Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093075629868223/episodes/16818792437934066045
“Ugh… I’m exhausted…”
───In the end, I didn’t get home until around nine.
Even though I’d been at the office since around eight in the morning, this excessive workload… Surely it can’t stay like this forever, but even with the extra chores I took on to lighten the load, it’s still this bad.
I’m terrified to think how bad it’ll get once the busy season really hits.
(Kirishima noticed too… I should probably wait until my last day of work to bring this up.)
I could talk about it now.
But if it just makes the atmosphere awkward, it’ll only be negative for both of us.
After all, because we know each other, most of the miscellaneous tasks get assigned to Kirishima.
If a little friction causes problems, it’ll be a hassle for the office too.
(Well, either way, only five days left… For Kirishima and Yuzuki’s sake, I guess I’ll push through?)
I took off my shoes at the entrance and headed toward the living room.
I’d already told my sister I wouldn’t be able to cook for a while.
And since Ando san treated me to dinner on my way home, I figured I’d just take a bath and go to bed tonight.
Just as I was thinking that—
“Tsukun, welcome home.”
Sitting on the living room sofa was a familiar girl with golden hair.
“…Yuzuki?”
“Excuse me for barging in~”
Seeing Yuzuki there, I couldn’t help but tilt my head.
Well, Yuzuki being at my place is nothing unusual. When my parents get home late, she often eats dinner here before going home, and she comes over to play too. Lately, she even comes early in the morning to walk to school together.
But coming at this hour was unusual.
After all, I’d told Yuzuki, just like my sister, that “I won’t be able to cook for a while.”
“…If you came here to satisfy your hunger just by seeing how exhausted I look, I’ll call you a monster girl without hesitation.”
“If it’s just a little hunger, I can satisfy it myself~”
Pout. Yuzuki puffed out her cheeks cutely.
I glanced at her like that and set my backpack down near the sofa for now.
Then—
“Tsukkun-san, would you mind sitting on the sofa for a bit?”
She patted the spot next to her, urging me to sit.
It felt strange, but I did want to sit down.
So, I sat down beside her as she prompted… and suddenly.
Yuzuki touched my head and, for some reason, lowered me onto her thigh.
“Yuzuki…?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
It was so abrupt I couldn’t help but be startled.
Looking up, her well-developed chest and… Yuzuki’s exquisitely beautiful face filled my entire field of vision.
Maybe because I was caught off guard, combined with the soft feel of her thigh, my heart started pounding wildly.
But Yuzuki ignored my reaction… and gently stroked my head.
“…Tsukkun, were you tired today?”
“Well, yeah… pretty much.”
“I see.”
“What about you…? Anything happen at school today?”
“Just started prep for the cultural festival, I guess? Helping with the performance stuff and helping out Shi-chan-senpai.”
“…I see.”
A conversation without any particular substance.
Precisely because of that, every time the conversation paused, the quiet air in the living room became palpable.
But—
“Tsukkun, thank you.”
“Hm?”
“For working hard for me… no, for Ku-chan.”
—Those words finally revealed why Yuzuki had suddenly offered me her lap.
“Are you… trying to comfort me?”
“I’m a bit of an idiot, so I don’t know what Shii-chan-senpai sensed… but it’s not okay for me, right? That’s why Tsukkun’s worrying about Ku-chan instead of me.”
“It’s just a case of the right person for the job, okay? You don’t need to feel that way—”
“So this is also the right person for the job.”
Gently, yet pleasantly.
With just the right touch, Yuzuki’s small hand stroked his head.
“All I can do is comfort Tsukkun… If Tsukkun wants to be spoiled, I’ll spoil you with all my might. So if there’s anything you want me to do, just tell me.”
…I see.
“Then, about that assignment from the other day—”
“That’s something you can’t add sugar to. Give up and do it yourself.”
Stingy… even though she said it was okay to be dependent.
“Doing assignments for you isn’t really right… but seriously, if Tsukkun gets tired, I’ll do anything for you.”
“…That phrasing could be taken the wrong way, so maybe don’t say it to a wolf in his adolescence?”
“It’s fine.”
Because, she said.
Yuzuki’s cheeks flushed faintly—
“Because Tsukkun is our prince.”
She said it.
Her gaze was so intensely warm. Facing it head-on, my heart skipped a beat.
“I’m sure he’ll figure something out for Ku-chan too.”
“I think you’re overestimating me, but I’ll figure something out… I promised.”
“Mm-hmm, I knew my prince would say that. I’ll spoil you, but if there’s anything I can help with, just say the word?”
“…I don’t know yet, but if something comes up, I’ll definitely tell you.”
If he could handle it alone, he’d want to.
But if I can’t… then I’ll need your help.
She really is a kind, thoughtful friend.
Looking up at my childhood friend again… that’s what I thought.
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Mm.”
“Well then… before that, is there anything you want this childhood friend to do for you?”
“…For now, just keep holding this position.”
“Got it, Tsukkun.”
The ticking of the clock echoed through the living room.
After that, no particular conversation unfolded.
But strangely, this atmosphere felt comfortable.
───In the end, we ended up soaking in this sweet air for nearly an hour.
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