Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Chapter 14: From Now On

Koga Kotone was feeling regret.

「What am I doing…?」

It was early morning, just as the sun had risen. Kotone woke quietly, seeing the sunlight spilling through the gaps in the curtain, and let out a big sigh.

Yesterday, after Konoha said he would walk Saori Sakaki to the station and left, Kotone was left alone, waiting for Konoha to return with a muddled feeling.

However, like Konoha, Kotone was also exhausted. Perhaps it was simply because she had stayed up late the previous night having a strategy meeting with Miiko, leaving her sleep-deprived. Whatever the reason, Kotone had fallen asleep on the sofa without realizing it.

「Despite being egged on by Miiko, wearing such an outfit and saying such embarrassing things, I fell asleep halfway… What am I doing…?」

She had stayed over at the house of a boy she was interested in, hoping to commit a mistake for one night. She had even worn cute underwear and prepared various things. Yet, at the most crucial moment, she fell asleep. Though she wasn’t sure if she snored, when she came to, it was morning.

「…Too embarrassing. I wasn’t drooling, was I?」

She hastily wiped her mouth, but doing so now held little meaning. Realizing this, Kotone slumped her shoulders.

「But Konoha-kun, maybe he played a prank on me while I was sleeping. If it’s Konoha-kun, I wouldn’t mind if he touched my breasts…」

Kotone then turned her gaze to Konoha, curled up on the sofa a little distance away. He was still asleep, breathing peacefully. There was no sign of him waking up yet.

「Well, Konoha-kun wouldn’t do something like that」

Kotone had heard about the “One Night Mistake Grand Strategy” from Miiko. The plan was to have him touch her body and make him aware of her. Then gradually wear lighter clothes, and finally, approach him a bit forcefully. Since Konoha was at an age, he would surely make a move.

It was a very simplistic strategy, but she thought it might be effective. So, Kotone followed Miiko’s advice, but looking back now… even if she hadn’t fallen asleep, it probably wouldn’t have worked.

「Konoha-kun, there’s no need to sleep in such a place, yet he stayed by my side… He’s still the same as before」

Kotone approached Konoha slowly and gazed at his sleeping face. He had become much cooler than before, but there was still a trace of his past self in that sleeping face.

「…He’s kind of cute」

Kotone was seized by an impulse to hug Konoha but resisted it. It would be a shame to wake him when he seemed to be sleeping so comfortably.

「I wonder if he’s dreaming about me. It’d be unpleasant if he were dreaming about that girl from yesterday…」

The girl named Saori Sakaki who had suddenly come to his house. From what she saw yesterday, they didn’t seem to be that close. However, somehow, Konoha seemed to be in pain when talking to her.

「But that girl probably…」

In truth, yesterday, Kotone hadn’t intended to interrupt Konoha and Saori’s conversation. It would have been a nuisance, and she had planned to just watch from behind. But the moment she saw Saori’s eyes, Kotone found herself interrupting their conversation.

「I wonder if Konoha-kun didn’t notice. That girl seemed to have such an expectant look…」

Kotone, who hadn’t been told anything, didn’t know anything about their relationship. However, she sensed that something had happened between them. That’s why she ended up forcefully intervening.

「No matter what relationship that girl has with Konoha-kun, I… I won’t lose」

Kotone tried to gently touch Konoha but stopped midway.

「…I’m okay, right? I don’t smell, do I? I haven’t taken a bath, but… it’s okay, right? I walked around quite a bit yesterday, but I didn’t sweat much. But if Konoha-kun wakes up and thinks I smell, it’s over. I… I might cry」

Kotone quietly distanced herself from Konoha and checked her scent.

「I think I’m okay, but now I’m getting anxious. We used to nap together a lot in the past without worrying about such things…」

Taking advantage of checking her scent, she also checked her hair with her smartphone’s front camera. Her hair had bedhead, and her makeup was smudged.

「If my usual Kotone is 100 points, then now I’m… 39 points. It’s a disaster」

Kotone slumped her shoulders. In reality, Konoha probably wouldn’t care about such things, but she couldn’t help feeling anxious. Kotone distanced herself further from Konoha.

「That girl yesterday had such beautiful skin. If he thinks my pores are open compared to her, I wouldn’t like that… Well, my chest was bigger than hers, though」

Though she was fueled by competitive spirit, now she felt embarrassed to approach Konoha. If Miiko were here, she would likely tell her to pretend to sleep with her bosom exposed or seduce him by lying on top of Konoha while he slept.

But Kotone didn’t have the courage to do such things now.

「So, sorry, Konoha-kun. Let me borrow the shower, please」

With that said, Kotone quietly headed to the bathroom.

◇

「…Why am I in a place like this—oh yeah. Koga-san came over yesterday」

When I woke up, I was momentarily confused by the unfamiliar ceiling. But yes, yesterday, Koga-san fell asleep in the living room, so I joined her and slept there.

「Wait, Koga-san isn’t here」

She was supposed to be sleeping on the sofa in front of me, but now she’s gone. Perhaps she left while I was asleep? For a moment, I thought so, but since her belongings are here, she’s probably just in the restroom.

「She made dinner for me yesterday, so I should at least make breakfast… But first, I’ll wash my face」

I’m generally not a morning person, so my head is still foggy. In this state, I can’t cook. It’s fine if it’s just for me, but I can’t serve Koga-san burnt eggs. So, for now, I’ll wash my face to wake up and head to the sink.

「Ah」

「…Ah」

That’s when I saw it.

She must have been taking a shower. Koga-san, her hair still wet, was wiping her body with a towel. Her beautiful white skin and the droplets falling from her large chest. The scent of soap filled the air.

…I’ve done something stupid.

I let my guard down. A mistake. If I had listened carefully, I could have heard Koga-san changing, but I didn’t notice at all.

「S-sorry! Koga-san!」

I quickly averted my gaze and stepped away from the sink. This might have made her dislike me. I should brace myself for a slap… Or so I thought, but Koga-san didn’t scream or anything.

Instead, she spoke in a testing voice, as if trying to stop me from leaving.

「…Did you do that on purpose, Konoha-kun?」

「No, I didn’t. Sorry, I was just out of it after waking up, and…」

「Is that so? You weren’t trying to sneak a peek at my bath, were you?」

「No, no. If I did that, it’d be a crime」

「Well, that’s true, but…」

「Anyway, sorry. Are you dressed now? I should go back to the living room, right?」

Feeling guilty and wanting to leave the scene quickly, Koga-san seemed to enjoy it and laughed.

「Hehe, actually, I have a trait where I become 30% cuter after a bath」

「Ah, I kind of get that. Sometimes I feel like I look more handsome after a bath too」

「Konoha-kun is handsome all the time, right?」

「If you say that, Koga-san is always cute too」

「…………」

「…………」

Neither of us knew what to say, and we fell silent for a moment.

「Anyway, can I go back now?」

「…You don’t want to see the 30% cuter me? I already put on the bottom, so it’s fine, right?」

「No, say that after you put on the top too!」

After that silly exchange, I returned to the living room, where I repeatedly bowed my head in apology to Koga-san, who had just gotten out of the bath. But Koga-san didn’t seem angry at all and forgave me easily.

I thought it’d be like a romantic comedy manga, where I’d get slapped, but that didn’t happen.

「Really, what am I doing」

Perhaps she was being considerate. From now on, even when I’m just waking up, I’ll be more aware of my surroundings, I vowed as I took a shower myself.

「Ah, are you out of the bath? Breakfast is ready, so let’s eat together」

When I got out of the bath, Koga-san had made breakfast.

「Thank you for everything… Let’s eat」

Feeling a bit pathetic, I ate the delicious breakfast. Although I felt a bit awkward, Koga-san’s demeanor was no different from usual. Before I knew it, the tension left my shoulders.

After we finished breakfast, I made coffee for Koga-san, intending to talk about Saori…

「You don’t have to tell me」

Koga-san shook her head.

「It’s okay? I mean, leaving aside what happened yesterday, it’s related to why I… was crying the other day」

「It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re not dating that person, right?」

「…No, we’re not dating」

When I answered, my chest didn’t hurt anymore. After talking yesterday and sleeping, I must have sorted out my feelings.

Now, strangely, my chest felt light.

「Then it’s fine. I’m not the kind of heavy woman who digs into a guy’s past」

「But you’re curious, right? Leaving aside what happened yesterday, I was… crying then」

「…Well, I’m not entirely uninterested. But it’s okay. Instead, when you’re having a hard time, don’t hold it in alone, rely on me. No matter why you’re struggling, I’ll always be on your side」

「…Thank you」

I felt like crying. Koga-san said she’d be on my side. Even after showing such a pathetic side, even after seeing her changing just now, she still said she’d be on my side.

I don’t know what kind of relationship Koga-san and I will have from now on, but for now, I was simply happy to hear those words.

「…But, I should confirm one thing…」

Koga-san placed her coffee cup on the table, cleared her throat exaggeratedly, and looked up at me.

「Confirm? Sure, ask me anything」

When I answered, Koga-san spoke with a slightly anxious voice.

「Um, you don’t have someone you’re dating now, right? You’re not dating that person from yesterday, but you don’t have another girlfriend, do you…?」

「No, I don’t. I’m not exactly the popular type」

Upon hearing that, Koga-san’s face brightened instantly.

「Well, yeah! If you had a girlfriend, you wouldn’t let me stay over at your place! You seem like you’d be really serious about that kind of thing!」

「It’s not about being serious; it’s just normal」

Technically speaking, I let Koga-san stay over before breaking up with Sakaki-san… But, well, there’s no need for me to worry about that now.

「Alright, I’ll head home soon. If I stay for two nights, my parents will worry. I didn’t bring that many changes of clothes either」

Finishing her coffee, Koga-san stood up and stretched with a satisfied expression.

「Shall I walk you home?」

I stood up, intending to grab my jacket, but Koga-san shook her head.

「No, it’s fine. My house isn’t that far. I told my parents I was staying over at a female friend’s place, so if they see me with you, they might misunderstand」

「I see. Well… thanks for everything. I’ll treat you to something next time as a thank you」

「It’s okay, you don’t have to. More importantly… can I come over again to hang out? I can cook and clean, and there are still dishes I want you to try」

Koga-san blushed and twirled her bangs around her finger. I replied with a genuine smile, not the usual fake one.

「Well, as long as it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it」

「Great! That’s a promise then! You can repay me by giving me another massage like yesterday!」

「No, that’s—」

「No! It’s already part of the deal! So, see you, Konoha-kun!」

Koga-san laughed cheerfully and left. I intended to at least see her off to the entrance, but I didn’t even have time for that. Well, we’ve exchanged contact information, so we can reach each other anytime.

Thinking that, I glanced at my new smartphone and saw that I already had a message from Koga-san.

「…What is she thinking」

The message was a close-up photo of Koga-san’s chest. When did she take such a picture? I could see the two moles on her chest.

What am I supposed to do with such a picture?

「Well, whatever」

I’ve put an end to my relationship with Sakaki-san, and I can laugh with Koga-san like we used to. There are still issues, including the smartphone matter, but now I can genuinely feel like I can try my best from here on out.

「Maybe I should try being a little more honest too」

Ever since my parents abandoned me, I felt like I had to become someone. After dating Sakaki-san, I felt like I had to be someone worthy of her.

But Koga-san accepted me, even when I was pathetic.

That doesn’t mean I think I don’t have to try; I’m not special enough to be liked by everyone just by being myself. I think I understand that much… But maybe I can start trusting those around me a little more.

「Maybe I’ll invite Mori-kun and Kawaguchi-kun to skip stones or something」

With that thought, I looked forward to Monday a little more… But come Monday, an unexpected problem was about to arise.