Chapter 37 – Next Morning

As Takei woke up from his satisfying slumber, a sweet scent assailed his nose and refused to leave. Slowly opening his eyelids revealed a glorious sight in front of him. A beautiful blonde haired teenage girl was facing him with a peaceful sleeping expression on her face.

Somehow, Akari managed to go from sleeping on a mattress on the floor to sleeping in the same bed as him. There also was a blanket that conveniently covered the both of them. It was an unprecedented event, to say the least.

How should I approach this though? I could be reported to the cops if I don't handle this situation carefully...

Takei needed to tread carefully, unless he wanted to spend the next couple years inside a confined cell.

Even though he was thinking really hard about how to confront the situation, the reality wasn't as grim as he thought. The goddess wouldn't have cared if it was Takei that touched her since he was special to her.

Unfortunately for her though, Takei knew Akari liked him to some extent, but he didn't know where exactly the boundaries were drawn. That resulted in him being very cautious about his actions.

After thinking up a storm, Takei slowly rose from the bed only to reveal that Akari was insistently clinging to him.

Whenever he tried to move his arm away, she would grab it right back and snuggle up right next to it.

It was quite cute actually. A small possessive kitten, would probably be the best expression to describe the goddess's current state.

After a couple more moments of shaking his hand to try and get away from the sleeping goddess, Takei gave up and laid back down with a loud thump.

Although the loud sound was unintentional, it seemed to have accidentally done its purpose. The person that had been sleeping peacefully next to him began to stir awake.

Takei stared at her from a distance that was less than a foot away. His eyes refused to break away from the divine sight in front of him.

Admiring beautiful scenery is something that everyone should do to pay their respects.

As she lazily opened her ocean blue eyes, Akari finally recognized who the person in front of her was.

"Hm? Good morning, Takei."

She stretched her arms and gave a light yawn, as her brain was still slowly turning on.

Even though she was still waking up, Akari was still the same jokester. "I'm still a bit tired, since you kept me up last night."

"Don't say something that could cause a misunderstanding," Takei retorted.

Akari laughed at his instant retort. "Are you misunderstanding?"

"Nope," Takei adamantly stated.

The goddess looked a little bit crestfallen at Takei's reply. "That's a shame..."

Despite the silly banter they had going on, neither of them made a move to get out of bed. It was almost as if a mutual agreement was made without a word being spoken.

Even while they were joking around, Takei still had a question on his mind.

"Well, besides that. Why are you in my bed?" Takei questioned.

Akari flushed a bright red at Takei's interrogation. "I-I was lonely..."

Why did you do it, if it was embarrassing for you too?! It's not fair if you start to act bashful as well...

Takei was busy wondering why such an action happened, despite the obvious embarrassment that would ensue. It would be disadvantageous to both parties and result in an awkward morning, is what he thought.

Before that train of thought could continue any more, Akari nudged him with a sullen expression on her face.

"Are you mad?" Akari shyly asked.

Takei shook his head. "Ah, not really. Just a bit surprised. Give me a heads up next time."

The sullen expression was no longer found on the face of the goddess, instead it was replaced by a radiant smile.

"Will do!" Akari beamed.

At the sight of such pure happiness, Takei chuckled and patted her head.

The result was a flustered maiden that could barely hold her overflowing satisfied aura from leaking out.

Akari kept cutely nuzzling against Takei's hand until he spoke up about something.

"Hey, Akari?"

"What is it?" She happily replied.

"We're going to be late to school at this rate."

"..."

***

A mad dash to school ensued after Takei revealed the time.

Akari had to get ready, so she went home in a hurry. The accomplice, Takei, had to wait for her to freshen up and get dressed before he could even head to school.

They both barely made it to school just before the first bell rang. Takei and Akari parted ways in the hallway, since it was vacant due to everyone already being in class.

Takei had barely managed to sit in his seat before the first bell notified everyone that school was finally starting.

"Aren't you a little bit late today?" Rikka whispered to him.

Takei shrugged at her seemingly harmless question. "I guess?"

"Were you with somebody last night? I smell a female's scent on you..." Rikka accused.

Shit, she's observant. Wait a minute... Akari was hugging me the entirety of last night, so was that the cause?

In the end, Takei decided to play it safe.

"No answer."

"..." A silent glare pierced through him as he tried to focus on whatever was happening outside of his window.

Ignoring Rikka's obvious glaring, Takei decided to focus on something more productive.

Akari's birthday was steadily approaching, and he didn't have a present ready for her yet. Takei had accidentally found out about it because he stole a glance at Akari's student ID one time.

This was an especially troubling concern for Takei, since he didn't know what to get her.

He hoped to get something physical and permanent, rather than something temporary such as food.

"Perhaps a bracelet or a watch might be nice..." Takei unconsciously muttered.

Without any concern for his surroundings, the aloof Takei began muttering random things that might work great as presents.

"Did you say something? I swear I could've felt a lovey dovey aura leaking out," Eiji teased.

Of course, the person sitting directly behind him definitely would've heard something.

Takei sighed and flashed an annoyed look at him. "Shut up."

The lecherous look that Eiji had really pissed Takei off. Before he could even explain himself though, another piercing gaze was aimed at him. This time however, with even more intensity than the first.

Takei stole a glance at Rikka which revealed a negative aura quickly surrounding her.

Not knowing what to do about her worsening mood, Takei decided to be roundabout and ask her about it.

"Hey, Rikka... How's your day so far?"

"Not good."

An instant and curt reply shut him down instantly.

Once again, Takei tried to find the root of her unhappiness.

"Why is that?" He asked.

Rikka kept the ice cold facade even while she replied to his question.

"An indelicate blockhead, that's why."

At the mention of a blockhead, Takei immediately understood that the problem was about him. After being called by this nickname many times, he had already learned it by heart.

Deciding to try and fix her temper, Takei thought that giving her a favor might do him some good.

"What do I have to do to fix your bad mood?"

As if expecting Takei to reply like that, Rikka answered him with a cheery voice.

"Karaoke."

---

Akari's True Affection Meter: 30 -> 34%

Sugar-san: She is slowly wanting to sleep and wake up next to him everyday!

Serious-san: ...