Chapter 48 Staying Over at Irara's House
#18ZenkouSeitoStaying Over at Irara’s House
“…What is this situation?”
I find myself holding my head in my hands inside the bathroom.
Let’s take a moment to sort things out.
First of all, Irara and I decided to study for our test together, so we went around to cafés and family restaurants.
But everywhere was full, and at Irara’s suggestion, I ended up going over to her house.
For someone like me—hated by the entire school, treated like a public example of what not to be, and never once invited to a friend’s house—this was an impossible scenario.
And on top of that, Irara is the most popular girl in school.
Then, the weather got so bad that going home became dangerous, and at the suggestion of Irara’s mother, Akiko-san, I was told to stay the night.
Akiko-san even spoke with my parents, and now here we are…
“…What is this situation?”
I end up mumbling the same thing again.
I mean, of course I would.
Because tonight, I’m staying over at Irara’s house.
Which means… we’ll be spending the night under the same roof.
“No, no, no, that sounds way too misleading. It’s not like we’re sleeping together or anything.”
There's no way we'd be sleeping side by side, our pillows next to each other.
I mean, if that actually happened, I honestly don’t think I could keep it together.
Not that I ever particularly thought of myself as a gentleman, but, you know, there are limits.
“…No, no, no, this is bad.”
I let out a deep sigh and flush the toilet.
Then, as I step out of the bathroom, my eyes meet Irara’s just as she’s coming down the stairs.
““…!!!!””
Because I’d been weirdly conscious of her just moments ago, I quickly avert my gaze.
I thought I was doing a little better, but my social skills are still completely in shambles…
“K-Kyogoku-kun! Dinner should be ready soon, so…”
“O-Okay. I’ll be right there.”
“O-Okay.”
Irara gives me a small, bashful smile before disappearing into the living room.
As I watch her retreating figure, I can’t help but press a hand to my face.
“…This kind of feels like we’re newlyweds.”
As soon as I mutter that, I snap back to my senses and shake my head.
What the hell am I thinking!?
Just one stray thought, and I’m already spiraling into delusions? That’s way too pathetic, even for a hated loner like me!
Get a grip, me! Or you'll become a potential criminal! Seriously!
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.
“Phew… Alright.”
Exhaling slowly, I follow after Irara and step into the living room.
After enjoying a delicious homemade meal prepared by Akiko-san…
Irara and I immediately resume our test studying in her room.
I focus on my work, using it as a distraction from my nerves, and before I know it, an hour has passed.
“Wow, we studied quite a bit, huh!”
“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve concentrated this much since entrance exam season.”
As I stretch out and relax, my eyes happen to land on a graduation album tucked under the bookshelf.
“Hmm? Is that your middle school graduation album?”
“Yep! It is!! Oh wow, I haven’t looked at it in so long~! Fufu, let’s take a peek~”
Irara takes out the album and spreads it open on the desk.
Flipping through the neatly arranged photos…
“Ah! This is from when we went to nature camp! So nostalgic~!”
“…!!!!!”
The brightness of her excitement is almost blinding, and I instinctively want to look away.
Even back in middle school, Irara was in a league of her own when it came to cuteness…
She was clearly on a whole different level from everyone else.
Wow, even the guys in the group photo with her were sneaking glances at her.
“Oh, and this one’s from our school trip! That was the day this kid accidentally left their wallet on the train~!”
Irara starts chatting excitedly about her middle school memories.
Her face is lit up with pure joy.
For someone like me, who doesn’t have a single good memory from middle school, it’s dazzling—no, almost envy-inducing.
“Oh, and this one’s from our graduation ceremony!”
Irara picks up a loose photo that had been tucked inside.
It’s a two-shot of her and Nakano.
“Wow, so nostalgic~! It’s already been about two years since we graduated.”
Irara murmurs with a sentimental smile.
I’m surprised that Irara doesn’t seem to care at all.
“You don’t really mind it, huh?”
“Eh?”
“I mean, that’s a picture of you and Nakano. I thought it might bring back bad memories or something…”
As soon as I say it, I regret bringing it up.
But Irara just shrugs and replies cheerfully.
“Oh, now that you mention it! But no, it doesn’t bother me at all! It’s still part of my past, after all!”
“…I see.”
She’s already completely over it.
Irara Akari really is a strong girl.
“You’re amazing, Irara.”
“Eh? What is?”
“Nothing.”
“Ehh!? You can’t just leave it at that!! Kyogoku-kun complimenting me is super rare, so now I have to know!!!”
“It’s a secret. If I explained it, I’d die… No doubt about it.”
“Top secret!? Now I really wanna know… But if Kyogoku-kun dies, that’d be bad… Wait, why would you die if you told me!? W-What do you mean!?”
Watching Irara flail around in a panic, I can’t help but smile.
Right now, without a doubt, this is a moment of pure happiness.
After finishing my bath…
Irara takes her turn and heads to the bathroom.
As I enter the living room with my hair still slightly damp, I find Akiko-san wiping down the table.
“Ah, sorry for using the bath.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it~! I mean, it’d be a hassle for both of you if you didn’t take one, right~?”
“…Huh? What do you mean?”
“Ufufufu, oh, nothing~!”
…What was that?
I feel like I was just hit with something ridiculous.
“Aaaanyway~”
Akiko-san sets down the cloth and leans in toward me.
“A-Akiko-san?”
“Ufufufu… Say, Kyogoku-kun.”
She looks me straight in the eyes and gently says—
“Why don’t we have a little secret talk~?”
S-Secret? What the hell does that mean!?