Chapter 29: The Scent of Senpai’s Jersey…

Kana was rolling around on the floor in her entryway, clutching her head in despair.

(Sharing an umbrella is one thing, but clinging to his arm!? What the hell was I thinking!? Why did I press my chest against a guy I’m not even dating!? Am I an idiot!? What if he thinks I’m some easy girl!?)

A hurricane of panic swirled inside her chest, but she suddenly remembered this wasn’t the time for it. Her hair was soaked, and her shirt and underwear were clinging uncomfortably to her skin.

“…Hakushun! …Uwahh.”

She wiped her nose.

(If I catch a cold, I’ll just cause Takumi more unnecessary worry. I should get in the bath quickly.)

Still wearing his jersey, Kana headed for the bathroom. It was Takumi’s. She had insisted on washing and returning it despite his reluctance.

She knew she should throw it straight into the washing machine right away, but—

(Senpai’s… jersey…)

Ever since entering high school, Kana had become aware that she had a thing for scents.

“…No, no, stop!”

She almost brought the jersey to her nose and frantically shook her head. Takumi had lent it to her out of kindness. There was no way she could do something like that.

She managed to stop herself just in time.

However, she simply couldn’t bring herself to toss the jersey into the machine.

“…Yeah, right. If I wash it while I’m in the bath, it might wrinkle in the drum. I’ll wash it after I get out.”

Muttering that excuse to no one in particular, Kana stripped faster than she ever did before PE class and practically fled into the bathroom.

And then—

“I can’t…!”

After drying her hair and changing into loungewear, Kana returned to her room with the oversized jersey still in her hands. Despite telling herself she couldn’t, she hadn’t let go of it once.

Human willpower isn’t strong enough to resist when the temptation is right in front of you.

“Just… just a little! Only a little bit, and if I don’t tell him, he’ll never know, so I won’t make him uncomfortable…”

It won’t bother Takumi, so it’s fine—

Repeating that justification to herself, Kana finally pressed her face into the jersey.

(Ah… Senpai’s scent…)

He had said he hadn’t worn it, but his smell still lingered unmistakably.

Once she started, she couldn’t stop. Kana flopped onto her bed, buried her face in the fabric, and took deep, repeated breaths.

(I like it… It’s so calming…)

The sense of guilt only heightened her excitement, but above all, she felt a deep mental peace. Anyone could guess what would happen if she relaxed on her bed right after a bath.

(I can’t… I have to wash it and return it…)

Even as she thought that, her eyelids grew heavy as lead. Eventually she could no longer resist, and she drifted off into the world of dreams.

‘Shirayuki-san… No—Kana. That’s okay, right?’

‘Senpai…’

Takumi’s face drew closer. Their distance shrank until their breaths mingled—

“N-Nooo!”

Kana woke up to the sound of her own embarrassed moan.

(I-It was a dream… Wait, what kind of dream was that!?)

Her face flushed all the way to her neck in shame as she panicked. Cradled protectively in her arms was Takumi’s jersey.

“I had that dream because I did all that stuff earlier…”

Letting out a deep sigh, Kana walked over to the washing machine. She no longer felt like smelling it anymore.

“Haa…”

Listening to the rumbling sound of the machine, she sighed again.

Only now did she fall into deep self-loathing. She knew she had promised to wash and return it quickly, so she should apologize to Takumi as soon as possible. Yet she couldn’t summon the courage to send him a message.

(If he ever found out I did something like this, he’d definitely be grossed out…)

Kana lowered her gaze. Now that she had calmed down, she painfully realized how abnormal her behavior had been.

‘Charging straight ahead is fine, but sometimes it’s important to stop and look back. When you get too focused, you stop seeing anything around you.’

Remembering the words her mother, Ran, had said that morning, Kana reflected on everything she had done so far.

Forgetting her key and getting let into his house.

Freeloading dinner off him.

Bringing up a topic herself, then claiming his casual comment was sexual harassment so they’d play games together.

Teasing him with her panties.

Studying at his place.

Clinging to him and crying.

Falling asleep on his sofa.

Joking around, slipping, and getting caught in his arms.

“I’ve only caused him trouble…”

Even earlier when she pressed her chest against him, Takumi had looked flustered and tense. Maybe he had been uncomfortable inside.

And before that, she had taken out her frustration on him just because she didn’t like how he and Reiko were being treated like a married couple—even though he had done nothing wrong.

(I’m not even his girlfriend. That’s definitely crossing the line. He must think I’m a really annoying girl… And walking to and from school together—after everything that happened, plus him saying I could rely on him, there’s no way he could refuse. Maybe he actually hated it…)

There was a term called a negative spiral. Kana’s current state was exactly that—negative thoughts endlessly summoning more negative thoughts.

Eventually, the washing machine beeped, signaling the end of the cycle.

“…I have to return it.”

Holding the bag containing the folded jersey, Kana left her apartment. It was the first time she had ever felt this heavy-hearted while walking toward Takumi’s home.