Chapter 14: Komari Chika's Hospitality
It had been since the Tsuwabuki Festival that I stood in front of this house again.
Unlike the time when Komari had pushed herself too hard and collapsed, this time I was bringing the conscious person herself along.
And instead of the Komari-sensei who had been there then—
"…Nee-cha, together."
"Cute, right."
For some reason, Shikiya-senpai, who had become completely obsessed with Komari's little sister and little brother, tagged along with us. Right after we met, both kids were scared of her, but now they had gotten used to her and seemed to have taken a liking to her.
She was playing with the girl, Hina-chan, of course, but also paying attention to the boy, Susumu-kun. And surprisingly, they had warmed up to her quite well. Honestly, it was heartwarming to watch. Since she was basically a beautiful woman with well-defined features, her gentle behavior toward the children gave off a sense of purity.
"Zombie play! I'm the police, and Nee-chan is the bad zombie! …Save Hina!"
"…O, ooooh."
The senior, who made an excellent villain, must have struck a chord with the boy. The three of them were energetically playing an impromptu etude. While nodding at the heartwarming sight with my arms folded behind my back, a piercing voice suddenly called out from behind me.
"…Why did you follow?"
"Who knows, maybe I like kids… Well, I'll be going then."
It would be rude to stay too long. Just as I tried to stand up, my clothes were grabbed quite strongly.
"N-no… Yuzuki… Why you, of all people."
"Was it inconvenient for you today? We saw each other at school today too."
No, thinking back, that was it. She had left quickly right after, so maybe…
Was she avoiding me?
"…Hey, Komari."
"D-die… A, um… W-what?"
She spat out an insult first, then gave a normal reply.
It was the usual Komari. Just the Komari I always saw.
But something felt off.
"…W-what… are you staring at!"
"Ah, no… I was wondering if you got taller or shorter or something."
"Die, die ten times!"
If there was a source for the sense of incongruity, I thought it might be some physical change, but of course there wasn't.
"…For now, is it okay if I stay here? Komari."
"I-it's not a bother… Also, thanks for the book."
"Nn… Lend it to me next time, I want to read it too."
At the bookstore, the generous Yuzuki, whose wallet was comfortably full, had ended up playing sugar daddy for Komari's insufficient payment.
By the way, it wasn't entirely without calculation. It was interesting, but it was a ladies' title. I didn't want Keiki to know I was collecting them, so I had wanted Komari to buy it there.
It was fine to be seen with light novels full of revealing moe characters, but pure romance-focused ladies' titles felt somewhat embarrassing.
"…I'll return it after all."
"It's fine, even if it was a little short… Wait, that way of saying it sounds sarcastic. But still… Komari, I also wanted to read it. And it's inconvenient to keep it at my house, and as a guy it feels awkward to buy ladies' stuff."
"..."
"So, keep the novel you bought in your room… Just let me read it sometimes."
"W-why come to my house again!"
"Ah, no… You can bring it to school."
"…!"
She breathed a sigh of relief.
"…Then lend it to me again… So, yeah… Can we end this topic here?"
"F-fine… I'll lend it, be grateful and read it."
"Got it… Well then, I should get going soon."
…Help… Help me…
…Hyaa! Run away!
…————!! (Unintelligible joyful voice)
The three of them had gone outside the house and were now having an even bigger commotion in the courtyard. Shikiya-senpai was being swung around, but maybe she couldn't escape and was actually calling for help.
Was she not playing with the kids, but being played with by them and unable to get away?
"Hey, shouldn't we go help?"
"I-it's fine… The little ones have their play switch on. If we stop them they'll throw a tantrum."
"I'm worried about the senior's well-being too… Hey, Komari."
"Come… over here… Even if you stay in the living room… there's nothing."
"Eh, the room… Your room, Komari?"
"…Just come already!"
"…"
She was strangely forceful — suddenly very forceful.
I tried to read Komari's intentions, wondering if there was something she wanted to tell me.
If there was anything that had been bothering me lately—
"…You're a guest, so I'll entertain you… Sit down."
"A, aah… Got it."
She spoke to a guest in command form and forcefully tried to keep me there.
Trying to figure out what she was thinking and why she was so flustered, the more I thought about it, the more the conversation at the family restaurant that time kept flashing through my mind.
〇
In the 6-tatami Japanese-style room: a bed, a desk, and bookshelves.
As a room, it was quite modest. But even if the exterior didn't show much, the sheer volume of books inside added depth to the room's personality.
"Nice lineup… Komari."
"F-fufu… The fruit of my daily frugality. You may be jealous."
"Hey, only this volume doesn't have a continuation yet… Did you stop reading it?"
"…When it gets cheaper, I plan to collect the whole series in one go at a second-hand shop someday."
Alright, let's end this topic here. I made that firm decision.
But even if I tried to change the subject, the seeds I could plant were almost all the same kind. Only the same conversations would bloom, unless—
"Yanami-san… recently got… fatter again."
"Yeah… Her 'mist = zero-calorie diet' seems to have ended in failure."
"Yanami-san said she stopped the soufflé diet and is now trying a meringue diet."
"Egg whites have no calories… and you get protein."
"She seems to be eating pancakes with tons of meringue made from wheat flour and sugar on top. Look, it just came up."
"…Give her some advice."
"No way. If I give her sound advice she'll get annoyed and kick me."
"You two have been getting along well lately… so it should be fine."
"Even if nothing happens on the spot, the aftermath is scary… the aftermath."
Lately Yanami-san has been lecturing me while using her mouth, after all.
"…You two are doing lewd things together again… Die."
"No, I keep telling them to change the location… Hey, Komari."
"…"
For a while, silence.
Komari picked up the tea she had served from the tray on the floor, took a sip, and—
"…Bue, keho goho!!"
"————!"
It was as if she was voicing someone else's thoughts as she choked.