Episode 58: An Adult Christmas

Lately, I’ve been working part-time so much that I haven’t been able to see Mayo at home.

As for why I’m working so much, it’s partly because I don’t want to stop living with Mayo, of course, but also because there’s a Christmas present I want to buy for her.

It’s quite a struggle having to earn money on top of covering living expenses.

　I open the door quietly.

‘I’m home…’

I step inside, my voice barely audible, and Mayo comes out of her room.

‘At this time of night again? You’re going to ruin your health, you know? I told you the money can wait. So, you really ought to cut back on the part-time work a bit.’

I’ve barely got home and I’m already being told off.

‘Haha, thanks. But I want to work.’
‘It’ll be all for nothing if you ruin your health.’
“You’re right.”

Just as I was about to head straight for the bath, pretending to have taken the advice to heart, she said anxiously, “You do remember our plans for tomorrow, don’t you?”

“Yeah…”
I replied with just that and headed for the bath.

Tomorrow, I have a date with Mayo from the morning.
Well, it’s just me thinking it’s a date, but it’s no exaggeration to say I’ve been working hard for this day.

So, to make sure I get as much sleep as possible, I hurried into the bath and decided to rest.

　＊＊＊

The next day, we went round various places from the morning.
We had lunch at a stylish café, and spent the afternoon visiting shops selling bits and bobs.

Surprisingly, Mayo stopped at a soft toy shop, saying ‘That’s cute’ and ‘This is cute’.
I was completely taken in by the contrast between her appearance and her personality.

She’s cute.

I’m going to properly tell her how I feel tonight.
I’ve made up my mind.
I’m so nervous my heart is actually aching.

　We’re having a Christmas party at home tonight. I bought some chicken, pizza and cake on the way back.

‘Hikari, thanks for a lovely day.’

I think Mayo has started to laugh quite naturally in front of me now.

‘Likewise. I had a lovely time too.’
‘You were unusually quiet for you today, Hikari, so I thought you weren’t enjoying yourself.’

I can’t say that… I can’t tell her I couldn’t concentrate on the date because I was so nervous about what I was about to say.

　We clinked glasses.
Mayo is of age, so she’s having a little drink. She drinks often, but apparently she’s the type who never gets drunk.

Once we’d finished eating and were clearing up, I spoke to Mayo.

“Mayo, turn round and close your eyes.”
“Eh? What are you up to, you pervert?”
“No, that’s not it… just turn round, will you?”
Mayo gave me a suspicious look.

“Turn round quickly.”
　Mayo obediently turned away.
I moved up behind her and wrapped my arms around her.

‘Are you really going to do that?’
‘No, I’m not. Just stay still.’

Saying that, I managed to slip the necklace around her neck.

Realising she was wearing a necklace, Mayo looked back at me.

‘It’s a Christmas present. I thought it would suit you…’

Now comes the main event.
　Today, I’m going to confess to Mayo.

That I want to go out with her.

My heart was pounding so loudly it was holding me back.

I took a deep breath, and Mayo stood up and came closer to me. Looking up at her face, which was higher than mine, I saw she had a serious expression.

Mayo leaned over me, as if to hug me.
I didn’t understand what was happening; my mind was a complete blur.

　I’d been trying my hardest to keep my distance from Mayo.

Because I felt I might do something strange.

I’d told her I’d sleep alone at night, and we’d started sleeping separately, so it’s been so long since I’ve touched Mayo that my body feels hot.

I wish she’d refrain from doing things like this.

I might get the wrong idea.

The back of my neck feels ticklish…
Mayo pulls away.

Eh—?

　Around my neck is a necklace in a different colour to Mayo’s.

The one I chose for Mayo was a sapphire necklace with a tiny bit of her birthstone in it.
I bought it because I thought the beautiful blue would suit Mayo perfectly.
And the one around my neck was a necklace with an emerald in it.

‘Sorry, I saw you buying this and wanted matching ones, so I bought this too.’
‘Why?’

　Just because I bought Mayo a necklace, why did we need to have matching ones?
As I pondered this, the distance between Mayo and me seemed to shrink.

‘Hikari, I like you. I want you to be my girlfriend.’

I wanted to believe my ears weren’t deceiving me.
Those were the words I’d always wanted to hear, yet words I might never hear again for the rest of my life.

When I looked at Mayo’s face, she was smiling, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Was I dreaming?

‘Mayo, you like me?’
‘Yeah. Is that a no?’
There’s no such thing as a no.
It’s just that my mind can’t keep up.

‘I like you too, Mayo. But I’m thinking I want to do the sort of things lovers do, not just friends.’

‘Yeah, me too.’

Her straightforward reply only made my head spin even more.
Yet my body moved of its own accord.
　I stood on tiptoe, leaning towards Mayo, and kissed her lips.
Mayo responded gently.
When I pushed her shoulders, we both fell onto the floor.

“If it’s you, Hikari, I’m fine with that sort of thing.”

It felt as though all the moisture had evaporated from my brain.
This is going too far.
I’m not ready for this.

“Today… could we do this another day…?”

　As if she’d known I’d say this, Mayo nodded in understanding and simply said, ‘Mm-hmm.’

She sat up and sat down beside me.

‘You coward.’

Saying that, she bit my ear.
The bitten ear burns hot.
Like ice melting in that heat, my heart threatens to be swept away.

I fled into the bath in embarrassment, and from behind me came the sound of a laughing smile.