Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093075629868223/episodes/16818792436921439392
(From Kurusu’s perspective)
After the exchange in the living room ended, I was shown into the living room.
It wasn’t my first time here, but I still felt a little nervous.
A different kind of tension than during the shoot. Well, thinking about it calmly, even though it was my second time, I was in the house of a boy I liked—there was no way I wouldn’t be nervous.
Plus, unlike that time, Yuzuki and Shiori weren’t here, so I couldn’t help but be conscious of it.
(And being bored just makes it worse, you know?)
I glanced over at the kitchen while sitting on the sofa.
There was Irie, looking perfectly at home in an apron, cooking with practiced ease.
I’d actually thought about helping since I was being treated to dinner, but he refused, saying, “What do you think I invited you over for?”
(But then again…)
Isn’t it a bit rude to be treated to a meal and not do anything?
I’m not as good at cooking as Irie, but maybe I should help after all.
“Hey, Irie… Is there anything I can do?”
“Hmm? It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Just relax however you like.”
“But…”
“Seriously, it’s fine.”
When I said that, Irie casually replied while moving his hands—
“Kirishima, you work hard at your job too, right? Usually, all I get to do is listen to your complaints… At least let me show my appreciation for you at times like this.”
…Honestly, this is where he’s so sneaky.
It shouldn’t really matter to Irie whether I work hard or not.
He’s rooting for me. I can’t suppress my happiness enough to deny such a sincere statement born from that.
“…Thanks.”
“It’s fine, really.”
Tantan
The sound of a knife being used to chop vegetables echoes through the living room.
While that is happening, I hold my hands up to cool down the heat in my face, which is starting to heat up.
“Speaking of which, I invited Yuzuki earlier… but she said some relatives suddenly came over and she can’t make it.”
“Oh, really?”
I rarely get chances to talk one-on-one with Irie like this, so part of me wants things to stay just like this. But at the same time, I also feel like I want to see Yuzuki again after so long.
So, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.
(Well, she’ll see him tomorrow, so I shouldn’t be too pessimistic.)
Still, I felt a little bad about it towards Shiori san.
It’s fine with that girl since she’s always hanging around here, but towards Shiori san, it must look like I’m cutting in line.
(But then again, I can’t see him at school either, so at least at times like this—)
Just as I was thinking that, suddenly—
I noticed someone staring at me from across the sofa.
There sat Irie’s older sister, glancing back and forth between her phone screen and me.
“…The real thing.”
It was a mutter that made it perfectly clear what she was looking at.
“Sorry for barging in like this…”
I addressed Irie’s sister… Ajisai-san, feeling a bit nervous.
I’m not exactly bad at conversation, but talking to someone’s family member—especially someone I like—still takes a little courage.
“Eh? Not at all! My place is always welcome-oke♪”
“I-is that so?”
Well, that was a relief.
It’s our first meeting, and I barged in at this hour. I was worried I might be bothering her.
“Can I ask you something too?”
She gave me a bright, innocent smile.
“Well, we’ve become close enough for me to give a maid of honor speech at your wedding, right?”
Wow, somehow we’d bonded instantly.
“Is it okay if I call you by a nickname!?”
A nickname, huh.
She definitely doesn’t seem like a bad person, and since she’s Irie’s older sister, I want to get along with her.
More than that, being called by a nickname… that kinda feels nice.
Though, I can’t help but think it’s weird that we’re close enough for her to give a maid of honor speech, yet we don’t even have nicknames for each other yet.
“It’s fine, really.”
“Huh? Then since you’re Kurusu-chan, I’ll call you ‘Kussan’!”
What is this? I desperately want to decline.
“nee san, don’t force weird names on Kirishima. It sounds totally normal, okay?”
I was agonizing over how to refuse a nickname that bordered on foul-smelling, but Irie, cooking in the kitchen, came to my rescue. I’m truly grateful…
“Ehh, but nee san thinks nicknames are the best way to bond!”
“You gave Yuzuki a weird name before too, right? It ended up sticking.”
“‘Zukki-ni,’ isn’t it cute?”
“Yuzuki got called that in public and got teary-eyed.”
If it were me, I’d never want to turn around if someone called me that.
“Don’t say such weird things… Unlike Yuzuki, Kirishima is a guest here.”
“Muuu… I know, okay?”
Pouting, Ajisai-san plopped down on the table with her cheeks puffed out.
(A guest, huh?)
A guest is a guest.
It’s not wrong, but—
“…Hey, Kurusu-chan.”
“What is it?”
While Irie was taking ingredients out of the refrigerator.
Suddenly, Ajisai-san asked in a voice even quieter than before.
“Um, well… this is just something I kind of thought, and I’m sorry if I’m wrong…”
And unlike before, she seemed somehow timid and hesitant—
“Kurusu-chan… you like Tsukasa-kun too, don’t you?”
Surely, probably, most likely.
She must have sensed it somehow, seeing how I’d been talking with Irie earlier.
…There was no reason to lie here.
So, I stated it plainly to Misato-san.
“Irie is… my prince.”
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