Episode Thirty-Five

After warming up sufficiently, I removed my make-up and stepped out of the bath.
Changing into fresh underwear and Aki-san’s loungewear, I headed towards Ibara’s room.
Opening the door, I caught the scent of room fragrance.

“Are you sure it’s alright?”

I sat down at what must be her study desk and plugged the charger into my tablet.
Tapping the screen with the stylus, I launched the illustration editing app.

“What exactly?”

“Well, it’ll be an all-nighter. You probably won’t sleep until morning either, Ibara.”

“It’s fine. My eyes are wide awake anyway.”

Saying this, Ibara sat down on the stool by the dressing table.
Facing the three-panel mirror, she brushed her hair into place.
　With practised ease, she braided the sides and gathered them at the nape of her neck. She clamped her fringe with the straighteners, shaping it neatly.
With dizzying speed, Ibara adorned herself.
The number of makeup tools and her technique were just like a professional’s.
No. Not ‘like’.
Ibara really was a professional.
　Being an idol doesn’t mean you have a make-up artist attached to you round the clock. When taking photos for SNS or filming private videos, she must have done her own make-up.
The knowledge and skill to shine were the crystallisation of her efforts.
Finally applying a pale lip colour, Ibara heads towards the wardrobe.
I avert my gaze and turn back to the tablet.
The rustling of clothes ceases.

“—All right.”

I turned back.
Ibara held her right hand out straight towards me.
That hand drew a half-circle as if inviting me, then shot out straight to the side. She gently grasped the hand encased in a glove and swiftly drew it to her chest.
Then, she proclaimed her name loudly.

“‘On nights when you cannot sleep, I shall sleep with you deep in the forest.’ Formerly in charge of green at ‘Charles’, the Sleeping Beauty of the Forest, Shinomori Ibara. Tonight, a miraculous revival!”

There stood a princess.
Whoever looked at her now, Ibara was the genuine Princess Aurora.

“—Just kidding.”

She brought her gloved hand to her face, giggling with ticklish delight.
Boldly exposed shoulders. Countless frills, embroidery, and sequins adorning the deep green fabric. A fluttering long skirt, silver shoes. A golden tiara.
Everything suited her as if tailor-made.
She was so perfectly a princess, I couldn’t think of any other way to describe it.
　Yet Ibara spread her skirt anxiously and said,

“Hey, Shigure-san, isn’t this weird? It’s been a year since I wore this outfit.”

“It suits you.”

I declared it flatly.

“It suits you best in the whole world. You’re adorable. Absolutely adorable. Like, the most adorable you’ve ever been in your life.”

“Hyah!”

Ibara’s face flushed red.
　I wondered if I was overdoing it, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say to her right now.
Anyway, she was just too adorable. I wanted to pounce on her right then and give her a big, full-body hug.
But I didn’t, because it would mess up her costume.

“Stop it, Shigure-san.”

“But you’re just so cute, Ibara.”

“…Haa… You really are… sneaky…”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. More importantly, you’re drawing, right? Make sure you cover up the costume properly.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Ibara, wearing her ‘Charles’ era costume, turned her head slightly to the side.
Just that alone made her look like a painting.

“Tell me if you get sleepy.”

“I’m absolutely fine. When morning comes, let’s sleep together, alright?”

Nodding, I gripped the tablet pen.
How many years had it been since I last drew a person? It felt like such a long time ago, I doubted my hand would move properly. I was tired, and I wondered how long my concentration would last.
But I was sure it would be alright.
Because this model was the best I’d ever had.
If I could capture even one hundredth, one thousandth, one ten-thousandth of this beautiful princess with this pen.
　What I held in my hands now wasn’t oil paint, but digital.
Not a portrait, but an illustration.
Not a canvas, but a tablet.
Even so, surely all the time I’d spent drawing up until now would be rewarded, every single moment.
That’s what I thought.
I was certain of it.

†

Then, four hours later.
I sent Shindo-san an email compiling the design materials and concept.
　After checking the sent folder three times, I shut down the tablet.
I wanted to remove my make-up and change into pyjamas, but I lay on the bed, smiling like the Virgin Mary.

“Finished?”

“Finished.”

“Well done.”

“…Yeah.”

I staggered towards the bed. The magic of the all-nighter high had long since worn off. I couldn’t do it anymore. None of it. Didn’t want to move a single finger.
Something soft and rounded caught me as I flopped onto the futon.

“Shi, Shigure-san?”

“Ahh, smells nice… so soft…”

“Well, what can you do…”

I rubbed my cheek against the fluffy softness and closed my eyes.
The troublesome work was done. I was wrapped in warm futon.
　And Ibara was there. The world’s most adorable, my sleeping beauty.
Ah, bliss. Now, I’m sure I’ll sleep soundly.
But before that, I had to say this.

“Thank you, Ibara.”

I continued.

“Ever since meeting Ibara, I’ve been receiving so much.”

“What are you talking about? I’m the one who’s been helped.”

“No, that’s not it. It’s different.”

I searched for Ibara’s hand beneath the futon and squeezed it tightly.

“I realised yesterday, in the rain. It wasn’t just you, Ibara. I was able to sleep because you were there too.”

Very close by, Ibara’s eyes flickered.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. So, thanks to you, I’ve been sleep-deprived since last week. What are you going to do about it?”

“Right then, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Oh? How?”

I asked, giggling softly.
Ibara answered with a serious expression.

“I’ll sleep with you until you say it’s alright.”

“…Hmm. That sounds rather lovely.”

I let go of his hand once, stretched out my arms, and hugged him tightly, as if to trap the warmth.
　The scent of citron and lemon. The warmth of human skin.
The missing piece clicked into place, forming a complete, beautiful shape.
A languid, blissful drowsiness spread from the pit of my stomach throughout my entire body.
Still embraced, just as my consciousness was about to drift off to dreamland, I whispered softly into her ear.

“Goodnight, my Princess Ibara.”