Chapter 38.1

Each of our backs (1)

“—After that, the Director was very upset and dejected.”

It was really something.

I didn’t expect that the Director would be so swept away by Sou.

Apparently, the Director had made some inappropriate remarks to Sou, and he was so panicked that he had offended him. It even became my afternoon job to comfort the Director when there was no reply from Sou.

Even though the Director thought that it was all only virtual, I didn’t expect him to be so absorbed in this. I was kind of happy to be able to see him acting like he was still a young man of his age.

“Hmm. So that person also has a human side to him.”

Speaking of being happy, I was also happy because of this.

For the first time in a while, Yuugo was sitting with me at the dinner table again today.

Today he came home earlier than me and even prepared dinner. Usually, we eat separately from each other. It has become an unspoken rule in this house that we prepare our own meals.

That’s why I couldn’t believe we could eat together at the table like this for two days in a row… Moreover, the dish that he prepared were all my favorite foods.

When he was still in high school, Masago used to cook for me. This was his way of showing support for me as I went out into the world to work earlier than him. Masago stopped cooking for me when he became busy after entering university, but it seemed like he still remembered my favorite dish.

I was so happy that I couldn’t help but gulp down a can of my treasured beer. I wasn’t that strong with alcohol, but I felt as if I could finish a whole can in no time.

The drunkenness helped me to be much more talkative than before. I end up continuing talking while smiling at Masago who was sitting across from me.

Masago was also smiling all the time in response to my excitement.

“It’s been a while since I saw you being so happy like this.”

“…It must be because it’s been a while since you got home at this hour.”

We didn’t get to see each other very often. It was only natural.

I end up talking in a sulking tone. The alcohol was causing my mood to go up and down. I end up spilling out my usually hidden frustrations.

“…Just kidding.”

I know that he’s busy with his work. It couldn’t be helped.

I immediately realized it and smiled to cover it up.

When I put the back of my hands on my hot cheeks to cool it down, Masago’s hands landed on top of mine.

“…What?”

“I just wanted to touch you.”

I glanced at Masago, but I couldn’t look at him for a long time.

It was because his eyes that usually looked sleepy were staring straight at me. On top of that… I felt like there was a heat in his eyes that was different than usual.

“Speaking of which, why have you been coming home unusually early these days? There’s no way that you’re… suddenly free from your busy work.”

The research and development team was definitely always busy.

I haven’t heard anything about an extreme decrease in work, and the Director was even always busy running around.

“I’m as busy as ever. But… I was lonely, too.”

“Huh…?”

“I didn’t know that you also feel the same way, Miya.”

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what he was talking about.

As I was confused, his hands that were on top of mine squeezed it tightly. I thought I was going to be pulled towards him, but then Masago’s lips brushed my fingertips.

“I was happy you sent me a message that you wanted me to come home early. Because you wouldn’t say such selfish things at all.”

I couldn’t immediately understand the meaning of his words.

I didn’t remember telling Masago that I want him to come home early. But, I felt like I had seen those words somewhere.

—It’s lonely, I want you to come home early once in a while.

Those were the words that I sent to the Virtual Alpha app.

It was the only time in my life that I ever used the word “lonely”.

“Huh… wait, don’t tell me, that virtual alpha is actually-…?”

“I couldn’t possibly give the position of being your partner to someone else, isn’t it? You’re my pair, Miya.”

So, the one who replied to me was Masago all along…?

I should have realized when I heard that Virtual Alpha wasn’t completely from AI. I should have realized that it wasn’t an AI that I sent those messages to.

My face flushed red in an instant.

As I chewed on my trembling fingers, Masago stared at me with a bit of frustration.

“You didn’t know?”

“…How could I have known? I thought it was just an AI.”

Even though we were still in the middle of eating, the heat in my body started to rise from where Masago touched me.

The scent of my pair being mixed with the smell of alcohol made my reasoning melt away.

“ngh…”

“Does it feel good? Your voice is so cute.”

Masago’s voice sounded somewhat heated as well. The color of sensuality began to mix with the fingers sliding down the back of my hands.

“Aah… wait. We’re still eating-”

“Sorry. I can’t wait.”

“But, you’ve gone through the trouble to make it for me.”

“This feels nostalgic, too. I could always make some meals for you anytime, so let me make love with you for now.”

When he whispered those words in my ear, I couldn’t say no.

*

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