Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Episode 10: Adults

Then, after doing a bit of shopping to gather the necessities, Kokone Koga and I arrived at my home, just as we had talked about.

「E-excuse me for intruding.」

Kokone-san stepped inside my house.

「I’ve tried to keep the place clean, but if it’s messy, I’m sorry.」

I apologized in advance as I took off my shoes.

「D-don’t worry about that. More importantly, can I borrow the kitchen? I’ll whip up something quickly.」

「…Really, are you sure? I can help with cooking too, you know.」

「It’s fine, it’s fine! You need to set up your smartphone, right? I’ll make something delicious in the meantime!」

Kokone-san confidently assured me. It felt a bit like I was taking advantage of her, getting her to cook after she helped with the shopping. But, refusing her offer here might actually be rude.

Since Kokone-san seemed enthusiastic, I decided to accept her help.

「Alright, then can I ask you to handle it? Feel free to use anything from the fridge or the spices.」

「Got it!」

After I briefly explained where everything was, I went to the living room to sync my smartphone with the tablet. This way, the initial setup could be quickly completed.

「But this is the first time I’ve bought a prepaid SIM.」

Apparently, being underage, I can’t sign a contract for a line at the store. So I reluctantly bought a more expensive prepaid SIM. This should work for a while, but I can’t keep wasting money like this indefinitely.

「…If I want to buy a SIM card online, I’ll have to ask my parents.」

Being underage comes with many restrictions. It’s times like these that make me realize I’m still a child.

「I guess I’ll have to call my parents before this prepaid SIM runs out.」

It feels a bit pathetic, but that’s the reality. No matter how stubborn I am, I can’t live alone.

「It’d be nice if my smartphone could be found before then. …Really, where did it go?」

No matter how many times I look back, I thought I left it in my desk, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I even consulted with the teacher during break time, but no one had turned in a lost smartphone.

「I remember using it at school, so even if I dropped it, it should be there. But maybe… someone stole it?」

I’ve tried to manage the situation well, but since I was dating Saori Sakaki, there might be people who hold grudges against me, like Miwa-kun the other day, who thought I was coercing Saori Sakaki into dating me.

And if such a person stole my smartphone…

…Is it just paranoia?

「In any case, I need to be more careful from now on.」

Before, I thought I didn’t care what happened to me as long as I could protect Saori Sakaki. …But I no longer need to protect her.

「Should I tell my classmates that we’ve broken up?」

But that feels a bit self-important. It doesn’t matter to others who is dating who or who breaks up. I’m not interested in who my classmates are dating or breaking up with.

…However, if I keep it a secret, it might lead to trouble. It might be best to tell Mori-kun or Kawaguchi-kun, who I’m relatively close with, and let the rumor spread naturally.

「I need to be more mature.」

And with that, the smartphone sync was complete. It seemed I was able to transfer most of the apps and data. …However, for social networks linked to my phone number, I’ll have to create new accounts.

「Well, it’s not a big deal.」

I put down the smartphone and stood up, heading over to Kokone-san.

「Eem, Ochiba-kun, are you done with the setup? The food’s ready, so could you just get the plates out?」

「Got it, thanks. …Wow, it looks like you made something quite elaborate. It looks delicious.」

「Ehehe. I tried a little harder. Today’s menu is Acqua Pazza, cheese-loaded Carbonara, and an avocado salad. They’re all my specialties!」

Kokone-san puffed out her chest proudly. I was genuinely impressed.

「Kokone-san, you’re really good at cooking. That curry you made last time was amazing too.」

「Ehehe, really?」

「Yeah. I only learned because I had to, but I realize I can’t compare to someone who enjoys it.」

「E-enjoys it?! It’s not like that! I mean, it’s not like that, but it’s not like that!」

「Huh? Didn’t you say you liked cooking, Kokone-san?」

I tilted my head. Kokone-san blushed and averted her gaze.

「A-anyway, let’s eat before it gets cold! Come on, Ochiba-kun, get the plates out!」

「Don’t push, I got it.」

And so, with that slightly awkward atmosphere, we enjoyed a delightful dinner together. Kokone-san seemed in high spirits, talking more than usual about various things.

She mentioned the elegant senpai we met earlier, who used to have blonde ringlets in her first year but stopped because they were heavy. There are actually five members in the Four Ojou-sama Kings, not four. Kokone-san almost got inducted into the Four Ojou-sama Kings but was troubled by it. She shared stories about her girls’ school that I would never hear otherwise. Listening to her, it seemed like a lot of fun, different from what I imagined a girls’ school to be.

After our enjoyable dinner, we quickly cleaned up the dishes together and then relaxed in the living room. Kokone-san had gone to the bathroom, so she wasn’t by my side at the moment.

「Wow, it’s already past eight o’clock.」

I glanced at the clock, noticing it was already past eight in the evening.

It’s about time to escort Kokone-san home. …I thought as much, but then I remembered something.

「Come to think of it, didn’t Kokone-san say she wanted to ask me for something?」

If I accompany her somewhere now, it would get really late. So, as much as I feel sorry, maybe we should postpone her request to another day…

「S-sorry to keep you waiting.」

Just as I thought that, Kokone-san returned to the room.

「Ah, Kokone-san. Thank you for today. About your request…」

「Y-yeah! About that… I mean, my shoulders are a bit stiff…」

「Your shoulders?」

「Yeah. So, I was wondering if Ochiba-kun could give me a massage…」

「…If it’s just that, I don’t mind. But I heard that if an amateur touches the wrong way, it could have the opposite effect.」

「Ah, it’s fine, it’s not that serious!」

Kokone-san sat on the sofa in front of me and took off her blazer. …I felt a bit of discomfort, but there was no point in worrying about it. I moved behind Kokone-san and placed my hands on her shoulders.

「I’ll give a light massage, but let me know if it hurts or feels uncomfortable, okay?」

「…Okay. Then… please.」

I gently massaged Kokone-san’s shoulders. I’ve never massaged my dad’s shoulders before, so I couldn’t tell if they were stiff or not.

…But Kokone-san’s body was very soft. My fingers sank in, making me feel like I was doing something I shouldn’t.

「Ochiba-kun, you can use a bit more pressure if you’d like.」

「R-really? How about this?」

「Hey, that tickles! A bit lower! …Ah, there. That feels good.」

「Ah, here. It does feel a bit tense here.」

「…!」

Kokone-san shivered slightly. I quickly removed my hands.

「Sorry, did it hurt?」

「…No, it just felt good, so I made a weird noise. Could you… continue a bit more?」

Kokone-san looked up at me with moist eyes. …It really felt like I was doing something I shouldn’t. …No, that’s wrong. This is just a shoulder massage, nothing more.

I told myself that and placed my hands back on Kokone-san’s shoulders.

「…Ah. O-Ochiba-kun, you’re really good. It feels… amazing.」

「Really? I can’t really tell myself…」

「Sometimes I get Mumiko to massage me, but she never does it this gently. And Ochiba-kun’s fingers are so gentle… I like it.」

「…Saying it like that makes me… feel awkward.」

「Ehehe, sorry, sorry.」

My focus shifted to my fingertips. A girl’s soft and warm body. The scent of either her perfume or soap filled the air. And over her back, I could see Kokone-san’s large chest moving.

「I hope it’s not rude, but does having a large chest cause stiffness?」

「Hm? Ah, well, some girls with larger chests in class do complain about stiffness, so maybe.」

「I see…」

「Ah, Ochiba-kun, that feels good.」

Kokone-san shivered again. Although I had been dating Saori Sakaki, I had almost no experience touching a girl’s body. So even though I was just massaging her shoulders… I started feeling strange.

「…Sorry. I’m getting warm, so can I take off my shirt?」

Kokone-san blushed as she looked at me. I couldn’t help but avert my gaze.

「No, that’s a bit…」

「It’s okay. I’m wearing a shirt underneath. …And it’ll be easier for you to massage me, too.」

Before I could respond, Kokone-san began unbuttoning her shirt. I quickly turned my eyes away.

…Isn’t Kokone-san a little too carefree? As kids, it might have been okay, but now that we’re older, such actions put me in a difficult position.

「So, could you continue, please?」

Now in just a white shirt, Kokone-san turned her back to me again.

…Her underwear was visible through the shirt. Unlike the white panties from before, it was a mature black bra. I hesitated whether or not to point it out, but for now, I resumed massaging Kokone-san’s shoulders.

「…Ah. Ochiba-kun, you’re good. Once you’re done, I’ll massage your shoulders too.」

「No, I’m fine. My shoulders aren’t stiff, and it’s getting late, so you should head home soon, Kokone-san.」

「Actually, I told my parents that I will stay over a friends house tonight.」

「…Huh?」

I instinctively moved my hands away from Kokone-san. She looked at me with moist eyes.

「The request I wanted to ask… was if I could stay over tonight. Tomorrow’s a day off, so… would it be okay?」

「No, that’s a bit…」

It wouldn’t be okay. I’m the only one in this house, and there’s nowhere prepared for her to sleep. Even if she suddenly says that…

「I told you, right? About the penalty game, and wanting to try something fun together from a shoujo manga. …Recent shoujo manga have some pretty daring stuff, you know?」

Kokone-san turned to face me. My gaze inadvertently went to her large chest, which I couldn’t see well from behind.

「Hehe. Ochiba-kun, you’re looking at my chest again.」

「S-sorry.」

「It’s okay. …If it’s you, Ochiba-kun… it’s okay.」

Kokone-san said that and slowly approached me. I had no idea what was okay, but I…

「…Ah.」

Right at that moment, as if on cue, or perhaps mistimed, the doorbell rang.

「…」

「…」

For a moment, neither of us could move. …But we couldn’t just stay like that. I gathered my resolve and spoke.

「Sorry, Kokone-san. I’ll go see who it is.」

「…Roger…」

Kokone-san looked away shyly. I stood up and checked the monitor a little distance away to see who was at the door.

Standing there was…

「…Huh?」

Standing there was her… the girl, Saori Sakaki.