.

Maybe my odd behavior caught her attention.

I heard a soft chuckle.

“…What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. It’s just… it tickles. Do you find a college girl’s legs that comfortable?”

“Ah, sorry…!”

I hurriedly took my hand away.

Then, I carefully sat up, making sure not to touch her again.

“Don’t tell me… I was using your lap as a pillow this whole time?”

“Nope. Not the whole time. I got up a few times in between.”

“Oh, I see… Well, that’s a relief. Wait—so you came back to give me a lap pillow each time?”

“Yeah, it was a pretty good pillow, wasn’t it?”

“Well, it was quite… convenient…”

“Haha! What kind of reaction is that? It’s funny!”

She laughed, clutching her stomach and kicking her feet.

…Wait a sec?

As my brain started to wake up and my thoughts cleared,

I felt my face twitch as I noticed a change in the situation.

“Hey, that jersey…”

“Oh, this? I borrowed yours, Ariga-cchi. Was that not okay?”

“No, it’s fine. I mean, it’s probably easier to sleep in than casual clothes.”

“Yeah, that’s how I feel too. I find it hard to sleep in my regular clothes.”

“I see…”

“Got it now? Anyway, why don’t you take a shower? I used it already, and it feels so refreshing!”

“You’re way too relaxed about staying at a guy’s house… Wait, did you say shower?”

“Yeah, I borrowed one. Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn’t have any other clothes, so I borrowed Ariga-cchi’s jersey.”

“The jersey is fine, but…”

Did she say she showered?

So, what was under that jersey?

Idiot!

Stop thinking weird thoughts!

Desires… please go away…

“Ah… Could it be, Ariga-cchi, that you’re worried about… underwear or something?”

As if reading my mind, she asked something like that and smiled ambiguously.

My chest tightened unpleasantly.

What is she, a mind reader?!

“I-I’m not!”

“Pfft… What’s with that middle-schooler-like reaction? Are you all flustered because you’re an adult but still feeling shy? Or are you curious about why I zipped this jersey all the way up?”

“Annoying…”

“Hey, tell me. What’s the deal with that?”

Damn it…

She’s having way too much fun teasing me.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, making her look like the embodiment of curiosity itself.

She’s always been persistent like this…

If I don’t come clean now, she might bring this up randomly outside, which would be even worse.

With a sigh, I slumped my shoulders in defeat.

“Fine, whatever. You win.”

“Win at what?”

“It’s just an excuse, okay? I haven’t done it in years since I got married. I’ve been busy with work, so I’ve completely lost my immunity to topics like this.”

“Ahh, so that’s why… Makes sense.”

“Hey, why are you blushing now?”

“…”

For some reason, she was silent.

Her cheeks were faintly tinged with red, showing a shy expression. I felt a cold sweat slowly trickle down my back.

“Could it be that… I didn’t do anything to you while I was drunk, did I?”

When I asked, Kanade just stared at me without answering.

This is bad.

I have a really bad feeling about this.

Cheated on by my wife, overwhelmed by despair, drunk out of my mind.

All the elements for throwing my life away were in place.

Thinking back to last night, it’s entirely possible I got caught up in the moment and…

“K-Kanade…?”

As I broke out in a nervous sweat and called her name, Kanade puffed out her cheeks and then burst into laughter.

“Pfft… Haha. Don’t worry, don’t worry. Nothing happened.”

“Stop teasing me! You’re going to shorten my lifespan!”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I just can’t help wanting to mess with you, Ariga-cchi.”

Shaking her shoulders in laughter, Kanade continued.

“Oh, but you did stroke my thighs. Very sensually, I might add.”

“I’m so sorry! Please don’t call the police!”

My first-ever dogeza in my life.

I was undeniably guilty of se_xu_al harassment. My fingerprints must be all over her thighs…

I wanted to kick myself for even feeling a moment of relief.

“Well, well. I don’t mind, though~. But I did get some nice weaknesses, Ariga-cchi~.”

Kanade laughed mischievously, clearly enjoying herself.

Damn, I’m completely under her control.

She’s teasing me relentlessly.

“By the way, Kanade… Did you do anything to me?”

“Isn’t that something the woman should be worried about?”

“Well, you know, with you, it’s hard to tell what you might do. Oh! Thank goodness, I’m still wearing underwear.”

“…We’re going to have a long talk about the kind of image you have of me, Ariga-cchi!”

Kanade gave me a flat, unimpressed look.

Though she looked annoyed like a child, she probably realized I was joking.

Her expression quickly shifted back to her usual warm, friendly smile.

“Breakfast—or lunch, I guess? Well, whichever. I’ll make something, so hurry up and take a shower. You’ve got work today, right?”

“What are you, my mo—”

Growl…

Just as I retorted, my stomach let out a loud growl.

Hearing it, Kanade smiled.

“You’re making food… for me?”

“Don’t you want any?”

“No, I absolutely do.”

“Haha. Then hurry up and go, okay?”

“…Alright.”

She handed me some clothes and nudged me toward the bathroom.

I still have questions like, “Why does she have my change of clothes ready?” but…

More than that, I found myself feeling a small sense of happiness from this morning exchange.