Episode Thirty-Six
The next morning, I awoke to the scrap collection lorry’s announcement.
The room, with its curtains drawn tight, was still dim.
I sat up and checked beside me.
Soft snoring. Gently closed eyes. Shoulders rising and falling peacefully.
──Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I last saw her sleeping face.
Or rather, this is probably only the second time. Since the first time we met.
Usually, Ibara always wakes up first.
Since I had the chance, I decided to take a good, long look at her handsome sleeping face.
Even so. Well, it’s a bit late now, and how many times have I said this already?
She’s good-looking.
Really good-looking.
Like this, I could look at her forever and never tire of it.
A cool, straight nose bridge, lashes pointing slightly upwards. Eyes that are almond-shaped and slightly droopy, though closed now. Smooth cheeks. That cool nose bridge. Even the shadows under her eyes seem to add to her cuteness.
And those lips, looking so incredibly soft.
“…Huh?”
Thump. My heart seemed to skip a beat.
Beneath my stomach. From around my lower abdomen, an unidentifiable warmth began to rise.
If I had to put this feeling into words, it would surely be—
“I—”
No, no, no!
It’s not that. It’s not that at all. Ibara is adorable, and I want to cherish her. Sometimes I even think I’d like to hug her like a big stuffed toy.
But this isn’t that kind of feeling.
It’s the affectionate love one feels for a younger sister, or a close niece.
It’s not that.
It can’t be.
…It shouldn’t be.
…But it feels like it might be.
“—Ibara! Come on, wake up! It’s morning already. Well, more like afternoon, actually.”
I shake her slender shoulders.
She won’t wake. This is troublesome. I need her to wake up soon.
Before I lose my mind.
“Hey, wake up already. If you don’t get up—”
Sleeping Beauty doesn’t stir. Eyes shut, she remains entrenched in the land of slumber.
How to wake Sleeping Beauty has been settled since time immemorial.
I swallowed hard, my saliva thick, and said.
“If you don’t get up, I’ll, I’ll kiss you, you know?”
No response.
As if spellbound, her face draws nearer.
My chest feels tight. My heart pounds painfully, like a girl’s.
I want her to wake up soon. I don’t want her to wake up.
I can no longer tell which is pretence and which is truth.
My vision fills with thorns. Just a little more. Just a little more and…
──It’s no good after all!
“S-sorry for thinking such strange things, Ibara──Eh?”
Just as I pulled back, an arm wrapped around my neck.
Immediately, something soft touched my lips.
“Mmm…”
A kiss that nibbled at my lower lip.
Then, chuu, chuu, sucking like a bird pecking.
Repeating, shifting angles and places, lips meeting again and again.
Five seconds passed, ten seconds passed.
As if finishing the job, something lukewarm traced the lower lip once more.
“Ree-roo.”
A small tongue slipped between my lips and invaded.
An awkward tongue traced my upper palate, greedily seeking out the tongue that had been hiding.
Around the time my tongue tip was gently nibbled, my brain, frozen stiff from shock, finally rebooted.
I rolled backwards, leaping away.
“Ha… ha… ah…”
Through tear-blurred vision, I saw Ibara sitting up.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. Her eyes, moist with a slight fever, flickered.
“Morning.”
“Wh-wh-what—”
“That was my first kiss.”
She traced her own lips with a finger.
“It’s incredibly precious, so I gave it to you, Shigure-san.”
“Eh, eh, ehhhhh…?”
Ignoring my continued confusion, Ibara rose from the bed.
She slipped on her indoor slippers, stood by the window, and reached for the yellow-green blackout curtains.
The curtain rail slid back with a satisfying shhh.
Dazzling light flooded the room.
Beyond the square window lay a sea of blue.
A cloudless, winter-clear sky stretched out.
Ibara turned back.
She must have slept deeply; the dark circles under her eyes had almost vanished.
She closed her eyes as if to confirm something, then opened them.
“Look, Shigure-san.”
And then, with a smile so captivating it took your breath away, she said.
“──The rain has stopped!”