Nothing Happened (?)

“Ugh, I’m so tired…”

【(George stamp burned out completely)】

Katayama was lying face down on the desk, completely burned out. She even went out of her way to send a stamp on LINE.

I’m exhausted too…

When Katayama brought a plate of potato chips and chocolates, I was worried if she was okay, but surprisingly, she was focused. 

It seems like she’s determined not to fail.

Looking at the clock, it was already past 6 o’clock.

“It seems like I’ve stayed quite a while…”

It was starting to get dark outside.

“Katayama. Let’s call it a day for today’s study session, but make sure to review a bit before going to bed. Let’s keep up this momentum and do our best.”

“’kaay…”

Her response lacked energy, but she was unusually focused today, so it should be fine. As long as she keeps this up, she won’t fail.

Just as I was about to start packing the study materials, Katayama seemed to sense that I was about to leave.

“Shuugo-kun, why don’t you stay for dinner?”

“I couldn’t possibly…”

Honestly, I was really hungry, and I wanted to eat something right away, but it might get awkward if Katayama’s parents came back while I was there…

“But my mom won’t be back today, so there’s no need to hold back~”

She seemed to have read my mind with that answer.

“Well, even if they’re not here…”

“?”

“It’s not really appropriate for a boy and a girl to be alone together late at night, even if we’re just friends, right?”

I felt embarrassed as I said it, as if I was the only one being conscious of it.

Katayama seemed surprised at first, but then she burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“Wait, did I say something funny?”

“No, no. Sorry, sorry. Shuugo-kun, I just didn’t expect you to have such a maidenly way of thinking.”

“Maidenly? No, I think it’s just normal.”

“Is it, though? I think playing at home late and eating homemade dishes is still within the boundaries of friendship, don’t you?”

“Then what’s outside the boundaries of friendship?”

Maybe it’s just Katayama, or maybe it’s just girls in general who think differently.

“Hmm, well…”

“Well…?”

“It’s a secret! I won’t tell you until you figure it out~”

“Aw…”

Somehow, I was evaded.

Outside the boundaries of friendship… beyond the line of friends… hmm, I couldn’t figure it out. Well, I guess it varies from person to person.

“Anyway, you should stay for dinner. You’ve taught me a lot, Shuugo-kun, so you must be really hungry.”

I tried to play it off, but conveniently, my stomach growled at that moment.

“Your body doesn’t lie,” Katayama said with a grin.

I guess I could just eat dinner and then leave.

As for Iori’s dinner… well, I guess if she gets hungry, she’ll rummage through the fridge and eat something. She’s a high schooler, so she should be able to manage with frozen fried rice or something.

“Alright then, I’ll take you up on that offer… I’ll enjoy the dinner.”

“Leave it to me! Today, it’s Setsu-chan’s special beef tendon curry.”

“Wow!”

I’ve eaten Katayama’s cooking a few times before, and it’s always delicious.

Katayama is really a great friend.

“Mmm…?”

…My body felt sluggish.

I woke up with that discomfort.

The room was pitch black. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could gradually make out the situation…

“Katayama…?”

Katayama was sleeping soundly, looking comfortable, with her head on my arm.

“…Did she fall asleep?”

After we had dinner and I mentioned feeling a bit sleepy, Katayama said it was okay to lie down and that she would wake me up after a while… Oh no, I messed up.

“I need to hurry back… Ah, I feel so hot.”

My body feels oddly hot… The air conditioning… hasn’t been turned off.

I gulped down the barley tea that was left in the glass.

“Gulp gulp… Ahh…”

Since it had been left out, the ice had melted, and the tea was lukewarm. Maybe because it wasn’t cold, my thirst didn’t seem to go away much.

“I should buy some drinks on the way back. Now, from Katayama’s house… For Katayama, I should bring something… Ah, there’s a towel blanket.”

I covered Katayama with the towel blanket that was nearby.

Then, making sure not to wake her up, I quietly left the house. It was cooler outside than during the day.

“Huh? Did I leave the buttons open up to the third one?”

I thought it felt oddly breezy. Well, maybe I subconsciously opened it because it was hot.

I hurriedly buttoned up to the second button and rushed back home.

“……….fufu” (TL: DEM, wonder what she did, kekek)