Episode One Hundred and Three
Aki-san is dependable as a confidante.
Straight after work, I made my way to Sereno.
Though, truth be told, I practically live there these days.
“Welcome.”
I scanned the menu handed to me. Today’s special is quiche tart, is it? Right, that’ll be the one.
After placing my order, I spoke over the counter.
“Excuse me, Aki-san?”
“Hmm?”
Her cool, sharp eyes looked down at me through square lenses.
Was my nervousness because Aki-san’s gaze was too intense? Or was my sixth sense picking up some bad omen?
Still, I had to ask.
“──Do you happen to know someone by the name of Kikuno?”
“Kikuno?”
“Seems to be an acquaintance of Ibara’s.”
“Ibara’s…”
Resting a slender, long finger against her chin, Aki-san fell silent.
“Does it ring a bell?”
“No, though it sounds familiar…”
“You know her⁉︎”
“It’s right on the tip of my tongue.”
Just as Aki pointed to her throat,
the back door opened and Ibara appeared in her school uniform.
Huh.
My breath caught at the sight of that familiar profile.
Her downcast eyes were hard and tense. It was an expression I rarely saw.
──Could she be angry?
“Ah.”
But it lasted only a moment.
Spotting me, Ibara’s face brightened instantly.
“Shigure-san. You’re early today.”
Like a puppy finding its owner, she came trotting over.
My eyes met Aki-san’s. Through her glasses, her meaning was clear.
Later.
“Hehe, this is my girlfriend, Shigure-san.”
“You don’t need to announce it every time.”
Smiling, Ibara sat down beside me, her study materials tucked under her arm. Reference books, notebooks, writing implements and such.
“Studying?”
“Yeah. I can’t concentrate in my room.”
Saying that, she began solving problems at the counter.
Soon, the reheated quiche tart was brought over.
Bacon, spinach, sliced okra and carrots encased in golden pastry.
It was substantial and quite filling.
Once I’d polished it off, I glanced over. And then.
“Hmm…”
Ibara’s hand had stopped.
Fiddling with her mechanical pencil, she frowned and tapped the paper repeatedly.
Seemed she was stuck.
Pouting her lips as if seeking comfort,
“Hey, Shigure-san, do you know this problem?”
That’s what she asked me.
“Sorry, no chance.”
I glanced at her notebook and answered immediately.
I could barely make out it was maths, but beyond that, I was completely lost. No chance of helping.
“What do you expect from a former art student—”
“Ah—”
Ibara’s head drooped with a soft thud.
Come to think of it, Ibara was a student preparing for entrance exams but didn’t go to cram schools or anything. She basically studied on her own, which I thought was admirable in its own way.
“Don’t you go to cram schools or prep schools?”
“Well, it’d mean less time with Shigure-san.”
“……………Hmm…”
My throat made an unexpected sound.
Why on earth did this kid suddenly say something so adorable? She’s always adorable, I know. I know that.
“But if you’re taking the exams, wouldn’t it be better to go…?”
“Well, yeah.”
A rather half-hearted reply.
If you say that coming from an art school graduate lacks persuasiveness, then you’re absolutely right.
It’s not good to push too hard, so I left it at that.
“Forget it. I’m done for today.”
Thud. Ibara threw down her mechanical pencil.
A pearl pink Kurutoga. It rolled across the notebook and came to rest on top of a half-solved mathematical formula.
There was a slight sense of unease.
“……Ibara?”
“I’m feeling a bit knackered. Shigure-san, let’s go to the sofa.”
“Fine, but why?”
Ibara didn’t answer.
Instead, she took my hand and led me to the sofa seating nestled at the back of the shop.
As soon as I settled onto the soft cushion, Ibara leaned her weight against me. Her palm pressed against the back of my hand.
“Because I want to cuddle.”
“Eh?”
“The reason we moved. Because I want to cuddle with you, Shigure-san.”
She’d just said something incredible.
In public, no less. Or rather, in front of her guardian.
I glanced at Aki-san’s reaction. She was calmly washing the quiche dish.
Was she not bothered? Or just pretending not to be? I couldn’t tell at all.
As I hesitated, Ibara leaned her body sideways. Her temple landed on my thigh.
A lap pillow.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”
Like she was being spoiled, she rubbed her temple against me, grinding it back and forth.
Ibara’s hair carried its usual scent. Cool, fresh, citrusy lemon.
Almost unconsciously, my hand was stroking her hair.
Her pale, fluffy hair spilled through my fingers.
Just stroking it was enjoyable, and I found myself captivated by the curves of her forehead and nose bridge.
But.
“Did something… unpleasant happen?”
Her body on my thigh stiffened ever so slightly.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“Mm…”
Our eyes met as I looked up.
The corners of her slightly lowered eyes glistened transparently.
“If I said something did happen, would you comfort me?”
“Of course.”
“How?”
Eh.
How. How??
“Well… I could make you a delicious breakfast.”
“Shigure-san, do you think I’m still in primary school?”
“Is that a problem?”
“It’s not a problem, but I’d prefer something more romantic.”
Something romantic, you say.
“…Ear cleaning, perhaps?”
“Try harder.”
“I can’t think of something that quickly!”
“Then, I want to fondle your breasts.”
Now, now, now.
“Don’t say things like that in public.”
“But I want to be soothed.”
“……………Even though you touched me all over last time…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Hmph. You’re stingy, Shigure-san.”
She fidgeted, adjusting her head, and turned away.
“Ibara?”
“…………Sshh.”
Oh dear. She’s fallen asleep.
Regular breaths escaped her trembling lips.
She must have been terribly tired.
I couldn’t bear to wake her, so I left her be, until Aki-san arrived.
“I remembered.”
“Eh?”
“About earlier. Kikuno is the name of Ibara’s maternal aunt.”
“Aunt…”
I was taken aback by the unexpected answer.
Not her mother, her aunt. Her mother’s sister.
“It’s not your mother, is it?”
“I’m her paternal cousin, you see. By the way, where did you hear the name Kikuno?”
“Well…──”
I checked that Ibara on my lap was truly asleep, then briefly explained the circumstances.
Aki-san’s usually sharp expression gradually clouded over.
“…I see. I see…”
“What sort of person is she?”
“We only spoke a few times, so I don’t know her well. She just seemed like a very composed person.”
“That ‘Charles’ business seems rather reckless…”
“I’m not defending her, but perhaps she had no other choice. After leaving home, Ibara changed her contact details.”
“But she’s Ibara’s mother’s sister, right? Then surely she could have asked her for Ibara’s or your own contact details?”
At my question, Aki-san shook her head.
“It’s a bit complicated. Ibara’s, our family home is rather unusual.”