CH 26

“Film showing at the school festival ……?”

Hiyori says while washing herself.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I nodded as I soaked in the bathtub.

“Hah Really, we haven’t done anything like that before, so what are we suddenly saying? We’re probably lacking in filming, editing, and all sorts of other skills. ……”

I said and then was startled.

“Ah, My bad. I was grumbling.”

“It’s fine. I’ll listen to your grievances as much as you want.”

Hiyori smiled and said.

“Thank you.”

I smiled and said. Hiyori turned off the shower and stood up.

Then, she entered the bathtub….

“Huh?”

Last time, we sat facing each other in the bathtub, but today Hiyori leaned against me with her back to me and sat on the floor while holding her knees.

“Hi-Hiyori?”

I called out and Hiyori turned to look at me,

“N-No good?”

“N-No, it’s not that, just…I am nervous.”

“M-me too”

Me and Hiyori blushed together.

“Ah, that’s right. It’s a continuation of the story about participating in the college festival.”

“Yes.”

“They…They want to make a movie starring me and Hiyori.”

“……Heeeeeeeee!?”

The surprised voice of Hiyori reverberated off the bathroom walls.

“M-me…and, Hidetsugu-san….in a movie?”

“Yeah. Well, I don’t know how serious those guys are either.”

I smiled,

“Is that so…”

“As expected, it is troublesome for you, isn’t it?”

“…But I’m a little curious.”

“Eh?”

I widened my eyes at the unexpected response, and Hiyori looked at me again.

“It’s really embarrassing… but I think it will become a wonderful memory with you, Hidetsugu-san.”

“Ah, ….”

I looked into Hiyori’s pure eyes and my voice leaked out.

“…… So, why don’t you show up at the club with me again? They’re going to discuss something tomorrow.”

“Is that so?”

“There’s still one month left of summer vacation, so I heard they’re planning on doing a lot of work.”

“When is the festival?”

“In the beginning of November. Well, if we start now, we may be able to make it in time.”

“Fufufu”

“Hiyori?”

“Ah, How should I say it? it …… seems like fun.”

“Is that so? Well, it reminds me of the school festival when I was in high school.”

“Right.”

“What was Hiyori like?”

“I wasn’t … that noticeable, so I watched from the shadows as everyone enjoyed….”

“I see. ….”

“I-I’m sorry, I made the atmosphere gloomy.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

I hugged Hiyori.

“Ah, …..”

“Let’s have lots of fun at this college festival, together. Okay?”

“Hidetsugu-san ..”

Hiyori looked at me with moist eyes. I kissed her, touching her slender shoulders. When I lightly sucked her lips and released them, Hiyori jerked.

“….Adorable.”

“…I’m so happy.”

After that, for a while. Me and Hiyori snuggled in the bathtub.

******

The next day.

I came to the film studies group’s room with Hiyori.

“Ah, Hiyo-tan!”

Ebina was the first to speak up.

“I missed you so much~!”

And immediately hugged her.

“Shoko-chan, It’s been a while.”

“It’s true~…… kunya, kunya.”

“Hey, Ebina.”

“Wait a minute, Hidetsugu.”

I tried to stop her, but Ebina stopped me first. Then she sniffed Hiyori’s scent with a serious look.

“Sniff-Sniff… she’s got a little bit of an adult scent now, Right, Hiyo-tan?”

“Sho-Shoko-chan….”

“Maybe Hidetsugu did a lot of naughty things to you?”

“Yah~, Shoko-chan, that place…… ah!”

“Heehee~~.”

Bessh!

“Ouch~!”

“Ebina, that’s enough”

Ebina, who had been hit on the head by me, glared at me with teary eyes.

“Hidetsugu, you cheapskate. Just a little bit.”

“Nope, Hiyori is my…”

I was about to say it, but then I held my mouth shut.

“Hmm? Hiyori is my what~?”

Ebina said with a grin.

“Hey~, Hidetsugu, tell me~!”

“It’s so obvious already~!”

The other members of the group, including the idiotic duo of Shuya and Nobukazu, also joined the convo.

“Hiyori is my …….”

As I was about to say that, I looked at Hiyori. She tilted her head and I smiled.

“Hiyori is my wife.”

“””EHHHHH….!?”””

Everyone in the place shouted with surprise.

“So no one lay a hand on her.”

I said. The lively place suddenly quieted down.

“…H-Hidetsugu-san.”

Then Hiyori uttered in a feeble voice.

“I-I’m so happy …”

Her cheeks were flushed red and she was holding her mouth with both hands.

“Wh-what is this…”

“He’s serious…”

Shuya and Nobukazu said.

“… Alright, I’ve decided.”

Suddenly, Ebina spoke up,

“Actually, I’ve been trying to come up with a movie script on my own.”

“You?”

I said, and Ebina nodded proudly.

“It’s still just a concept, but look at it.”

Ebina handed me a piece of paper with the script on it.

“Let’s see… ….”

I started reading and froze for a moment.

“…, Ebina.”

“What’s up, Hidetsugu?”

“Why…are the names of the leads the same as our real names?”

I said, smiling wryly.

“Well, it’s not fiction. I was thinking of making it more like a documentary.”

“Documentary?”

“Yeah, Let’s show off HIdetsugu and Hiyo-tan’s flirting as much as we want!”

Ebina gave a thumbs up.

“…… Hiyori, let’s go home.”

“Hidetsugu-san?”

“W-Wait a minute!”

“What, Ebina?”

I said, raising my eyebrows.

“I mean, this documentary is about our personal lives, isn’t it? I don’t want to do that.”

“Of course, I won’t interfere that much in your private life.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. You see, as an actor, when you play a character with a different name, it feels a little lonely. And as the two of you have spent so much time together, it’s a shame not to express that.”

“Then what’s the concept of this film? What’s the point of going all the way and doing it at the college festival?”

“Well, frankly, I thought we should watch it alone, but…..I want to participate in the festival more actively than ever before. I’ll be starting my job hunt next year, so this is my last chance to enjoy it to the fullest.”

When Ebina said that, everyone was quiet. Yes, it was mostly second-year students who were running the circle now.

Third and fourth year students were busy with job hunting and graduation theses, so they almost never come. We were not a very motivated circle.

“I don’t know if I should say this myself, but we are pretty close friends, aren’t we? So I wanted to make memories with everyone along with Hiyo-tan, a new member of our group.”

“Your friend … me?”

Hiyori widened her eyes.

“Yes. I mean, we’re best friends.”

When Ebina said that, Hiyori’s eyes widened.

“..I’m glad to hear it. Thank you, Shoko-chan.”

“Guha…! Ah, what a lovable and pure child you are as usual~!”

Ebina hugged Hiyori and started touching her. Normally, I would have been angry and stopped her, but for this moment, I allowed it.

“…Alright”

“What?”

“Let’s make that movie.”

I said, and everyone, including Ebina, widened their eyes.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, if Hiyori is okay with it. …”

I said.

“…. I, too, want to do it.”

Hiyori nodded.

“””OOOOOOO~!!”””

The room was suddenly filled with excitement.

“Alright! Now that it’s decided I, Ebina-chan, the super director, am going to come up with a brilliant script!”

Before I knew it, Ebina, who was holding a slapstick, tapped the table.

“Ebina, you don’t have to get too worked up.”

“Let’s make a movie that’s easy and enjoyable.”

“Yeah, let’s go with that.”

“That means I have to shoot a bathing scene of Hiyo-tan, who is relaxing and taking it easy … Ouch!”

“You’re fired!”

“Hey, the actor should not defy the director~!”

And Ebina started hitting me,

“Okay, okay, I understand.”

I said with a sigh.

“Well, whatever… make sure it’s a wholesome movie, okay?”

“Understood!”

Ebina saluted with a vigorous and crisp salute.

“Will you really be alright, ….?”

“Hidetsugu, trust me!”

“I understand, so calm down.”

“Fufufu”

Hiyori was smiling next to me, who was still sighing.