CH 33

“How was it?”

I asked Kaede, who was lying on the sofa after she came back. Kaede smiled and said

“It was a lot of fun!”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yes!”

She was rocking her body happily.

It was great that they both got along so well. I wasn’t worried about Chinatsu because she could get along with anyone, but since Kaede responded so happily, I thought I would buy Chinatsu an ice cream next time.

“What did you talk about? At the sleepover.”

“Umm… how do you live, how do you do housework? Stuff like that…”

“Well, those are safe questions.”

It was a natural question for Chinatsu to ask as well, but couldn’t they have had a more girly conversation?

“And then there was…”

“What else?”

“No, it’s still no good….”

Kaede then buried her face in the cushion and did not tell me what happened next.

Not wanting to pester her too much, I changed the subject.

“Speaking of which, I made omurice.”

When I reported that I had made omelette rice while Kaede was staying over, Kaede looked up from her cushion.

While showing her cheeks, which were still slightly red, to me,

“Fufu, it’s great that you didn’t make cup noodles.”

“Well, sometimes…”

“Good boy, Good boy, Fufufu~.”

She said and stroked my head with her small hand. I wonder what Kaede thinks of me….

“You’re treating me like a child.”

“Ara, it’s not like that, you know? Lately, when I wake you up, you hug me half asleep, and you look like a child… You know~?”

“Huh? Wait a minute, what is that…”

I didn’t know if it was a lie or not. Since I was asleep, I had no recollection of the time. If it was true, it would be too embarrassing.

I thought so and looked at Kaede, who was smiling like a little devil.

“Fufuf~, I’m just kidding.”

Kaede said with a laugh, but I thought my heart would jump out of my chest, so please don’t make such jokes, it’s bad for my heart.

But if I was hugging her…. My face remained hot the whole time I was thinking about it.

“Speaking of which, We’ll be going to my parents’ house in a little while, but is it really okay with you?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“I see. … you can stay at home if you don’t want to go, okay?”

But I was worried about leaving her behind, so I suggested we go together.

“That’s not true! I’m…. really looking forward to it.”

The expression on her face seemed to be one of enjoyment, but it was also somewhat sad.

That was to be expected, everyone thought about their own parents when they heard the word “parents,” and Kaede was probably remembering them now, too.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I just remembered a few things.”

“About Your father?”

“No, I was thinking of my mother…”

“I see…if there’s anything you want to talk about, tell me?”

“Yes! But it’s really okay.”

Kaede smiled at me, but her expression was still not smiling. I think she was trying not to make me worry, but if she showed that kind of expression, I would be even more worried.

“You don’t have to force yourself to smile.”

“………. yes.”

The living room was silent for a few moments.

“If you can’t smile, you don’t have to; instead, when you can smile from the bottom of your heart, smile as much as you can to compensate for today,” I told Kaede.

Kaede, however, was tired and was sleeping so soundly, hugging the cushion.

At that moment, a tear fell from her eye.

“Kaede …”

If so, what was Kaede worried about?

She was mumbling, “Mmm, Mmmm”

“Mom… what my father said is a lie, I believe you…”

It was hard for me to hear that, too. I gently hugged the sleeping Kaede.

I should have gently hugged her, but Kaede woke up in my arms, squirming and moving.

“Huh? I was sleeping …?! What are you doing!”

“Hmm? I was sleeping earlier too, so maybe I’m sleepwalking.”

“If you can think like that, you’re not sleepwalking!”

She said, “Moou~,” and her cheeks were red. I pulled my hands back and stood up.

“Then I think I’ll go take a bath.”

Kaede said, “Ah, …,” and then she tugged at the hem of my shirt.

I turned around and Kaede looked at me with upturned eyes, her big eyes and blonde hair shaking.

“I still want to talk to you, so please don’t go.”

(T/N: Alright I died)

If there was a high school student who could say “I can’t do that” to a girl who was the most beautiful girl in school and had a crush on her, please introduce him to me.

I sat down naturally.

“I’m going to keep you company for the rest of the day.”

“Thank you…”

The chatter went on for quite some time, lasting until midnight.

So I slept soundly the next day.