CH 3.1

Chapter 3: Hinagata Residence (Part 1)

What stopped me was a detached house with a Japanese style architecture. It was quite large and had more rooms than my house, and I remembered playing hide and seek and tag there when I was a kid.

“It’s been so long since I’ve been to Hinagata’s place.”

“Please come in.”

Hinagata opened the door and went up first.

“I’ll get you a towel and some clothes.”

“Yes, thank you.”

She smiled as she turned around, and her skirt billowed out. She quickly held her skirt and looked back at me.

I quickly averted my eyes and pretended that nothing was going on.

“. . .”

Putting on her slippers, Hinagata disappeared into the back of the hallway.

I think I saw it. Yeah, probably.

Hinagata’s panty shot… I-I’m not excited by it! Just this level… I can’t think like this… We’re familiar with each other since we’re childhood friends. What am I thinking?

I’ve seen things like that many times in the past, like when she was in kindergarten and she was flashing all over the place.

…White.

…Today’s was different from the one I knew, though.

“I’m not happy about that at all…”

“Ryunosuke, what are you talking about?”

With curiosity on her face, Hinagata looked at me.

“Whoa! S-since when you have been listening to me?”

“When you blurted out that today’s was different from the one you knew.”

Did it leak out from my mouth? Gotta be careful…

“What is the difference?” 

“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been at your home, so I think it’s a little different from what I knew.”

“But it hasn’t changed?”

“Well, I’m sure you can’t tell the difference if you look at it every day.”

She wondered if that was the case, and looked around, tilting her head.

Somehow I managed to cover it up.

She handed me the towel that she had brought with her and I wiped my wet arms and shoulders.

Then she pulled out a pair of slippers that looked like they were for a guest and quietly said—

“Then… I’ll put your uniform in the dryer; you’re welcome to hang out inside until it’s over.”

“Then I’ll do that.”

I can’t be on someone’s doorstep while showing my underwear.

“This way.”

“I know.”

I followed Hinagata as she walked ahead of me. The old stairs made a creaking sound as we walked.

I haven’t seen Hinagata’s house in a long time, but it was almost the same as the one I knew.

I went upstairs and found Hinagata’s room right next to me.

It was a simple room with a bed, a study desk, and a few color boxes. Surrounding the room were some photos carefully placed in photo frames and a few snapshots stuck to the wall with thumbtacks.

“Don’t look too much. It’s embarrassing…”

“Oh, my bad.”

Even though Hinagata had just left, she immediately returned and handed me the clothes through the door

“T-This is my father’s sweatshirt… I couldn’t find any other clothes.”

I took it and changed, then handed the uniform to Hinagata, who was in the room with only her arm through the door.

“Please wait.”

And with that, she went downstairs.

I felt strangely nervous in her room, where I hadn’t been since elementary school.

It smelled even better than the room I remembered.

As the door was knocked, Hinagata sneakily opened the gap and peeked at me.

“Can I?”

“It’s your room. I don’t mind.”

“Yeah, but…”

Hinagata walked in and sat down right next to me. I could tell after changing my clothes that Hinagata’s clothes were also quite trenched.

Her black hair was shinier than usual. A part of hair clung to her cheek.

The wet part of her blazer looked different in color than the non-wet part.

I could see the damp blouse underneath sticking to her chest. I couldn’t help but bring my gaze to the front.

Is it just me or does it feel …oddly erotic?

“You should also change your clothes.”

“I will.”

She started to take off her jacket on the spot and I turned away again.

I heard a quiet rustling of clothes. She put her jacket down with a snap.

I looked for a topic of conversation so that she wouldn’t notice how nervous I was.

“…Did you ask Uchino kura-san, what she and Sugichi talked about?”

“No, I didn’t. I didn’t ask because it looked like she wouldn’t tell me.” 

She just took off her jacket and the change of clothes was over. No wonder I wasn’t kicked out of the room.

Hinagata started to tie her hair up; the ponytail looked good on her.

“You’ve been watching too much… Ryunosuke.”

“Ahh, sorry. My bad.”

Fufufu~ Hinagata laughed. Because the blouse was wet, the inner underwear was slightly visible. 

Please wear something on top as soon as possible. I’m having trouble with my eyes.

“It’s always like this in club activities.”

“Oh, I-I see.”, I could barely manage to say.

I have no idea what to say to her. I’ve never had any trouble at school or during breaks.

“I know you think you’re being nice, but …I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“What?”

“Even if you’re nice, you shouldn’t invite a guy into your house or let him into your room…”

“I shouldn’t?” 

She tilted her head with a look of innocence on her face.

“You shouldn’t.”

There is a tendency of Hinagata to think that boys are equal to me.

I have to tell her right now.

“In a situation like this, there are guys who will do weird things.”

“Weird things? You’ve never been to your childhood friend’s room in a long time, and you’re sniffing the smell?”

“Wha-, I’m not sniffing!”

No, I smelled it a little.

Ahmm, I gave a deliberate cough and went back to my story.

“Some people might misunderstand your kindness, so don’t take them home too easily——”

“Don’t worry. It’s only for Ryunosuke.”

Trust, confidence, peace of mind.

That’s what we have between us.

Because we are childhood friends.

We’ve done things like this many times before.

But Hinagata doesn’t understand.

We’re not the same as we were back then.

“A man can have s*x with you even if you don’t like it.”

I knew that if I muddled it up, she wouldn’t get the message, so I spoke up clearly.

I grabbed both of her slender shoulders and Hinagata easily fell on her back.

It may have been a little too scary. When I regretted it a little and looked away, Hinagata stared at me.

“…Ryunosuke is different.”

“Don’t think that’s the case with everyone.”

For example, a story about a senior who is popular. A story about his friend. And the story my friend told me.

I don’t know anything about it, so it seems like a distant world to me, but people who don’t treat women right also are sloppy with their lower body.

“I’m sure even the one Hinagata likes is──”

Huh? What am I saying?

I didn’t mean to have a negative influence.

This is the guy that Hinagata, who’s been turning down confessions from all kinds of guys, chose. I bet he’s really popular.

I couldn’t say anything else, so I got off the top and pulled Hinagata’s hand to get her up.

“I also feel weird. Be careful…”

What do I mean, “be careful”? I’m the one who should be careful.

“You tried to warn me, didn’t you? Thank you.”

There there. She patted me on the head

I don’t know why this is happening.

“Yeah, but…”

“I won’t do it to anyone but Ryunosuke. I promise.”

“No, I think it’s fine if it’s me, or if it’s with just someone you like…”

Hinagata nodded vaguely as she looked deep in thought.

“Then, it’s okay”

“It’s okay. That made you probably think I’m stupid or foolish…”

“With Ryunosuke…, it’s okay if I feel weird.”

There was a pause, as if searching for words, with a raised eyebrow.

“You know…”

I wondered what I should say.

I felt weak, and I nodded my head dejectedly.

It seems that it is necessary to take a little more time to explain what a man’s heart is. 

For Hinagata, I would be a helper character of the opposite s*x that cannot be captured.

“Oh well.”

I said with a sigh, and Hinagata sneezed next to me.

“You’re getting cold because you didn’t change your clothes.”

“I’m going to change my clothes. Get out.”

I got up and walked out of the room.

Hinagata said it was okay if I got weird ideas, but I wonder if she said that because she thought I wouldn’t be able to do that. Or is she actually a b***h— no, I don’t think so.

I used to know more about what she was thinking, but lately I don’t know.