The next morning, Tachibana Hina was awakened by Tachibana Rui.
Having consumed too much alcohol last night made her head ache, and she didn't look very well.
"Are you okay?"
Murakami Yuu inquired from the side with sincere words, while also feeling somewhat guilty inside.
After all, if he hadn't been hinting and guiding from the side last night, Tachibana Hina wouldn't have finished off all that beer in one evening.
Thinking of the happiness and fulfillment he had genuinely experienced last night, then looking at Tachibana Hina covering her forehead in poor spirits, the contrast between these two scenes made his feelings of self-reproach even stronger.
If possible, Murakami Yuu didn't want to build his happiness on others' pain, but there really was no other way.
Tachibana Rui crouched beside Tachibana Hina, helping massage her shoulders, also wearing an indescribably complex expression.
"I'm fine, no problem."
Tachibana Hina rubbed her messy hair and turned to look at the sky in the garden.
"Is it already morning? What time is it?"
"A little past ten."
"Oh, a little past ten... Past ten?!"
Tachibana Hina yawned, then suddenly reacted and cried out in alarm. Her previously calm face instantly became animated, and like a cat seeing a cucumber, she panicked and ran toward the bathroom.
"I'm dead, I'm late, I'm late! That balding team leader will definitely kill me!!!"
"Calm down, Hina-nee."
Tachibana Rui followed and leaned against the bathroom doorway with a calm expression.
"We're going to grandpa and grandma's place in the countryside this afternoon. Didn't you already request leave from the company?"
"Oh, that's right!"
Tachibana Hina pulled the disposable toothbrush from her mouth, supported herself on the washbasin with both hands, and let out a breath of relief.
"That scared me to death. I feel relieved now."
After leisurely finishing her washing up and returning to the center of the room, seeing Murakami Yuu reminded her of something.
"Sorry, it seems I made you late today."
"I already called the teacher to request leave. I don't need to go to school today."
Murakami Yuu replied.
After waking up this morning, wanting to avoid trouble, he had called his homeroom teacher Sakata Gintoki, saying he wasn't feeling well and needed to rest at home for a day. The teacher agreed after confirming he was okay.
This wasn't lying, but rather a reasonable explanation after slightly disguising a somewhat complex situation. Telling his homeroom teacher the actual current situation would be the real trouble, and Murakami Yuu wasn't the type who didn't know how to be flexible.
Who doesn't have one or two special circumstances?
But after hanging up, Murakami Yuu belatedly thought of something.
He had met his classmate Anna Nishikinomiya here yesterday. What if she accidentally mentioned this...
But thinking about it again, Anna Nishikinomiya was well-brought-up and didn't seem like the type to spread everything around. If no one specifically asked, she probably wouldn't say anything.
After thinking about this for a while, Murakami Yuu felt relieved again.
"Is it okay not to go to school?"
"I'm still considered an honor student. Missing just one day won't affect my grades too much."
"That's good. Interfering with a student's studies would be a great sin."
Tachibana Hina stretched.
"Then we don't need to rush. Let's eat first. Should we go to the restaurant or have the staff bring it to our room?"
As a large leisure resort, Yokusui-go offered not only accommodation and hot springs, but also high-class restaurants with exquisite food.
"Everything's packed up. Let's go to the restaurant, and after eating we'll head straight back. Mom is still waiting at home for us to leave early."
Tachibana Rui suggested.
"Got it, let's go directly."
After packing their things, the three headed to the restaurant. Led by staff to a table, they ordered and waited for the food to be served. During this time, Tachibana Hina looked at Murakami Yuu, then at Tachibana Rui.
"What's going on? I feel like the atmosphere between you two is weird."
Tachibana Rui's hand holding the water glass trembled slightly, and Murakami Yuu slowly raised his gaze from browsing his phone. After seeing that Tachibana Hina was just genuinely asking and her face didn't show the teasing or mockery he had expected, he relaxed and subtly gave Tachibana Rui a reassuring look.
Tachibana Rui caught this hint from the corner of her eye, lightly spat, blushed, and turned her head away, choosing to ignore it.
Murakami Yuu felt somewhat helpless. He couldn't blame her for this reaction—last night had indeed been somewhat excessive in a certain sense.
Although Tachibana Rui knew Tachibana Hina was drunk and sleeping deeply, during the process she still tightly covered her mouth with her hands to ensure she wouldn't make any sound, just in case.
"It's your imagination. The way we get along is the same as always, no different."
Murakami Yuu answered Tachibana Hina's confusion and looked down at his phone screen again.
"Is that so?"
Tachibana Hina looked at both of them again, her puzzled gaze not disappearing, but she couldn't really see anything unusual about them. Thinking it might really be her imagination, she didn't continue dwelling on this matter.
"But it feels like a waste to come here and not soak in the hot springs. Look at Rui—because she soaked in the hot springs, her complexion is much better than yesterday. Her eyes are moist, and her skin is glowing like she just applied a face mask."
"Mm, that's definitely true. Like a flower that's been nourished by water, blooming into full form."
Murakami Yuu smiled and chimed in.
"How come you seem very happy?"
"After all, I got to eat and drink for free on this trip without paying, so I can't help but feel a bit pleased like a petty person who got a good deal."
"Your happiness is really simple and honest. It seems like it can be summarized in one word—freeloading?"
"Isn't that right? But I think it would be better not to use that word to describe me."
"Why?"
Why?
Murakami Yuu looked at Tachibana Rui, who was shooting him a death glare, and laughed helplessly.
Of course, it was because it touched someone's pride—the insulting implication was too great.
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