I'll Take Nanase-san, Who Is Small And Adorable, Away From Her Cheating And Clueless Ex And Make Her Happy. - Chapter 296: Hiyori-san, Me, and the Autumn of Memories.

Hiyori-san, Me, and the Autumn of Memories.

(It’s already been over half a year since the first time Hiyori-san stayed over… It feels so nostalgic.)

It had only been a short while since we met when, by a twist of fate, she ended up spending the night at my house. Half a year has passed since then, and now it’s become completely normal for her to stay over. We’ve both come to accept it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Well, we did spend the entire summer vacation practically living together, so in that sense, it really is natural… but even I can’t help thinking how accustomed I’ve become to it.

(Back then, I was so nervous the whole time, but now… I can accept it without a second thought.)

That first night she stayed over, I was a complete mess. We talked in my room before bed, and somehow I managed to calm down by then, but until that point I’d been on edge about every little thing.

I mean, it’s only natural to feel nervous when a female classmate is staying the night.

At the time, I didn’t have the nerve to think of it as lucky, and honestly, I doubt I’ll ever be that bold.

Thinking back on all this, I found myself reminiscing about the journey that led to her becoming more than just a classmate – she was now my girlfriend. And as my mind drifted back to that first overnight stay, I remembered how I spoke to her while she was in the bath back then too… which inevitably brought to mind the silhouette I’d glimpsed through the bathroom door that day.

Hiyori-san standing under the shower, her outline faintly visible through the foggy glass.

She was so petite, yet her chest and hips were so… well-developed. Realizing the kind of thoughts I was having, I quickly shook my head to banish them.

I knew I shouldn’t be thinking like that… but now that we’re dating, I’ve unfortunately gathered enough information to fill in what I couldn’t quite see that day.

And since just a little while ago she’d been wearing light workout clothes, her figure – her chest and her hips – were still fresh in my mind, vividly so.

(No, no, stop it! This isn’t good, seriously!!)

I scolded myself for imagining her naked, knowing full well it wasn’t right, but once unleashed, my imagination conjured up vivid images of its own accord.

I pictured the hot water cascading down her body as she showered, tracing over her full chest, her wide hips, flowing down her thighs and legs… The moment that indecent image fully formed in my mind, my face burned bright red – and just then, her voice called out to me, making me jump in shock.

“Yuusuke-kun, sorry! Can I ask you for something!?”

“Wah!? Wha-what? What is it?”

Her sudden call, especially when I was having such shameful thoughts about her, rattled me beyond belief. I stammered several times before managing to respond somewhat calmly.

“I ran out of body soap. Could you get me a new bottle?”

“Ah… yeah, sure. Just wait a sec.”

In a way, her timing was perfect. Trying to calm myself, I took a few deep breaths before heading towards the bathroom.

But when I saw her silhouette through the frosted glass door again, my mind betrayed me, bringing back every inappropriate image I had just tried to erase, making my face flush hotly all over again.

“Sorry for the trouble. I feel bad, making you do all this for me.”

“D-don’t worry about it. It’s really no big deal.”

Trying to sound nonchalant, I rummaged through the storage space under the sink.

I’m sure the replacement body soap was here somewhere… As I found it and closed the cupboard door, my eyes happened to fall on something right beside it.

“Ah…!?”

It was an intense déjà vu.

Naturally, her clothes were piled there in the changing area. And right on top of that pile was her underwear.

Seeing her underwear instantly triggered a flashback to that first sleepover, and I slapped a hand over my eyes in sheer panic.

(Not again…!)

I’d been so flustered that I didn’t even think to avoid looking in that direction.

God, this is just like a replay of that first night, I thought, exasperated with myself – and that’s when Hiyori-san called out again.

“Ah, wait… Don’t tell me – did you see my underwear again and freak out?”

“…Yeah. Guilty as charged. Sorry.”

“Ahahaha! You’re apologizing again! Well, yeah, it’s embarrassing to think you saw my underwear all sweaty and stuff… but honestly, I don’t mind it at all.”