CH 17
The Case of a Childhood Friend That I Haven't Talked to in a Long Time is a Pushover
ââ¦â¦ Ah, I see. I have become lovers with Kasumi?â
I woke up in the morning and quietly muttered to myself.
Last night, I finally told Kasumi how I felt and we became lovers. However, I didnât think anything would change, and I was confident that our communication would continue as before.
âRight? Kasumi.â
âSuâ¦.Suâ¦.â
I asked Kasumi, who was sleeping with me.
It had been a long time since I had been in Kasumiâs room, and it had also been a really long time since I had slept in her bed with her like this. We have both grown bigger since then, so it is definitely a little cramped, but it is also a sign that I can feel Kasumi that much more.
ââ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦.â
Now, hereâs something Iâve been thinking about as I do this.
Until now, I still had the strong feeling that we were just childhood friends, and now that I recognized her again as a lover, I have a stronger desire to be more in touch with her.
âI can give her a hug or something, canât I?â
â¦â¦I can right?
I put my arms around the sleeping Kasumi as if to embrace her with all my might. She is smaller than me, so when I hug her like this, she fits completely in my arms.
ââ¦..Feels goodâ
This is not the first time I have hugged Kasumi in this way. If anything, I had done so several times since I started talking to Kasumi again. But now that I know exactly how I feel, it feels different.
âHaaâ¦..I guess this is what happiness is all about.â
I should have known when I was hugging Kasumi like that.
No matter how much she is asleep, Iâm sure the other party would wake up if I did whatever I wanted like this.
ââªâ¦..Hmm?â
ââ¦â¦â¦.Jiiiiiâ (Staring)
ââ¦â¦..â
ââ¦â¦Jiiâ
Kasumi was staring at me as she went to the trouble of voicing it.
I froze at the look in her eyes, which was so clear that I didnât think she had woken up from sleep, followed by embarrassment at what I had just done.
ââ¦â¦â¦â
âKazukiâ
âYeahâ
âGo on, I donât mind.â
ââ¦â¦.Rogerâ
For the time being, I decided to continue the embrace as it seemed to have been approved.
I stroked her back, patted her head, and did all sorts of other things, but Kasumi never told me to stop. On the contrary, she seemed to appeal to me with her eyes to do more.
ââ¦â¦Iâts embarrassingâ
âYeah. But itâs me, donât be shy.â
âWhat does that mean?â
âMe and Kazuki are lovers, so you can do whatever you want.â
Anything? A stupid story popped into my head, but I put it in the corner.
Itâs my first morning as a lover with Kasumi, and since itâs Saturday, I can relax all the time.
âYokkoushottoâ (Japanese expression similar to Heave ho)
When I raised my body, Kasumi did the same.
âGood morning, Kasumi.â
âGood morning, Kazuki.â
â¦â¦..Itâs kind of embarrassing now, isnât it?
I felt embarrassed and removed my eyes from Kasumi, but she put her hands on both cheeks and made me turn my gaze toward her.
âKazuki, I know youâll be fine, but I need you to promise me something.â
âPromise?â
I looked back into Kasumiâs eyes, wondering what it was.
Kasumi said this while evoking a more serious mood than usual.
âI think we should share whatever problems we have now that we are lovers. There may be nothing now, but I donât know what will happen in the future, because I donât want my feelings for Kazuki to cross paths again after finally communicating with him.â
ââ¦â¦â¦.Yeahâ
Itâs because weâve been passing each other for so long â¦â¦ that I really donât want to spend time like that anymore, even though I did so unilaterally.
âI say share, but not everything. I donât particularly reserve anything to talk about, but Kazuki, just what you can talk about, and please donât â¦â¦ keep it to yourself.â
âI understand. Well, I donât intend to do anything wrong, and I wonât hold back on that point, either.â
âWrong thing is cheating? Cheating could certainly be keeping quietâ¦â¦â
âDo you think Iâm a strong-minded man who would cheat on you â¦â¦?â
âI donât think so. Kazuki is crazy about me, so there is no problem.â
Youâre right, but I respect Kasumi for being up front about it.
Well, speaking for myself, I donât think I need to worry about cheating. Iâm not interested in a life with that much color to begin with, and I canât imagine anyone Iâd enjoy being around more than Kasumi.
ââ¦â¦ And Iâm not happy at all, but Iâm pretty popular.â
âYeahâ
I donât think itâs quite that simple.
Kasumi was not boasting or anything like that, just saying that such a fact exists.
âIâll be careful myself, but maybe some people will say something to Kazuki. Soââ
âYou think I might leave Kasumi again over it, is that what youâre thinking?â
ââ¦â¦ yeah. I have a record.â
âConvictions⦠â¦â¦ indeed.â
I chuckled.
I have a criminal record for causing Kasumi grief, but I donât intend to be swayed by a single word like that now. Of course, it would depend on the degree, but if we became lovers and then drifted apart like this, many people would be angry with me.
Iâm afraid of that too, but most of all, I wouldnât let go of a girl who thinks so much about things like this.
âI know itâs just words, but I promise you. Iâll be there for you as a childhood friend and as a lover. I also want to support you. â¦â¦ Well, I know you have a lot going on, so please let me help you too.â
Thereâs a limit to what one person can do.
When I told her this, Kasumi nodded her head.
âOf course, but words are enough. I believe in Kazuki.â
ââ¦â¦ I see.â
âHmm. Iâm a good woman if I do say so myself. A good woman always has room to spare, to trust and spoil her lover.â
âIs that so?â
âI saw it on mangaâ
Maybe Kasumi is a natural after all.
Well, but I have a new being that I need to protect again â¦â¦ or maybe I just feel that way more strongly.
âYoishottoâ
âEh?!â
I reached out to Kasumi, held her down, and fell flat on my back.
âIâm looking forward to working with you Kasumi!!!!!!!!â
Oh, â¦â¦ feels so good.
If school were to start at this point or something, there would be a lot going on, but I wouldnât change anything in particular about how I spend my time. I just have to walk with Kasumi.
âyeah. Please take care of me, Kazuki âªâ
With loose cheeks, Kasumi laughed, as I recall.
Her smile was nothing like it used to be, and her grown-up smile was now overwritten in my memory.
âKazuki, as a lover, come to me with whatever you want. Iâll take it all in.â
ââ¦â¦ Oh, what a gentleman.â
ââ¦â¦I know I can be embarassed, and I may ask you to stop, but donât stop. My stop means go all out.â
ââ¦â¦.â
For the time being, I would like to ask you to stop saying such things if you were Embarrased
Itâs bad for the heart, you know..
â