“What’s the big deal? You callin’ me a nuisance?”
“I am saying in absolutely no uncertain terms that you’re a nuisance.”
“Oh? Mind telling me what you wanna get your coworker all alone for? Perv.”
“Look, Jun’s coming over soon anyway, so it’s not like I wanna be alone.”
“I dunno, seems fishy to me. What’s a greasy nerd like you doing with not just Jun, but now this girl in the palm of your hand? I just don’t know what this country’s coming to...”
“Well you’re the sociology major, so how about you go study it? In college.”
“Is this what the legends call the ‘popular streak’? Is it real? Then how come I never had one?!”
“Yeah, yeah, good luck at your next mixer, Sis, I’m sure you’ll find someone wonderful.”
“Oh god, having you take pity on me pisses me off. Spill the beans. What trick are you pulling here? Is it hypnosis?”
“Yep, you got me, it’s hypnosis.” Kai had no energy left to correct her, so he went back to his room now that he was done pushing his sister into hers. He saw that Kotobuki looked dumbfounded, as though she heard everything the two said. Kai had to chuckle.
“My apologies that my sister made you witness something so embarrassing.”
“N-No, not at all! Perish the thought. She’s a truly wonderful sister.”
It was kind of adorable how utterly unconvincing her assist was.
“S-So, ‘Kai’ really isn’t your first name, then?”
And Kai had to love how desperate she was to change the subject.
“Indeed, my real name is ‘Ash.’ My family calls me ‘Ashie.’”
This time, Kai had to chuckle at his own expense.
Kai had already come clean with Kotobuki about his name. They were dating with the potential to be in a relationship, so he felt it would be dishonest to hide the truth forever. Too bad Kotobuki took it as a joke and didn’t believe him at first! Which just wounded him even deeper because it meant that his name was just that ridiculous!
Still, it didn’t matter for long. Because when he asked her to just call him “Kai,” she stammered, “I-It’s far too embarrassing to switch to a first name basis all of a sudden, so I’d prefer to continue using ‘Nakamura.’”
She turned beet red and couldn’t look him in the eyes as she continued, “B-But one day, I promise...I will call you ‘Kai.’”
Her bashfulness was irresistibly cute.
Pardon the digression.
“Well, no need to stand around to talk, so please, have a seat,” suggested Kai to Kotobuki. “Oh, I typically use my bed as a sofa, but I suppose you’d have some reservations about sitting on a boy’s bed, right? Worry not, I have a cushion you’re welcome to use.”
Today would finally be the day that Kai would make up for that fateful mistake one year ago where he was unprepared and made Jun sit on his bed! He was proud of himself, until...
“How does Miyakawa typically sit?”
“Well, uh, like I said, on the bed.”
“Then I shall be content with doing the same. Since it’s your bed, I don’t mind at all.”
Kotobuki’s expression quickly shifted to a self-satisfied smile as she sat down on the bed with zero hesitation. Perhaps it was Kai’s imagination, but he thought he saw something flicker deep within her eyes. What was she so fired up over?
“By all means, Nakamura, take a seat yourself.”
“Oh, right. Don’t mind if I do.”
Strange, Kai felt as though their lines—if not their positions—had been flipped. Either way, Kai gently rested his rear on the bed next to her. Once he was settled in, Kotobuki started fidgeting and scooted toward him at the speed of a snail.
Ah, should I have sat closer to her? Should I not be modest about it?
As Kai contemplated the meaning of her motions, Kotobuki put some distance between them while she continued squirming.
Yo, what the heck?
Afterward, Kotobuki looked like she steeled her resolve and fidgeted back toward Kai. Then her cheeks turned red as she scuttled away from him again. Given how long this cycle repeated itself for, she seemed to be struggling to measure the exact distance of their personal space.
“Hmm, are your back and forth movements the First Form of Wave Breathing? It must be derived from Water Breathing, no?”
“D-Don’t patronize me! This isn’t Total Concentration.”
Kotobuki snapped back, but she forced herself to regain her self-satisfied look before continuing.
“Incidentally, where might Miyakawa be? Did you not depart school together?”
“Right. I intended to do so, but Jun demanded that she go home first to change clothes.”
“So, she does see me as a threat?”
“A what?” Kai saw that flicker in Kotobuki’s eyes again, but he was so confused by what she said that he blanked out.
“D-Does she not?”
“It seemed she wanted to dress her best to ensure she left you with a good first impression.”
“I-Is that so? I’m a tad embarrassed to have made such a mistaken assumption.” Kotobuki desperately tried to hide said embarrassment by covering her face and turning away.
See her as a threat? How? Kai found that line so strange that he wanted to ask Kotobuki about it, but she asked a question of her own before he could.
“...Nakamura, there is one thing I would like you to make clear.”
“Sure, what might that be?”
“Since you say Miyakawa is dressing up for me...would she happen to be the hardcore yuri type?”
“Meaning?”
“Well, it would explain quite a few things about her.”
“Um? Explain what?”
“Oh, my apologies. You needn’t concern yourself with that, a simple answer to the question would suffice.”
“I assure you that she’s not like that, though I can’t blame you for feeling as though your life could be in danger regardless.” Truth be told, even Kai had a tinge of doubt. Just a tinge.
“According to Jun, girls love all manner of cute things,” continued Kai as he explained what Jun told him the day before, save for the part where Jun said she had the same feelings toward Kotobuki that she did toward stuffed animals. That was a request, after all.
“I see, that’s an emotion I can deeply understand,” said Kotobuki. Contrary to Kai’s expectations, her face immediately lit up as she found that answer either acceptable, relieving, or possibly even relatable.
“You can understand?”
“I can! I have a niece four years younger than myself and she is irresistibly adorable. When my younger brother acts bratty I simply can’t stand it, but when she does it, I just want to smile and hug her.”
Kotobuki certainly made a persuasive argument.
“Anyway, thank you for your answer. I’m grateful to know that I was merely overthinking.”
“By all means, do become friends with her. I’ll be here to stop her if I decide her physical affection gets to be too much.”
“Excellent! My fate is in your hands, Nakamura.”
“Ha ha ha, surely you exaggerate.”
“My fate really is in your hands, though..”
“...Ha ha ha.”
Kai heard honest concern in that plea and let out a strained laugh in return.
Wait, does this mean that she still can’t handle Jun? Then what’s she trying to get along for?! On the other hand, why else would Kotobuki want to hang out with her?
Nothing Kai thought of led to an answer. He wasn’t dense, but he wasn’t enough of an adult to see through every trick in the book.