The Beautiful Senpai from the Archery Club Is Sleeping in My Room with Her Stomach Exposed. - Chapter 37: Reaching out toward an unknown answer.

Reaching out toward an unknown answer.

After the fourth question, my senpai finally shifted into her “usual mode in my room.”

Shion was still frozen in shock, as if mentally checked out.

Mei, on the other hand, didn’t react—she was used to it, just like me. As for the archery club couple—

“Ei-chan! What kind of face, what kind of pose is the captain making right now!? I’m begging you—move your hands so I can see!”

“Nn~. Can’t let you, sorry~. Rino-chan right now… she’s too dangerous. Her impact level is way too high.”

The boyfriend desperately wanted to see; the girlfriend was equally desperate to block his view. They were arguing over his hands covering her eyes.

Isn’t this lazy version of senpai being treated as something just as stimulating as Mei’s cosplay?

“I don’t mind if Urushibara sees me anymore… I’ve come to terms with it. If I’m in your room, I want to do as I please.”

“That’s the spirit, Watanuki-senpai. As a regular customer of the ‘Super Relaxation Course,’ your mastery of total looseness befits someone who’s fulfilled their contract.”

“Fufu~ exactly… I’ve already mastered the art of lounging around in your room.”

She said something that sounded cool, all while looking utterly relaxed and floppy.

What exactly is so stimulating about this disarmed version of her?

However, it seemed to be quite a shock for her younger sister.

Ever since seeing how her older sister had transformed during the fourth question, she looked unwell—clutching the side of her head and wincing as if fighting off a headache.

“E-Even so… the fact remains that my sister recently started yoga! That’s undeniable!”

Still, she seemed determined to keep going with the quiz.

“I have no choice but to admit that Amemoto Touya’s answer was correct. I do want to ask about their relationship, but for now, I’ll hold off… However! I won’t concede the fourth question’s point! I know my sister better—this answer should be right too!”

With such a desperate claim, her answer of “yoga” could probably earn her the point.

It was her senpai’s personal trend for a while. If she judged in her current laid-back state, she might just call it correct.

Which would be a problem for me.

So, like a true competitive game, I decided to interfere.

“Hold on, Shion. Unfortunately, the idea that yoga is Watanuki-senpai’s current trend doesn’t hold up. I’ve got proof to back it up.”

“Ugh! That smug look again…! What is it this time!?”

“I’m actually struggling too, you know. But just look at this first.”

I opened the closet and pulled out a yoga outfit.

“Actually, senpai started learning yoga so she could teach me. But I was so hopeless, we didn’t continue past the first session. So it’s safe to say the trend is over!”

“I still want to do it anytime, you know? I’ve just been waiting for you to build up enough stamina…”

She poked my calf with her toe as if urging me.

Sorry, the real reason I haven’t joined again is that doing yoga with her just isn’t relaxing.

“Anyway, I’ve got physical evidence. So the fourth question’s point goes to me. That puts us at a tie—”

“You have one!”

“Huh? What, Shion?”

“You have matching yoga wear! You and Rino-senpai, you HAVE MATCHING SETS, Amemoto TouyaaaaAA!!!”

“…Oh.”

Right, I’d forgotten she dug into that.

Also, that was the first time someone ever said my full name with such pure resentment.

Now Shion was coughing hard from yelling too much.

“Haaah… There’s too much information… I can’t take it all in… Ngh, I can’t even stand anymore…”

“Uwaaah, are you okay, little sis? If you’re having trouble breathing, we can pause! I can hold your hand if that helps~”

“Please don’t… If you’re nice to me right now, I’ll break down. Just… keep going. I’ll see it through to the end.”

“J-Just don’t push yourself, okay? Alriiight, moving on to question five!”

Here it was—the final question.

Shion slumped down with her back against the door. She looked unwell, but her determination hadn’t faded.

In that case, as a future pro at the “Watanuki-senpai Quiz,” I had no choice but to fight until the end.

Even if my opponent was weakening, I had no intention of handing over the win—though in the end, it all came down to the quiz RNG.

Getting back-to-back SSRs is a miracle you can’t expect to happen often…

I waited nervously as Mei opened the next card and began to read.

“Okay! Since someone’s not feeling well, let’s speed this up~! What is Rino Watanuki’s recent concern?”

“…Wait, a freebie at the end?”

I was honestly thrown off. Her recent concern? That’s gotta be not being able to make up with her sister, right?

This wasn’t an SSR—it felt intentionally rigged to be solvable.

I looked toward the quiz hosts, seeking clarification, and Sawamori-senpai gave me a discreet wink.

“It’s not like we meant to make the fifth question easy~”

“Right. Amemoto might just be the only one who can answer it!”

…They were being kind.

Shion probably couldn’t write down “not being able to make up with my sister.”

They likely placed this question here to help me win and steer the conversation toward the topic of their relationship after the quiz.

“…!”

Shion stared at her answer sheet, breathing heavily. She wasn’t writing—just gripping her hair in frustration, struggling to come up with a response.

“Fufu… Do your best, Amemoto-kun~ Just don’t make any typos, okay?”

Watanuki-senpai, sensing it was a service question, had let her guard down even further. She was lying on the floor now, fanning me with a handheld sign that read: ‘Get a Perfect Score ♡’

The breeze cooled my head, and I felt more focused.

I started writing “Make Up,” but paused.

Was that really the right answer?

I wanted to change it.

My instincts screamed that I should.

Sure, “making up” was one of her concerns. But if I settled on that, would Shion be convinced?

“Haaah… this is hard…”

Also, as a gamer, it didn’t sit right with me to win just because my rival was weakened.

So I decided to play fair—really think about what Watanuki-senpai’s recent concern might be.

“Hmm… Amemoto-kun, why’d you pull out a new answer sheet? Isn’t the answer obvious?”

“Sorry, senpai. But I’m throwing out whatever ending you had in mind. I’m going to win with my own effort.”

“Eh…?”

“I want to guess your recent concern—from scratch.”

“Ehhh… that’s cool and all, but… really? You think you can guess it?”

“Yes. And based on your reaction, it sounds like there is another concern.”

“…Ugh…”

She buried her face in a cushion, clearly trying to hide her expression.

Thank you, senpai. Just knowing there’s a correct answer other than “make up” is enough for now.

I took a few deep breaths, gathering my focus.

I traced the threads of my memory, recalling the night I ran into Watanuki-senpai at a convenience store, arms full of energy drinks.

It had been an intense time—so full of joyful moments that I couldn’t recall them all at once.

Starting with what came to mind most vividly…

We had lunch together and shared salted bread rolls.

Every Friday, we had tea and sweets.

We celebrated with dinner, and she gave me homemade cookies.

After our graduation exam, we shared a massive parfait—wait, are all my memories of us eating?

“Ah!”

A realization struck me.

“Watanuki-senpai.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Um… Is this maybe the kind of question where it’d be bad if a guy like me answered it?”

“Ugh… Are you really going to hit the mark that precisely? …Fine. Write whatever you want. If it’s you, I don’t mind even if it gets revealed.”

I couldn’t be sure whether my guess matched what Senpai wanted to keep hidden.

Even so, she believed in me and gave me permission. I didn’t hesitate—I put pen to paper.

“Alrighty! Looks like both of you have finished writing. Then, let’s get to the thrilling, heart-pounding final reveal! Open☆”

“…’I can’t get up in the morning and end up skipping my runs’. My sister doesn’t like breaking habits she’s committed to.”

Shion presented her answer with clear reasoning. There was still strength in her voice—she hadn’t given up on winning.

In that case, I should reveal mine too.

“My answer is… ‘She’s gained weight from overeating’.”

“…Huh? Amemoto Touya, that’s just tasteless. I’m disappointed… There’s no way my sister would gain weight from occasionally skipping morning workouts. She’s in the archery club and always manages her weight.”

“Shion. It’s okay. You don’t have to go any further.”

“Eh? Sis? Why are you stopping me—wait, why are you unbuttoning your shirt!?”

“…To prove that Amemoto-kun’s answer is correct, I suppose.”

Senpai leaned back against a cushion and lay on her back.

Still lying down, she grabbed the hem of her uniform shirt—partially unbuttoned under her blazer—and pulled it out from her skirt.

Only her stomach was revealed. Mei gasped in amazement when she saw it.

“Wow! I thought it during the bath too, but Rino-chan, you’re so slim! A work of art!”

“Ei-chan, what is the captain doing…!? I—I need a status update!”

“If you think that’s what the average girl looks like, that’s dangerous~!”

None of the girls thought Senpai had gained weight. Honestly, I couldn’t tell by looking either.

But Shion, with her keen eye, noticed something.

“Compared to that time I accidentally saw her in the changing room, her waistline’s slightly less defined… Sis, you weren’t lying?”

“Yeah… You can touch and check for yourself. You too, Amemoto-kun, if you want.”

“Eh—Me too?”

“Of course. You’ve already had the experience of touching it once, haven’t you?”

Shion and I exchanged a glance and lightly touched her slender stomach.

Hmm… Maybe it’s just barely less toned than before…? Honestly, I’m not sure. Have you really gained weight?

Still, I had to be right. I had told her to start eating more for lunch—that must be the main reason.

She used to only eat two salted rolls at lunch, claiming it was just how her body worked. It must’ve actually been a form of dietary restriction.

“…Sis, you trust Amemoto Touya that much? You’d already fallen for him completely…”

I let go of her, but Shion continued gently touching her pale stomach. Her hands moved carefully, like handling fine porcelain. Watching her hesitant little sister, Senpai spoke softly.

“Deep down, I guess I’ve always been a bit irresponsible. It didn’t take much for me to let my guard down. …Sorry I couldn’t be the dependable big sister you expected. Is this what they call a mismatch in perception?”

“…Yeah, pretty much… But it’s okay.”

Shion finally let go, slowly withdrawing her hand.

“I should be the one apologizing. I didn’t realize I was getting in the way again… I’ll go home now. Be happy, the both of you.”

“Hey now, I’m not letting you run.”

“!?”

Shion’s hand, which had just pulled away, was grabbed and gently guided back to Senpai’s stomach. Once you’re caught in that move, you can’t escape—I speak from experience.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a moment like this, huh, Shion? You used to cling to me so much.”

“Because… Because I thought I was just in your way…”

“No, I’ve always needed you, Shion. And I want to stay close to you from now on.”

“…Are you sure? Even though I’ve been such a terrible little sister who kept pushing you away?”

“It’s okay. I’ve been a mess myself. We’re both hopeless—so we match. Honestly, I might be the worse one.”

“…Why?”

“Because thanks to Amemoto-kun, I’ve learned how to rely on someone younger. So now, I’m going to rely on you too, Shion. Will you be kind to me?”

“…Yeah… Yeah…! I’ll melt you down, completely destroy you in affection, Sis! Siiiis! Siiiiis…!”

“Thank you. Hehe, good girl.”

The sisters embraced on the cushion in my room. Shion, voice trembling with emotion, clung tightly to Senpai, who still had her stomach exposed and gently stroked her sister’s hair.

It was quite the dramatic reconciliation, but it seemed like things had been resolved.

From here, they’d build a new kind of sisterly bond.

I just hoped that they’d fill the lonely gap between them with the kindness they were now sharing. As the one who brought them together, that’s what I wished for.

“By the way, Shion-san’s answer was kind of correct too, right? She did gain weight because she cut back on running. So I think Shion-san should get a point too. Even after question five, we’d be tied—so does the quizmaster now get to cast the deciding vote?”

“T-Touya, maybe read the room a little right now?”

“Amemoto, you’re amazing…! Even in this moment, you’re still thinking about the quiz…!”

“That hunger for victory—can I get some of that for my club members~?”

For some reason, all three of them looked at me like I was strange. But still, I think it’s fair to say the quiz isn’t over until a winner is declared.