Chapter 319

After licking the can clean, the cat let out a distinct meow—as if thanking Hiyori—before padding away.

I looked down at Hiyori, who was still crouching even though the cat had gone, and said,

"Are you asleep? Aren't you getting up?"

"My legs fell asleep... Help me up."

Hiyori reached her arms into the air, trembling slightly.

I stepped forward, took her umbrella, and grabbed her wrists to pull her to her feet. She stumbled for a moment before flashing a bright, bashful smile.

"Thank you. I can't move right now, so stay here with me, sunbae-nim."

"Until your legs wake up?"

"Yep."

"Why should I?"

"Are you just going to abandon me here, then?"

"I'm tempted to."

"That's so mean..."

To think she'd put on such a shamelessly sulky act.

Since I had endured Miyuki and Renka's endless melodramatics, such trivial acting wouldn't work on me.

I handed my umbrella to Hiyori, raising hers to block the rain before asking,

"Do you like cats?"

"Not particularly? I don't hate them, but I don't exactly like them, either."

"Then why were you feeding it?"

"It wasn't moving, and it looked so pitiful getting rained on."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Plus, it looked hungry."

"Will you buy me food too if I look hungry?"

"Of course. But only if I feel sorry for you."

For Hiyori to feel sorry for me, I'd probably have to shrink to half my current size.

"But what brings you out here, sunbae-nim?"

Hiyori pulled her hood forward, highlighting the small outline of her head. I let out a chuckle at her question and replied.

"I'm on my way back from the stationery store."

"The stuff in your hands?"

"Yeah."

"I see. Can I keep wearing this?"

She didn't seem to care why I had bought these things from the stationery store.

She probably just assumed I bought them to study.

"You can, but wash it before you bring it back."

"Should I wash it together with my clothes?"

My body instinctively flinched at the incredibly suggestive remark.

Seeing this, Hiyori burst into laughter before putting on a resolute expression, as if telling me to relax.

"I was just asking if it needed to be hand-washed or if I could throw it in the regular laundry."

That hadn't been her intention at all... It was absurd.

People who drop indirect, dirty jokes like that are always the shyest ones in bed.

I will eagerly await the day that happens.

"Regular laundry is fine."

"Got it. If you have time, do you want to grab a coffee with us?"

I really wanted to, but I had to head back right now to make it in time for Miyuki to finish up.

I shook my head and glanced at Hiyori's wet uniform.

"No. I have something to do. You should go change your clothes first."

"How can I change when I don't have a spare set?"

"Buy one. There's a boutique clothing store right over there."

"This windbreaker is fine, though."

"If you keep wearing wet clothes—"

"I can just wear it inside out."

"Just listen to me."

"I'm listening."

She looked incredibly cute talking back with that beaming face, but part of me wanted to bend her over my knee and smack her rear.

It felt like playing with an intensely curious four- or five-year-old child in desperate need of discipline.

"Don't cut me off; just listen. Your immune system will drop if you stay in wet clothes."

"What happens if it drops?"

"You'll catch a cold."

"I haven't caught a cold in three years, so I'll be fine."

What a perfect way to raise a flag.

There was a very high chance Hiyori would be groaning in bed by tomorrow.

Thinking that, I rubbed my forehead and spoke in resignation.

"Right... got it. I'm taking off now, so I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. Get back safely. Thanks for the clothes."

At least she was polite enough to say her goodbyes properly.

That was why I couldn't bring myself to hate her. Her tone was completely devoid of malice, carrying only goodwill.

Giving a rough nod, I turned around and stepped out of the alley.

At that exact moment—

Splash!

A truck speeding down the lane closest to the sidewalk drove past, spraying a puddle gathered in the corner.

In the blink of an eye, the wave of water crashed over me, soaking not only the umbrella but my entire lower half.

I stood there blankly at the unexpected disaster as Hiyori hurriedly approached.

"Are you okay...?"

Snapping back to reality, I checked the items I'd bought from the stationery store.

Fortunately, they hadn't gotten very wet. The notebooks were fine thanks to the plastic wrapping...

I flicked the water off the mechanical pencils and pens, nodding as I listened to the complaints of nearby pedestrians cursing the long-gone truck.

"I'm fine."

"Want to go pick out clothes together...?"

I couldn't get in the car in this state, so I figured I had to.

Letting out a deep, heartfelt sigh, I idly imagined seducing the truck driver's wife before turning weakly toward Hiyori.

What a thoroughly rotten day.

But I needed to look on the bright side and stay positive.

It was better to be glad I'd triggered a bonus event to build my relationship with Hiyori.

"Yeah... let's do that."

"...What is that?"

Baggy, floral grandma pants.

Seeing me standing there slouching in them, Miyuki stared blankly for a moment.

I walked up to her, held out a plastic bag, and replied.

"I got splashed by a truck."

"Really...? Are you okay?"

"No, I'm freezing."

"Then why are you standing out here instead of waiting in the car?"

"To wait for you. You said you didn't have an umbrella."

"You should've just told me; I could have borrowed one... Anyway, thank you. Let me drop this off at the Student Council Room really quick."

"Take your time."

Acknowledging with a nod, Miyuki took the plastic bag and darted up the stairs like an arrow.

Watching her rush around so urgently just because I said I was cold filled me with warmth.

Miyuki truly was impossible not to love.

She hurried back down a moment later and immediately linked her arm through mine.

She had to be out of breath, yet instead of panting, she just took quick breaths through her nose, which was incredibly cute.

Sharing the umbrella with Miyuki, I stepped out of the building and caught her glancing at my pants.

Her lips twitched; the completely mismatched fashion beneath my dress shirt must have been hilarious.

"Don't laugh."

"I wasn't laughing... Did you pick these out yourself?"

"Yeah."

"They're very... vibrant."

Unlike Hiyori, who had laughed out loud, Miyuki wrapped her impressions in polite words.

Chuckling in agreement, I replied.

"I bought them because they looked comfortable."

"They certainly look it. But... are you not wearing anything under there?"

"If I weren't, they'd be swaying, wouldn't they?"

"Wh-what would be swaying...!"

Playing dumb when she knew exactly what I meant.

I lightly bumped my head against Miyuki's as her perverted tendencies began to surface.

"Are you sleeping over at my place tonight?"

"Yeah. It's raining, so we have to go to a ramen shop."

The ramen shop had completely become a mandatory part of our routine.

"Sure. Let's do that."

With those big and small happenings concluded, I spent a cozy, affectionate evening with Miyuki. Then came the next day.

Unlike me, who was riddled with fatigue, Miyuki—full of energy after absorbing my vitality—headed off to the Student Council Room. Unsurprisingly bored, I left the classroom and wandered around the Academy.

I bought soboro bread and milk to give to Bread Girl, exchanged brief greetings with the Kendo Club members I bumped into...

After roaming around for a while, I spotted Hiyori and Miho arriving at school in the distance.

It really did take some legwork to trigger encounters with heroines. I felt the truth of that once again today.

Watching Hiyori from afar, I saw her tilt her head up and part her lips slightly.

She stood there for a moment like someone with a piece of grass tickling her nose, and then—

"H-Achoo...!!"

She violently threw her head and waist forward, spraying droplets toward the ground.

Who sneezed that cutely? It was almost on par with Chinami.

Regardless, it was exactly as I had predicted.

I knew this would happen the moment she raised that flag saying she'd be fine.

Her forceful sneeze drew everyone's attention.

Wiping her nose and mouth with a tissue Miho handed her, she offered an embarrassed eye-smile. Yet, seemingly feeling no real shame, she casually crossed the schoolyard without slowing her pace.

She probably just thought of it as a natural bodily function... So pointlessly optimistic.

Still, what a waste to just throw such a reward on the ground.

If she sprayed it on me, I was confident I could lick it all up.

Harboring such unsanitary thoughts, I approached Hiyori while openly holding back laughter.

Making eye contact with me, she raised one arm over her shoulder like a zombie and gave a sluggish wave.

Closing the distance, I politely returned Miho's respectful greeting and then smirked at Hiyori.

"I knew this would happen."

"What...! Are you here just to make fun of me...?"

Seeing her whine with that nasally voice made me want to pull her into a tight hug.

Barely suppressing the urge, I replied.

"Karma really built up and exploded in your face. Be careful from now on."

"What do you mean karma...! Give me that bread."

"Pay up if you want to eat. 200 yen."

"Isn't that from the School Store?"

"It is."

"But soboro bread at the School Store is 150 yen?"

"Labor fee."

"Ah, what the... so childish...!"

Even the way she scrunched up her face and flailed her arms in the air, as if trying to scold me, was incredibly pretty.

Deciding I should stop teasing her here, I placed the soboro bread and milk into Miho's hands.

"Share it between the two of you. Asahina, go to the Nurse's Office before class starts, and bundle up."

Sensing the genuine concern in my words, Hiyori stopped herself from protesting and nodded.

"Got it..."

"And don't drop your honorifics."

"Yeah..."

She had absolutely no intention of listening to me.

Our Renka... she must have suffered a lot.

Knowing Hiyori's personality, if her body ached, she'd definitely find it too bothersome to visit the Nurse's Office.

And Miho would scold Hiyori, dragging her there by force if she had to.

Should I get some medicine and give it to her first?

No, I lacked knowledge on medical matters like this. It required a proper prescription, so it was better to leave it to the school nurse.

If she whined at me later asking for medicine, I could pretend to give in and bring it to her then.

"See you later. Mitsushima, be careful not to catch her cold too."

"Yes, thank you."

Bidding farewell to the two of them, I walked away from Hiyori—who let out a strange "Puhee!" sneeze this time—and Miho, who was gently rubbing her back.

I then turned my steps back toward the School Store to buy some more bread for Bread Girl.