When I woke up, I was the only one sleeping on the futon.
I was lying on the floor in the middle of two futons.
My foggy head gradually became clearer.
Yesterday, after the three of us had done it at the same time, I had fallen asleep almost as if I had fainted.
I donât know what they did after that.
Seeing that I was wearing my pants properly, one of them must have taken care of me.
I am sorry for all the trouble.
âGood morningâ¦â
When I opened the sliding door next to the room, I found Mia sitting there.
She was sitting at the table, wearing her school uniform.
âDid you sleep well?â
âAh, yeahâ¦I slept like I passed out. Whereâs Eda?â
âSheâs taking a shower.â
Mia looked at me, smiled and stood up.
âMy parents are coming home, so Iâll leave when Fukiko comes out.â
âI seeâ¦â
There was apparently breakfast on the table for Mia.
She probably showered and had breakfast first.
When I sat down across from her, Mia asked me while stacking empty plates on top of each other.
âWhat shall we do?â
âAbout?â
âWhen we go to stay at the mountain, arenât we in charge of the food?â
âThatâs right.â
Thatâs still a couple of weeks away.
Already looking forward to it, Miaâs face was bright like a child who couldnât wait for it.
âIâve been thinking about it a lot, but I donât want it to be too expensive.â
âRight. If itâs cheapter, thatâs better.â
Eda came in from the shower.
âOh, are you going home already?â
âUnnâ¦I have to go out with my parents.â
Mia stood up as she took her bag.
She bowed deeply to Eda.
âThank you for letting me stay here.â
âWhat is it, being so formal?â
âThatâs true.â
Mia looked up and smiled.
Eda laughed as well.
I felt that the distance between the two of the was getting closer.
Eda and I walked Mia to the front door.
Mia waved at us and left.
After she was out of sight, Eda looked at me.
âItâs half past ten, isnât it?â
âIs it that timeâ¦â¦â
âLetâs have a light breakfast and then go out.â
We went back to the room and ate bread together.
While Eda was getting ready to leave, I took a shower.
After cleaning up the futon and doing the dishes, we went outside together.
âIs it crowded, I wonder?â
Eda wears a summery yellow one-piece dress that was open at the chest.
Her long hair was tied back and she was wearing light makeup.
She was wearing a tiny, cute watch and shoes that looked brand new.
âMust be, summer vacation just started.â
As promised, we go to see âChannel 2â together.
We went to a movie theather in a a mall and got in line.
It was crowded, but we were able to see it.
âIt was a piece of crap.â
âYeah, it was terrible.â
We left the theather together, feeling a little angry.
âI admit that my expectations were high because the first one was so goodâ¦But it was terrible.â
âIt was a waste to make it like that.â
âIt kind of made me want to see a well-received horror movie.â
âI thought about that too. But I donât know much about it.â
âIâll look into it, and weâll watch it together sometime soon.â
With that promise, Eda and I parted ways.
On the way home, I looked at my wallet and was surprised.
I had so little money. I had been spending too much recently.
Until recently, I had not been spending money at all, so I had a good amount of money saved up. But recently, I have been spending a lot of money.
âItâs badâ¦â
I am poor.
I donât get a monthly allowance.
I had to ask my parents for money I needed for school and other things each time I needed.
âAt this rate, the summer vacationâ¦â¦â
I have a feeling that many events will coincide.
Of course. I have more than one girlfriend.
The same is true for the overnight stay at the mountain, and there will be other dates like todayâs.
I have no other choice to refuse them, if I am busy. But I didnât want to turn them down because I didnât have the money.
I think someone mentioned it.
Having a girlfriend is a costly thing.
I have five girlfriends now.
âI have no choice but to workâ¦â¦â
So, I put my luggage in my room and headed for Andoâs house next door.
Without pressing the doorbell, I entered the house on my own.
âHey!â
âHey, itâs Koumei.â
I heard a voice, and Mikoto came running down the hallway.
âOh.â
âWhatâs wrong? I just finished lunch.â
âNo, I didnât come here to eat lunch.â
Mikoto was still in her jersey today.
Her sleepy face was boucing, and her eyes were half open as usual, as if she had just woken up.
âWhat is it then? Ah, did you come to see me?â
âSorry to get your hopes up, but thatâs wrong. Iâm looking for Kotoe-san.â
âEh? For mom?â
Ignoring Mikotoâs raied eyebrows, I took off my shoes and proceeded down the hallway.
âThe darkroom?â
âThatâs wrong. Sheâs filming the cat that came into our yard.â
Mikoto answered as she followed me.
When I entered the living room and looked out the window, I saw that Kotoe Ando was indeed holding a camera.
In front of it, a pure white cat was sleeping comfortably.
When I opened the window, Kotoe-san looked up from the camera and saw me.
I laughed at her face.
âOh, Koumei, I got some good pictures.â
âYouâre not content with just taking pictures of the cat in the garden, right?â
âOh?â
Kotoe-san looked at me and her eyes widened.