Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051597934651646/episodes/2912051599637663523
Houtarou Achi turned off the faucet and set the dripping sponge on the edge of the sink.
While drying his wet hands with a paper towel, he glanced sideways at Seika Hirugami, who was flustered and bright red behind him.
She probably thought the roaring sound of the water was completely drowning out her voice.
However, the repeated declarations of affection and the sloppy “hehehe” laughter leaking from behind had reached Houtarou’s ears loud and clear.
He could only shake his head at the incredibly simplistic logic of a brain with an IQ of 530,000—thinking that if she mixed her voice in with the sound of the exhaust fan and running water, she wouldn’t be found out.
(Does she seriously think I can’t hear her?)
Judging by the way she was flustered to the point of blushing bright red, it seemed she genuinely believed he hadn’t noticed.
What on earth is wrong with this girl? She really is an interesting one.
Houtarou desperately stifled the laughter welling up in the back of his throat, keeping his expression neutral so as not to reveal his inner exasperation, and sat down on the living room sofa.
The hands of the analog clock hanging on the wall were already nearing 9:00 p.m.
Since tomorrow was a weekday and he had school, it was normally the time when he should have thanked her for the dinner and hurried back to his room next door.
However, the words “I should be heading home soon” never came out of Houtarou’s mouth.
Simply sitting next to her, staring blankly at the TV that was left on, felt incredibly comfortable to Houtarou right now.
Watching the variety show playing on the screen, Seika would call out to the celebrities on the other side of the TV, “No way, that’s a stretch!” or clap her hands and burst into laughter.
The usual Houtarou would have found such loud noises and voices in someone else’s home “noisy” and unpleasant.
Yet for some reason, right now it felt like a very soothing background melody.
It was a tangible warmth that comes from sharing a space with someone—something he could never experience in the quiet room of his own apartment, where not even the sounds of daily life echoed.
Just looking at her profile, illuminated by the light from the TV, Houtarou’s heart was being gently, yet surely, filled with contentment.
“Mmm…”
Suddenly, a dazed voice came from beside him.
When he turned his gaze, Seika—who had been laughing so cheerfully just moments ago—was now leaning back against the sofa, nodding off.
It seemed that after eating her fill of sukiyaki, the sudden lethargy had brought on a wave of sleepiness.
Her head lolled to the side, and her long, milky-blonde hair slid off her shoulder.
“Hirugami-san?”
When Houtarou called out softly, Seika, her eyes still closed, shook her head from side to side as if to say no.
“Mmm…”
“You have to wake up. You’ll catch a cold if you sleep here.”
“Nooo…”
She seemed to have drifted completely into the world of dreams, rejecting him with the same short, childlike words.
If she falls asleep here, I won’t be able to go back to my own room, leaving the landlady all alone.
Just as he was about to say that, Houtarou quietly swallowed the words.
Rather than shaking her awake and forcing her to go home, maybe it’s better to just leave her like this.
Houtarou let out a small sigh and gently laid Seika, who was sleeping defenselessly curled up on the sofa, on her side.
He picked up a thin blanket that had been folded on a chair a short distance away and gently draped it over her small, curled-up back.
Her body heat, transmitted through the fabric, slowly seeped into Houtarou’s palm.
“Mmm… I love you…”
With her face buried in the blanket and her hair rubbing against the cushion, Seika let out a soft laugh and mumbled in her sleep.
In stark contrast to her noisy, boisterous self when awake, her sleeping face was utterly defenseless and adorable.
Even in her dreams, her mind must be filled with affection for him.
“Seriously…”
Houtarou muttered briefly, looking exasperated, but a small smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Beside her as she breathed in steady, peaceful sleep, Houtarou sat down directly on the floor and leaned against the back of the sofa.
He had decided to stay in this warm space just a little longer, until she woke up.
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