Chapter 59

“At this rate, you’ll probably be able to go to school tomorrow. What do you plan to do?”

“Hmm… I should go, I know, but… seriously, I don’t wanna. If I get bombarded with questions about all this stuff right after recovering, I swear I’ll pass out.”

“Then you have no choice but to take another day off. Yes, that’s what you should do. After all, I want a day off too.”

“You’re just telling me to skip because you want to skip, aren’t you?”

“Yup, exactly.”

“You didn’t even try to hide it. That honesty’s almost refreshing. Still, now that my fever’s gone, just saying I want to stay home isn’t going to cut it anymore.”

“Then how about this? If I, the one who stayed by your side, saying sweetly, ‘I think you should rest a little longer’?”

“Oh, that would definitely work. If you say it, there’s no way anyone in my family would argue.”

“In that case, may I go ahead and say it?”

“Go ahead, I don’t mind. But seriously, how much do you hate school?”

“It’s just such a pain. I’d rather skip and spend the whole day doing it.”

“I’m sure every couple out there thinks the same.”

As they chatted, Reika began eating the Pockey she’d bought earlier from the convenience store, nibbling on it modestly.

Satoru gave her a half-exasperated look, watching the overly laid-back girl with mild disbelief.

“My, why are you looking at me with such heated eyes?” she asked, cocking her head playfully.

“I wasn’t. I’m not looking at you heatedly, I’m just stunned by how damn carefree you are.”

“Oh? Then… could it be… you want to play the Pockey Game? Goodness, someone’s feeling frisky.”

“Whoa, no. I never said anything remotely close to that. And how many times do I have to say we shouldn’t, because I just got over a cold?!”

“…Mmm.”

Ignoring his protests entirely, Reika placed a Pocky stick in her mouth and held the other end out toward him.

She was being aggressive now, and Satoru knew from experience that rejecting her in a moment like this would only make her sulk—a lot.

In other words, he had no choice but to accept the situation.

“…Tch.”

Letting out a resigned sigh, Satoru leaned in and took the opposite end of the Pocky into his mouth.

Together, they slowly began eating from both ends.

Bit by bit, the distance between them shrank.

As they drew closer, Satoru instinctively paused, but Reika didn’t stop.

She kept going until she finished the Pocky completely… and her lips reached his.

As he accepted her kiss, Satoru found himself gently pushed down onto the bed, and Reika followed, collapsing on top of him with a soft thud.

“Fufu… sweet,” she murmured.

“I told you… you might catch my cold… Idiot.”

Despite his words, Satoru wrapped an arm around her head and pulled her into another kiss.

“We’ve already spent so much time together today. If I was going to catch it, it’d already have happened. So it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“There you go again, talking nonstop…”

“Fufu… In this position, no matter what I say, you can’t really argue, can you?”

With Reika lying on top of him, her long, silky black hair spilled over Satoru’s face.

Every time a strand brushed his skin, it tickled softly and smelled amazing.

Her scent, the soft weight of her body, the warmth of her breath—it was all overwhelming his senses, and he found himself wanting her again, right then and there.

“Fufu, just seeing that expression tells me your condition’s really improved.”

“Looks like it. Still… I’m going to behave. At least for now.”

“Then how about this? I’ll just lie next to you and nap. I’m feeling a little sleepy.”

“Totally fine. Actually, I’m sorry for making you sit on the floor by my bed all this time. That had to be uncomfortable.”

“I came over of my own accord, so don’t worry about it. Besides, being the kind of guy who actually apologizes for something like that, that’s part of your charm.”

With a soft smile, Reika slipped under the covers and climbed into Satoru’s bed.

“Hmm… this whole situation’s kinda playing out exactly like last time.”

“True. Maybe we’re a little too repetitive?”

“I mean, this isn’t the kind of thing that needs variety. Any couple in a situation like this would probably end up doing the same stuff. I think, anyway.”

“Fwaaah… Getting to nap at a time like this… It’s pure luxury. Normally I’m just drowsy and miserable in class around now.”

She pulled the blanket up over her face and shifted into a comfortable sleeping position.

“You can sleep if you want, but just so you know my sister’s gonna be home soon.”

“Then I’ll nap for a bit and have a nice little chat with Chisa-chan when she gets back.”

“Please do. She’d love that.”

“Fufu. I’ll rope Chisa-chan into my ‘Satoru should rest more’ alliance.”

“You don’t even need to do that. She already agrees with whatever you say.”

With that light-hearted conversation, the two drifted off into a peaceful nap together.

Chapter 60

While the two of them were peacefully napping together, their classroom was beginning to buzz with a bit of commotion.

It was, of course, because both Satoru and Reika had once again taken the day off—together.

Those who didn’t have much interaction with either of them didn’t react much, but among their respective circles of friends, there was a growing sense of 

“Something’s definitely going on, right?”

“Reika says she’s feeling okay, at least. That’s a relief.”

“Yeah, I got that message too. But there’s still no reply about what’s going on with her and Takashima-kun.”

“Same here~. Which basically confirms something’s up, right?”

“The fact that she’s saying nothing makes it even more suspicious. I mean, even if she denied it, I’d probably still have doubts.”

“Takashima-kun, huh? I never even considered him. I mean, he’s actually kind of popular with the girls, but we’ve never heard a single rumor about him dating anyone. I just figured he wasn’t into that sort of thing.”

“And to think, not only is he dating, but the girl is in our class! Oh! And wait—could that be why she nominated him as class rep…!?”

“Whoa, all the puzzle pieces are clicking into place! I totally feel like we’ve been played!”

“Hold on, though! Don’t forget, we always think we’ve got it figured out, and then Reika totally pulls the rug out from under us. So maybe this time too, we’re all, ‘This is it for sure!’ and then it’s totally not.”

“True… Reika’s too clever for us. She always plays her cards in ways we can’t predict. Still, that’s what makes her so damn cute, so it’s hard to stay mad at her.”

Nearby, two people had been silently listening to the discussion while thinking deeply about it themselves.

“…So, what do you think, Ruri?” Seiya asked. “They’re still talking like they don’t really know what’s going on, but what’s your read on the situation?”

“It’s obviously a yes. There’s no other answer,” Ruri replied without a hint of hesitation.

“Seriously? So that means he’s just been dodging and playing dumb with me this whole time?”

“Pretty much.”

“He could’ve at least denied it…”

“I wish I could deny it for him, but let’s be real—this kind of thing doesn’t happen often. My guess is, one of them’s actually sick, and the other’s just staying home with them. That’s how this keeps happening.”

“You’re kidding, right!? Normal people don’t do that kind of thing. If they’re not just dating but that close, there’s not even a crack to slip through.”

“…I don’t see it that way.”

Ruri’s response was firm, contradicting Seiya’s defeated tone.

“What makes you so sure?”

“You might not have seen it, but I have. That girl’s so lovestruck, it’s wild. And she’s being super clingy about it too.”

“No way. Hatsu-ne-san’s really the possessive type? Actually, now that I think about it… that is kind of hot in its own way.”

“…Idiot. This is why guys with zero dating experience are hopeless. No matter how pretty she is, being that possessive gets exhausting fast. Sure, it’s nice in the beginning, but—”

“Why am I the one getting completely dissed here…? So what you’re saying is, Satoru might just be going along with it to keep the peace?”

“Exactly. Just look at how stubborn he is about not telling anyone what’s going on between them. That’s not normal. Usually, when a guy gets a hot girlfriend, the first thing he does is brag to his friends.”

“Facts!”

“I’m thinking this whole day-off arrangement? It was probably something Hatsune-san decided on. I mean, does serious, responsible Takashima-kun seem like the kind of guy who’d skip school multiple times?”

“…Damn, you’re really sharp today! That totally makes sense!”

“That’s why I’m not giving up. Actually, I see this as the perfect chance to go on the offensive.”

“Man, hearing you talk like this makes me feel like we actually have a shot!”

“Of course. I’m serious about this.”

Seiya could clearly tell—more than ever before—that Ruri was dead serious about this love battle.

“And you know what else? I think when a guy gets freed from that kind of emotional pressure, he ends up falling hard for the person who gave him that freedom. The odds of turning a win into a major win go way up.”

“First step is confirming their relationship once they come back.”

“Yup. I’m starting to get excited.”

With this long-awaited development finally taking shape, Seiya and Ruri renewed their determination to make their move.