Actually, the Hungry Gyaru Who Eats a Lot Was Being Cheated On, so I Decided to Win Her Heart (And Stomach) From Her Jerk Boyfriend - 66

Chapter 66: A Suspicious Person… Or Not?

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It was after I stopped by a nearby supermarket on my way home from the gym and bought some ingredients for my weight-cutting menu and some sports drinks. As I left the store and started heading home, a figure dressed head-to-toe in a pitch-black sauna suit, running, caught the edge of my vision.

“…What is this, a boxer at the tail end of weight cutting?”

I muttered without thinking. Even though it was already night, August’s muggy heat was no joke. And yet they were wearing long sleeves and long pants, plus the hood was pulled down so deeply it nearly hid their face… It wouldn’t be surprising if they collapsed from heatstroke.

Watching made me worried, but they were still a complete stranger. I had neither the obligation nor the reason to go out of my way to talk to them. For now, I’d just pray they finished their run safely and head home. That was what I was thinking when…

Just as they came close to where I was, as if on cue, their steps suddenly became unsteady.

“Hey, hey—are you serious…!?”

Even from a distance, they were staggering, looking like they could collapse at any moment. I couldn’t just ignore someone in that condition. Less out of pure concern and more out of a faint sense of duty that had sprouted up inside me, I hurried over to the person in the sauna suit.

“Um, are you okay—!?”

The moment I called out, the person in the sauna suit completely lost their balance. I instinctively grabbed their upper arm and somehow prevented them from falling.

…Good. I just barely made it in time. Feeling only brief relief, I tried to speak again and then I noticed. A glimpse of platinum-blonde hair peeking out from under the hood. Skin as white as freshly fallen snow exposed at the sleeve, and hands so beautifully shaped they looked like finely crafted porcelain, along with flashy nails at the fingertips. On top of that, even the height matched hers perfectly.

“…Shizuku?”

When I called her name without thinking, the person in the sauna suit whipped around toward me.

“Eh… Suou-kun?”

So it really was Shizuku. Hearing her voice confirmed it. Her face, hidden beneath the hood, had gone pale, and her bangs were plastered to her forehead from the sheer amount of sweat.

“H-How come you’re here…?”

“Just a coincidence. More importantly, drink this first.”

After moving Shizuku to a spot where people wouldn’t pass by, I opened the sports drink I had just bought and handed it to her. It was originally for me, but I was glad I had picked it up.

“…Thanks.”

After confirming she had properly taken a few sips…

“Good. Next, take off the jacket and get on.”

As I said that, I turned my back to her and crouched down. But Shizuku only hesitated and didn’t move. I could roughly guess why.

“B-But… I’m all sweaty right now…”

“It’s fine. If you’re going to say that, it goes both ways. I just worked up a serious sweat myself.”

“Here,” I urged again, and after a brief moment of hesitation, Shizuku nervously began taking off the sauna suit. She had sweated enough for her hair to stick to her forehead. The black T-shirt she wore underneath was completely soaked. The fabric clung to her skin so tightly that her body line was clearly outlined.

“—!”

“Phew… huh? Suou-kun? What’s wrong?”

“…Don’t worry about it.”

It was rude, and not something I should stare at. I swallowed back the breath I nearly caught, immediately averted my eyes, and waited quietly for Shizuku to lean against my back. Before long, along with a damp sensation, her weight settled onto me.

“…Sorry if I smell like sweat.”

“It’s fine. You don’t smell at all, so don’t worry.”

There was definitely the scent of sweat, but none of it was unpleasant. If anything, I was more worried that I might smell. I meant it as a statement of fact, but Shizuku looked uneasy and pressed further.

“…Really?”

“Yeah, really. Do I look like the type who can say something like that just to flatter you?”

When I asked back, Shizuku shook her head firmly.

“Right? So you really don’t have to worry.”

“…Okay.”

Once she seemed convinced, I stood up and decided to leave the area for now. I would ask about the details after Shizuku had calmed down.

Now then, where should I take Shizuku…?

Even if I sent her home, it was a bit of a distance from here. If time weren’t an issue, I could walk her there slowly, but first and foremost she needed to rest somewhere cool.

Besides, Shizuku’s parents—though they had apparently returned once to deal with the aftermath of the Yamachi incident—should both be away from home for work. Which meant that even if I took her home, there would be no one there to look after her. Leaving Shizuku alone in this state would be worrying in its own way.

In that case, the only realistic option I had was…

“…Well, there’s really only one choice.”

A nearby place where it was cool, where she could rest, and where someone could keep an eye on her. After narrowing it down by process of elimination…

“Ah, Gaku-nii, welcome hom—wait, whoa!? Shizuku Onee-chan, are you okay!?”

I decided that bringing her to my house was the best choice. I felt a little sorry for deciding that almost entirely on my own, but I’d ask them to forgive me later.

“Ahaha, I’m fine… I mean, sorry for barging in so suddenly.”

“No, don’t worry about it! I’m happy to see you, Shizuku Onee-chan! …Oh, right. Gaku-nii, is there anything I can help with?”

“Then… could you wet a towel and bring it here?”

“Got it! Leave it to me!”

With a firm nod, Ichika quickly headed to the washroom to get a towel.

“…Ichika-chan is really such a good girl.”

“Yeah. She’s truly a wonderful little sister.”

Nodding, I carried Shizuku into the living room, watching Ichika’s retreating back out of the corner of my eye.

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