The week began, and it was now Monday, the first school day since I started living with Riran.
Since it was our first time living together, we spent this past Saturday and Sunday tentatively figuring things out... but well, we're managing to get by reasonably well.
Now then, I have school today, but...
"Hey Riran. Ryūya and the others have been noisy on messages since this morning."
"What a coincidence. I'm getting a ton of messages from Rio and the Class President too."
Our phones haven't stopped ringing for a while now. This feeling is nostalgic. They pried into our business just like this when the 『Red Thread of Fate』 first appeared, too.
For now, I put my phone on airplane mode and left it alone. We're about to eat, and it's too noisy.
I sat at the dining table and started on the breakfast Riran made for me. Today's breakfast consists of rice, sausages, tamagoyaki, tofu miso soup, and a salad of broccoli and cherry tomatoes. Thank you for another delicious meal today.
"Oh, I've already made your bento. You're going to Riza-san's place today, right? Just in case, I also made an onigiri for you to eat before training..."
"Thanks, Mom."
"Don't call me Mom!"
But the stuff she's doing is totally like a mom. In reality, though, a rice ball before training is a big help. It's not like I'm on a diet, and I need energy to move.
I usually just eat some store-bought bread or something, so this is appreciated.
"What should we do for dinner today?"
"Anything is—"
"If you say 'anything is fine,' I'm going to make you eat nothing but sesame seeds."
"Hahaha, you're joking again."
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
You do not, I'm sorry. At my age, being in my growing phase, I couldn't stand a dinner of only sesame seeds. Hmm...
"By the way, I've only just started learning to cook, so I can't make anything too elaborate yet."
"Yeah, I know. Let's see... Oh, Salmon Meunière."
"Okay. I'll have to go buy some salmon then..."
"............"
"Somehow, we feel like a married couple."
"Pfffffttttttt!!!!"
"Gwah!?"
Wait, she just sprayed water all over me!?
"Ah! S-Sorry... No, I'm not! Wh-Wh-What on earth are you saying!?"
"Wh-What? I just honestly said what I was thinking."
"You're too honest! M-M-Married... That's way too early, or rather, or something..."
It's already a certainty that we'll end up like that, yet she's still not used to it. I sipped my miso soup while watching Riran fidget. This is nice, a morning spent like this with your fated person. It cleanses the soul.
Riran began fiddling with her hair, mumbling something at high speed. "I mean, I have those thoughts too, and I think I'd want to as soon as we're old enough to marry, but if that happens, it means we'd be making babies, and it's not like I'd mind doing that right now, but I want to graduate high school and I have to go to university, and I have that promise with Neika's father, so I have to think about various things regarding that—"
"Thanks for the food."
"—Hey, listen to me!"
No, that was too long. I mostly tuned it out, but it was way too long.
"Well then, I'll head out first like we discussed. Don't be late."
"I-I know. I'm not like you. ...Wait, don't you need to take a shower? I sprayed water on you..."
"It'll dry while I'm on my bike."
Today is another midsummer day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees. The weather is good, so I have to be careful about heatstroke. I grabbed my bag and put on my shoes at the entrance. Then, Riran, who had followed me, gave my clothes a little tug.
"Hmm? What's up?"
"No, it's just..."
Riran lowered her face bashfully and gave a soft, shy smile. "H-Have a good day..."
Ah... I see. That's what she wanted to say. What's with this 'young wife' vibe? I can't believe she's the same age as me, sixteen. A strange bashfulness hung in the air, and I unconsciously scratched my cheek.
"Ah—... I'm heading out."
"Mm. Be careful of cars."
"I got it, Mom."
"I told you not to call me Mom!"
I waved to Riran, who had become visibly grumpy, went outside, and straddled my bicycle. The blazing sunlight stung my skin. But the heat inside my chest wasn't just from the temperature. My feelings for Riran are swelling day by day. That heat tightens my chest and burns. "It's hot..."
Feeling the sweat break out on my forehead, I pedaled my bike toward school.