I will spend more time with Kanade.
These were words I could never have imagined back in our childhood, when it was thought that Kanade and I would be separated by death.
I felt a little sentimental.
"Well then, I guess I'll study a bit more."
"Ehhh..."
It was the exam preparation period, so I thought it was a natural decision, but Kanade booed me.
"Ak-kun. Weren't you going to show me some hospitality?"
"I will do that, but..."
"I'm just not in the mood to study anymore today."
"Even if you say that, you have to get good grades on the test."
"I don't think getting good grades on a test is everything, you know?"
...She's being unusually stubborn this time.
"Ak-kun. What if you oversleep at school because you studied too hard, like you did the other day?"
"Hmm?"
"If that happens, it might affect your internal school records this time."
True.
I see. Is Kanade being stubborn because she wants me to avoid missing class by falling asleep, like when I slept through lunch with her after overworking myself with studies?
After I woke up from that deep sleep after school, Kanade looked incredibly apologetic for some reason.
In fact, she hasn't given me that supplement at all since then.
...She really is a thoughtful girl.
"I understand. ...Let's stop studying for today."
"Yay, yay!"
Kanade seemed very happy.
Seeing her so full of joy... I felt a little guilty, wondering if I had made her worry that much by showing her how hard I was studying.
"And then, and then! Ak-kun, Ak-kun! You're going to show me hospitality now, right?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"How are you going to host me? What should I do? Should I turn off the lights? Should I lower the temperature on the AC? Oh, would it be better after Obasan and the others have gone to sleep?"
"Eh? No, let's just do it right now."
"...Wha!? Ak-kun, you're so bold."
...Bold?
"For now, could you lie on your back on the bed?"
"...A-Ak-kun."
"What is it?"
"Um... it's my first time, so I'm actually a little nervous."
"Eh. Is that so?"
Indeed, looking closely, Kanade had been acting restless for a while now. I could see that her cheeks were flushed.
"Well, don't be so tense. I'll make sure it feels good."
"...Ak-kun. You seem quite used to this."
The light vanished from Kanade's eyes, which had been in high spirits until a moment ago.
"Do you do this often, by any chance?"
"Hmm? No, it's my first time."
I smiled.
"I don't have anyone else I could do this to besides you, after all."
"...Ak-kun."
Kanade looked down.
"I-I'll say this clearly first, okay? I'm not that kind of easy woman."
"...Kanade?"
"I properly... judge whether or not to do such things based on the person. I'm a person with that much common sense. ...Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
...Of course.
"Now, lie down."
When I told her in a gentle tone, Kanade showed a bewildered face for a moment, then, as if making up her mind, she lay on her back on the bed.
I moved to the foot of the bed where Kanade's feet were.
"Kanade."
"...What?"
"Tell me if it hurts."
"Okay. ............... Owwwww!"
It was my first time doing a foot reflexology massage, but Kanade screamed immediately. And it was quite a loud voice too.
"Ah, sorry. ...Is this too strong?"
"Ak-kun...?"
"Kanade, don't worry. I know that taking away your daily fatigue is the greatest hospitality I can provide."
"No... That's not it, Ak-kun."
"Here we go—"
"Higuu..."
Kanade's body jerked.
Judging by her reaction, is it still too strong?
"Ak-kun. ...Stop. Please stop."
"I see, I see. If it hurts when I press here, there's a possibility your autonomic nervous system is out of balance."
"Eh...?"
"...And a firm press here."
"...~~~~!"
Ah, it seems she's feeling quite a bit of pain.
...This must have relieved a lot of fatigue, without a doubt.
I did it!
For a while, I continued to press the soles of Kanade's feet as she writhed in agony.
About thirty minutes later, when I finished the massage... Kanade had tears dripping from both eyes, her body was flushed, and she carried a somewhat provocative atmosphere.
"...Ak-kun. Why would you do something so horrible?"
"Sorry. Did it hurt?"
"...I thought I was going to die."
"Ahaha. You're exaggerating."
"You're saying that to someone who actually almost died once...?"
...I see.
It seems I might have overdone it.
"Sorry, Kanade..."
"...Hmph."
"...I just really wanted to show you some hospitality."
"...Tsun."
"When I heard you were staying over at my house... I was thinking about it the whole time. Even while we were studying... I was wondering how I could host you."
"..."
"But I'm clumsy... I could only think of something like this."
I hung my head.
"...I just wanted to make you happy with the best I could do."
I know it doesn't even count as an excuse.
But... I really wanted to tell her. I felt I had to.
"..."
Kanade was...
"G-Geez. Ak-kun, you're hopeless, aren't you?"
She said jokingly while fixing her disheveled T-shirt.
"Ahaha. Did you really think I was in pain?"
"Eh?"
"It was a joke. I just thought it would be funny to show that kind of reaction, you know?"
"...W-Was that it?"
"...Eh?"
"Then, can I massage you again?"
"...Ah."
"Can I... host you some more?"
"..."
Kanade's mouth was trembling.
Tears were spilling from her eyes again.
"...Sorry. I got a bit carried away."
"It's fine."
"Eh?"
"It's fine! It's fine! It didn't hurt at all! If anything, it felt a little good! And I found out my autonomic nervous system is a mess!? Totally! Do it! Again!? Hospitality!!!"
Kanade seemed to be acting out of desperation.
...But, deep down, I was a little happy.
Inwardly, I had been anxious.
About whether I was properly hosting Kanade.
So, seeing Kanade happy like this made me feel relieved and a little fulfilled.
"Yeah. I understand."
When I nodded, a large teardrop fell from Kanade's eye onto the bed.
Is it the price for struggling so much?
I couldn't help but feel a little bit satisfied seeing the heroine like that.