Chapter 30 – An Ordinary Couple (?)

After becoming lovers, Shizuku and I made love for the first time.

Not just physically—our hearts truly connected as well. That’s how it felt.

I guess what I’m trying to say is… it was probably the most intense it’s ever been. I thought I had built up some stamina, but I’m completely drained.

“Hey, Inori-kun. I’m really, really happy right now.”

“That so.”

“Aren’t you happy, Inori-kun?”

“…Because I’m with you, Shizuku.”

“You’re not being honest at all. Where did the Inori-kun who bravely confessed just a while ago disappear to?”

“He ascended to heaven.”

“Literally went to heaven, huh?”

“Who asked you to be clever with words?”

I traced a finger lightly down Shizuku’s back under the futon, and she squeaked, “Hyaah!?”

Still gives great reactions, as always.

“H-Hey, Inori-kun!”

“Tickle tickle tickle.”

“Kyaaa! Ahaha! T-That tickles!”

Even though she’s saying that, she doesn’t try to run away. Instead, she clings to me, trying to hold in her laughter.

She’s adorable. I always thought she was cute, but now that we’re in love, she seems even more precious.

I stopped tickling her and wrapped my arms around her body.

When I gently stroked her head, Shizuku tilted her head up and looked at me.

“What is it, Inori-kun?”

“Shizuku… I really like you.”

“W-What’s with you all of a sudden!? Are you emotionally unstable!?”

“No, I just… now that everything’s out in the open, I wanted to say it out loud. Would you prefer if I said ‘I love you’ instead?”

“I want both, please.”

“You’re not gonna say it?”

“…I love you so much.”

We looked into each other’s eyes and shared a soft kiss.

…Pfft. Heh. What are we even doing?

“I think I love you even more than I expected, Shizuku.”

“What a coincidence. Now that I know I don’t have to hold back anymore, I realized I love you too much.”

“Are we… one of those couples now?”

“Ahaha, no way. We’re just normal. Totally normal.”

“Normal, huh…”

I’m not really sure what “normal” means, but if Shizuku says so, it must be true.

She sat up from the futon and threw on the yukata she’d left lying around.

“I’m heading to the bath. Coming, Inori-kun?”

“Yeah.”

We’re both drenched in sweat—I definitely want to get cleaned up.

I threw on my yukata too, and the two of us left the basement room. On the way, Shizuku ran into a hotel maid and asked her to clean the room. Honestly, asking a third party to clean up after that is way too embarrassing…

Just then—slide.

““““Ah.””””

Kazuki and Toudou suddenly stepped out of their room.

Their yukatas were messy, and Toudou’s hair was  sticking to her sweaty skin.

Kazuki’s breathing heavily too… No doubt about it, they just finished.

And from their perspective, we probably look exactly the same.

Two freshly finished couples bumping into each other in the hallway… could it be any more awkward? The air just froze.

“Uh… shall we go to the bath?”

“Yeah…”

“S-Sounds good.”

“Y-Yes.”

We quietly walk off as a group of four. Still dead silent, the guys and girls split up at the baths, and we all wash up thoroughly before soaking.

“…………”

“…………”

Still not saying a word, Kazuki and I soaked side by side in the bath.

I’m not sure how to start the conversation…

Just as I’m thinking about it, Kazuki ran his hand through his hair and spoke.

“Inori. Looks like things went well.”

“Ah… yeah, I guess so. You and Toudou helped push me along, so thanks.”

“Nice job, man. You actually won over the school’s goddess.”

“Don’t call her that in front of her, okay?”

“I know, I know.”

Kazuki gives me a grin and casually rests his arm on my shoulder.

“So, judging from the looks of things… you guys did it, huh? How was it? Being with Shizuku-san?”

“How was it, huh…”

“It was your first time, right? What’s it like to be with a top-tier beauty?”

Wait… oh, right. Kazuki doesn’t know that Shizuku and I already had that kind of relationship from before. Would be bad if he did, but I guess Toudou hasn’t told him.

“Well… I’ll just say it was amazing.”

“Knew it. No matter how many times I do it with Asuka, it’s never enough. Top-tier beauties, man… they’re the best.”

“You do realize you sound like a total sleazebag, right?”

“I’m fully aware.”

“You are!?”

“I know it, which is why I can say sleazy stuff guilt-free.”

“Try not saying sleazy stuff!”

Why am I even friends with this guy…? Oh right, because he’s fun to hang out with.

I shook his arm off and washed my face with the bathwater.

“Let’s drop this topic. There are things girls don’t want us talking about.”

“Aw, look at you. Such a gentleman.”

“No, this is normal, you dumbass.”

Kazuki’s the unusual one here.

Then, he smirked and slicked back his hair.

“But really, I’m glad. You two got together in the end. You both liked each other but kept hesitating.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Yeah. So obvious it was painful to watch.”

Really…? I didn’t think I was showing that much affection openly.

Well… I guess it’s thanks to these two that Shizuku and I are where we are now.

“Thanks again, seriously.”

“Keep praising me, come on.”

“Don’t push it.”

If only he wasn’t like this, I could genuinely thank him properly.

And just then—

“Ehhhh!? Y-You two started dating!? Really!?”

“Ah—Asuka-chan, not so loud…!”

“Of course I’m loud! Congrats!!!”

“Wah!? D-Don’t hug me like that!”

Looks like Shizuku told her we’re dating. Asuka’s even more excited than we were.

“Inoriiiii~! Congrats to you toooo! If you ever make Shizuku cry, I’ll strangle you!”

“I’m not gonna make her cry! Also, where exactly are you planning to strangle!?”

“Your neck!”

“That’s way too real—stop it!?”

I’d better make sure never to piss off Asuka. She would actually do it.

“Kazuki, you make sure not to piss her off either. You are dating her.”

“Even when she’s mad, she’s still cute, you know?”

“…………”

“What’s with the silence now?”

Sure, if it were Shizuku getting mad with a cute “hmph” or a pouty “dummy,” that’d be adorable.

But Asuka’s anger? That’s real. That’s dangerous.

So this is what they mean by “love is blind”… Wait. Is Kazuki secretly an M…?