I Tried to Verify What Would Happen if I Revealed to My Junior Who Always Mocks Me for Being a Virgin That I Am Actually Experienced - Chapter 11 - Again, Senpai?
Chapter 11 – Again, Senpai?
Currently, it’s night. I’m in my room, idly reading a book as usual, when suddenly the chime rang.
“……”
The time is past ten o’clock at night. It is a very quiet time of the day, with the rain that has been pouring down in torrents for some time.
“…Who the hell would visit at this hour?”
I put my book down and got up, wondering. There is no one in this house but me, so if I don’t ignore them, I’ll have to answer the door.
“After what happened with Sasana yesterday, I can’t ignore it…”
I don’t think she’d bother to ring the bell, but I won’t know unless I open the door.
With this in mind, I hurried down the stairs and quickly opened the front door.
There was a girl standing there, soaking wet from the rain.
“…What are you doing, Kyoka?”
“……”
Kyoka didn’t say a word in response to my question. She looked at me with empty eyes, not seeming to be bothered by the fact that her underwear could be seen because her shirt was soaked from the rain.
“Hey, Kyoka? …Did something happen? Anyway, you should go and change. Your house is just around the corner, so take a shower and get changed, and then if you want to talk—”
“I met Sasana.”
“……”
In a whisper, blending in with the sound of rain, Kyoka muttered something like that.
“…I see. I get it now. So she came to you…”
Now Sasana is basically an extension of my wish. So I’m sure the reason she did that is because I wished for it unconsciously.
I want to get along with everyone again, like in the old days. Something along this line.
“…Let me in. I don’t want to go home today.”
“But there’s nobody in my house but me, you know?”
“It’s fine… I don’t mind if you do something a little bit naughty. …So, please.”
After she said such a stupid thing, drops of water flowed from the corner of her eyes. I couldn’t tell if they were tears or rain… either way, I know what I’m going to say back to her.
“All right… Take a shower for now. If you catch a cold before the test, it’ll be a disaster.”
“…Yeah. Okay.”
Then, for the first time in years, a girl I’d known since childhood came to my house.
◇
“T-shirt for the top. For the bottom…maybe jersey is fine.”
Currently, Kyoka is in the shower and I’m preparing her change of clothes.
“Ah, what about underwear?”
It’s obvious, but I don’t have women’s underwear. But then, if I gave her my underwear instead, Kyoka would probably slap me…
Really, what do I do?
“…Well, whatever. There’s nothing I can do. I mean, her house is right next door, so it doesn’t matter.”
Having come to that conclusion, I grabbed her change of clothes and a towel and headed for the washroom. …However, as I approached the washroom, I could hear the sound of the shower mixed with the sound of the rain, and for some reason I got nervous for no reason at all.
“Kyoka. I’ll leave some towels and a change of clothes here.”
I said that much and quickly turned my back to the washroom to go back to the living room and make myself a cup of coffee. …However, Kyoka slowly spilled out words, as if she was trying to hold me back.
“…She hasn’t changed since the old days, that Sasana.”
“…Well. You know she’s not normal, don’t you?”
I couldn’t ignore Kyoka’s words, so I replied to her as if I had given up.
“Yeah. But…she…died. She died right in front of me, right in front of you…”
“……”
“…And you knew too. You’ve been seeing Sasana for a while, haven’t you?”
“Well, that’s…”
I hesitate for a moment, unsure of how to respond. I remember distinctly that we first met Sasana when we were in elementary school, around fifth grade. Then, I encountered Sasana again during our second year of middle school. Since then, every summer, Sasana would appear in front of me.
But I’ve always hidden that from Kyoka. Because I don’t want her to remember the past as much as possible.
“Why are you keeping silent? …I was seeing Sasana just now, remember? So there’s no point in hiding it now.”
“…Yeah. I’ve been seeing her. Ever since eighth grade, she started showing up on my doorstep every summer. So we’ve spent every summer together, just the two of us.”
“Does Rei-chan know about that?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t mean to tell Rei either. But she sniffed it out from somewhere on her own. I wasn’t even going to tell anyone about this…”
“…Is that because you still like Sasana?”
“…Yes.”
The answer I gave was both true and false. I like Sasana, but at the same time, I…
“Then, your first partner was…Sasana?”
“Yeah… I like Sasana, after all.”
“…You liar.”
“…Sorry.”
Then again, only the sound of the rain and the shower echoed quietly. So I started to walk away this time, but Kyoka didn’t let me.
“I’m staying at this house today.”
“…Huh? What are you talking about? Your house is right next door, go home. …If you want to talk, I’ll listen to you all you want tomorrow.”
“…I don’t want to be alone today.”
“No, you have a proper family at your house, unlike mine. Go home. Don’t worry about your family too much.”
“I don’t want to… You understand, don’t you? Besides, I’ve already called to say I’m staying at a friend’s house today.”
“…Hah…”
It’s not that I don’t understand why Kyoka would say this… But I still think it’s a bad idea. In many ways, Kyoka shouldn’t stay at my house.
“…I just remembered that time. You know, that scene…”
“Then you shouldn’t be around me. Because I’m the one who did it…”
“…But I still want to stay.”
“Even so…”
“……”
“……”
And so time passed in silence for a while. So the only sounds here were the shower and the rain.
…I’m sure that even if we continue to argue, we’ll only end up on a parallel track because Kyoka is just as stubborn as Rei.
“……”
I don’t know what Kyoka and Sasana talked about today. But from the looks of her, I’m sure it wasn’t a pleasant conversation.
That’s why Kyoka probably ended up remembering the incident from back then… So maybe it’s inevitable to keep our distance now.
If she has indeed remembered, it might be somewhat better for both of us to share and comfort each other, rather than dealing with it alone.
“All right. You can stay at my place today. …But just so you know, I don’t have spare underwear for you.”
“Then lend me yours.”
“H-Huh…!? Are you insane?”
“Why are you surprised? Isn’t it obvious I’m joking? …Just put them in the dryer and they’ll dry out, right? I don’t even have to wear any.”
“……”
I don’t think it’s okay, no matter how much I think about it… First of all, she’s my childhood friend, but I think she’s too careless when I’m the only one at the house.
…Well, of course I would never lay a hand on her, but… But when she does something like this, it makes me think, ‘Maybe she likes me?’
“…Hey, Naoya.”
As I was thinking stupid thoughts like that, Kyoka called my name in a slightly cold voice, different from the one she had just used.
And just like that, she said the words I least wanted to hear.
“…I’m sorry for all this time.”
“…It’s okay. I’m the one who’s at fault.”
I just said that, and this time I really left the bathroom.
“…Sorry, huh? That’s my line, Kyoka.”
Outside the window, it was still raining. But my head was filled with that red sunset and red blood.
“…I should make a late-night snack.”
I muttered to myself and shook off unnecessary thoughts. Just then, the sound of the shower deafened.
And so began the long night.