CH 29

After eating yesterday’s leftovers for lunch and cleaning the place, he heard an electronic sound that he was used to hearing these days.

A single ring would have been enough, but the visitor seemed to be unnecessarily ringing it repeatedly, and a loud sigh escaped from his mouth.

How many more times will I have to let out a sigh over the next half day?

Maybe, an amount that couldn’t be counted by fingers.

Of course, despite complaining, he was still looking forward to it.

However, as someone who was familiar with the two people behind the door, he had a bad feeling that something would happen.

“Please excuse us~~~!!”

After the intercom rang more than ten times, Asahi opened the door, and Hinami ran straight into the living room after a brief greeting.

“I’ve heard from Chi-kun, but it’s really spacious and beautiful… Wow, these lights are so stylish! Oh, this sofa is the one famous for being super puffy!”

I could hear Hinami’s distinctive, cheerful voice over my back.

Her appearance was clearly more active than usual, and so Asahi asked the expert for an explanation.

“Hina had always wanted to go to your house. So, she’s more excited than usual.”

“So that’s why she’s so excited… I don’t want to disturb the neighbors, alright?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll stop her before that happens.”

“By all means, do so. I can’t control Hinami, after all.”

If the voice echoed into the next room, it might further spoil Fuyuka’s mood, which was already bad enough because of yesterday’s incident.

“Please, if it comes to it, I’ll be counting on you, Chiaki.”

“I understand, but why are you so persistent about it?”

“…What’s with that look?”

“I mean… I was just wondering if you’re interested in your neighbor.”

“What kind of thought process would lead you to that idea?”

“Woah, your face is really scary… I’m just kidding! You’re not the type of person who cares about your neighbors, so I just felt something was off.”

“I’m sorry,” Chiaki said in a pathetic voice, but his thoughts were on the mark, and it was Asahi who was being put on the spot.

Really, the sharp point that he makes from time to time would almost make my cheeks twitch.

I would like it if he used that thinking power for his studies, instead of putting it all into romance.

“Stop prying. There’s nothing like what you’re imagining.”

Chiaki would back off if you show him that you don’t want to.

This time too, I corrected him with as low a voice as I could muster, and he raised his hands in a pose of surrender and said “I’m sorry.”

There was no way I was going to tell them that Fuyuka lived next door.

Even more so, that they were having dinner together every night and that she was teaching him how to study.

If there was any chance that he found out, even Chiaki, who knew how to keep a low profile, would probably ask to dig deeper.

I even had a feeling that he would threaten me until he heard everything.

As for Asahi, he didn’t think he could get through this without being mad.

Then I heard noisy footsteps approaching me from behind, and cold sweat poured out of my body again.

“What, Asahi found someone he liked?”

As Asahi watched Hinami come back to the door with a glint in her eye after enjoying the living room, he sighed for the third time and looked up.

—

“Asahi, I’m tired of games!”

“I’ve already told you there’s nothing in my house.”

“Booー, that’s true but there’s really nothing to do.”

“That’s right, there’s nothing to do in Asahi’s house.”

“It’s fine if the owner says it, but it’s quite rude when you guys say it.”

She put the controller on the floor and stood up unsteadily and settled on Chiaki’s lap next to her.

“Hey, I told you no flirting.”

“This is the latest human-shaped sofa, so it’s safe.”

“That latest sofa is mobile, isn’t it?”

“That’s right, it wraps around the person sitting on it and warms them up.”

The latest model of sofa, modified by Chiaki, which apparently had a talking function, hugs Hinami’s small body with all its might.

After sighing for the tenth time, Asahi looked at the clock in the room, wondering what to call this if not flirting.

“…I’d better go out and buy things for dinner.”

“Agreed! Agreed! Agreed! Nice idea, Asahi!”

“Alright, the main event of the day is about to begin!”

Feeling a little happy that the tension between the two of them, who had been languid until a moment ago, was suddenly high, Asahi immediately headed for the entrance.

“The request is Salisubury steak, right?”

“Yeah! The one with cheese on top! I’m looking forward to it!”

“Be careful on the streets at night!”

“Why are you trying to stay, you guys are going too.”

“Wait, I understand! It’s just a joke, so don’t make such a scary face!”

Chiaki and Hinami seemed to twitch a bit, I wonder if it was really a joke, but there was no way they were going to stay at home.

I put the plates and cups that Fuyuka had brought in the back of the cupboard, and also hid the reference book with her name in it.

The brooch in the doorway was bound to get me into trouble if they find it, so I put it in the wardrobe last night.

Although he took all possible precautions, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the lack of surveillance.

“Come, let’s go.”

“Yes~, we’re coming!”

Asahi slowly opened the front door, making sure that the two who had lightly prepared to go out would soon follow him behind.

“Ah…”

“Eh…?”

A clear, beautiful voice and a dumb, low voice echoed outside at the same time.

Asahi saw the owner of the glazed hair crossing the hallway with a supermarket bag in her hand.

Quickly deciding to avoid the worst case scenario, Asahi turned around and tried to urge them to remain still.

But it was already too late, the voices of Chiaki and Hinami, with eyes and mouths wide open, echoed together.