"...Hey, Sako."
"What?"
"No, not 'what'..."
At the Konuma household. In my room.
I interrupted my work at the desk, where I had been tinkering with my computer, and turned my head to speak to the blonde childhood friend who was, for some reason, there.
"I'll give you a pass on coming to our house, fine. This is Yuzu's house too, so maybe you're here to see her. You did come to borrow Yuzu's manga today, after all. And as long as you have a reason, entering my room is... well..."
No, truth be told, that's probably a problem too, and amane-sama is likely just overlooking it with a heart of mercy.
Or rather, since the times Sako has entered my room until now were for band-related reasons, I've just been forced to semi-tacitly approve of it.
I'd estimate that I'm only allowed about three strikes. Even the face of an angel only lasts three times.
And this current situation is clearly unrelated to the band; I wouldn't even be able to make an excuse if we were seen. I mean, I don't even understand what's happening myself.
"But still..."
"Is there some kind of problem?"
Sako looked up at me, the corners of her mouth raised in a 0.something-millimeter smirk. She knows exactly what she's doing...
I sighed once more and turned fully toward Sako.
"...Could you please stop lying down on my bed?"
...I said to Sako, who was lying on her back on top of the bed, with only her face turned toward me.
"Why?"
"What do you mean 'why'...? Just go home if you're done with your business."
"Hmph, so you're throwing me away now that I've served my purpose. Even though I'm lying on your bed in my school uniform."
Sako narrowed her eyes as she began to undo the buttons of the cardigan she was wearing. What are you doing?
"Don't make it sound so scandalous! It was your business, not mine, and you're the one who decided to lie on the bed on your own, and you're the one wearing the uniform... Anyway, why are you wearing your uniform today when it's a holiday?"
"Takuto, you sound like you're making excuses. You're saying my name a lot, too."
"Because my social life is at stake here!"
I let out another long sigh. And it seemed she had no intention of answering why she was wearing her uniform on a holiday.
"I haven't done anything wrong, but I won't be able to face your father... I just got introduced to Ariga-san and received help the other day..."
"Did you just call my papa 'father-in-law'?"
Sako rolled onto her stomach, propped herself up on her elbows on the bed, and leaned forward toward me.
"...Sako's father."
I answered, emphasizing the 'Sako's' part. I mean, why did your tone go up at the end there? That's rare for you.
"Hmm... Well, I have one more thing to do today besides the manga."
Sako laid on her back on my bed again, spreading her arms and flailing them around, then rolling from one side to the other.
"You're not going to tell me that rolling around on my bed is your 'business,' are you?"
"I am."
"There's no way..."
"There is a way."
"No, no..."
I was so exasperated I was losing my words, but there were parts of this where I couldn't be too firm.
Sako had mentioned that things were a bit awkward with Erina-san right now, and that she hadn't been sleeping well.
Just this morning, she finally managed to get some sleep—though calling it a deep sleep while leaning on my shoulder might be a stretch.
She might be thinking that she can sleep if it's not her own bed at home. Well, even if she can sleep on my bed, I can't exactly lend it to her.
The only thing I can do is help her repair her relationship with Erina-san.
"Hmm..."
With a 0.something-millimeter frown, Sako took out her smartphone and held it up with an outstretched arm.
*Click.*
"Huh? Wait, did you just take a picture?"
"Yeah. A selfie. Maybe I'll make it my LINE icon."
"Please really don't!?"
Why would you do something so nonsensical!? You don't even usually take selfies!
"Okay, I'm heading home for now."
With that, Sako bounced up and started preparing to leave.
"What was that all about, so suddenly..."
"What, did you want me to keep lying there longer?"
"That's definitely not it..."
Sako put her hands in her blazer pockets and tilted her head 0.something millimeters.
"Takuto. Walk me home."
"Ah... yeah?"
After a leisurely walk together, we arrived at Sako's house.
"Takuto, wait here for a second."
"Hmm?"
Leaving me there tilting my head, Sako went inside for a moment and came back out carrying something in a large, somewhat stiff plastic bag.
"Here, this is for you."
"What's this? Oh, a hoodie? Are you finally returning it?"
"No."
"It's not?"
While retorting, I peered into the bag and saw white fabric folded inside.
"So, what is it?"
"A bed cover."
"Hah... why?"
I don't get it.
"Well, my mama... my mother bought a bed cover thinking my bed was a single size, but my bed is actually a semi-double. All the other beds in our house are semi-double or larger. So, my mother said if Takuto has a single bed at his place, she wanted to give it to him."
"Oh..."
So basically, she wanted to know if I'd take a sheet she bought in the wrong size. Well, it would be a waste to throw it away, and selling it on Mercari or something is a hassle, so I understand the feeling.
"But is my bed a single? I don't really know, even though I sleep in it..."
"Yeah, according to my measurements. The number of times I could roll over was fewer than on my bed."
"Hah, so that's what you were doing earlier? Measuring?"
"Yes. What else could it have been? I forgot to bring a measuring tape."
When she says 'what else could it have been,' I almost feel like she's right, but there's clearly a problem with that method of measurement.
"You should have asked me first, if it was a single..."
"But you didn't know."
"I didn't know, but still."
I feel like I'm being talked into a corner one thing after another; am I the one in the wrong here?
"Well, anyway... thanks. I'll make good use of it."
"Yeah. By the way, since I lay on that sheet several times before realizing the mistake, it has my scent on it."
"Huh?"
"...What are you going to use it for?"
Sako narrowed her eyes and gave me a strangely suggestive expression.
"I'm going to wash it, put it on my bed, and sleep on top of it!"
And I'm going to put it on the bed in Yuzu's room!
"Ah, but I also put my scent on your bed just now, so it's the same thing."
"...I'm sleeping on the living room sofa tonight."
I really wish she'd stop with these kinds of jokes because I never know how seriously I should take them...
"...Well, thanks anyway."
"Yeah, you're welcome."
"So, what about the hoodie...?"
"...Actually, today, all my clothes except my uniform are in the laundry."
"I see..."
Yeah, I'm not getting it back... She's actually wearing her uniform, so it's weirdly persuasive...
"Give it back eventually. See ya, Sako."
"Yeah, be careful on the way home, Takuto."
I felt a slight nagging at the back of my mind over her meaningful phrasing, but I waved and walked about ten steps away from her when my phone vibrated in my pocket.
I pulled it out with the hand not holding the bedsheet, and the moment I saw the message that had arrived in the 'amane' LINE group, the blood drained from my face.
Sako Hasu: '@Amane. Report. Takuto's bed is a single.'
"Gah!?"
I looked at the screen again to try and type an explanation, but a reply came back at the speed of sound.
Amane: 'Huh?'
"Hey, Sako...!"
I looked back to see Sako, illuminated by the streetlights, wearing a mischievous, grinning smile that looked exactly like a certain devil.
"Be very careful on your way home, Takuto-kun~"
"Hey...!"
I mean.
Even without worrying so much that she can't sleep, Erina-san and Sako are definitely a perfect match...!