Episode Ninety-Six
The meal was most delicious. The fresh fish platter, in particular, was superb. The landlady’s sharp wit and attentive service further dispelled the lingering gloom.
As I dozed off, full and content, Ibara patted her lap.
“Shigure-san, here you go.”
“…Er…”
“No need to be wary. I won’t do anything strange.”
Ibara’s hands fidgeted, kneading as if working something. What was that movement?
I instinctively pressed my chest.
“No, no. I’ll give you a head massage.”
“You can do that?”
“Only from videos, mind.”
There was a time when fatigue had built up and hardened inside me, and I had a scalp massage as an add-on at a hair salon. That had felt wonderful.
Like a moth drawn to a streetlamp, I settle back into Ibara’s lap.
“Alright then, please…”
Looking up to say that, Ibara made a rather awkward face. Why?
“Honestly, Shigure-san, you really are basically wide open by default, aren’t you?”
Well, Ibara said she wouldn’t do anything.
My body stiffened at the unsettling remark, just as Ibara’s fingertips touched my head.
She pressed firmly, massaging my scalp with steady force.
…Hmm, this actually just feels quite nice.
“You’re quite tense, aren’t you?”
“Am I?”
“Sorry, just saying. I’ve no clue.”
“Oh…”
Well, obviously.
But Ibara’s fingertips were surprisingly strong, kneading my scalp powerfully, gyu-gyu.
Ah, this feels good. I could get addicted to this.
The well balanced mix of pain and pleasure was lulling me to sleep.
“Hold on a sec. Shizuku’s messaged me.”
She pulled her hands from my head and tapped away at her phone. They seemed to have become quite close.
“I wonder if she’s managing alright at Runa’s place?”
“Well, hmm… I suppose…”
Her response felt a bit vague.
“Did you ask her? Shizuku only says ‘I’m fine’ when I ask.”
“I think she’s enjoying it. Sort of.”
It sounded rather suggestive.
“Right. Even if she’s attached to Runa, she’s still a complete stranger.”
“No, that’s not it. More like she seems to be brooding every day?”
“What do you mean?”
“You see, Yomi-san is actually quite a slovenly person in private. Wandering around in her underwear, sleeping on the sofa…”
“Ah, well…”
The old Runa was quite the hopeless case, or rather, the very embodiment of an ‘artistic type with no life skills’.
She seems to have improved considerably since entering society, but judging from what you’re saying now, her essence hasn’t changed much.
“So I think it’s just… tough for her. I totally get how she feels.”
“I see. Shizuku’s fundamentally serious, you see…”
She probably can’t stand a messy room.
But then, Runa’s older and sort of letting her stay with her, so it must be hard to complain about this and that.
“Hope she doesn’t bottle it all up and explode.”
“Yeah.”
Ibara nodded seriously.
“Just so you know, attacking someone in their sleep is a no-go.”
“Ahaha.”
I laughed, but for some reason, Ibara remained dead serious.
Nah, it’s fine. Shizuku wouldn’t actually punch Runa while she’s asleep.
“I’ll send her a photo of the seafood rice bowl we had for lunch.”
“It was delicious, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“I’d love to go travelling again sometime…”
Ibara’s thigh was soft and warm.
The height was just right, and sleepiness steadily washed over me.
“…Where would you like to go, Ibara?”
After pondering for a while, Ibara murmured softly.
“Shigure-san’s house.”
“I meant a trip.”
If it were my house, she’d be there every day.
“No, I mean your family home. Shigure-san’s.”
“Huh?”
Family home, huh.
She stared down at my face, which had gone blank.
“Is that a no?”
“It’s not… no, but—”
It was hard to just say “Sure!” outright.
If my parents found out I was dating a high school girl, they’d be flabbergasted.
Whether that would be followed by disapproval or acceptance, even I, their daughter, couldn’t predict.
“If it’s together with Shizuku, maybe it’d be alright… as Shizuku’s friend?”
“I’d rather not do that.”
“You’d rather not……”
It’s not as though she wants to be introduced as a friend with a large age gap either.
“Oh, no, that’s not it.”
“Hm?”
“I don’t like lying, but it’s not like I need you to introduce me as your girlfriend either.”
“Ah, right.” Oh, so that’s not it.
“I just want to know. What kind of house did Shigure-san live in?”
“Nothing particularly interesting…”
It was an ordinary house. A detached house without a garden, the sort you see everywhere.
“Also, I really want to see the albums.”
“How cliché.”
“Well, you never show me old photos, Shigure-san.”
“The data got corrupted…”
Back in university, I’d broken my smartphone, and all the photos inside vanished.
So, the only photos from my student days are in the albums.
“You could wear my uniform again if you like.”
I covered my face with both hands. Please, let me forget that.
Who’d have thought, at this age, I’d be adding to my collection of embarrassing memories.
Anyway.
“…Give me a moment to think.”
“Right.”
Ibaras’ fingertips felt so soothing, I was genuinely getting sleepy.
We were on the bed anyway, would it be alright if I just fell asleep?
In my drowsy state, I spoke without much thought.
“…I wonder if I’ll ever go to your house, Ibara?”
The fingers touching my head stopped. Perhaps they’d grown tired. If so, that’s enough.
I’m sleepy. I can’t keep my eyes open.
“I’d quite like to see your room.”
“…Yeah.”
“And the photo albums.”
“Yeah.”
“…But your parents might get really angry…”
“I wonder.”
Consciousness dissolved into drowsiness. I couldn’t resist.
If I fell asleep like this, I’d surely wake up in the middle of the night, but oh well.
With that thought as my last, my consciousness melted into the night.