Episode One Hundred and Thirty-One
After checking in at the reception hut, we headed towards the cottages.
“Number eight, so this must be it.”
Runa stopped in front of the cottage with its triangular roof.
“Wow!” exclaimed the younger girls.
I could understand why. It was twice as big as they’d imagined, and luxurious.
A table set with a canopy, a barbecue stand, and a wooden deck with an overhanging eave. A hammock wrapped around a conifer.
Opening the white wooden door and stepping inside, the scent of the forest enveloped us.
The cottage interior was divided into a living-dining area and a bedroom.
The bedroom had stairs, creating a mezzanine-like structure.
There were two single beds on each level.
They were positioned so closely together that one could almost call them a double bed each.
After inspecting the layout, Runa folded her arms and murmured, “Hmm.”
“Ame. What shall we do about bed assignments?”
“Hmm, well, that—”
Just as I started to speak, my arm was tugged.
“I’ll share with Shigure-san.”
Ibara clutched my arm possessively, as if staking a claim.
“…Grrr…”
Now, now.
The way Ibara looked at Runa was like a Doberman wary of a suspicious stranger.
Not good. Ideally, I’d prefer them to get along.
While thinking that, to be honest, I also felt a little pleased.
I found it rather cute.
I might already be beyond saving…
“Eh?”
“What do you mean ‘eh’, Yomi-san?”
“I fancy sleeping with Ame again after all this time.”
Runa grinned, deliberately drawing out the “after all this time” part. She seemed pleased.
As expected, Ibara flew into a rage.
“No. Absolutely not!”
“You can sleep with her any time you want, Shinomori-san”
“That’s true. But with Yomi-san… it’s just… no.”
She declared it unilaterally, then glanced at her neighbour.
“You think so too, don’t you, Shizuku?”
“Eh?”
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic, Shizuku froze.
Her gaze darted left and right, her flustered state obvious.
“Ah, I don’t really—”
“You don’t mind? If Yomi-san slept with Shigure-san?”
“W-well, it’s not like… I have an opinion on whether it’s good or bad or anything…”
“It’s a chance to sleep with Yomi-san, isn’t it?”
“Th-that! I haven’t even thought about that sort of thing! I mean, I don’t really care who it is. Ibara, my sister… even, um, sensei…”
She curled her toes, picking at the wooden floorboards, and kept touching her asymmetrical hair.
My little sister, she’s adorable. She mumbles, and I can’t quite make out what she’s saying.
“Mm…”
But apparently, that wasn’t a satisfactory answer for Ibara.
She let go of my arm and formed the letter “T” with both hands.
“Yomi-san, time out.”
What was that?
“Shizuku, come here a moment.”
“Eh? Eh?”
Ibara grabbed Shizuku’s arm and dragged her to the corner of the cottage.
Their distinctly student-like atmosphere looked rather cheerful, and I felt a twinge of envy.
That aside.
“…Runa.”
When I shot her a reproachful look, Runa rubbed her cheek as if to cover it up.
“Sorry. That girl’s just so cute when you tease her.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true…”
I couldn’t deny it, nor did I have any right to blame her.
I couldn’t possibly say teasing her too much was pitiful, not even if my mouth split open.
At least, not today.
Then Runa added.
“It’s not a lie that I want to sleep with Ame.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, not in a weird way. It just feels nostalgic somehow.”
Runa’s shoulder touched mine. I caught a faint scent of sweat.
In a small voice, Runa whispered.
“…Do you believe me?”
“Not that I’m doubting you or anything.”
“Eh? That’s a bit sad, actually.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“A delicate maiden’s heart, perhaps?”
“Silly. We’re both thirty, give or take a few years.”
“That’s a bit too rough, don’t you think?”
Runa nudged me hard with her shoulder.
Her animal-like, affectionate gesture made me burst out laughing.
Being like this felt somehow like going back to our school days. It was all rather sweet and ticklish.
Honestly, I started feeling like maybe it wouldn’t be so bad spending just tonight with Runa.
Ibara would be furious, though.
But I wanted to see that face too.
“Ame, you’re making a wicked expression.”
“Huh? No way.”
At Runa’s remark, I instinctively touched my cheek with my hand.
True enough, the corners of my mouth might have been turned up just a little.
I was in a bad way, even by my own standards. She might get her revenge later.
“Hey. Are you really going to sleep with me?”
Shaking my head from side to side, as if fending off a devil’s temptation.
“No way. Ibara would end up sleep-deprived.”
“Ah, right.”
Runa nodded as if satisfied, but after a moment, she tilted her head.
“But, is that really…”
The words she started to say trailed off, fading away.
Before I could ask her to repeat herself, the younger pair returned.
“We’re back.”
“Welcome back.”
Runa responded with a wry smile.
“Did you reach a decision?”
“Shizuku said she’d rather be with Yomi-san too.”
See? she asked, glancing back.
Shizuku muttered quickly, “Well, it’s not that I want to be with Sensei specifically, it’s more that I was trying to be considerate of my sister… to be honest, I’d be fine with anyone, really…”
Ibara puffed herself up.
“So, majority rule. Shigure-san and I will share a bed.”
Well, Shizuku’s opinion seemed rather fabricated. Should that even count as a vote?
Not that it matters, though.
“No, not really,”
Runa said, taking my arm.
“After all, Ame seems to want to sleep with me too.”
“──Huh?” “What?” “Huh?”
No no no no.
I never said anything like that…… well, I sort of did.
But I ultimately denied it.
I instinctively check Ibara’s expression.
Those usually drowsy eyes were wide open, staring at me.
And while I was at it, Shizuku was glaring at me with blazing eyes too.
Terrifying.
“H-hold on, Runa.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
It’s not fine at all. What comes next is terrifying.
Ignoring my protests, Runa held up two fingers on each hand.
“That makes it two against two. Can’t decide by majority vote, can we? What shall we do? Of course, we could settle it with rock-paper-scissors…”
She said this with a beaming smile.
“Since we’re at it, why not decide with a contest?”