“Really... just really, really!”
“I’m sorry.”
I apologized. I’m apologizing, so please stop slapping my arm.
Ever since Riran woke up, she had been like this. Her face was still red, her eyes were teary, and she kept slapping me repeatedly.
Listen, if you don’t stop soon, your family is going to tease you again.
“It’s youth! They’re experiencing youth, Mother!”
“Father, you’re being noisy. Or so I’d like to say... but this is youth. It reminds me of the old days.”
“Rila is so cu~te~”
“Ugh... uuuuuugh!”
This time she grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me.
That’s exactly why they tease you... Ah, she’s so panicked she hasn’t even realized it.
“Fufu... Riran, Akito-kun is troubled, so you should stop now.”
“Gunu... yes.”
She stopped with just one word from her mother. Mothers are strong.
“Now then, shall we start preparing dinner? Akito-kun, is there anything you dislike eating?”
“Ah, no. I can basically eat anything.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll put my heart into making something delicious.”
With that, the mother stood up and headed toward the kitchen. I wonder if I should help with something too.
“Akito, you don’t need to try and help, okay? You’re a guest after all.”
“But still...”
“That’s right, Akito-kun. You should just relax. Mother’s cooking is top-tier. You can look forward to it.”
“...Well then, I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Even so, just waiting here doesn’t feel right.
As I was feeling restless, Karura-san suddenly spoke up.
“Akito-kun just got here, so he must still be nervous in front of us. Staying in the living room the whole time might be tiring, so how about letting him rest in Rila’s room until dinner is ready?”
“”Wh-!?””
Mine and Riran’s voices overlapped.
Wh-What is this person saying all of a sudden! There’s no way her father would allow his precious daughter to be alone in a closed room with a guy...!
“Oh, that’s a nice idea, Karura! Riran, take Akito-kun to your room!”
You’re okay with it!? Normally, you’d be worried and wouldn't let two people be alone!
“I’ll call you when dinner is ready, so feel free to take your time.”
The mother also seemed completely okay with it.
Eh... is this normal? Am I just too stiff?
“Sigh... Akito, shall we go to the room?”
“O-Oh. T-Then, excuse me.”
“Rila, Akito-kun. Enjoy your time together as a young couple~”
No, this is all Karura-san’s fault, you know?
I gave my greetings to the family and headed to Riran’s room on the second floor with her.
The room smelled of citrus and Riran’s rich, mellow scent. Just like before, there were many cute small accessories.
“…………”
“…………”
We were both silent.
Well, we were teased mercilessly just a moment ago. There’s a bit of awkwardness.
“E-Eh... J-Just sit anywhere. I’ll go get some tea.”
“A-Ah. Thanks.”
I watched Riran leave the room and looked around again.
Even so, it’s spacious. It’s a size... no, about two sizes larger than my room.
When I came here before, I didn’t have the mental space to look at the interior... but looking at it now, it’s quite different from a guy’s room like mine.
I put my bag down and sat in seiza on the carpet.
Even if I was told to sit anywhere, sitting on the chair or the bed would probably be crossing a line. Even I can understand that much.
After waiting for a few minutes, Riran returned with mugs and chocolates on a tray.
“Sorry to keep you wait—... Wait, why are you sitting on the floor?”
“...Just because?”
“It’s fine to sit on the bed. I don’t mind.”
Well, I mind. I’m a boy of that age who is very aware of my adolescence, libido, and impurity.
Riran placed the tray on the low table, sat on the bed, and patted the spot next to her. Sit? She wants me to sit there?
“I-I’m fine. I’ll stay on the floor...”
“Just do it.”
“Ah, yes.”
Scary. Her pressure just now was scary.
I’m sorry, my conscience. I couldn’t win against Riran’s pressure.
To calm myself down, I took several deep breaths.
“E-Excuse me...”
I sat down.
*Creak.* The bed sank and made a small groaning sound.
I’m sitting right where Riran always sleeps... That fact made my heart race.
C-Calm down. Keep a cool head. Stay calm, me. Don’t be led astray. Be cool, stay rational...!
“Fufu. Akito, you’re too nervous.”
“M-My bad.”
“No one said it was a bad thing.”
Riran let out a soft smile.
Damn it, I’m not used to this. Combined with the situation, my heart has been beating at an incomprehensible speed for a while now.
“Akito. I’m sorry. My family is always like that...”
“Ah—... I was taken aback at first, but I’m already getting used to it. ...It’s a lively and fun home.”
“Yeah. Papa, Mama, and Cal-oneesan are all kind.”
Yeah. That was conveyed to me more than enough.
My father is a workaholic, and my mother isn’t that pushy toward me and Kotono.
So it feels fresh... and a little bit envious.
“...Hey, Akito.”
“Nn, what is it?”
“Umm... Actually, there’s something I wanted to try doing, would that be okay?”
“Something you want to do?”
At this timing?
Now, what could it be.
“...As long as it’s not something weird, it’s fine.”
“I-It’s okay. It’s not weird at all.”
Riran fidgeted with her fingers and kept glancing at me to check my reaction.
“Th-That... I-I... I want to try... being given a knee pillow... I think...”
She just said something super embarrassing!?