So You’re Telling Me I’m in My Popular Phase!? - Chapter 7: An Unexpected Izumi!?

Chapter 7: An Unexpected Izumi!?

I slammed the dressing-room door shut.

“Why the hell is Izumi taking a bath in my house?!”

I saw Izumi completely naked…

No—well, it’s not like this is the first time I’ve seen Izumi naked.

Back in kindergarten, we used to bathe together all the time, and I think even in the early years of elementary school, the three of us—me, Aki, and her—would get in together sometimes.

But elementary school kids and high schoolers are—obviously—different in every way…

O-ohhh… what am I supposed to do? Or—yeah, okay—since I couldn’t really see clearly through the steam, does that make it safe?

Well, it’s not exactly something I get to decide…

“You know, Aki-chan told me your parents wouldn’t be home today, so she asked me to make dinner.”

While I was still struggling to figure out what to say, Izumi started talking from the other side of the door.

“Even so, why were you taking a bath?”

“Ryu-kun, you know, right? When I get home, I take a bath right away.”

…Yeah, I do.

Aki’s like that too, and I get the feeling of wanting to clean up before relaxing.

“Huh? Then where’s Aki?”

Normally, Aki would tell me this stuff.

But she didn’t, and I still haven’t seen her even once since I got home.

“Aki-chan went shopping.”

That’s my little sister—she works hard.

Having a good sister makes her big brother happy, but… I really wanted her to tell me Izumi was here.

“Oh, and there’s one more reason I came.”

So there’s more than just coming to make food?

“What is it?”

“Um… Aki-chan said she doesn’t want you and her alone together.”

Aki betrayed me—how could you, Aki…

I want to be alone with Aki anytime, though.

Ah, I see—so she got embarrassed. Cute, cute.

“Huh? But why are you in the bath right now?”

I just got back from club—she could’ve already bathed a long time ago.

“I went back home first and did a bunch of stuff. Also, this isn’t the first time I’ve borrowed your family’s bath.”

“Yeah… true. Sorry, seriously.”

“It’s okay. Because it’s you, Ryu-kun.”

Huh? Ah—she means it’s okay because we’re childhood friends, or something.

“You’re dressed already, right? I’m opening the door.”

“Yeah.”

I opened the door and went inside.

It was insanely embarrassing to look at Izumi—like, to face her at all.

“I’m happy you’ll make dinner, but you should email me too, okay? So we don’t have accidents like this again.”

While washing my hands, I said it without turning my face toward Izumi, who was still drying her hair beside me.

“Yeah… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. Actually, if anything, it’s my fault…”

Still… this is unbelievably awkward.

“I’m gonna head to the living room first.”

“Yeah.”

Izumi’s hair is long, so it’ll probably take a bit longer.

I washed my hands quickly—but carefully—then escaped the spot and headed to the living room.