Chapter 24: The Extraordinary I Don't Want to Let Go

「What is this situation...!」

I muttered to myself while showering.

Shigure's forcefulness is nothing new, but regarding this matter, I could have just gone home. Pushed by Shigure's intensity, I ended up wandering into this situation, but isn't this situation extremely bad?

A young man and woman alone together. On the other side of the wall is the academy's beautiful girl. Thinking about it that way, it's not a situation where I can stay calm.

...Keep your reason strong, me. Acting on momentary emotions is what fools do...

「Tsukishiro-kun.」

「Hyai!?」

A strange voice came out at the sudden call.

Shigure's silhouette appears beyond the door. She can't see inside from there, but somehow it's embarrassing.

「I'll leave a towel here. It's okay to wash your uniform, right?」

「Y-Yeah, sorry about that.」

After Shigure placed the towel in front of the door, she began working in front of the washing machine. I've already finished showering, but I can't come out until Shigure leaves. I would be stuck for a while.

「Suu...」

(...This is taking a while.)

Losing patience with Shigure's silhouette that wouldn't leave, I finally called out to her.

「Shigure?」

「Hyah!? ...W-What?」

「I'd like to come out soon...」

「Ah, I-I understand, just wait a moment!」

Shigure left the changing room in a fluster, making noise as she panicked. Confirming Shigure won't return, I leave the bathroom, but nothing seems particularly different.

(She seemed to be struggling with something... Well, whatever.)

I dried myself with the towel and changed into my academy jersey.

▼▽

When I came out to the living room, Shigure was there looking at the TV.

What was playing on TV was a romance drama from a little while back. There are many drama reruns during this time slot. It's probably one of those.

Looking out the large window, rain that showed no signs of stopping continued to fall. Apparently the rainfall will intensify from here.

「Relax until the laundry is done. I'll get something. Is coffee okay?」

Shigure poured coffee from the refrigerator into a cup and handed it to me. I sat down next to Shigure as she prompted.

Sipping coffee while looking around. Not just the living room, but the bathroom and kitchen too seem a bit much for one person living alone.

「...Shigure, do you live alone?」

「Yes. ...Until a little while ago I lived with my parents, but now there are some circumstances.」

「I-I see... I asked something unpleasant. Sorry.」

「It's fine. It's not such a dark reason. Our relationship is good.」

I didn't pursue the matter of Shigure's parents further. Everyone has things they want to keep secret.

Shigure watches the drama with a calm expression. My eyes were overlapping Shigure and Yume's forms.

When she was first hospitalized, Yume used to laugh a lot. That wasn't from joy, but to dispel the loneliness of being alone in a hospital room.

I've always lived with family, so I've never felt loneliness toward family. So I don't know if living alone is lonely, but seeing Shigure's profile, I couldn't stay quiet.

「...Hey, Shigure. Isn't it lonely living alone?」

「I've gotten used to it. I don't feel anything. ...Besides, now I have a worried boyfriend.」

Shigure smiled gently. That smile was surely not a lie, it came from her heart.

I can't help but be enchanted by her smile. That such a beautiful smiling girl could be a liar was unbelievable.

「Lend me your shoulder a bit.」

「O-Oi...」

Shigure suddenly rests her head on my shoulder. Feeling the slight weight and closeness of her body, my heart begins beating harder. I was worried it might be transmitted to Shigure through our skin.

「...Hey, I'm going to talk to myself a bit, so listen.」

I nodded without saying anything.

「...Your side is very calming. I feel like my heart is at peace, thinking I can feel safe next to this person. You help me and think of me first. There's no one like you besides you.」

Shigure whispers as if savoring the words. My ears readily accepted her words. That was surely because there were no lies there.

「But this relationship is only until the problem with Minazuki-senpai is resolved. ...Thinking about that makes me a little lonely.」

「...Then should we fight that person forever?」

「I'll pass on that. I don't want to deal with that kind of person for even a second.」

Shigure relaxed her cheeks again. That smile is a false smile to hide loneliness.

The drama had reached a separation scene. The atmosphere in the room surrounded by rain sounds feels a little lonely.

「...This kind of thing is only possible for now. Being able to rest my head on my beloved person's shoulder.」

「...Enjoy it while you can.」

I savored the time with Shigure as if treasuring it until the laundry was done.

▼▽

After the laundry finished and I received my dry uniform, I decided to go home.

Outside was getting dim, and the lights in the apartment corridor were already starting to turn on.

「Thank you for the shower. It was a big help.」

「It's fine. This is about all I can give back to you.」

Shigure laughs self-deprecatingly. That smile couldn't be called beautiful, even as flattery.

「...Shigure, contact me if you get lonely. I'll at least be someone to talk to.」

「...Fufu, thank you. I might call every night.」

「What a high-maintenance woman. My girlfriend is.」

Shigure and I parted with laughter.