When I Let My Runaway Senior Stay at My House, Beautiful Seniors Started Gathering Around Me - Chapter 19: Future Vision

Chapter 19: Future Vision

“Morning greetings should be ‘Good morning’, right?”

At least that’s how I see it, and even my mom, who’s family, starts her mornings with that one phrase. I’m no different.

“Here comes the thickest, richest morning squeeze~”

“Yeees, let’s get it all out~”

At the very least, this was the first time I ever heard someone start the morning like that… and that was how today began, just after I woke up.

“………”

“………”

“………”

Right now, I’m completely focused.

After eating the breakfast Arisa-san made and changing from pajamas into regular clothes, the three of us are each spending our time as we like—if I glance over, I can see both Hinata-san and Arisa-san clearly within my view.

Hinata-san is lounging on the bed while looking at her phone, and Arisa-san is sitting nearby, giggling quietly as she reads a manga.

(This space… is amazing!)

That’s what I was thinking as I worked on… homework!

Homework is a burden all students have to deal with, but if you ask why I’m doing it now while the two are here, the answer lies in what happened a few minutes ago.

“By the way, Tsubaki-kun, don’t you have homework or anything?”

“I do… but I was planning to finish it after you both left.”

“You should do it now! If there’s anything you don’t understand, Arisa and I can help.”

“Exactly! We already had our sweet, lovey-dovey time… well, not enough of it, but go ahead and finish it up♪”

Even after all that lovey-dovey time, it’s still not enough…!?

I mean, I’d love to be close to them more, but since they offered, I figured I might as well get to it—and so, here I am, working on my homework.

“…Hmm.”

“Is there something you don’t understand?”

“Yes, it’s this part here.”

As I got stuck on a problem and groaned while folding my arms, Arisa-san leaned in close.

The scent I’ve been inhaling nonstop since yesterday and this morning made my heart skip a beat, but I still pointed at the question I was stuck on.

“This one, right—”

Arisa-san’s explanation was easy to understand, and I quickly got it.

When I thanked her for helping me solve the problem, she smiled and patted my head, saying, “It’s okay.”

This hand… what is it?

“Because you got it right.”

“I see…”

“You’re totally acting like a big sister.”

“Well, that’s because I am your big sister, Tsubaki-kun.”

…Apparently, that’s how it is.

After that, I didn’t get stuck on anything else. The two would occasionally talk to me, and I’d respond while continuing to work through my homework.

(Hinata-san and Arisa-san… they’re seriously smart.)

Of course, Arisa-san is super smart—she helped me after all—but Hinata-san is just as bright.

They both always rank high on regular tests, which is honestly surprising, given Hinata-san’s flashy appearance… though, saying that kind of makes it sound like gals aren’t smart.

“………”

“…?”

With only a little bit of homework left, my eyes met Arisa-san’s.

We stared at each other for a while without changing expressions. I wasn’t particularly shaken or nervous about it, but the next thing she said hit me hard.

“Hey, Tsubaki-kun… were you maybe thinking, ‘Wow, she looks like a gal but she’s actually smart’?”

“!?!!?”

Arisa-san perfectly guessed my rude thoughts.

It was such a bullseye that it felt like she read my mind. I was so shocked I started coughing.

“You’re awful, Tsubaki-kun.”

“Well, I’m surprised at how good I am at studying too, honestly.”

But even though they realized I had rude assumptions, neither of them frowned. They just smiled at me gently.

“You don’t have to worry about it. Kids in class say the same thing.”

“Right, and we know you didn’t mean anything bad by it, so it’s okay.”

I was relieved to hear that, though I was still aware of how rude it had been.

When I apologized, they just laughed and said it was nothing to worry about.

Soon after, I finished my homework and stretched to loosen up.

“Ugh… ah~♪”

“Good job.”

“Nice work~”

Getting praised for finishing homework… what a luxury.

Maybe it’s because we’ve grown so close—close enough to sleep together—that I didn’t even bother hiding my smug grin.

As I sat there, Hinata-san came up behind me and hugged me tightly from the back.

“I’ll give you a reward for doing your homework.”

“…This is the best.”

“Fufu.”

Her arms wrapped around my stomach, and her chin rested on my shoulder—she wouldn’t let go.

The feeling of softness against my back was one thing, but more than that, being hugged like this made me feel calm and happy.

“I… really like this.”

“I like it too.”

“Hey, can you not create your own little world here?”

Left out in an instant, Arisa-san puffed out her cheeks, but then softened her expression and smiled at us warmly.

I could feel Hinata-san’s chest pressing against my back, and when I looked forward, I saw Arisa-san’s chest on the table too… Yeah, this really is the best space.

Still, there was something I wanted to ask.

“Hinata-san and Arisa-san, you’re both graduating this year, right?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s right.”

“What are you going to do in the future?”

I’m a second-year in high school, so I’ll have to start thinking about that soon too.

I wasn’t expecting anything major from their answers, but I still wanted to hear what they were thinking for reference.

“I plan to go to university.”

“Me too.”

University… yeah, lately it seems like that’s the standard path.

They didn’t seem to have specific career goals yet, but they already picked their university. I even knew the name.

Ritsumeikan… It’s about a bus ride away and is known for being a fairly prestigious university.

“Don’t worry, Tsubaki.”

“Huh?”

“We’ll still be able to see each other after graduation.”

“…It’s not like I’m feeling lonely or anything… No, maybe I am a little.”

I wasn’t feeling lonely… But the moment I thought about it, I suddenly did, and I didn’t try to hide it when I confessed.

Hinata-san’s arms hugged me tighter, and Arisa-san reached out to gently stroke my cheek.

“…Man, I’m way too clingy, huh.”

“Really? I don’t think it’s weird to rely on someone older.”

“Yeah, I’m happy when you cling to me.”

When they say things like that, I feel like I might want to cling even more…

Even if I think I’m kind of hopeless, I can’t help but feel like it’s okay since it’s Hinata-san and Arisa-san.

“University, huh…”

“What about you, Tsubaki?”

“I haven’t decided yet, but when I talked to my mom before, she told me to do whatever I want.”

I haven’t thought about the future at all.

But since Mom said to do what I want, and most people around me are aiming for university anyway, I vaguely thought I might go that route too.

“Then… do you want to go to the same university as us?”

“Huh?”

“Hey now, isn’t it a bit much to suggest that for someone’s future path? …Well, I would be happy if that happened.”

…The same university as Hinata-san and Arisa-san, huh.

Ritsumeikan  University… It’s not an easy place to get into, but they have many departments and it might help me figure out what I want to do in the future.

And just knowing those two would be there fills me with motivation.

“Well… I still have to think things through, but I’m starting to feel like aiming for that place might be good.”

“Um… you don’t have to say that just because of what I said, okay?”

“I’m not saying it to be polite. I just want to be with you.”

“!?”

“…That kind of hit me right in the heart.”

After that, we spent a very intense time together until around noon… and I was a little tired.

Still, it’s true that I got a clearer view of a future that used to feel uncertain, and I felt genuinely motivated.

Though it’s still a long road ahead, I was full of determination.