The Beautiful Senpai from the Archery Club Is Sleeping in My Room with Her Stomach Exposed. - Chapter 11: Watanuki Rino Wants to Settle Down!

Watanuki Rino Wants to Settle Down!

I sat at my desk, reflecting on today’s blunder.

I had already put down my mechanical pencil. Studying was out of the question—I just couldn’t concentrate. My mind kept replaying everything that had happened at Amemoto-kun’s house, over and over.

“That wasn’t me… Watanuki Rino wouldn’t fall for some weird invitation from a younger boy… I wouldn’t let out such shameful sounds just from a massage by a junior…”

What kept haunting me was that so-called “Special Relaxation Course” (seriously, what even is that?), a full-fledged comfort package orchestrated by Amemoto-kun.

And in the midst of it, I had exposed countless embarrassing sides of myself.

Normally, I can carry myself with composure, striving to set a good example for my juniors.

But somehow, he had unlocked every defense I had, all at once.

This was all Amemoto-kun’s fault.

At first, I thought he was just a quiet, unremarkable guy.

Even before our encounter at the convenience store, I had once seen him in the school hallway. A tough-looking student had slung an arm around his shoulders, saying, “Amemoto, see you tonight too.” At the time, I had assumed he was being harassed by delinquents.

Back then, he had only responded with a troubled smile…

He didn’t seem anything like the “skilled gamer with an inexplicable presence” that Urushibara had occasionally mentioned.

But now, I understand.

When he’s around, I feel happy. When he’s not, I feel a little lonely. Being with him is comfortable. He’s decisive, considerate, and genuinely thoughtful…

I’ve never met a junior like him before.

“…Sigh.”

Since that fateful encounter, Amemoto-kun had effortlessly woven himself into my daily life.

With his slightly absentminded expression, he had nonetheless followed my schedule with surprising earnestness.

Before dozing off, he had showered me with praise, one after another.

Whenever I’m with him, my guard drops. It’s strange. Strange. No matter how much I try to pull myself together, my heart races immediately.

It’s… impossible to stay calm.

I never imagined, in my seventeen years of life, that I’d fall for a junior. I always thought dating someone younger was out of the question.

And besides, he said he’d help me… but what does he expect in return? Is this something I have to brace myself for—something that demands giving up my very soul? Did I make some kind of dangerous deal?

Uwaa… I was supposed to keep my guard up around younger guys, and now, here I am, getting flustered in more ways than one…

“…I need to cool my head.”

There was no way I could focus on studying like this. My face was burning… The fever of first love was making me feel faint. I even felt like skipping my night routine.

This won’t do.

This year, I have to grow even stronger. I don’t have time to waste daydreaming about “what might happen next time I visit Amemoto-kun’s house.”

Determined to grab an ice pack, I stepped into the hallway—only to find Shion standing there.

She wore an oversized T-shirt, probably with just a pair of shorts underneath. Her damp hair carried the same scent as mine from the treatment we both used. She had just taken a shower.

“……”

I wanted to tell her she looked sloppy or that she’d catch a cold like that. But I couldn’t say a word. A sharp tension settled between us.

“Nee-san, why are you still up this late…? Studying too hard again?”

Her eyes, devoid of warmth, saw right through me. Once, they had been gentle. Now, they were as cold and unyielding as metal.

I never imagined that a single wedge driven between us that day could cause such a deep rift.

“Look, Nee-san, it’s fine to be diligent, but there’s a limit. If you overdo it, it’s painful to watch.”

“…Yeah.”

“That’s all I wanted to say.”

With that, my distant little sister disappeared into her room, leaving me alone in the hallway.

A conversation that went nowhere.

And now, my head had cooled far too much.

Even so, my thoughts kept drifting back to him. Was this the curse of love? I scoffed at myself in the dim hallway.

Amemoto-kun had said, “Let’s tackle things one at a time starting next week.”

But what exactly did he mean?

Maybe I should just ask him directly on our next club break.