Sleeping Beauty’s Summer Class

“Wait a moment, Shinomori-san.”

I halted and looked down the earthen steps I’d climbed.
Ten steps or so below, Yomi-san, hands braced against a tree trunk, had stopped and was looking up at me.
When our eyes met, Yomi-san gave a wry smile and said, “Oh dear.”

“You’ve got stamina, as you’d expect from a former idol. I do go to the gym and exercise, you know.”

“Is that so? May I go on ahead?”

“Now, now, now, now.”

Yomi-san placed her hands on her hips and stretched her back.
Sunlight filtering through the trees reflected off her sweat-dampened, natural blonde hair, making it shimmer.
　It was frustrating, but she was beautiful.
A clear-cut beauty with a great figure, radiant charm, the kind who instantly catches the eye.
Of course, when it came to facial features, I wouldn’t lose.

“Don’t be so cold to me.”

She smiled, as if to say, since we’re here anyway.
It seemed to show her confidence, and it still rubbed me up the wrong way just a little.

“Hey, fancy walking together for a bit?”

“Wasn’t this a race?”

“You must be knackered too. Just a breather. I won’t sneak off ahead.”

True enough, my legs felt like jelly. I could feel the lactic acid building up in my calves.

“…Well, just for a little while, then.”

“Thanks.”

Yomi-san approached me where I’d stopped.
　She opened the lid of the barley tea she was holding as she walked and gulped it down, making a loud slurping sound.
I took a sip of my mineral water, which had grown completely lukewarm.

Side by side, we started walking along the mountain path in silence.
Shigure-san’s friend, former roommate, popular illustrator.
And someone who used to have feelings for Shigure-san. Walking alone with such a person.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t bear the silence anymore.

“What’s your intention here?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

“What do you mean?”

“This hike.”

“Well, obviously, to decide room assignments fairly.”

“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”

Yomi-san’s eyes flickered slightly from side to side.
I knew it, I thought, realising I’d guessed correctly.

“If it’s just about room assignments, why not just draw lots? Going to the trouble of a hike like this… it’s obviously going to favour someone young like me.”

Incidentally, placing the emphasis on “young” was purely sarcastic.
Yomi-san looked away.
The reason she deliberately proposed something disadvantageous.

“Could it be for Shigure-san’s sake?”

“…You’re sharp. Don’t people often say that?”

“Anyone can see it.”

Yomi-san exhaled softly.

“Correct. Because Ame won’t exercise unless I push her this hard.”

She rolled her shoulders and continued.

“That girl’s been tired lately, hasn’t she?”

“Yes.”

That was true.
　Whether she realises it herself or not, Shigure-san must be terribly tired.
Of course she is. She’s juggling changing jobs and moving house at the same time. It’s impossible not to be exhausted.

“When your mental health’s taking a knock, aerobic exercise can be surprisingly effective, you know.”

“…Is that so?”

I remember reading about it in a book ages ago.

“Could this trip be for that reason too?”

“Yes. Of course, I wanted to come too, and I do hope it helps Shizuku-chan refresh herself.”

Brushing aside a thin branch that grew right across the path, Yomi-san narrowed her eyes.

“When Ame stays at home, she just keeps finding more and more work to do. Like, ‘I must clean the fly screens’ or ‘I should organise the cupboards’.”

That’s certainly true.
I recognise that tendency in myself. On days off, whenever she had free time, Shigure-san would be doing some sort of housework.
　I usually try to help out, but she mostly turns me down gently.
It frustrated me, made me anxious, and I wanted her to rely on me, so I’d insist, “Let me do it, you rest.”
But it never worked out.

“That’s why, every now and then, I have to drag her out like this.”

“…I see.”

Being told like that stung a little.
　Oh. So that’s how it should have been done, huh.

“Maybe it’s because she’s the older sister. Being at home makes her fret over everything, I suppose. I used to think she was like a bird building a nest.”

A bird. But it stings a bit that I kind of get it.

“Back then, I was always more careless about everything, so I left all the practical stuff to her. I was useless, wasn’t I?”

Her gaze turns towards me.

“Is that how you feel now too, Shinomori-san?　—Ah, looks like I hit the mark.”

Annoying.

“Ame’s always been like that, you know? Slacking off or skiving feels like stress to her. Basically, she’s rubbish at it. Pampering herself, I mean.”

“I understand.”

Damn. I understood too well and agreed wholeheartedly.
Yomi-san said with a cheerful smile.

“Right? She’s so good at pampering others, though.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Irritated by the palpable sense of “I get it,” yet feeling slightly relieved.
Apparently, it’s not that I’m too easy. Just as I thought. It’s because Shigure-san is too good at it.

“But Ame’s human too, you know. Even if she’s bad at it, she needs to rest properly and lean on someone. That’s something the old me didn’t understand.”

“So you understand now?”

　My own voice sounded sharp. My guard seeped into the edge of my words.
Because, Yomi-san’s comment just now…
It sounded like she was saying he understood Shigure-san better than I did, and that she was the one with the capability to take her out like this and refresh her.
Yomi-san shook her head from side to side.

“It’s not like that.”

“………….”

“Honestly. I just wanted to show you there’s another way.”

“Eh?”

“Take her out of the house sometimes, alright? Ame’s a homebody through and through.”

“Huh.”

What kind of moment is this? I thought, giving a vague reply, then suddenly understood.
This is a handover.
From the person who lived with Shigure-san for four years, to me.

“Well then—… Hmm, if you’re not confident, it’s best not to attempt cooking. It’ll only cause her stress. But you should definitely keep things tidy. she’s a neat freak, after all. Unplug any sockets you’re not using. And then—”

Wait, wait.

“Why—”

I found myself tugging at her sleeve mid-sentence.
Yomi-san turned around.

“Why… why are you telling me all this?”

“Because I want things to work out for you.”

And then she said something saintly.

“Because I want Ame to be happy. That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”

“Are you serious?”

My polite speech slipped, but I couldn’t care less anymore.

“But Yomi-san, you liked her, didn’t you? You liked Shigure-san, didn’t you? How can you say that?”

“I did, and we’re friends.”

“I don’t get it.”

Truly, I couldn’t understand at all.
If I were this person, I’d never be able to do it.
It’s impossible.
If Shigure-san left me and chose a future with someone else, pretending to simply wish them happiness, I don’t think I could manage that even if I were reborn.

Is she really a saint?
Or is this what they call “love”?

“You too, someday, no. Perhaps you’ll never understand. If that’s the case, then maybe it’s fine.”

The dappled sunlight must have stung his eyes, for Yomimi squinted as if dazzled.

“Anyway, are you willing to listen? The essentials of cohabiting with Ame.”

“………………………I’ll listen.”

“Good, you’re being sensible. Right then, let’s see—”

Yomi-san began speaking, her words coming out in a steady stream.
The me from a little while ago might have been driven mad by possessiveness and covered my ears.
But now it’s different. I want to learn as much as I can.
About Shigure-san.
The knowledge and things I need to live with Shigure-san from now on.