Vol. 1 Chapter 32 – That Aside

Ten minutes after Hokujou Yuuya (Dad) left the waiting room, we too had packed our things and departed.

“Ah! Autographs, pleaaase!”

As we exited the event hall, two women came running towards us with smiles. Seeing the two of them approaching like fans waiting for an appearance, what escaped me wasn’t even a word, but a sigh.

“…What are you doing… Mom, Akari.” (Yuuto)

To think they had waited outside, where it was by no means cool, just for this “waiting fan” skit—their dedication to a single joke was so intense it went beyond exasperation to a level of respect.

“What’s thiiis? Yuuto, is that how you treat your fans?” (Akari)

Akari pressed closer, narrowing her eyes as if to reprimand my attitude.

“You’re not even fans.” (Yuuto)

Responding to her usual antics, I took the bags Akari held out.

“Thanks!” (Akari)

After thanking me with a quiet wink only I could hear, she rushed over to Nagisa and Aida, who were slightly behind me, calling out, “Good work today~!”

Watching my childhood friend, who seemed to be happily recounting her impressions, while being aware that I was conveniently being used as a baggage carrier, made such things seem trivial.

“Well, it’s true that I’m a fan, though?” (Yuuto’s Mother)

Mom, who had walked up a little later, spoke to me while taking some of the luggage from my hands.

“I was worried if I did okay, though…” (Yuuto)

“You did great! To the point where I’m genuinely frustrated I couldn’t take a video.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

“Hokujou Yuuya was there too, so banning filming to avoid trouble was unavoidable, right?” (Yuuto)

Conversing with Mom, I moved into the shade to escape the sun that had been relentlessly shining on us.

“Were you able to talk?” (Yuuto’s Mother)

“…Yeah, well.” (Yuuto)

I knew without having to ask who she meant.

“…That’s good.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

Mom said that with a satisfied smile.

“I’ll tell you more tonight.” (Yuuto)

“I’ll look forward to it.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

After that, we didn’t talk about Dad anymore, and I watched Akari and the others, whose laughter echoed in the plaza in front of the event hall as they chatted about trivial things.

“Ah! Yuuto’s Maaaom!” (Akari)

Akari, who suddenly turned around, waved her hand and called out loudly.

“Today! Can Yume-chan come tooo?” (Akari)

I had no idea what she was talking about, but Mom, who seemed to understand, made a big circle with both arms. At the same time, all the girls got excited.

“What are you talking about?” (Yuuto)

When I asked, unable to understand the exchange happening between Mom and the others, Mom looked at me, her lips curving slightly into an amused smile.

“What, you ask? It’s about today’s ‘Good Work’ party.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

“…Where?” (Yuuto)

“At my place.” (Yuuto’s Mother)

“…I see.” (Yuuto)

Once again, I, who should have been the central figure, hadn’t been told anything at all.

“…” (Yuuto)

The time was 4:30 PM. I was on my bed in my room, awakened by the ringing doorbell. It seemed I had fallen asleep after coming home, taking a shower, and having a light lunch.

“Akari…?” (Yuuto)

I thought, my brain still not fully awake, but the footsteps coming from the entryway passed by my room. Usually, she’d be the first one in.

Carrying the unique lethargy that comes after a long nap, I got up to deal with the evening sun that had been attacking my eyes.

I stretched to loosen my body, stiff from the nap, and closed the curtains. The evening sun problem was solved, so I could have gone back to sleep, but if Akari found me sleeping, I wouldn’t be woken up gently.

Reluctantly giving up on a second sleep, I headed to the living room where Akari should have gone.

“…What are you doing?” (Yuuto)

To the left as I entered the living room, standing next to Mom in the kitchen, was Nagisa.

“What, you ask…? I’m helping. It’d be tough for Yuuto’s mom to prepare for four people all by herself, and I wanted to… learn how to cook too.” (Nagisa)

Mom doted on Nagisa, who said so with a slightly embarrassed tone. A strong will, as if to say she would absolutely not hand Nagisa over, emanated from her eyes.

I had no particular intention of taking Nagisa anywhere, but to escape Mom’s “I won’t give you Nagisa” intimidating gaze, I moved away from the kitchen and sat on the sofa in front of the TV.

As I was idly flipping through channels, I realized that it wasn’t Akari who had rung the doorbell in the first place.

…My head wasn’t working right, huh. Remembering my childhood friend who had previously declared she wouldn’t ring the doorbell, I stopped changing channels on an evening news program.

There was no particular reason I stopped on this program; I just watched TV with Mom and Nagisa’s conversation as background noise.

After watching TV like that for about ten minutes, Nagisa came walking from the kitchen holding a small plate.

“Um… Are you free right now?” (Nagisa)

“I’m free, but… what’s up?” (Yuuto)

While feeling a sense of unease at Nagisa, who for some reason wouldn’t look at me much and spoke with a distant attitude, I straightened my posture, which had completely slumped.

“Um… These are cookies Yuuto’s mom made.” (Nagisa)

Nagisa spoke, her gaze wandering to various places—the cookies on the plate, my hand, the low table in front of the sofa. It seemed she finally decided to rest her gaze on the TV that was playing.

“She wants you to… taste them.” (Nagisa)

“…Sure, I don’t mind.” (Yuuto)

It wasn’t a strange request or anything, just tasting cookies Mom made. Without understanding what was causing Nagisa to act like that, I reached for a cookie on the plate.

“Ah, wait a sec.” (Nagisa)

Just as I was about to touch a cookie, the plate was lowered slightly.

“You haven’t washed your hands, have you?” (Nagisa)

Nagisa said, her gaze dropping to my hand, so I started to stand up to head to the washroom. …But that was stopped by Nagisa.

“It’s fine, just sit.” (Nagisa)

Still not meeting my eyes, she placed the plate on the low table in front of the sofa. She picked up one of the cookies arranged on the plate and sat down next to me.

“I’ll feed it to you… so.” (Nagisa)

I understood the reason Nagisa had been acting strangely since earlier, and also understood that Mom, peeking from the kitchen with a smirk, was the cause.

“…Is this okay?” (Yuuto)

“Y-Yes! G-Go ahead…” (Nagisa)

I meant it in the sense of “Mom is watching intently,” but Nagisa seemed to have mistaken it for a go-ahead sign, and she straightened her posture again with a look of renewed determination.

“Okay… Open wide?” (Nagisa)

With Nagisa saying so, her cheeks slightly flushed, and Mom’s gaze still coming from behind Nagisa, I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“Okay… Say ahhh…” (Nagisa)

Her voice trembled slightly, perhaps from embarrassment, and I took the cookie offered towards me with my lips.

As I pushed the cookie into my mouth with my fingers and ate it, Nagisa turned to me with an expression of accomplishment.

“…Was it good?” (Nagisa)

Was it a result of trying to regain her composure, or perhaps a sense of relief from completing the mission likely given to her by Mom? Nagisa asked, a gentle smile on her face as usual.

“It’s good… A little sweet, though…” (Yuuto)

I replied, averting my eyes slightly.

“That aside, though…” (Akari)

The ‘Good Work’ party had ended, and after Murai and Aida, who lived a bit far, had gone home, the three of us—me, Nagisa, and Akari—were doing our own things in my room.

We were doing our own things so much that the only sounds were from the game Akari was playing, or the sound of me and Nagisa turning the pages of our manga.

In the midst of that, Akari suddenly spoke up.

“Did you two end up doing it? Kissing.” (Akari)

At those words, the air in the room grew a little heavy. It wasn’t likely that Akari had suddenly started imitating a mouse. At least, I had an inkling of what she meant.

“At the end, people watching the screen probably couldn’t see, but everyone who was watching the stage says it. That you were kissing.” (Akari)

Seeing Nagisa not particularly concerned about a kiss even after the exam, I was starting to think I might have been mistaken. Unsure how to reply, sweat began to bead on my palms.

“So, what’s the deal? Nagisa.” (Akari)

Relieved that the target had shifted from me for some reason, I watched for Nagisa’s reaction. If Nagisa said nothing happened, I could just act the same way.

“I should probably get going soon!” (Nagisa)

Ignoring Akari’s question, she grabbed only her smartphone, which was on the bed, and tried to leave the room. Her head spinning, her face red.

“…It’s a sliding door, you know?” (Akari)

Akari, who had been watching Nagisa’s actions, called out to Nagisa as she tried to push the door open.

“Thanks!” (Nagisa)

Saying so, she hurriedly left the room.

“…Hey, Yuuto.” (Akari)

After hearing Nagisa run down the hallway and the sound of the front door opening forcefully, Akari slowly spoke.

“…Seriously?” (Akari)

“I’m the one who wants to know…” (Yuuto)

Replying thus, I recalled Nagisa’s expression, then let out a slow breath and collapsed onto the bed.