The Beautiful Girl Who Asked Me to Pretend to Be Her Boyfriend Didn’t Want to Break up With Me for Some Reason

“Starting tomorrow, it’s summer vacation. Everyone, make sure to live responsibly—”

It was the last day of the first semester.

After the closing ceremony, the classroom was filled with a festive mood.

After all, summer vacation starts tomorrow.

Faced with the fleeting peace ahead, we couldn’t help but feel restless, and even the homeroom teacher seemed resigned to the fact that no one was listening as they gave us the usual reminders.

Summer vacation lasts until after Obon, a little over a month.

There were some assignments, but they were manageable.

Since I don’t participate in any club activities, I’d have plenty of free time.

Still, how should I spend this summer vacation?

I don’t have any plans to go out, so I’ll likely stay at home.

There’s nothing I particularly want to do that would make me brave the summer heat.

Shirafuji will probably continue camping out in my room.

She mentioned disliking the summer heat… I get the feeling we’ll end up lounging around most of the time.

I don’t plan to skip my daily routines for the sake of keeping some structure.

Maybe I should bring Shirafuji along.

It’s healthier to get some light exercise during the cooler mornings to combat inactivity.

For all her laid-back attitude, Shirafuji is quite mindful of maintaining her figure.

She knows slacking off would lead to gaining weight, so she likely won’t resist too much.

“Anyway, be careful to avoid accidents or incidents, alright?”

With one last warning from the homeroom teacher, the final class session before summer vacation came to an end.

“Summer vacation, woohoo! Does anyone have any plans?”

The moment the teacher left the classroom, the summer vacation mood took over completely.

Following suit, Hanaba, who sat next to me, energetically spoke up, smiling as she addressed Shirafuji and Rin, who were becoming part of our usual group.

“Hmm… I’ve got club activities, though not every day.”

“I don’t have anything planned. It’s hot, so I’m just going to hole up in my room.”

“That’s an impressively straightforward declaration of being a shut-in. Not that I can talk. So, Hanaba, do you have any plans?”

“I’ve got a bunch! Shopping with friends, karaoke, and going back to my family’s home for Obon.”

“You have a lot of friends, after all.”

“Yeah, pretty much. So, I was thinking, if everyone’s schedules align, maybe we could all go out somewhere together. Would that be okay?”

Hanaba’s suggestion was met with an enthusiastic”Of course” from each of us.

I see… So that’s what having friends is like.

I’ve lived a life far removed from such things until now.

“…Hey, why are Kuwacchi and Runacchi staring off into the distance like that?”

“I just thought… this feels like something friends would do.”

“It’s not that I don’t consider Hanaba-san and Shinonome-san friends, but I’ve spent so much time alone that I’m not used to it.”

“…Weren’t Hakuto-kun and Shirafuji-san supposed to be more than just friends?”

“That’s different. Shirafuji is… you know, it feels natural having her next to me.”

“Indeed. I don’t plan my actions without Hakuto in mind.”

“…Thanks for that. Seeing this before summer vacation is quite the treat.”

With a slightly smug look, Hanaba gave off a vibe of silently calling us a”lovey-dovey couple” as the prelude to summer vacation drew to a close.

“It’s too hot outside. Humans aren’t meant to function in these conditions. I hereby declare that I’ll be staying indoors for summer vacation.”

“I completely agree with Shirafuji. Summers have been unbearably hot these past few years. Heatwaves are just the norm now.”

Escaping the blazing summer heat, we hurried home and cooled off in my air-conditioned room.

I worry about the electricity bill, but it’s much better than risking heatstroke.

Without the air conditioner, both Shirafuji and I would be completely wiped out.

Modern humans are helpless without the conveniences of civilization.

“Looks like the air conditioner will be running nonstop at this rate. Turning it off only when we’re out or at night seems risky. Be careful too, Shirafuji.”

“About that, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you, Hakuto.”

“If it’s something I can help with, sure.”

Wondering what she meant, I listened as she gently took my hand.

Her touch was tender, almost affectionate.

“If we’re keeping the air conditioner on, it’ll cost more, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Leaving it on in my room when I’m barely there seems like a waste. Most of the time, I’m in your room anyway.”

“…Well, yeah, that’s true.”

“Then wouldn’t it be simpler if I just stayed in your room from the start?”

At that point, I realized what Shirafuji was getting at.

“No way… are you asking to stay over for the entire summer vacation?”

“You catch on quickly.”

She confirmed it without any attempt to deny it, leaving me staring at the ceiling in disbelief.

Living together for the summer vacation.

A cohabitation arrangement with my fake girlfriend under the same roof.

In other words—

“What I’m proposing is a temporary cohabitation arrangement for summer vacation. I’ll cover any additional living expenses. What do you think, Hakuto?”

“What do I think… Aren’t we supposed to be fake dating? Cohabiting sounds like something real couples would do.”

“Maybe so, but perhaps calling it cohabitation was a poor choice. Think of it as an extended sleepover. I just want to stay by your side, Hakuto.”

She intertwined her fingers with mine, holding my hand gently.

Her serene sky-blue eyes met mine.

Faced with her gaze, I began to think.

If I firmly refused, Shirafuji wouldn’t force the issue.

But her request wasn’t unreasonable; it was, as she said, an extension of staying over.

What was a one- or two-night stay would now last the entire summer vacation.

Shirafuji often stayed in my room already, leaving only to sleep.

Now she’d be by my side all the time, day and night… It’s a big change, but not entirely unthinkable.

And truthfully, I didn’t dislike the idea of her staying over.

The issue was whether I could stay rational.

In other words, it was business as usual.

“…Alright. Starting today or tomorrow?”

“Today, of course. I already packed my things yesterday.”

“That’s some impressive foresight. What would you have done if I said no?”

“I trusted that you wouldn’t.”

Apparently, she had quite a bit of faith in me.

I didn’t dislike that, and so our summer vacation cohabitation began—