A Case in Which My House Is a Gathering Place for Girls - Chapter 20: Homesick

I missed lunch and had to endure a fierce battle with my hunger throughout the afternoon classes because I spent all of my lunch break giving Asakura a massage.

This was all because Asakura’s body was incredibly stiff. Flexibility is essential for athletes, but hers was worse than my grandfather’s.

However, on the flip side, if she improves here, there’s a possibility her record could get even better. She’s definitely a bundle of potential. She is truly the shining star of Japan’s women’s athletics world.

“Hey, Itsuki. Can I talk to you for a second?”

An after-school class after the closing ceremony. As my classmates began to move as soon as they came home or went to club activities, the ace of the track and field club, who was a hot topic, spoke to me.

By the way, Kanna is no longer here. As soon as Misuta-sensei finished talking, she hurried out of the classroom. Immediately after that, I received a message from her…

“I’m sorry, Jinpei-kun! I’m coming home late because I have work to do today, so please eat dinner first!”

It’s starting to worry me how much she’s treating my house like her own, but for the time being, I sent a brief reply.

“All right. Good luck with your work.”

“By the way. Who, where, and what were you doing during your lunch break today? I’ll be asking you when you get home, so be ready!”

I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by how it sounded like she suspected me of cheating. No matter what I did, it should have been my business, yet why do I have to explain myself to Kanna? Still, I could easily imagine that if I told her the truth about what I did with Asakura during lunch and she might burst into flames.

“You look kind of spaced out. Are you okay? Can you hear me?”

As I was lost in thought, Asakura was worried as she leaned in close to look at me. Her sudden closeness almost made me fall out of my chair. I didn’t expect to notice things like how long her eyelashes were or the citrusy scent she carried. My brain was almost on the verge of shutting down from all this new information.

“Are you sure you’re alright? I know I shouldn’t say this, but maybe we should talk another time?”

“I-I’m all right, I was just thinking about something. Anyway, is there something you need?”

I cleared my throat and asked Asakura and tried to hide how flustered I was. Still, could both Kanna and Asakura be a little more mindful of personal space?

“Itsuki, why don’t you join the track and field club? Not as a player, but as a manager.”

“…Yes?”

A dumbfounded voice escaped my lips. I could understand being asked to join as a player, but why on earth would she want me to be a manager?

“I heard earlier that your grandfather and your former homeroom teacher told you not to join any club activities, but that’s as a player, right?”

“That’s true, but I can’t do a job behind the scenes?”

“Hehe, you don’t have to worry about it. Being a manager isn’t as hard as it sounds. What I mainly need help with is taking care of me.”

The students who remained in the classroom looked at me and Asakura all at once. It didn’t help that there was an unmistakable sense of hatred in their gazes.

“What do you mean by taking care of you? Are you going to make me your owner?”

“Ahahaha! Then am I Itsuki’s dog? Should I call you master?”

Asakura said in a playful and sweet voice. A chill ran down my spine. My instincts were screaming at me that staying here could be a matter of life and death.

“Well, Asakura. Can I go home right now? Alright? Well, you’re not trying to socially kill me, are you?”

“I thought it was a cute little joke… T-that’s all. I’d like to ask Itsuki to take care of me after practice.”

“I see… So that’s what you mean.”

“I don’t need you to time other people or prepare equipment. You don’t have to work behind the scenes for the track team. I’m asking you to join specifically as my personal manager.”

As soon as Asakura says it, the sound of the classroom becomes quiet. To be asked by someone who would likely rewrite the history of Japan’s women’s athletics was an honor beyond words.

“I thought a lot about it during the afternoon class, but I concluded that I should ask Itsuki to help rather than do it myself!”

“I think it’s better to concentrate on class instead of thinking about unnecessary things.”

And if I may add, I wish she’d discard that conclusion immediately. Everything I’ve done so far has been based on trial and error, and I’m not an expert, so if something goes wrong, I can’t take responsibility.

“That’s why, can Itsuki be my exclusive manager? I’m sure my record will keep improving if you’re with me. No, I’m absolutely certain it will!”

Asakura slammed her hand on my desk as she pleaded with me. Watching two fruits sway just inches away from my face is not great for my mental health. But my answer is already decided and there’s no need to think it over.

“I’m sorry, Asakura. It’s a generous offer, but it’s too much for me. I’m afraid I’ll have to pass and ask someone else.”

“Well… you’re turning me down that quickly?”

Asakura muttered in a tone that seemed to suggest she was genuinely disappointed. Given that she approached me out of the blue after gym class, she probably thought I would immediately agree.

“You’d get to carefully examine my body from top to bottom as you touch me however and as much as you like. You’re going to turn that down?”

Asakura shrugs her shoulders as if to say she can’t believe it. The once quiet classroom was now filled with noise, and I could feel the anger and hatred in the gazes aimed at us and slowly draining away my sanity.

“Don’t make it sound like that. I’m not some shady massage therapist. And if you’re going to phrase it like that, then I’m even more certain I’m turning down your offer to be your personal manager.”

“Hahaha, I guess I got carried away. I apologize. So don’t get upset, okay?”

“I’m not upset and I’m not angry. So that’s the end of this conversation!”

I got up from my seat after I forcefully ended the conversation. And if we kept talking, I would probably be tricked into becoming her personal manager without realizing it.

“Huh… I see. Let’s say I’m going to back down for today. But Itsuki, I won’t give up that easily.”

Asakura dashingly ran away from the classroom with an invincible smile on her face. I let out a deep sigh as I saw her back. I need to stop acting without thinking from now on.

I headed to the supermarket in the neighborhood after leaving the school with such determination.

Even though I don’t know what time Kanna’s return will be, it’s better to prepare dinner for two people. I couldn’t help but shudder at how naturally I thought like that. It felt like we were already living together.

“Haa… I wish I could go into the mountains with my grandfather.”

Living alone in the unfamiliar city still wasn’t something I had gotten used to. The increasing number of Kanna’s personal belongings in my place was a bit of a headache, but at least it helped ease my loneliness.

However, it’s undeniable that I was homesick. Not having access to nature that could let me clear my mind like before has been tougher than I imagined.

“Looks like I’ll have to hold out until Golden Week. Maybe even until summer break…”

I muttered to myself with a sigh, but because I shouldn’t be weak. Grandfather would scold me if I acted like that, so I shook my head and forced myself to think of something else.

“Haa… I’m hungry…”

“Is that… Sasazuki over there?”

A girl in the Amahashiritsu Academy uniform was staring absentmindedly at the sky at the entrance of the supermarket. It was my classmate, who for some reason always seemed to be off the radar, the young genius actress loved by the nation’s beloved daughter, Sasazuki Mika.