Let's clarify the situation.
The tea I had just poured into my mouth almost completely spilled out from the right corner.
Okay.
"…yes?"
"...Why did you say it twice..."
I was surprised at how calmly they pointed it out. It's a little embarrassing.
"Huh? Me, with you?"
"Don't speak in broken Japanese. It's creepy."
Apparently, they can calmly utter insults and abusive language. It hurts my heart and makes me want to cry.
"...Why so suddenly?"
"...Well, that ghost story just now really scared me. To be honest, I might have been trembling the whole time if it hadn't happened. I think Yuigahama and Komachi noticed how I was, which is why they offered to sleep together...or so it seemed to me."
"Those two... It's wonderful, not just friendship, but a yuri bond..."
It's so moving, you might find yourself shedding a tear. Have a handkerchief handy.
"...What did you just say?"
"It's nothing."
That was close. That was really close. The coldness of their gaze was absolute zero.
"But... my heart and body felt warm... but I was still cold."
"...Perhaps it's because Hikigaya-kun's story was a little too intense."
Yukinoshita shrugged slightly.
"...Oh, I'm really sorry about that."
Yeah, seriously. That was a bad choice. I had about 23 other scary stories in my repertoire.
First of all, there's no way Kawasaki could tell Kei-chan such a scary story...
Yukinoshita lives alone in an apartment... so the damage from what I said is immeasurable.
I deeply regretted it.
"Hehe, it's fine. ...So, I was thinking about what to do. Then I saw someone leaving the bedroom. I figured it would be okay as long as I wasn't alone, so I decided to go to the living room to get a change of scenery."
So that's what it is.
"So, while I was having tea with you, that idea I just mentioned suddenly came to me. I don't know why."
"...I don't know why."
Stop embarrassing yourself and emphasizing it like that. Saying it twice won't make any excuses, you know? I'll get the wrong idea.
Then Yukinoshita came over and sat down right next to me.
The sofa felt much lighter than when I sat on it, and it sank slightly.
"...I can't take away the fact that I said it impulsively, but even so, as for me, if it's okay with you, Hikitani-kun, I really would like you to join us..."
Saying that, Yukinoshita lowered her head and moved her left hand slowly.
The moment it lightly touched my right hand, a shiver ran down my spine, and I instinctively recoiled, almost jumping.
I fell into self-loathing, thinking, "What a wimp I am." It's rare for me to feel this way.
My eyes darted around for a moment, then I looked back at Yukinoshita's face... she had an incredibly shocked expression on her face.
My self-loathing increased by about 80 times.
"S-sorry, that was because I'm a scaredy-cat..."
I end up making excuses that aren't even excuses.
Yukinoshita's expression remained unchanged. She still looked like she was about to cry at any moment.
If I were a little calmer and saw that face, I'd definitely be thinking something wicked like, "Let's make her cry even more," but I don't have that kind of mental capacity right now. Oh wait, I'm practically thinking it anyway.
Right now, all I wanted was to avoid making Yukinoshita sad.
So, this time, I placed my hand on Yukinoshita's small hand, which was resting right beside mine.
"...!"
In just a split second, Yukinoshita's face was filled with pure happiness.
It's not exactly a smile with the corners of the mouth turned up as far as they can go.
However, because she's not usually very expressive with her emotions, the contrast with her usual gentle smile was immediately noticeable.
Ah, I don't know. I feel like I can say this line now.
Totsuka, I'm sorry.
"I want to protect this smile."
...I wish Komachi would stop this prank in my head.
After placing my hand on hers, I hesitated for only about 15 seconds, wondering whether I should respond or not.
However, the pounding of my own heart, which easily outpaced the faint ticking of the clock in the living room, felt strangely loud.
"...Well, if that makes you feel at ease...then that's fine."
I scratched my head with my left hand. I was trying to hide my embarrassment, but it only made me more embarrassed.
"Really…?"
Yukinoshita turned to face me and placed her right hand on top of mine.
The sudden appearance of a Yukinoshita sandwich made my heart pound.
"Ah, ah"
We faced each other in silence for a while.
Look each other straight in the eyes.
My eyes are rotten, you know? Is that okay?
Looking at her face properly again, I was captivated by her perfectly formed features, her mesmerizing bluish eyes, and her softly colored lips.
I was a little surprised by the situation I was in.
I've received an incredible offer from such a beautiful woman.
...After sorting out the current situation, I wanted to go home. I couldn't believe it.
"...Wouldn't it be better to fill the bathtub with hot water?"
"...Oh, right. I'm sorry. Could you wait a moment?"
"ah"
Yukinoshita quickly stood up and hurried towards the bathroom.
Yukinoshita returned within a few minutes and sat down next to me again.
Before I knew it, she had tied her hair up in a ponytail.
The pink scrunchie I gave her as a Christmas present is peeking out.
I probably put it on when I went to the bathroom.
...Isn't it unfair to do this at this timing?
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I think it'll be ready in about 30 minutes..."
"I see."
"..."
"..."
Awkward☆
What does it mean to be waiting together, naked against naked? I've never experienced or even seen anything that compares to this level of tension before.
I was so nervous that I couldn't even bring myself to mention Shushu.
...Calm down, count the prime numbers.
1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 14…
Oops, I'm already confused. I probably made a mistake towards the end.
As I broke out in a cold sweat, Yukinoshita leaned on my shoulder.
They didn't say anything, and they didn't even look at me.
Yet, for some reason, I feel at ease.
It was as if Yukinoshita's peace of mind had been conveyed to me.
"..."
"...?"
Before I knew it, Yukinoshita was staring intently at my face from very close range.
Wondering what was going on, I found myself drawn in by her gaze and stared back at Yukinoshita.
The two of them are very close.
Eventually, as if it had been predetermined from the start, their lips met very naturally.
The loud beating of my heart and the ticking of the clock, which I could hear just moments before, are now completely gone.
It felt like I was dreaming.
If you pull away after just a few seconds, you'll feel an irresistible urge to do it again.
This time, I put my arms around Yukinoshita's back.
And then they kissed again.
This time, stay calmer than the first time, and take a deep breath.
At that moment, I glanced at Yukinoshita's face through half-closed eyes.
Her eyelids were lowered, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly, perhaps from nervousness.
Before I knew it, Yukinoshita had her arms around my back.
A gentle squeeze is applied.
For the first time, I felt affection for another person.
Next time, if I can muster up a little more courage, I'd like to try putting my tongue in.
"...Phew."
This time, their lips were pressed together for several tens of seconds.
I wanted to stay like this, snuggled up on the sofa, and sleep together, and wake up together in the morning.
Well, if I did that, I probably wouldn't make it to the next morning.
Including such fantasies, a flood of things I want to do right now are popping into my head, but there's a super important event coming up, so I don't have the time to actually do any of them.
While still basking in the afterglow, Yukinoshita suddenly seemed to remember something and glanced at her watch.
"The bathtub...I think it's almost full."
"Understood"
After their short conversation, they looked at each other again.
I wanted to kiss you again.
Yukinoshita is probably thinking the same thing.
But if I start again now, I'll lose track of time, and the water will overflow in the meantime.
We were both strangely calm in that situation, and somehow managed to restrain ourselves and stand up.
Although they were only a few meters apart, the two of them held hands without either of them saying anything.
As we walked side by side towards the bathroom, I lowered my gaze slightly and glanced at the nape of Yukinoshita's neck.
The striking contrast between her translucent white skin, revealed by her tied-up hair, and her faintly flushed cheeks was so beautiful that I swallowed hard.
...I wonder if I can withstand any more stimulation than this?
To be continued.