Chapter 9 Finally Falling Asleep
#21MotoKanojoFinally Falling Asleep
“Sniff… I-I’m sorry…”
Kakizaki-san finally stopped crying and lifted her face, but she was still sniffling and wiping away her tears with her fingers.
“N-No… More importantly, are you okay now?”
“Yes… but, ahaha… I always seem to end up crying in front of you…”
Kakizaki-san said this with a wry smile.
But that smile was completely different from the self-deprecating one she wore earlier…
Perhaps this was her true self.
“S-So, about staying together tonight… Are you really sure it’s okay?”
Kakizaki-san asked timidly.
To be honest, it felt like a redundant question at this point, but for some reason, the idea of sending her away had completely disappeared from my mind.
“Of course. But more importantly, what will you do starting tomorrow?”
“Ah, w-well…”
Kakizaki-san lowered her gaze with a troubled expression.
Considering that they already tracked her down here, they’ll definitely come back tomorrow…
“I-It’s fine! If that happens, I’ll just move again!”
“N-No, that’s not really solving anything, is it? Are you planning to keep running away like this for the rest of your life, Kakizaki-san?”
“Ah…”
I sounded all high and mighty saying this, but I’d run away from my hometown myself…
Well, putting my own situation aside, Kakizaki-san’s problem was the priority right now.
Still… I had just one idea to deal with this situation.
But could I really go through with it…?
My mind swirled with all kinds of emotions.
Even so, this was the only idea I could come up with.
I couldn’t just abandon this woman who, like me, had lost the ability to trust anyone…
So.
“I… I have a suggestion.”
“A suggestion…?”
“Yes…”
As Kakizaki-san cautiously peered up at me, I nodded slowly.
“I-It’s just an idea, but… what if you pretended to move somewhere far away and stayed here instead…?”
“!?”
“Ah, ahhh, no, I mean, of course, if you don’t like the idea, just say so! It’s totally fine!”
I hastily added, nervously waving my hands at Kakizaki-san, whose eyes were wide open.
Then.
“Ah, um, that suggestion makes me really happy, but… are you sure? Won’t it be a burden on you…?”
Kakizaki-san asked hesitantly, waiting for my answer.
Her deep blue eyes were filled with hope… but there was also a trace of anxiety, as if she was afraid of being rejected.
“I-I’m okay with it…”
“Ah… Y-Yes…!”
When I nodded to show I was fine with it, Kakizaki-san’s face lit up with a radiant smile.
Even though she had just stopped crying, large tears started spilling again.
“S-So, it’s decided, then…”
“Y-Yes… Yes…!”
After that, Kakizaki-san and I discussed what to do moving forward—or rather, the rules for living together.
Things like splitting household chores, sharing living expenses, and even the order of using the bathroom.
While I could be pretty casual about things, Kakizaki-san was a woman, and there were bound to be some inconveniences living with someone like me…
More importantly, we were going to be just roommates, respecting each other’s privacy.
Without that, I don’t think my heart could handle it…
“S-So, that means we’ll have to move your things from your place to here… W-Will everything fit?”
“I-It’s fine! My belongings are just a futon and a few changes of clothes!”
Kakizaki-san said this, leaning her face in closer.
“…Kakizaki-san, you’re too close.”
“Ah… s-sorry…”
I said this in a low voice, and Kakizaki-san quickly backed away, looking apologetic.
“W-Well, should we bring your things over now? Either way, there’s only one futon here…”
“Y-Yes, you’re right…”
Kakizaki-san and I stood up and headed to her room.
“…There’s really nothing here…”
The room was far too plain to belong to a young woman.
In the center of the room was a neatly folded futon, and besides that, just one suitcase.
Of course, there were small items like a toothbrush, but they were negligible.
“…I haven’t stayed in the same place for more than a month in the past two years…”
As she said this, Kakizaki-san lowered her gaze.
This was proof of just how much hardship she had endured…
“…Well, from now on, you won’t have to keep moving.”
“Ah… y-yes…!”
When I said this, Kakizaki-san gave a shy smile.
Moving her belongings took no time at all, and we returned to the room.
“S-So, um, I look forward to living together… Oh, right, come to think of it, I haven’t asked for your name yet…”
“Ah—yeah, you’re right…”
Now that she mentioned it, I realized I hadn’t introduced myself.
Until yesterday, I’d mostly been avoiding her, and even today, I’d initially been trying to keep my distance…
“M-My name is Naoe Yuuta. I’m a second-year student at Chuho University nearby.”
“Ah, N-Naoe-san, right? Since you’re a second-year, that makes you twenty years old?”
“No, actually, I took a gap year, so I’m twenty-one…”
“Oh, so that means we’re the same age!”
“Eh!?”
At her delighted words, I couldn’t help but raise my voice in surprise.
W-Wait, I thought there wasn’t much of an age gap, but I didn’t expect us to be the same age…
“Ah, s-so, then you don’t have to speak formally with me!”
“O-Okay… And you don’t need to use formal speech with me either, Kakizaki-san.”
“Ahaha, o-okay!”
Kakizaki-san said this with a shy smile…
“Oh wow… It’s already this late…”
The clock on my phone showed it was already past 4 AM.
At this rate, I’d barely get three hours of sleep…
“S-Sorry… about this…”
Kakizaki-san apologized with a guilty look.
“N-No, the one at fault is the suspicious guy who came so late, not y-you, Kakizaki-san…”
“B-But! Even so… it’s still kind of my fault…”
Kakizaki-san looked downcast… but honestly, I felt like she was being way too considerate.
A-Anyway, there was no point in worrying about her any further.
I needed to get some sleep…
“W-Well, I’m going to sleep now! Good night!”
Saying only that, I slipped under the futon and turned my back to her.
Then.
“Thank you… Good night.”
Her words reached me from behind… and at last, I drifted off to sleep.