After Picking up a Runaway Girl From the Same University on My Way Home From Work, We Started Living Together in Secret - Chapter 14

“…My head feels heavy.”

The constant sound of rain, pouring heavily outside the window.

The gray clouds fill the sky, and it seems the rain will continue for a while.

On this rainy morning, the first sound I hear is the groan of Kototori Risa, curled up in the blanket.

“Risa? Are you okay?”

I woke up instantly and hurriedly leaned over to check her face.

Her hair was messily scattered.

Her eyes, barely open, lacked any energy.

I knew her skin was pale, not having a tan, but today, her face looked even paler than usual.

Risa reacted to my voice, shifting slightly.

“…It’s probably the low pressure. It happens all the time, so don’t worry about it.”

She told me that her health was not great.

I know that some people get affected by atmospheric pressure, and from the way she looked, it seemed like Risa was one of them.

What’s more, she couldn’t even get out of bed, even though she was awake, which seemed pretty bad.

Since I started living with Risa, I’ve learned a few things about her.

For instance, she wakes up easily, prefers Japanese food, and can’t do any housework except laundry… Little things like that.

You wouldn’t notice these things if you were just hanging out at university.

…But putting that aside, it’s a big deal for Risa, who usually wakes up easily, to not be able to get up.

“So it’s just the usual… are you really okay?”

“…I’m fine.”

After a brief pause, Risa slowly got up from the bed, saying, “I’ll take a shower with the alarm,” and left the room, walking unsteadily.

Her back looked more fragile than usual, making me worry.

“If something happens, call me, okay?”

I wasn’t sure how bad Risa’s condition was, but if she collapsed in the bathroom, it would be a problem.

There was no answer, but I thought she probably heard me, so I went ahead and started preparing for breakfast.

Once I finished making breakfast, I was waiting for Risa in the living room when I heard the door to the changing room open.

I could hear footsteps.

When I looked, Risa crossed in front of me… Wait, why is she only in a bath towel?

“Risa!”

“…What is it?”

“Where’s your clothes?”

“I forgot to bring them.”

…I see.

Maybe it was because she just woke up and wasn’t feeling well, but I still wonder if it’s okay to come out wearing just a bath towel.

This has happened before, but I’m starting to think Risa might lack a sense of modesty.

Coming out in a bath towel in front of a guy—she really doesn’t seem to be cautious at all.

At the very least, I think I should make sure she leaves her underwear in the changing room.

Otherwise, I won’t be able to maintain my peace of mind.

“…You could have asked me to bring it, or just put on what you were wearing and come get it.”

“I don’t think a bath towel is a problem. You’re not looking, right?”

She said it so calmly, then tugged at the corner of the bath towel wrapped around her body.

Naturally, her well-toned thighs, which had gotten some color after her shower, were now visible up to a risky point.

But, because I expected this to happen after such a short time together, I quickly averted my gaze.

Even though I could still see a little, I wasn’t reacting as strongly as before—maybe I was getting used to it.

If you ask whether I wasn’t feeling anything, that’s a different story.

“I wish you’d be more cautious,” I said.

“Why would I need to be cautious with you?”

“There are reasons.”

“Well, I said I could stay with you, and in exchange, you could do whatever you want with me. So it’s only natural I wouldn’t be cautious.”

“…Just hurry up and change, okay? You’ll catch a cold.”

“I’ll do that.”

To my surprise, Risa listened and went to her room to get her clothes.

I could hear her rummaging around for something, then the sound of her footsteps heading back to the changing room—

“Minato.”

“…What is it now?”

“Do you think this outfit looks weird?”

Since she was probably still in the bath towel, I figured it was better not to face her. But it didn’t seem like I could continue without seeing what she was talking about.

I carefully shifted my gaze to Risa, and was surprised.

The clothes she had picked out weren’t her usual modest, university-type outfits. They were frilly, lace-adorned, and belonged to the lolita fashion style.

It seemed like Risa had chosen these, perhaps unintentionally.

Was something changing in her mindset?

“Risa, just wear whatever you want. I think it suits you,” I said.

It would be easy to dismiss it, saying it’s not my place to decide, but if the reason she chose that outfit had anything to do with me, I couldn’t just stay silent.

So I gave an answer, adding a little explanation. Risa smiled slightly and said,

“Thanks. I’m glad you said that. I was a little scared.”

She said it with a slight, but noticeable, hint of happiness.

She turned to head back to the changing room, but—

“Ah.”

Her voice sounded unexpectedly flustered.

Risa’s body tilted unnaturally.

“!”

I didn’t even think, just reacted.

Could I make it in time…? No, I had to!

I quickly grabbed her fragile body and tried to catch her, making sure her head didn’t hit anything.

But even though Risa is light, the impact from her fall made it difficult to catch her perfectly.

I felt the shock as I fell backward. Despite the dull pain, when I looked down, Risa’s slightly damp, pure white hair spread out across my chest.

Risa’s face, cushioned by the clothes I was holding, seemed safe… I hoped.

“Risa, are you okay?”

I asked, while enduring the pain. Slowly, Risa lifted her body.

As she moved, her white hair shifted with her, and I saw her eyes, which looked a little downcast, and the tip of her nose slightly red.

Her lips, which had been closed, seemed to twitch.

“Ah.”

The voice she let out was a realization of something.

Almost at the same time, the bath towel that had been covering her body fell off.

Since I had been focused on Risa, I couldn’t help but see everything clearly.

The smooth, girl-like curve of her shoulder.

Her flawless skin, not a trace of a blemish, with a healthy glow.

And though they weren’t large, there were definite, tender curves and the budding tips of her—

“!!! S-Sorry!”

The moment I realized what I was seeing, my mind boiled with heat.

I immediately closed my eyes, but it was too late—I knew it.

What I had seen was now forever imprinted in my mind.

“Why are you apologizing, Minato? I fell, and you helped me. Since I ended up on top of you, logically, I should be the one apologizing.”

“That’s not it! The bath towel!”

Despite my growing guilt and shame, I explained the reason, and Risa responded with a strangely calm voice.

“Well, if you’re going to look at me, it’s part of our deal, so I’m not bothered by it.”

“I think you should be bothered, though!”

“It’s not like I lose anything by being seen.”

Risa’s calm tone made me feel that she didn’t mind at all, but somehow, it didn’t sit right with me.

Was it really okay to just dismiss it?

The shock from what I’d seen wouldn’t fade.

With my eyes closed, limited vision, I still couldn’t shake the image of Risa’s body. Her voice kept replaying in my head.

No, forget about it…!

“…Please just cover yourself up already. Also, it’d be great if you could get off me.”

“Was I heavy?”

“No, that’s not it…!”

I answered, trying to hide my embarrassment as Risa innocently questioned me.

The thing was, Risa was sitting on my waist.

And there was only a bath towel between us.

The impact of that closeness was more than enough to stir feelings.

But, I had already seen Risa in a way I shouldn’t have, and that only made it worse.

Which leads me to this conclusion:

Being so close, it’s hard to hide a natural, biological reaction.

I’m a man, and I can’t avoid certain reactions. I haven’t released that tension yet, so being in that situation only made it worse.

Worst case scenario.

I just hoped she wouldn’t notice.

As I waited for Risa to move away, I felt her weight lessen.

“I’m done wrapping up.”

Risa’s voice made me open my eyes, and I saw her sitting next to me, wrapped in a bath towel, peering down at my face.

Then, for some reason, she leaned her face closer to my ear.

“—It’s not your fault, Minato, so don’t worry about it. And if you need help… I can cooperate.”

She indirectly told me that she knew everything, and realizing I had no face left to show, I inwardly cursed, “Just kill me now.”