Episode 109: The Odd Couple

‘You two, do you have any plans for Christmas?’
‘I’m free, actually.’
‘Nothing at all.’
‘I was thinking of having a do-over for the Christmas party we missed last year on the 25th or 26th, what do you think?’

Ah, I see, Endo-san looks as though she’s understood. Mai must be planning to spend the 24th with Miumi-chan.

‘So, shall we have a Christmas party at my place on the 26th?’
‘Is that OK with you, Hina-san!?’
‘Of course. Takizawa, too?’
‘U-um…’

With the two of them creating an atmosphere that made it hard to refuse, my Christmas plans are filled up again this year.

It’s not that I mind, but the two of them always fill up my schedule on a whim. I wish they’d listen to my opinion just a little bit.

‘Shall we study at my place after school today?’
‘Sure.’

　Taking advantage of a lull in my conversation with Mai, Endo-san leaned close to my ear and whispered. It wasn’t exactly the sort of thing that needed to be said in a hushed voice, so I find her a bit of a mystery. When I agreed, Endo-san smiled happily.

　After parting ways with Mai at the school gate, we headed towards Endo-san’s house, walking along our usual route home. It still strikes me as strange — in the best, most bewildering way — that going home with Endo-san has become so ordinary. And yet what I find even harder to believe is that there’s a part of me that wants this everyday life to go on.

When we arrived home, Endo-san seemed restless before we started studying.

‘Are you free on the 24th or 25th?’

I am free, but I’m not free.
We’re students preparing for entrance exams.
If I’m going to hang out with Mai on the twenty-sixth, I feel all the more compelled to study the day before.

‘I’m not free.’
‘What?! Why not?!’
‘Exam revision.’

　Endo-san narrowed her eyes and gave me a sour look, but then, as if a thought had struck her, her expression changed to a dazzling, sparkling one.

‘Then, let’s have a sleepover study session at my place.’

　Once again, she’s deciding my schedule without asking. I wish she’d listen to my opinion for once.

‘We’re seeing each other on the 26th, so can’t we do it then?’
‘No, I want it to be that day.’

　I don’t understand why Endo-san is so insistent on spending Christmas with me. She’s got plenty of friends she could ask out…

‘Why that day?’
‘Because I want to be with Takizawa.’
‘It doesn’t have to be that day, does it?’
‘I want to be with Takizawa on Christmas.’

　Endo tells me things with such a straight, serious face that I would be far too embarrassed to say them myself. It makes me feel embarrassed just listening to her.

　Since Endo’s birthday, she’s stopped doing strange things to me altogether. I don’t know why, but it seems she feels a sense of loneliness at the loss of what was once there. Because of that, I’m overwhelmed by feelings I don’t usually experience.

　I want to touch Endo-san——.

“Right then if you stay quiet while I do something, I’ll agree to study with you that day.”

　With that, Endo-san sat silently in seiza, facing me and waiting. I think she’s becoming too obedient, far too quickly.

　I sat down beside Endo-san and took her hand. Her hand is warm, gentle and soothing, so I find myself wanting to stay like this.

　I thought that would be enough.

　However, the moment I touched Endo-san, my desire to touch her more grew stronger.

　Perhaps I’ve been acting strangely of late.
　I want to feel Endo-san more.

　I placed my hand on her cheek and drew closer.

　I moved just a little closer, to the point where our lips were about to touch, but then I came to my senses and pulled away from Endo-san.

　I was about to do that for no reason at all. Lately, there are times when I can’t make sense of my own behaviour.

‘Takizawa, are you teasing me?’

　As Endo-san tried to do what I’d just been about to do, I covered her mouth with my hand.

‘Don’t go doing things like that on your own. That’s not what we agreed.’

　When I said that, Endo-san backed away, let her tail droop dejectedly, and returned to where she’d been.

　Endo-san is so cute when she’s so honest and obedient.
　She acts a bit rebellious sometimes, but come what may, she always follows my lead.

Seeing her like that, I decided to accept her proposal for a sleepover study session.

“A sleepover study session is fine.”
“Really?”
“But in return, we’ll be studying the whole time we’re awake.”
“Huh?”
“I won’t do it if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t mind. Will you concentrate, Takizawa-chan?”
“Is Endo-san the one telling me that?”

　I don’t know what Endo-san found so funny, but she was chuckling quietly to herself. Seeing her like that, I suppose the corners of my mouth naturally turned upwards too.

“Takizawa, you’ve started laughing a lot more, haven’t you?”
“That’s because you’re pulling a silly face, Endo-san.”
“Isn’t that a bit rude? I do actually make an effort with my appearance, you know.”

She said that with a look that seemed to say, ‘How about that!’

　Lately, I’ve been able to have proper conversations with Endo-san. Before, they’d often end quickly or be punctuated by long silences. It wasn’t that I minded that, but I find the way things are now quite enjoyable.

“You’re certainly a beauty. I’m a bit jealous, actually.”

　Endo-san’s eyes widened, then she looked away from me and muttered something under her breath. A faint blush spread across her cheeks, and I found myself admiring her, thinking, ‘So she can make that sort of expression too.’

‘What sort of person is your type, Takizawa? In terms of looks or personality?’

　Endo-san’s unexpected question started to give me a headache.
　To begin with, I’ve never actually fallen for anyone romantically, so I feel rather out of my depth when it comes to those kinds of feelings.

‘I’ve never been in love, so I don’t really know what my type is.’
‘Well then, if you had to choose, do you prefer the cool type or the cute type?’

　Endo’s tone is cheerful, yet her face is strangely serious, and I can’t tell what she’s thinking.

“Hmm, I’m not really sure, but I suppose I’d like someone I can rely on.”

Being with someone who makes my heart race and keeps me on edge just wears me out. I hate feeling tired, so that’s the only reason I answered that way.

“Takizawa, if you ever have something worrying you, tell me, okay? I’ll listen to anything.”
“O-okay…?”

　What on earth has got into her all of a sudden?

　I’ve been acting a bit odd myself lately, but I reckon Endo’s acting rather odd too.

　I decided to tell myself that my oddity was simply caught from Endo-san’s oddity — and with that, the study session came to an end.