CH 61

After the car drove for a while, it stopped at the parking lot of a house.

After getting out of the car with my carry bag, I took a good look at the house.

“So this is Souta kun’s house.”

It was a beautiful house with two floors.

“It’s not much bigger than Nagi’s house, though.”

“Still….I kind of like it because it feels warm.

My house might be a little too big. It’s so big that it can’t function without a helper.

I guess my father is an authority in relation to work? It seems like he bought it to show things like that.

Once again, I looked at Souta kun’s house.

The house where Souta kun grew up. ……It’s impossible for me to dislike it.

I put my hand on Souta kun’s hand and followed my father-in-law and mother-in-law. They are smiling and seem to be enjoying themselves all the time.

There were several small potted plants next to the front door, and pansies were blooming. I’m pretty sure it’s a cold tolerant flower.

It’s my mom’s hobby. Growing flowers.”

“That’s right. Growing it in the backyard and decorating the entrance with seasonal flowers like this.It’s fun, you know?”

“I think it’s a wonderful hobby !”

Flowers are so lovely that you want to look at them all the time.

I want to hold back that feeling somehow…..I’d like to look at them with Souta kun later. But when I was thinking that it was cold, my mother-in-law opened the door.

“Then again–“

They entered the doorway and turned around to face me.

[ [Welcome home, Souta. Welcome, Nagi chan.] ]

The two of them spoke in unison. Souta kun gave a small smile.

“Yeah, I’m back.”

Small. ……But the words were muttered with deep emotion.

His mouth loosened. There’s warm light in his eyes.

He looked very happy.

“It’s only for a short time, but I’ll be in your care.”

I gave a small bow. Then they both smiled.

“Next time I’ll say ‘welcome back’ to Nagi too, okay?”

“If you are Souta’s bride, you’re already family. Don’t hesitate to spend time with us as if you were in your own home. …..It may be difficult.”

I was happy to hear those words again.

“Yes !”

I nodded vigorously.

◆◆◆

With a creak. I walked up the stairs, making noises.

Why don’t you wash your hands and leave your luggage first? I was told that.

[What about a place to sleep? There is a guest room available.]

I immediately replied.

[I will stay in Souta kun’s room.]

I said.

“Oh, my room has a small bed, you know?　It’s a single bed.”

“So that means I can sleep closer to Souta kun, right?”

If it is smaller than that bed…..I can feel Souta kun more closely.

“If that’s the case. Then, you are more than welcome.:

Souta kun heard my words… his face turned bright red.

“……I see.”

There wasn’t even a hint of refusal in his muttered words.

It made me happy again.

◆◆◆

“So this is your room, Souta kun.”

“Yeah. Compared to the bedroom over there, it’s small. I put a lot of things in it.”

As Souta kun said, it seemed a little smaller than the other room.

There is a bed, a study desk, two closets, and a bookshelf.

But it’s not small at all.

“Well, it’s not like we’re staying in this room all the time. It would be nice to study at a cafe or library instead of here. Just bear with me for a little while.”

“No ! I’m the one who said it’s fine ! Besides, it will be a good experience !”

Living in a room together. …..I understand that it is not only a good thing.

If we are going to live together someday.

It will be a good experience for both of us to share a room now.

I used to sleep in Souta kun’s room over there, so maybe it hasn’t changed much.

“……I understand. Also, I think Nagi’s closet is probably over there. I used this one originally.”

“D-did you prepare it for me !?”

“Maybe so, I’ve never seen this closet before. I’ll thank my father and the others later.”

“Yes !”

I replied to Souta kun and put away my luggage.

That being said, it’s not that many. It was just a change of clothes, daily necessities, and study materials.

I found a space in the closet, so I put my study materials and daily necessities there.

Then I put them away and take a break.

“You can freely use the study desk and the bookshelf.”

“Y-yes. ……Is that okay with you?”

“Hm? Yeah, you can use them as you like.”

After glancing at Souta kun….I looked at the bookshelf.

“A-are you sure it’s okay?”

“Hm? Yeah.”

“…….P-porn magazines. Are there any of them?”

“T-there’s none ! I don’t have any !”

Souta kun shook his head in panic. ……I wonder if he really doesn’t have any.

Thinking back, I don’t think Souta kun’s house back there had anything like that either. ……I was wondering if he was good at hiding it or what.

“I-I don’t have anything like that. I mean, even though my parents are here, I won’t leave them behind.”

“……I see. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be indelicate.”

It’s a matter of considerable privacy. It was not something to ask carelessly.

“N-no, I don’t mind it. It’s all right. I was just a little surprised. ……I didn’t expect Nagi to say such a thing.”

“I was told by Hayama and Nishizawa san. I should know your taste from that kind of thing.”

“Those two……”

“And also. It’s better to check the double-bottomed drawers and the inside of the book covers than under the bed.”

“That’s strangely realistic. What are those two teaching you, seriously. …I don’t have any, okay?”

By the looks of him, it really didn’t seem to be there. Nishizawa san said, maybe he is an digital person, not a paper person.

I can’t touch his smartphone without permission, so I’ll leave it at that.

Suddenly, I looked at the top of the study desk. There were some photo frames on it.

“Hm…..ah. They are pictures of the entrance and graduation ceremonies of my elementary and middle school.”

“Souta kun back then was so cute.”

He was still small. Even when he was in middle school, he was still very young.

But–

“The current Souta kun is cool and cute, you know?”

Souta kun has a different quality now. It’s difficult to verbalize it well……

“I love Souta kun as he is now.”

I don’t want to hide the fact that I love him. ……Though it’s a little embarrassing.

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to convey this to him unless I put it into words. ……When I looked into it, it seems that it could also be a cause for middle-aged divorce. that love grows cold

I’ve been trying to tell Souta kun at least once a day.

……I want him to forgive me for saying this over and over again. I’m not satisfied with just once.

“B-but. That’s just it, though I wish I could have gotten to know Souta kun when he was little.”

I said this to Souta kun, letting go of the heat of the fire.

“……You’re right.”

Souta kun laughed and looked at the picture.

Suddenly, a question came to my mind.

“What kind of school life did you have, Souta kun?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? A normal life. I didn’t have any friends.”

“I heard about it….but I didn’t get an overview, so I only heard it roughly.”

Since I came all the way to Souta kun’s hometown, I would like to know more about him.

Of course, if he doesn’t want to talk, I won’t force him.

“How did you spend your holidays?”

“……Well, when I was little, I used to go to the neighborhood park with my father. When I was in middle school, I went to the movies with my family and went fishing.”

Souta kun’s words were so typical of him, in a good way, that a smile escaped from the corner of my mouth.

“Souta kun. You love your parents, don’t you?”

“….Right. I won’t deny it. But those two are those two.”

“Fufu.”

Remembering the exchange we just had, I can’t help but laugh.

“Well. It’s true that they’re thinking about me. I went to that high school because of my father’s over-involvement.”

“….Is that so?”

I tilted my head at the unexpected words. At the same time, I remembered that I had not asked him why he went to that high school.

“Yeah, I’m not sure. If it’s nearby, I can easily come to see them. Also, I wanted to change my environment. I thought I might make some friends in a different place. In fact, I succeeded.”

He must be talking about Makizaka san. I nodded in agreement.

“There is also an acquaintance of my father around there. He’s a former police officer, and he told me I could count on him if I needed anything. It’s not more than a few minutes’ walk from here, and we don’t see each other very often.”

“I see.”

It cleared up a lot of mysteries.

“Since I live alone, I learned a lot from my mother. ……“I wasn’t very good at cooking, though.”

The fact that the room was clean also makes sense.

When I nodded over and over again, Souta kun laughed. His ears were red.

“There were many hardships, but there were also many good things. My father’s friend that I mentioned earlier. It’s the same with Eiji…..but the most important thing is meeting Nagi.”

Souta kun rubbed his cheeks with a slightly embarrassed look. But his eyes were looking straight at me.

I could feel my cheeks heat up. Along with that, I was filled with happiness.

“Ehehehe.”

My cheeks relaxed. I almost made a sloppy face and hid it with my hand.

“I was happy to meet Souta kun, too.”

I sat on the bed and leaned against Souta kun.

I smelled Souta kun’s scent. I love his smell.

“……Souta kun. Is it okay?”

When I love you more than words can express. I don’t use words to express it, but my body.

“……Yeah.”

I hugged Souta kun at the same time he said it. Souta kun accepted me.

I like squeezing Souta kun. I can feel Souta kun with my whole body.

Souta kun naturally hugs me, too. ….I love it.

“I love you. Souta kun.”

“….Me too. I love you.”

Souta-kun responds to the words that overflow unintentionally. ……I really love him.

Just like that, I overlapped my lips with Souta kun’s. A sweet numbness attacked my body, like when I ate fruit.

The combination of happy feelings and feelings of love makes my body warm and fluffy.

Oh, hm. I can’t stop. ….I don’t want to stop.

“I like you. I love you. Souta kun. …..I’m glad I met you.”

A kiss that is nothing more than a touch. A simple kiss that can’t be called an adult kiss.

But even just that. It fills my heart with happiness.

……If I did more than this. I’m so happy that I’m worried that I’m going to break down.

But I can’t stop.

I naturally put my palms together with Souta kun’s palms. It was easy for me to hold his hand because it had moved from my back to my shoulder.

I squeezed Souta kun’s hand tightly. And our lips parted for a short time to breathe, and then we put our lips together again. Souta kun looked as if he wanted to tell me something.

Even though Souta kun’s eyes were soft, I felt like he was appealing to me for something.

But just a little more–just a little more.

At that time.

With a click. The door opened. The suddenness of the door made my body freeze.

“You must be thirsty, right? I brought you something to drink…..hm.”

I turned around fearfully. ….And saw my mother-in-law standing there.

“Oh my my. I’m sorry. That’s why you didn’t answer when I knocked.”

So she was knocking. ……I realized now that Souta kun was holding my hand and trying to say something like that.

“I’ll just leave the drinks here for you. ….Take your time, okay?”

She quickly put the drinks on the desk. Then my mother-in-law went out.

I-I didn’t…..realize it. I was so preoccupied with Souta kun.

“I-I’m s-so-sorry, Souta kun.”

“……Well. I had a feeling that it was going to happen at some point. It’s okay.”

As the blood drained from my face, Souta kun gently stroked my head.

After that, I reflected on myself and decided to kiss before going to bed or when only the two of us were at home.