"Kirisu-sensei, I drove the cockroach out. Now everything is fine."
Entering the apartment again, Nakano Yu looked at Kirisu Mafuyu, who was hiding under the blanket, and said helplessly.
Although he knew that Kirisu Mafuyu was afraid of cockroaches, he truly hadn't expected her to be this afraid.
Speaking of which, why did Kirisu Mafuyu's hand taste sweet? What the hell?! It couldn't be that there was detergent left on her hand, could it?!
"R-really?"
Hearing his voice, Kirisu Mafuyu cautiously peeked out from under the blanket, her gaze sweeping across the room as if verifying the truth of Nakano Yu's words.
Nodding, Nakano Yu suddenly noticed that Kirisu Mafuyu didn't look quite right; her face was completely red. Before, it might have been from embarrassment, but no matter how shy she was, she couldn't stay red for that long, right?
And she had just been terribly frightened by the cockroach. Something wasn't right.
Frowning, Nakano Yu walked over and placed his hand on Kirisu Mafuyu's forehead:
"Kirisu-sensei, it seems that you're not feeling very well."
"Hm? Really?"
Coming out from under the blanket, Kirisu Mafuyu confusedly pushed away the boy's hand that was checking her temperature, then placed her own hand on both her forehead and Nakano Yu's.
Comparing them, Kirisu Mafuyu immediately realized that the temperature of her forehead was worryingly high!
"I… I feel a little dizzy. It seems I have a fever…"
Exchanging a glance with Nakano Yu, Kirisu Mafuyu muttered absentmindedly. After saying that, her head tilted, her body swayed, and she collapsed directly onto the bed.
"Kirisu-sensei? Kirisu-sensei?!"
In a semi-conscious state, Kirisu Mafuyu heard Nakano Yu still calling her, but her heavy head made it difficult for her to respond.
It seems that she had really been too overworked these past few days?
Let her sleep a little, let her rest a little. Maybe she would be better tomorrow.
Looking at the unconscious Kirisu Mafuyu, Nakano Yu fell silent.
"She really faints at just the right moment, huh? A fever?"
Faced with Kirisu Mafuyu in a maid costume, who had just fallen asleep, Nakano Yu was filled with speechlessness, not knowing what to say at that moment.
What now? Just leave?
Or take care of the unconscious Kirisu Mafuyu? Or… try… No, no, no, that's not right, he is a gentleman.
"Sigh, what kind of situation is this?"
Sighing, Nakano Yu began to take care of Kirisu Mafuyu.
There was no other choice. Since he was little, Nakano Reina had taught him not to take advantage of others' weakness, and he was not that kind of person. Still… while helping Kirisu Mafuyu wipe her body and change her clothes, it was impossible to avoid a certain awkwardness.
He was sure that Nakano Reina and Kirisu Mafuyu would understand. This was not taking advantage of someone, truly.
"Ugh… Did I… faint yesterday?"
The next morning, the loud chirping of birds outside the window slowly woke Kirisu Mafuyu, who had been sleeping with her arms and legs spread out. She sat up, holding her still-heavy head.
Recalling what had happened last night, Kirisu Mafuyu only felt a headache worse than after a hangover.
"Cough, cough… My throat hurts a little."
After coughing a few times, Kirisu Mafuyu got up to pour herself a glass of water, but suddenly noticed a bottle of mineral water beside the bed, with a note underneath it.
Picking up the mineral water and the note, Kirisu Mafuyu drank the water while reading the words on the paper:
"Kirisu-sensei, last night, since Kirisu-sensei fainted halfway through our party, I had no choice but to give Kirisu-sensei medicine and tidy up the room. Also, I made a bento and put it in the fridge.
The bento can be eaten after reheating, which will be more convenient for Kirisu-sensei. I put the fever medicine in the second drawer of the nightstand; remember to take it. As for the clothes, I put them in the laundry basket. Kirisu-sensei's washing machine isn't very clean, so it's best to take the clothes to the dry cleaner.
Also, since Kirisu-sensei suddenly fainted yesterday, the condition does not count as fulfilled. We'll have to make it up next time. And, I won't go around telling people that Kirisu-sensei fainted because of a cockroach. Well, probably not. —Nakano Yu"
Looking at the words Nakano Yu had left, Kirisu Mafuyu finally realized that the room was different.
The once cluttered floor and piles of various cans and plastic bags on the floor and table had now disappeared, replaced by a very neat and clean living room.
"That Nakano Yu… aside from not studying properly, he's actually quite capable."
Looking at the message Nakano Yu left, Kirisu Mafuyu rarely smiled. But when she saw the last two sentences on the note, her expression suddenly changed.
Looking at the clothes she was wearing, she realized that at some point she had been changed into pajamas, and… it seemed that she wasn't wearing anything underneath…
In an instant, Kirisu Mafuyu's cheeks flushed crimson. She gritted her teeth, crumpled the note into a ball, and tried hard to calm herself down.
After getting up and finding the fever medicine, Kirisu Mafuyu took the bento out of the fridge and reheated it. When it was ready, she sat at the clean dining table and began eating breakfast.
She had to admit that eating in such a clean room was truly a long-forgotten feeling. Kirisu Mafuyu even felt a little unaccustomed to it.
"This time I really caused Nakano Yu a lot of trouble, but… it seems he's really very good at housework."
While eating the bento, Kirisu Mafuyu looked at her room, which was indeed unusually tidy and clean, beginning to resemble a real home.
"Nakano… Nakano… Is he the teacher's child?"
Murmuring, Kirisu Mafuyu picked up her phone and found a photo taken long ago.
In it were a little girl and a gentle woman in a dress.
If Nakano Yu or the Nakano Five Sisters were here, they would definitely recognize the woman as their mother — Nakano Reina!
"Teacher, your child is truly outstanding, far more outstanding than me."
Looking at Nakano Reina in the photo, Kirisu Mafuyu quietly said to herself.
Once, she had also been a student, with a very responsible teacher, only… that teacher had left her too early.
As for Nakano Yu, after breakfast he left the house.
He had a date with Katsura Kotonoha to spend the weekend together, and he couldn't break his promise.
Arriving at the agreed meeting place with Katsura Kotonoha, Nakano Yu sat on a bench in the shade of a tree.
"Ah~ I wonder if Kirisu Mafuyu is already awake."
Yawning, Nakano Yu thought about Kirisu Mafuyu; last night had truly been exhausting.
Not to mention the cockroaches in Kirisu Mafuyu's apartment; he caught thirteen in one night!
He couldn't even imagine what Kirisu Mafuyu would think if she saw those thirteen cockroaches of different sizes.
Also, Kirisu Mafuyu hadn't behaved very nicely while unconscious; he had kindly changed her clothes, but Kirisu Mafuyu immediately kicked him, although fortunately he quickly caught her.
But then again, the punishment from this bet doesn't count, so what should he make Kirisu Mafuyu do next time? Maybe dancing in professional attire with high stockings would be better?
"Nakano Yu, good morning."
Just as Nakano Yu was thinking, a girl's voice suddenly greeted him from behind.
Turning toward the source of the voice, Nakano Yu's eyes lit up.
The person who had arrived was none other than Katsura Kotonoha, with whom Nakano Yu had arranged a date.
However, today Katsura Kotonoha was wearing an unusual black lace dress with black footless stockings, appearing especially mature compared to the white dresses she usually wore, especially with the emphasized waistline that highlighted her figure, adding even more charm.
"Kotonoha, good morning."
Greeting the girl, Nakano Yu began preparing for today's plan with her.
Speaking of which, today's plan was entirely organized by Katsura Kotonoha, because Nakano Yu had never gone out with anyone before and only knew the basic routine of eating, watching movies, and shopping; if there was still money left at the end, they would go to… cough, of course, he and Katsura Kotonoha wouldn't…
Both of them took relationships seriously, and Nakano Yu would never force Katsura Kotonoha if she didn't want to.
"It really has been quite a long time since I was alone with Nakano Yu, and I feel much more relaxed by his side."
Blushing, Katsura Kotonoha walked shoulder to shoulder with the boy and spoke, her small hand making movements toward his, as if she wanted to hold his hand, but every time she was about to touch him, Katsura Kotonoha would suddenly pull back.
Noticing her small movements, Nakano Yu simply proactively reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"Nakano Yu…"
Surprised by his action, Katsura Kotonoha looked at Nakano Yu, only to see the boy smiling at her.
"Kotonoha is already my fiancée, even though the engagement banquet hasn't been held yet."
Nakano Yu said with a smile; Katsura Kotonoha had an engagement with him and was already his wife, so this small sign of intimacy was nothing they couldn't do.
"Mm… Nakano Yu, I heard my mother say that the engagement banquet will be held after some time, and it seems it will be abroad."
Listening to Nakano Yu's words, Katsura Kotonoha showed a sweet smile, but speaking for the first time about the engagement banquet with Nakano Yu, the girl couldn't help but blush.
Marriage is the most important event in a man's and woman's life; to meet the right person, to meet someone you love, and then accompany each other throughout life, grow old together, that can truly be called romance.
And now Katsura Kotonoha felt that she had met the person she loved the most.
"It seems it's in Sweden, right? I heard my father mention it; it seems he argued about it with Aunt Manami."
Nakano Yu nodded; Nakano Maruo would occasionally come to ask for his opinion, because he considered it his son's marriage and something that must not be taken lightly, but Nakano Yu also felt that the engagement banquet should be held properly, although he had no idea where.
"Hehe, so that's why mother argued with Uncle Nakano on the phone a few days ago. But judging by mother afterward, it seems she didn't win."
Hearing that, Katsura Kotonoha laughed twice and said.
Before, she had thought that Katsura Manami was arguing with someone over business matters in the company, but it turned out she was arguing with her future father-in-law.
"Alright, let's leave them aside, let's enjoy ourselves."
He rubbed Katsura Kotonoha's small head and said with a smile.
The girl nodded obediently, and the two of them headed toward the shopping mall.
Happy moments always pass quickly; in the blink of an eye the sun was already high in the sky, and when the boy and girl came out of the arcade, Katsura Kotonoha was holding a fluffy white teddy bear in her hands.
Nakano Yu had won it for her, and of course, it wasn't the only one; with the maximum luck of the God Slayer, he could grab things with his eyes closed, but he set the others aside. They still had plenty of shopping that day, and carrying a pile of plush toys would be impractical.
"Nakano Yu, let's eat at that restaurant. Mother said the food there is very good."
At that moment, Katsura Kotonoha was completely relaxed, holding the teddy bear in one hand and leaning closely against Nakano Yu, she said.
"Mm, let's go."
Nakano Yu nodded. Since Katsura Kotonoha wanted to go, of course he couldn't refuse, and the restaurant she mentioned looked very clean. Since Katsura Manami said it was good, maybe there would be some surprise.
Following Katsura Kotonoha into the restaurant, the staff at the entrance immediately greeted them:
"Welcome to Radish, Itsuki asks… Nakano Yu, Nakano Yu?!"
Hearing the voice, Nakano Yu, who had just been gently talking with Katsura Kotonoha, looked up and saw an unexpected figure:
"Setsuna?"