Episode 5

I buy some underwear, a toothbrush and drinks at the convenience store, then head over to Seriha’s house.

‘Please wait here for a moment.’

She tells me this as I reach the front door, and I give a slight nod.

She’s tidying her room… I suppose. I feel a bit guilty about suddenly coming to stay over, even though it wasn’t my intention.

“Right. No need to rush.”

No sooner had she closed the door than it opened again, barely ten seconds later.

“Welcome home, Senpai.”

Seriha greets me with a beaming smile, looking utterly happy.

It feels like it’s been ages since anyone said ‘welcome home’ to me. Perhaps she went into her room early just so she could say that to me.

‘…I’m home.’

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I looked away and replied quietly.

I’d had a terrible time of it just now, but seeing her like this, so innocent, I could forgive her for everything. I really do think I’m a soft-hearted, easily swayed sort of person.

　　　　◇

‘There’s something I absolutely have to do!’ she declared loudly. I watched her go off to take a shower first, and spent some time just spacing out.

　The room is just as neatly tidied as when I was here last time. Naturally, there’s no rubbish, and hardly anything left lying about.

I’m impressed by her, she’s lively yet meticulous, full of contrasts. My room’s tidy enough too, but if I were suddenly asked to invite someone over… I’m not sure.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

Seriha, now changed into her pyjamas, returned, enveloped in warm steam.

　The moment I saw her face, my expression froze.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick again?”

That’s not it. Well, in a way, perhaps I am feeling a bit queasy.

“Se… Seriha. Is that… you without make-up?”

My finger, pointing at her, trembled.

“I’ve just had a shower, so of course I am. To be honest, I only want to show you my perfect side, but I’ll have to show you this eventually anyway. This is my bare face. I’m committed..”

She puffed out her chest confidently. Perhaps because her nightdress was so thin, her curves were more pronounced than usual.

“You’re lying…”

I was speechless.

I suppose that’s exactly the right phrase to use at a time like this.

I’d always thought she’d still be beautiful even without make-up, but she was beyond my wildest imagination.

“Oh my. Have you fallen for me, Senpai? I’ll be waiting for your reply anytime~”

Was it frustration or embarrassment? Unable to bear looking at her face as she cheerfully laid out her toner and moisturiser, I fled to the bathroom.

I’m average-looking myself, surely. It’s just that she’s too good… far too good.

　　　　◇

I took a shower and changed into the loungewear she’d lent me. The T-shirt, which was a loose fit on her, looked like a dress when I wore it. The dolphin-print shorts provided with it were completely hidden.

I sighed as I looked at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I didn’t think this was a look a twenty-four-year-old should be sporting. Even though I naturally look young, this was a bit too much.

I hesitated at the thought of facing her in this outfit, but it was too late now. I steeled myself and returned to the room.

‘Thanks for the shower. That felt lovely.’

As Seriha turns around whilst drying her hair, the hairdryer nearly slips from her hand.

I feel as though the gaze fixed on me is unwavering.

She gently sets the hairdryer down and approaches me with slow, deliberate steps.

‘I’m… going to get some water! The fridge… the fridge…’

I turn my back as if to flee, but she grabs both my shoulders. She pulls me close, enveloping me, and I feel the warmth radiating from her back pressed tightly against mine.

‘I can smell my scent on you, Senpai. I’m so happy.’

Sniffing my hair, her nose travels down from my ear to the nape of my neck.

‘S-stop! Stop it, will you?’

It’s fine; I’m almost fully sober. I can say ‘stop’ properly. I’m not the sort of woman who gets carried away easily.

“Oh, come on. It’s fine, just this much.”

I brush her off as she grumbles, grab a glass of water from the fridge, and gulp it down. Perhaps because my body was flushed, it tastes colder and more delicious than usual.

“No. I told you to keep it ‘proper’.”

“But you looked like you were really enjoying it when I licked your ear, Senpai.”

The wet sound that had clung to my ear comes flooding back.

“Ah, that was because I was drunk!”

“So, can I try it again now?”

“No… no! My hair’s not dry… and if you do it again, I’ll get angry!”

She’d definitely said in the past that she’d ‘never force herself on anyone’, so if I just stay firm… I’ll be fine.

“Right, right, I get it. You’re the type who gets swept up by the moment, aren’t you?”

“That’s not it…”

In that cramped room, with that alluring expression, so different from her usual liveliness, perhaps it was that atmosphere that made me give in. For instance, if she were to press herself against me like that in bed before we went to sleep, what would I do?

“More importantly, that cuteness is unfair. You should put yourself in my shoes, being teased like that and then left hanging.”

“It feels a bit rude to say this after borrowing them, but honestly, this is a bit much, isn’t it…?”

The clothes she lent me aren’t to blame. The T-shirt is plain but the colour is lovely and it’s really cute, and I’d secretly fancied these dolphin-print shorts, so honestly, I’m chuffed to be wearing them.

It’s just… I don’t think they’re something I should be showing off in public.

“I don’t wear much make-up to begin with, so I don’t think it makes much difference, but I do look younger without it. And the clothes fit quite well, too.”

“Hmm. Honestly, you look dangerously cute. I want to touch you everywhere.”

“Oh…”

Enough already… My body can’t keep up with Seriha’s pace.

Having teased me thoroughly and seemingly satisfied, she leaves the kitchen and picks up the hairdryer again.

“Senpai. Please sit over here. I’ll be finished drying mine soon, so next I’ll dry your hair for you too.”

“Before that, could you just do my face first?”

On the small folding table, a whole array of skincare products has been laid out. Some look familiar, whilst others are completely unknown to me.

It’s not that I’m not interested, but as someone without any particular preferences, this range feels rather alien to me.

“This is amazing. There’s so much here, I might be spoilt for choice.”

　“I wasn’t sure what would suit your skin, so I picked out a few that seemed like they might. Please try the ones that catch your eye.”

She doesn’t just rely on her natural good looks; she never neglects to put in the effort. I really admire her for that.

“Thank you. I’ll give them a go.”

Glancing sideways at her as she dries her hair, I pick up the toner that caught my eye.

It feels so natural to be spending time like this now, but it’s only been a week since the day I opened up to her.

　I wonder what I would think if I, the person who spent years running away, terrified of the pain, were to see this room now.

To be honest, there’s a part of me that’s really enjoying this right now. At the same time, I feel that if I were to lose this happy time, I’d never recover. I think I would really break, completely, if that happened.

I wonder if she’ll accept me, even someone already half-broken like me.