Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093075629868223/episodes/16818792436616530434
After finishing breakfast and cleaning up, I lazed around a bit before heading to school.
That was my usual morning, my usual routine.
And after finishing that routine, it was time to go to school, so I locked the door and stepped out the front entrance.
“Phew, it’s gotten really hot lately, hasn’t it?”
Yuzuki, walking beside me, wiped the sweat from her forehead as she spoke.
The season was just before summer. It was the time of year when even the school’s little garden demanded a change of clothes—
“Hmm, summer uniforms…”
“Tsukkun, why are you pondering that now?”
A season where you don’t know where to look… To avoid shifting my gaze and being labeled a pervert, I had to come up with a plan now.
“Seriously… I know you’re a pervert, Tsukkun, but I wish you’d at least try to hide it a little.”
“How rude! I was just thinking about where to look to avoid being labeled a pervert right now!”
“Says the guy hosting a dirty talk session.”
Sadly, just looking at the words, you can’t deny it.
“But summer uniforms… I need to think about underwear, huh.”
After a quick peek at her chest… for some reason, Yuzuki looks over at me.
Could that be a sign asking me to look? If that’s the case, I won’t hold back.
“…What kind of underwear do you like, Tsukkun?”
Whoa, now.
That’s a terribly difficult question to answer.
“…Why are you asking me that?”
“Well, Tsukkun… you kinda want to see, right?”
“If you ask whether I want to see or not, I do want to see.”
If there’s a guy out there who doesn’t want to see, I’d love to meet him.
“But it’s not something you show off, right? Even I, even someone like me, would try my hardest not to look if it was see-through. Take care of yourself.”
“Well, if it were someone else, I’d hate it too… but… with Tsukkun, I guess it’s okay… I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t think that at all.”
Was it the heat, or had she gotten carried away by her own words?
Yuzuki fanned her face with her hand, still glancing at me.
She was probably still waiting for my answer.
“…You don’t need to do that kind of thing. Yuzuki, you’re already more than enough of an attractive girl.”
“…He dodged it.”
“I didn’t dodge it.”
Truthfully, even without that kind of thing, Yuzuki was an attractive girl.
That said, my mental fortitude still wasn’t up to requesting my childhood friend’s underwear.
So, I gave Yuzuki a gentle push on the back and urged her to head to school, changing the subject.
(Proactive, or something…)
I thought it was just business as usual.
But thinking about it carefully, Yuzuki seems more proactive than before, ever since that forest school trip.
(The answer… the answer, huh…)
I can’t drag this out too long, and I need to give an answer soon… but somehow, I still can’t seem to come up with a satisfying answer within myself.
She did say she’d wait, but honestly, I feel pathetic… really.
“Hey, Tsukun, are you free after school today?”
Just as I was feeling that patheticness, Yuzuki suddenly said that.
“Huh? After school?”
“Yeah, my mom said she’d like to see Tsukun soon, so she asked if today would be okay.”
It’s true, I haven’t seen Yuzuki’s mom recently.
Yuzuki usually comes to my place, and even when I occasionally visit hers, she’s often not home because of work.
It’s not just because she asked, but maybe it is about time I dropped by.
But…
“Sorry, I’ve got plans today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I promised to tutor Sakurazaka.”
Sakurazaka is a junior I met at the forest school camp.
She helped me out with Yuzuki’s situation, and we’ve kept in touch since exchanging contact info.
She’d asked me about things she didn’t understand in her studies several times… so I figured, why not, and made plans for today.
“Mmm… When did you manage to ensnare Aira-chan? Tsukun’s lure is so effective, it’s putting your childhood friend in a bind.”
“Well, it was my childhood friend who took the bait I put out.”
“I never thought you two would get this close!”
Yuzuki puffed out her cheeks, making a pouty appeal.
Even with that adorable face, Sakurazaka had made the plans first.
Still, I understood why she reacted like this… So I gently patted her head while pushing her back, trying to soothe her.
“…Well, getting along is a good thing. I’ll just quietly invite Shi-chan-senpai to play.”
“Is Kirishima okay?”
“Ku-chan has work today too. She’s in a drama now, so she’s probably busy with promotions and stuff, right?”
Ah, so that’s why she’s busy.
She did mention “I’m in a drama,” though it’s a minor role, but I didn’t realize that’s what was keeping her so busy now.
“Once it airs, we’ll all have a viewing party.”
“Sounds great! Then let’s have a party at Tsukkun’s place!”
“Alright, then I’ll put extra effort into the food this time too—”
“Store-bought side dishes are perfectly fine.”
“…Is that so? But, not to brag, I don’t plan on serving anything I’m bad at cooking.”
“Tsukkun just doesn’t get it. You don’t understand how a girl’s heart gets hurt when she’s served homemade food.”
Store-bought… store-bought, huh.
It’s not like they’re bad, but I really want to cook for them.
The other day when I hosted a study session for Yuzuki and the others, I even thought, “Maybe I should aim to be a chef.”
“(To stand on the same stage as Tsukkun, my level still isn’t… But Tsukkun’s homemade food is delicious and I want to eat it too… Grr, which should I satisfy—my taste buds or my maidenly heart…!)”
Hmm… Well, if that’s the request, I guess I have no choice.
I thought I should ask my sister if there’s a good deli around here while I still can.
“Ah, I got rejected by Shii chan senpai”
“I see.”
“…Today I’ll be going alone to pick out underwear, feeling lonely.”
“…I see.”
I’ll definitely want a report when she gets back.
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