"But you've been using me as a pillow all afternoon. Is it okay if I make a small suggestion?"
Forgive? Forgive what, exactly? Akira's legs were still numb. If he didn't take advantage of Shouko's guilt now, he'd be missing a golden opportunity.
"Ah...?"
Shouko looked at him, still unable to get up. She had indeed been using his lap as a pillow all afternoon, so she knew how uncomfortable it must've been.
And since she'd been resting on him for so long, letting him make a small request shouldn't be unreasonable...
The more she thought about it, the more guilty she felt. Finally, she nodded, eyes cautious:
"Okay... but say it first. I'll see if I want to agree."
"Then—"
"Alright, everyone, dinner is ready!" came Miyamura Shizuka's voice from outside, cutting Akira off just as he opened his mouth.
"...Forget it. Let's go eat first—we'll talk later tonight." He stood up reluctantly, made sure he hadn't lost circulation in his legs, and stretched out his limbs.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the dining room."
Just then, Mito Junko came downstairs and took Shouko's small hand to lead her.
Shouko glanced around the lobby, then at the front desk, and asked in confusion, "Miss Mito Junko, we're all going to dinner. What if a traveler comes and needs help?"
"Hehe…"
Mito Junko chuckled softly, releasing Shouko's hand to ruffle her hair. Her lips curved upward.
"Shouko, you don't think this entire hot spring resort is run by just us few people, do you?"
Only then did Shouko realize how silly her question was.
She had seen Mito Junko and her brother busy in the lobby and naturally assumed it was a family-run place.
"It's nothing... I guess I'm still not fully awake..." Shouko mumbled quickly, then lightly swatted Akira beside her.
He should've reminded me!
"!??" Akira rolled his eyes at her, speechless.
Mito Junko ignored their little moment and continued, "We hire staff for the night shift. That's why you only see us during the day. They should be arriving around now."
Just as she finished, Mito Iori came to usher them toward the dining room.
The group moved to the family dining area—partly to eat, and partly to help Akira and Shouko get familiar with the space.
Naturally, dinner came with its share of well-meaning questions from Grandpa and Grandma—mostly about academics.
Whenever Miyamura Shizuka praised Akira's grades, Mito Iori got glared at by Mitsuto Take in mock resentment.
"Akira, don't peel any more shrimp for me. I can do it myself."
Shouko looked at the shrimp piled in her bowl and spoke softly, a little embarrassed.
Hearing this, Akira paused mid-peel. "Aren't I just helping because I thought you'd be too shy to grab food?"
"But you don't have to give me so much shrimp..." she replied, a bit overwhelmed, though undeniably touched.
Akira popped one of the shrimp into his mouth and mumbled, "Alright, alright. I'll stop peeling. But you still have to say thanks again later."
After announcing that he was off to wash his hands, he left the table.
Mito Junko, having noticed their dynamic for a while now, leaned over to Shouko and whispered:
"Shouko, you probably can't finish all that shrimp, right? Want big sis to help out?"
Shouko quickly shook her head. "Miss Mito Junko, I can peel some for you. But... the ones in my bowl... I'm afraid Akira will get mad."
"No, I won't."
Akira's voice came from behind her.
Shouko jumped slightly as he returned to his seat.
"W-Why are you back so fast!?" she stammered, surprised he had overheard everything.
She looked around nervously but was relieved to see the others—Miyamura, Grandpa, Iori—still engrossed in their own conversations.
Mito Junko smiled slyly. "See? Akira said he won't be angry."
Shouko hesitated. "Th-Then... okay."
She grabbed her bowl and quickly offered, "Miss Mito Junko, I'll pick one out for you!"
Seeing this, Junko paused. She had only meant to tease her. But Shouko was seriously digging through her shrimp pile, carefully selecting the smallest piece before placing it in Junko's bowl.
Then, as if reluctantly sending a prized possession away, Shouko even cast one last look over her shoulder—three times.
Mito Junko burst into laughter.
She picked up the shrimp with her chopsticks and placed it back in Shouko's bowl. "Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore. I'll peel my own shrimp."
With her mission complete, Junko returned to the women's gossip circle at the table.
Just then—
"Akira, I peeled a shrimp for you. Say ah—!"
"..."
Akira stared at the shrimp in her chopsticks. It was the same one Junko had just returned to her. And now she was acting like she'd peeled it herself to feed him.
Before he could respond, Shouko yanked her hand back, picked up the shrimp again, and walked off.
He blinked, stunned.
"Miyamura Auntie!" Shouko cheerfully interrupted the chatting women. "I peeled a shrimp for you! Will you eat it before you go back to gossiping?"
Miyamura Shizuka accepted it without hesitation, popping it into her mouth. She ruffled Shouko's hair and smiled, "See? I knew Shouko loved me the most. Unlike someone over there."
She shot Akira a dramatic glare.
"...…!?"
After returning to her seat, Shouko sat down calmly. Akira reached over and gently pinched her cheek.
"Alright, who are you and what did you do with my cute Shouko?"
Shouko just smiled and picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks. "I'll peel another for you. That one was touched by Miss Mito Junko's chopsticks. You know—boys and girls shouldn't, um... 'indirectly touch'... right?"
Akira accepted the shrimp in his mouth, half amused, half speechless.
This little jealous version of Shouko… was kind of amazing.
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1st Bonus Chapter - 150 POWER STONES
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 POWER STONES
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