My Cool and Straightforward Girlfriend Won't Let Me Sleep Today Either - Chapter 19

Episode 19: My 4th-Year Girlfriend, Rarely Offering a Lap Pillow

“There, there…”

Natsuki pats my head while I’m resting on her lap and says, “there, there,” as if soothing a baby.

Yesterday, at the mixer, I reaffirmed that besides Natsuki, other girls are terrifying creatures.

I absolutely cannot trust any girl besides Natsuki anymore.

To heal my heart, wounded from the mixer, I’ve asked my cool and straightforward girlfriend for a lap pillow.

Usually, she often declines, saying it’s too burdensome.

But today—

She looked a little guilty? With a slightly guilty expression, she readily said, “okay” and let me rest on her lap.

Truly rare. It’s a bit scary, as if there’s an ulterior motive.

Anyway, setting aside such trivial matters, I asked Natsuki what I wanted to know.

“To be honest, where do you want to go for our date?”

“Didn’t I say I’d think about it last time?”

“It’s our fourth year together, and I’m starting to run out of ideas for dates.”

“So far, we’ve been to amusement parks, aquariums, pools, summer festivals, cherry blossom festivals, illuminations, river cruises, Nikko Toshogu Shrine, shrines and temples in Kyoto…”

While patting me, Natsuki lists the places we’ve been to on our dates.

Anyway, that’s it. We’ve been to so many different places…

No wonder it’s hard to come up with new ideas for where to go.

“We’ve been to so many places… So, what should we do?”

“How about a summer-like fireworks festival?”

“As much as I want to say it’s too casual to decide like that… but a fireworks festival doesn’t cost much, and it’s just right.”

As we were casually deciding on our date spot, Natsuki suddenly says.

“Oh, I kind of want to try going to a sauna.”

“A sauna? You mean that hot place?”

“Yeah, it’s been trending lately.”

“Anyway, is a sauna a suitable place for a date?”

Natsuki’s words are somewhat unclear and hard to understand.

To clarify, Natsuki adds.

“My friend said the place she went with her boyfriend wasn’t exactly a sauna, but a spa resort where you can wear swimsuits. They have rock baths, heated pools, dining areas, and stuff. It seems pretty enjoyable, right?”

“Indeed, if you put it that way, it doesn’t sound bad.”

Considering what Natsuki said, going to a sauna or a sauna-like “spa resort” for a date seems acceptable.

“Also, there are more private saunas available for couples or small groups now.”

“A private sauna for couples… Isn’t that a bit…?”

“Hey… Do you think couples would do it anywhere?”

Natsuki looks at me incredulously as I foolishly imagine doing something indecent in a private sauna.

“…Sorry.”

“Well, there are places where it’s possible…”

“So, between a private sauna where sauna is the main focus or a spa resort where sauna is also available, which one do you prefer, Natsuki?”

Since it seemed like a feasible date idea, I decided to narrow down the options.

“Hmm…”

Natsuki hesitates to answer, seeming troubled.

Still being pampered by Natsuki to comfort myself, I playfully buried my face in her thigh, waiting idly.

After about 30 seconds of waiting, Natsuki seems to have made a decision.

“Lately, you seem a bit tired, Minato, so a relaxing private room would be nice. Also, are you okay with me choosing the place?”

“Who do you think is responsible for me being tired?”

“…I wonder?”

Despite sneakily sucking up my energy at night, Natsuki pretends she knows nothing.

Wait a minute.

I said she could choose the place…

“T-The sauna you’re thinking of going to isn’t a place where it’s OK to, you know?”

“No, it’s just a normal private sauna.. If we want to do it, we can do it here as much as we want, so there’s no need to pay for it.

Certainly, there’s no need to go to a sauna just for that.

It seems Natsuki genuinely wants to enjoy the sauna.

“…I’m starting to look forward to it. I have a friend who’s really into saunas too, and he’s always like, ‘I’m going to the sauna again today!’.He’s so noisy.”

I’ve never actually experienced a sauna before in my life.

I ponder about going to the sauna with Natsuki.

“After the sauna, want to grab dinner?”

“Of course. A delicious meal after a refreshing sauna. It’s not as bad as I thought, a sauna date.”

“Maybe. By the way, do you still want me to keep patting you?”

Natsuki, who’s been giving me a lap pillow, seems a bit tired as she wiggles her legs.

I realized we were spending about 20 minutes doing it.

Reluctantly, I lift my face from Natsuki’s thigh.

“Thanks. Although I felt hurt being ignored by girls yesterday, I feel so much better thanks to your kindness.”

“…You’re welcome.”

Natsuki says with an awkward tone.

Something seems suspicious… but oh well.

“Well then, I should get ready for work…”

“That’s unusual, at a time like this.”

“It’s summer vacation. I’m getting more shifts during the day.”

Today’s shift is from 1 PM to 5 PM.

The part-time big sister (who has a child) usually takes shifts like this during summer vacation, when her kids are at home. Since I’m free during my university break, I’m covering for her.

Alright, I need to get ready soon or I’ll be late.

Hastily, I change clothes, brush my teeth, and pack the things I need for work into my bag.

As I’m about to leave the house, putting on my shoes at the entrance, I suddenly feel something cold on my neck.

Curious, I turn around, and what I see on my neck is…

A self-explanatory nutritional supplement.

“Drink this and do your best.”

Natsuki says, holding a bottle of the chilled nutritional supplement from the refrigerator.

I didn’t actually feel that tired since I had a day off yesterday.

But since Natsuki comforted me after the mixer, I’m going to work hard tonight as a thank you.
And well, I could use some energy.

Today, Natsuki offered me a lap pillow, something she usually dislikes doing. And since she’s likely to do something different when asked, I feel confident about it.

Thinking about these things, I gulp down the nutrition drink energetically.

“Phew… Alright, I’m off.”

“Take care.”

As I say goodbye, Natsuki responds with a farewell.

It feels nice to hear her say that.

With such thoughts in mind, I leave the house.