After I Started Living Alone, My Place Turned Into a Hangout Spot for Beautiful Girls - Chapter 30: Waves of Jealousy

Chapter 30: Waves of Jealousy

Chieri Sato came back from the supermarket where she had gone to buy some condiments.

It seemed hot outside, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

“Phew, it’s already summer, huh?”

It wasn’t even the end of the rainy season yet, but it was already hot enough to call it summer.

Man, it really gets tiresome.

As usual, I looked at Chieri sweating and said,

“Why don’t you take a shower?”

Shizuru Mizutani always showered at my house.

Maybe because of that, I asked her in a casual way…

“Taking a shower at someone else’s house is normally embarrassing, so I’ll pass.”

Chieri gave a wry smile, as if to say, well, of course.

Yeah, Shizuru was just unusual; this was how it normally went.

“Well, I don’t mind at all, so feel free to borrow it anytime you want.”

I had said it purely out of kindness, but Chieri furrowed her brows.

“Do you want me to shower that badly, Teruaki? Are you some kind of pervert?”

“No, no, it’s because you shower at my house…”

“That’s pretty bold of you…”

“Just so you know, Shizuru wasn’t totally fine with it either at first. She started doing it after she got self-conscious about smelling sweaty on the train and bothering people… that kind of thing.”

“I see. So that’s how it was. By the way, have you ever peeked on Shizuru while she showered?”

I answered with a wry smile that no, of course not.

Then Sakuya threw in a little side comment.

“Teruaki’s such a scaredy-cat. He doesn’t have the guts to peek on a girl showering. So if the sweat bothers you, go ahead and use the shower—no problem at all.”

“In that case, maybe I’ll borrow it if the chance comes up.”

“…Right. Well, now that Chieri’s back, shall we get started boiling the somen noodles?”

Sakuya began preparing to boil the somen.

While waiting for the water to boil, I chopped the green onions Chieri had bought.

Next, eager to grate the ginger quickly, I started grating it single-mindedly…

But I slipped my hand badly, and the ginger flew through the air.

And it headed straight toward Chieri.

“…Honestly, that’s what happens when you rush. Chieri, are you okay?”

“The ginger juice is all over my blouse. To make me take a shower, you’re surprisingly crafty, Teruaki.”

“I’m really sorry. Should I cover the dry cleaning cost or something?”

“It’s not that bad; regular washing should be fine. But the ginger smell is strong, so could you lend me a spare T-shirt or something to change into?”

Since she asked, I got out a T-shirt and tried to hand it to Chieri.

“Wearing a boy’s T-shirt is kind of thrilling.”

Chieri smiled bashfully as she took my T-shirt.

She was so cute that it made my heart skip a beat, but I worried about her.

“Th-that’s all you need for changing?”

“It’s not bad enough to warrant a shower.”

“That’s good, then. If the smell bothers you, don’t hesitate to use the shower.”

“Hehe, do you want me to shower that much, Teruaki?”

Maybe because I kept saying the same thing over and over, Chieri giggled at me.

“No, I mean, you’ve got to be considerate to girls and all… I-I’m not saying it because I want you to shower, okay?”

“Is that so? Well, after you’ve insisted this much, I’m starting to think taking a shower might be a good idea. I actually like you quite a bit more than I expected, Teruaki, and I don’t want you thinking I smell bad.”

As we talked like that, Sakuya nodded with a wry smile.

“…Well, anyone could tell just by looking at today’s Chieri.”

Why are you nodding? I wondered, but then Sakuya explained.

“Chieri today has really strong perfume on. You were sitting a bit away, Teruaki, so it was fine for you, but I was right next to her, and I’m sensitive to smells, so it was a little overpowering…”

“Oh, sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. It’s normal to overdo the perfume when you’re excited to visit a boy’s house. Well, you know. It was awkward to say, so I didn’t, but I would’ve appreciated it if she’d showered or used a sweat wipe to tone down the perfume smell a bit.”

“In that case, shall I take a shower…”

Maybe because of Sakuya’s wish, Chieri decided to take a shower after all.

So I prepared a towel and handed it to Chieri.

And as I guided her to the bathroom and turned to head back to the living room—

The intercom rang.

I didn’t even need to check the monitor; I just wondered who it was and opened the front door.

And there, at the entrance…

“Please watch over me while I study!!!!!”

Shizuru Mizutani stood there, looking pretty desperate.

Come to think of it, Shizuru was the kind of girl who always fought for last place…

“You sure came in a hurry.”

“Hehe, sorry? Oh, if it’s too much trouble for you to watch me, I can head home? I only came here in the first place to pick up a textbook I forgot at school on the way.”

“Don’t forget your textbook at school right before exams…”

“So, will you watch me?”

“No helping it, then. If you try to slack off, I’ll give you a good smack on the butt.”

I said that as I let the cornered Shizuru into the house.

And the moment Shizuru stepped inside, as usual, she said,

“It’s hot again today, huh? So, I’ll borrow the shower!”

“Uh, yeah, sure, but…”

Right now, Chieri’s using it.

Before I could say that, Shizuru opened the changing room door.

It seemed Chieri had forgotten to lock the changing room door, so it opened normally.

Shizuru peeked inside the changing room, then closed the door without a word.

“Who’s taking a shower? Sakuya-chan?”

“No, not Sakuya. Well, you know.”

“Hmm, not Sakuya-chan, huh. So who is it?”

“Uh…”

Shizuru looked confused by the situation.

I couldn’t find the right words to explain to her from the start.

Then, before I could even gather my thoughts, Shizuru spoke up.

“Hey, hey, you’re already making moves on me, and now you’re trying to make moves on some other girl too? Well, whatever. We’re not really in that kind of relationship anyway, and I don’t even like you that much yet, Teruaki.”

She had been smiling just a moment ago, but now Shizuru’s face looked kind of sullen.

…I’m not an idiot, either.

Looking at Shizuru now, it was obvious.

Yes, Shizuru—

Was genuinely starting to be drawn to me.

Because the way Shizuru looked right now, after catching me with another girl in the house, she seemed nothing less than jealous.