Episode 91: After the Family Meeting (1)

I don’t know how long we’d been standing there like that, but my flustered feelings had settled a little, so I pushed Endo-san’s shoulder and stepped back.

‘Sorry. We shouldn’t be doing this when I’m soaked in sweat.’
‘It’s fine. Come inside for now.’

I went inside as Endo-san told me. The house was filled with the delicious smell of food, which was making my stomach rumble.

‘What have you made today?’
‘I played it safe and went for fried chicken. I thought you might like meat dishes too, Takizawa.’
‘……It’s fine.’
‘I see. Fancy a shower first?’
‘Yeah.’

I decided to take Endo-san up on her offer and headed for the bathroom. Just as I was about to take off my T-shirt, which was clinging to my back from the sweat, I was suddenly called out to.

“Hey there!”

　Hikari-san popped up out of nowhere and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest. Come to think of it, she was staying over.

“……Are you alright?”

　She looked terribly worried. It was rare for Hikari-san to look like that, so I could tell she was concerned about me too. However, I felt it wasn’t something I should be the one to bring up, so I didn’t say anything more than necessary.

“I think Mayo-nee will be here soon.”
“Oh, right! We’re going home today, so make sure you get on well with Hina-chan.”

　She gave me a little poke in the side with her elbow, then walked off with a somewhat pleased look on her face.

　I turned the tap to adjust the temperature and let the shower run over my body, neither too hot nor too cold.
　　
A summer shower feels wonderful; the sweat that had been clinging to my body just moments ago dripped onto the floor one after another. I washed myself down, then stepped into the bath that Endo-san had likely thoughtfully heated for me, and soaked there until the pounding of my heart from earlier had settled.

　As I’d rushed out of the house without a second thought, I ended up borrowing some of Endo-san’s loungewear. The clothes smelled just as they did when I’d hugged her a moment ago. It was only natural, yet for some reason, the realisation made my heart flutter.

　I’d been so nervous just a short while ago that I felt as though I might throw up, but as soon as I arrived at Endo-san’s house, my nerves eased and I suddenly felt terribly hungry.

‘Mayo and the others are leaving.’

　Endo-san called out to me as I got out of the bath, so I headed for the front door.

‘Hina-chan, Hoshizora-chan, thank you so much! We’ll be back!’

　Hikari-san was waving her hands energetically as cheerfully as ever. Seeing this, Mayo-nee smiled, then approached me with a gentle expression.

‘Hoshizora, thank you so much. I’m glad you were there.’
“Yeah.”

　I was glad Mayo-nee was there, too. If I’d been on my own, I’m sure I’d still be shut away in my shell.

　Mayo-nee hugged me tightly and pressed her lips to my cheek. As I looked at her with a ‘Why…?’ expression, Endo-san pulled my arm, creating some distance between me and Mayo-nee.

“Ahaha, Hina-chan, don’t make such a scary face. We’re sisters, so this is fine, isn’t it? Think of it as a thank-you.”

With that, Mayo and Hikari simply walked out of the house. Their backs looked somehow lonely, yet also serene.

“……Endo-san, that hurts.”

The grip on my arm was stronger than I expected, and I ended up snapping at her a little.

“Ah, sorry……”

　Endo-san looked down, her expression dark. Although the grip on my arm had loosened, she didn’t let go.

“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”

　Saying that, Endo-san moved closer and pressed her lips against the spot where Mayo-nee had just kissed me. As I tried to figure out why she was doing that, I think I must have looked rather perplexed.

“――I’ve overwritten it.”

Overwritten? Endo-san sometimes does things that are hard to understand. Even if I asked her what she meant by it, she’d never answer, that’s just the sort of person she is, so I didn’t bother asking.

‘Let’s eat…’
‘Mm…’

When I returned to the living room, there was a plate of delicious-looking fried chicken waiting for me. Just looking at it made my stomach growl, so I clenched my lower abdomen tightly to stop it from making a sound.

‘Endo-san would make a lovely wife, wouldn’t she? I’m envious of whoever ends up marrying her. They’ll get to eat such delicious food every day.’

Perhaps because I’d let my guard down, my true feelings slipped out. That remark wasn’t like me. But it wasn’t a lie. It was something I genuinely believed.

‘Well then, Takizawa…’
‘Hmm?’
‘Never mind. Let’s eat.’

Endo-san looked troubled again, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward, but I decided not to worry about it for now and sat down at my seat.

‘Let’s eat…’

I picked up my chopsticks and picked up a piece of fried chicken. It was slightly larger than a bite-sized piece, so I split it in half with my chopsticks and brought it to my mouth.

　I’ve eaten fried chicken from convenience stores and bento shops all sorts of places, but I’d never really noticed any difference. Endo-san’s fried chicken wasn’t too heavily seasoned; it was light and easy to eat, and it had a special flavour unlike any fried chicken I’d ever tasted before. It was so delicious that I couldn’t help but keep eating. I could feel my stomach, which had been empty just a moment ago, filling up with joy.

I used to have absolutely no interest in food and thought that as long as it went down, any old meal would do. But now, I find myself wanting to eat Endo-san’s food.

　I glanced over at Endo-san and found her staring intently at me. The look in her eyes was so gentle that I felt a bit self-conscious under her gaze.

‘What?’
‘Oh, no, I was just worried it might not be tasty.’
‘It’s not bad at all.’
‘Oh, right.’

She looked a bit disappointed. I’ve become quite open with Endo-san, but at times like this, I still find it hard to be honest. To dispel the guilt I felt for not being able to say it was tasty, I chose different words.

‘Teach me how to make it next time.’
‘Eh! Will you help me make it too, Takizawa?’

The disappointed look from a moment ago had vanished, and she looked incredibly happy. That made me a little happy too, and my heart fluttered, so I just ignored Endo-san’s words and carried on eating.

‘Endo-san, why don’t you go and have a bath? I’ll clear the table.’
‘Is that alright?’
‘You made dinner for me, so let me at least do this much.’

As soon as I’d finished eating, I started clearing up. Endo-san watched me for a while, then before I knew it, she’d gone into the bath.

I was waiting on the sofa for Endo-san when she seemed to have finished her bath and sat down next to me.

　Her hair was dry, and she smelled like a flower basking in the sunshine. I don’t know why, but Endo-san’s scent is incredibly soothing. I wanted to smell her scent more closely, but I felt I’d be called a pervert if I just sniffed her, so I rested my head on her shoulder. Endo-san’s scent gently washed over my nose.
It felt so pleasant that I started to feel a little sleepy.

‘Takizawa…?’

Endo-san’s voice startled me. Behaving like this isn’t right. I’ve only come here for dinner; I have to go home today.

‘It’s getting late, so I’ll be off. Thanks for the meal. Can I borrow these clothes? I’ll return them next time.’

As soon as I said that and stood up briskly from the sofa, she grabbed my arm.

“Why don’t you stay the night?”
“Why?”
“……”

Endo-san looks as though he’s deep in thought, her brow furrowed—which is quite unusual for her.

“I’ll do whatever you say, Takizawa. I want you to stay tonight.”
“Why do you want me to stay so badly?”
“…………”

Endo-san seemed busy today, her expression changing constantly, one moment looking happy, the next deep in thought. Then she squeezed my hand tightly and looked up at me from below as I stood there.

‘…I just feel a bit lonely today.’

The moment I heard those words, I felt a sharp, constricting pain in my chest. After saying that, Endo-san kept her head down and wouldn’t look at me.

　I was a little surprised to realise that even Endo-san, who always seemed perfectly fine on her own, could feel that way sometimes.

“I understand. It’s fine.”

　I sat down on the sofa and took her hand. I don’t know why I did it, but my body just moved of its own accord.

　We sat there in a daze for a while, and then, out of the blue, Endo-san spoke up.

“How was today…?”

　I could tell from her voice that she was asking very tentatively. Endo-san had helped me so much and worried about me, yet I hadn’t told her how things had turned out. I ought to tell her properly, if only to repay her kindness.

“If you’re asking whether our relationship has improved, I wouldn’t say so, but it seems they’ve agreed to let me go to university.”

　When I said that and looked at Endo-san, she looked relieved. There was something else I had to tell her properly.

“—Endo-san, thank you.”

　It’s thanks to Endo-san that I’m still here. My soul, which might not have had a single fragment left anywhere in this world, is firmly here now.

“I didn’t do anything.”

　Endo-san smiled, looking a little embarrassed.

“But… I’m a little disappointed, I have to say. I was kind of looking forward to a future where Takizawa would be living here with me.”

　Saying that, her expression shifted to a shy, bashful smile.
　Seeing that face made my heart race.
　I shouldn’t say things like this. Yet, I couldn’t stop the words from coming out of my mouth.

“Well then, if I get into a nearby university, why don’t we just live together—”

　My heart was pounding.
There was no deeper meaning to it. Sharing a flat would keep the rent down, and for me, it would be less nerve-wracking than living alone.

—That’s all.

“I was just joking.”

I took back what I’d said before Endo-san could reply. I was afraid my words might be rejected or that she’d make a face. I’d run away to protect my pride.

　The truth is, I want to live with Endo-san. And the only reason is that she’s important to me; there’s no other reason. There shouldn’t be…

After that, I was so embarrassed by what I’d said that I couldn’t concentrate on our conversation, and I don’t really remember what we talked about.

　That night, unusually, Endo-san didn’t ask to sleep in the same bed.
Had my suggestion that I wanted to live together really upset her that much…? It’s not as if I particularly wanted to sleep with her, but my heart ached so deeply I couldn’t sleep.

I decided to lie on the futon spread out beside the bed, clutching the thin blanket tightly and closing my eyes.