—Aah, today sure is another summer sky.
I absentmindedly gazed out the window at the contrast between the white of cumulonimbus and the blue sky.
The sound of cicadas that’s noisy even when separated by the windowpane, and the dazzling sunlight that seems to make me sweat just by looking at it caused my thoughts to drift off into the empty sky.
The heaviest object in the world is the body of the woman you have ceased to love; I think it was a Frenchman who said that.
Then I wonder if this weight I’m currently feeling in my arms is representing that of happiness.
“Iori-kun.” My wandering thought was interrupted by the voice of Tendou Tsukasa calling out to me.
Having lost any reservations on the fifth day of her stay, and currently enjoying her summer, small-cohabitation life to the fullest, she was assuming a total feel-at-home appearance, wearing tight hot pants and freely exposing her fair beautiful legs.
Right now as I’m sitting on a legless chair, she’s leaning her back against me, and filing her hand fingernails that are like prettily lined up seashells.
“You see, I’m thinking of going home tomorrow.”
Relief and regret fought each other in such an exquisite proportion that even I couldn’t tell them apart.
Given that Tendou’s mood didn’t get spoiled even after I gave her my okay, at least on the surface I didn’t seem to look happy.
“Come to think of it, was it okay for you to stay for consecutive nights like this in the first place?”
Even though we were engaged just a little while ago, and currently in a relationship of lovers, the Tendou house is an old-fashioned, rich house. However much of her dreadnought-class sexual experience where I’m the 99th person became known to her family, I wonder if she would be allowed to stay over in a man’s room in a premarital status.
“Grandmother gave me tacit consent, and my mother and older sisters also told me ‘go take him down!’”
What’s with the Tendou house? Is it a family lineage of predators?
Does, like, being rich also with a good face equal apex predators?
Looking back, I feel like the women of the Tendou house shared a lot in common in terms of their facial looks; not just the grandmother-granddaughter, but even the mother-daughter, and then sisters.
I knew it, they’re carnivores (despair).
“—Wait, how about your father?”
In the Tendou house, which seems to have taken in a husband for two generations in a row, the speaking power seems to come from Tendou’s grandmother first, Chitose-san; then eldest daughter, Tendou’s mother; and then next is her father who’s married into the family.
That being said, aren’t male parents generally just verbal about their daughter’s relationship with the opposite sex?
“No matter what’s going on in his mind, my father can’t go against Grandmother and my mother after all.”
“Oh my, you sure you can say that?” Tendou looked back at me with a mischievous smile in response to my unintentional voicing of sympathy. “I heard about it the first time the other day, but my mother was dumped by your father, right?”
“I don’t know about that way of putting it, but… well, I heard it’s something like that.”
But, how would that actually connect with me?
“To summarize, okay? To my father, you’re the son of his wife’s first love, the former fiancé and current lover of his cute youngest daughter, to make matters worse, you’re someone who introduced a man to his mother-in-law he’s no match for; so someone who could pose a great threat to many things—”
Even one of them each seems like it could cause some thought to bud, but if three of them are combined, isn’t it triple yakuman already? An arch enemy?
Even if I don’t have that intention, it seems like it could be a further beating down depending on Chitose-san and her mother’s attitude, and furthermore, that does look like a very likely scenario.
“I’ll tell you this because it’s only fair to tell you—Iori-kun, my father is seeing you as an enemy, you know?”
At the words of her that said that her father was especially soft on her, I hoped that Tendou’s father’s status in the family would always remain low.
“—So, you know, here’s the main issue. I think I would love to eat the meal you made tonight.”
“Don’t say that. You know, I’ve come all the way here for a stayover but I still haven’t eaten your home-cooked meal, right?”
Certainly, we have made do with ready-made foods like supermarket prepared-food, convenience store boxed-meal, pizza delivery, and ready-made pasta sauce and cooked rice or boiled pasta at best, but isn’t that because of the schedule Tendou has set up in the first place that’s like having a minimum civilized life as a person in between sex?
“Isn’t that the part where you would be the one to make it, Tsukasa-san?”
All guys in the world probably have at least a universal longing for their lover’s home-cooked meals, but I’m also not an exception to this.
“Nope, I’m still practicing.” But Tendou’s reply was curt.
She’s someone who grew up as a wealthy young lady, but looking at these five days or so, she has normal life skills, and there was no episode about her making unpalatable food coming out even in past talks
In the first place, custom-wise, she’s supposed to be raised to be a good wife and wise mother instead if it’s an old-fashioned family.
“Well, but it’s not like I’m a good cook myself either, though.”
“But guys get extra points just for being able to cook, right? And generally girls just get points deducted if it’s not delicious to eat.”
“That sure sounds like a statement some group is gonna protest…”
“Ah, probably a common view, though.”
Well, it’s probably not that Tendou herself thinks that way, but that’s the way it’s viewed, and although I don’t think it’s complete delusion, it also seems a bit absurd that because of that the ball is thrown at me and lover’s home cooking is becoming distant from me.
“I don’t really mind that kinda thing, though.”
“What I want is future satisfaction, rather than immediate likability.”
“Can’t you also just show the process of you getting better and better?”
“There’s a point there, but it’s not my branding strategy.”
Branding, here came out another word that sounded extremely conscious about appearing interesting.
So Tendou is thinking the value of her own face and stuff is just that tremendous in many things, I see? Speaking of me alone, that’s exactly right.
“And also, I want you think that sex is not the only thing I’m good at. Let me try to look good at least.”
And then came out another exquisite making-happy-and-stinging remark.
If this is what she’s been aiming for, Tendou might actually be a splendid, extreme sadist.
If I had to say, it’s possible that she’s simply an insensitive heroine, though.
“⸻Wouldn’t that kinda thing be ruined if you told me?”
“I believe you will still think of me as an admirable and cute lover after all.”
What a lie, it’s just an inducement telling me to absolutely think that way.
Is there even a way to apply a pressure like this?
“Hey, don’t you think so? Iori-kun.”
I understand that, but in front of her smiling face that’s extremely above standard, as someone with a crappy scraping bottom of the barrel level in regards to love, all I could do was to announce my complete surrender.
“Yes, I’m happy to have an admirable and cute girlfriend, citizen.”
Actually, I don’t know what to do about myself, who is already, like, kinda recently starting to enjoy being rolled around in Tendou’s palm a little.
“—For your information, I really can’t make anything elaborate, okay?”
“No problem, I’m not picky so whatever is fine.”
“Then is curry fine?” Immediately after, any expression disappeared from Tendou’s face.
The blank expression of her, a beauty, looked somewhat man-made, and it was truly a summery horror.
“If you’re telling me you like your girlfriend to smell like spices on her last night of sleepover, that’s also fine with me, though?”
Her voice was also crazy chilly.
Tendou, who seems to actually feel at home, in these five days always smelled good with the exception of right just after sex, and she would remove her makeup just before going to bed and wake up earlier than I do; anyway she was also trying not to show her no-makeup face.
From her point of view, who’s making that kind of effort, I guess it just means that even though she cannot not eat curry with me for a lifetime, it probably won’t be today.
Also, the way she said ‘sleepover’ is cute and unfair.
“Err, then the fridge is probably also empty, that means I’ll think of the menu while shopping, so…”
“I-I’m thinking something like going shopping to buy meal ingredients together is giving off a cohabitation feel, it’s nice. What do you say?”
The presentation result: I managed to get pardoned safely.
With white clouds staying in the distant west sky, the afternoon sunlight pouring down from the clear sky was exceedingly dazzling, and suited the expression ‘intense.’
Looking ahead as I crossed a two-lane one-way main street, I could see road mirage under a car going away down the long straight road.
“True, maybe it would’ve been better to wait until it gets slightly cooler,” Tendou said, but at the same time, she looked to have more composure than me.
Even in a casual outfit of wearing just a t-shirt and hot pants with a white, long-sleeved summer hoodie (mine) and a cap (also mine) on top, she’s giving off a feeling of coming to a resort rather than casually going shopping in the neighborhood, that’s why a beauty is just unfair.
“You’re looking like a dog that got fed up midway when going for a walk, you know? Iori-kun.”
“I don’t know about that, but I just know I just got told a terrible thing…”
It’s not an expression you would use for your boyfriend, is it not?
While wondering just what kind of face I’m making right now, we somehow finally reached the supermarket.
In front of the entrance, shaded by the protruding rooftop, people on their way home from shopping were making dispirited faces as if they were hesitant to step out into the sun.
Tendou went to fan me with the hat she’d taken off as a fan.
It would’ve been literally sprinkling water on a hot stone if it was outside, but once we’re inside the store, the air was cool and the effect immediately doubled.
“Iori-kun, wanna use a cart?”
“Nah, no need. It’s not gonna be that much if it’s for two… By the way, what will you buy?”
“Right, I guess some daily necessities I wanna keep in your room?”
Ah, so she’s also gonna keep coming to stay.
“…Just that much I guess we don’t really need it.”
That I was a little late in my reply because I was both happy and embarrassed was completely visible to Tendou, and she smiled at me like truly having fun, but I’m also starting to understand that it would only amuse her if I get worked up here.
“…I think side-by-side is gonna be a nuisance, though.”
After saying my minimum resistance to her, who tried to have us hold the basket together where I thought she was going to hand it to me, she spun around to my left and linked arms with me, as if she had expected it.
I know this, this is the type of couple where the surroundings would look at them coldly.
“So, are you gonna decide what to make?”
“Aah, yeah, I’m clear with that.”
As I renewed my decision to at least finish the shopping swiftly, a pile of bitter green ones piled up in the vegetable corner leapt into my eyes.
Alright, I’ve decided on the main dish for you.
The problem with cooking for yourself when living alone is simply the amount of it; vegetables in particular, unless you plan your menu well, either you will have too much left and it goes to waste, or you will end up eating only that for a while.
That’s just annoying that I just tend to buy side dishes or convenience store boxed meals for one person, but if it’s for two people, I don’t have to worry about it that much.
“Bitter melon so it means chanpuru?”
“Yeah, it’s self-taught but it’s also summer-ish; it’s not something you want to eat a lot by yourself as well, so I thought it’s just right.”
It’s easy too, in general you just chop, season, and stir-fry them. I’ll keep quiet about this part.
“Ah, Tsukasa-san, are you okay with bitter melon?”
“Yeah, I’m fine with bitter stuff.”
As I was thinking ‘…It’s like, a virgin spirit is just deeply ingrained in me for picking this up, but like, there’s also the way she said it,’ Tendou muttered a small “ah.”
“—Umm, Iori-kun, I don’t mean in a weird way, okay? Like coffee and also chocolate, I prefer them on the bitter side.”
“Yeah sorry it’s okay Tsukasa-san you’re not at fault at all this is already just me being a genuine disgusting virgin…”
“I-I see? But you’re not a virgin anymore, you know?”
It wasn’t the degree of feeling awkward when someone is concerned about you; I wonder why I am like this…
To distract my mind, I went to mindlessly pick up firm tofu, eggs, and other ingredients.
As expected, Tendou also seems to be at a loss for words, maybe troubled to deal with this, but right now no matter what she says it would only widen the wound so I’m grateful for that.
Next is pork, bonito flakes, I think that’s about it.
“Iori-kun, have you been properly looking and choosing that?”
“Eh? Yeah.” Then when I checked again to be sure, I found that both the eggs and tofu got plenty of time left on the expiration dates. “It’s all right, rather first of all, there aren’t any eggs left near the expiration date, and with tofu, I think they put a sticker that says ‘clearance goods’ on it and put it on a different shelf, though… Could it be that it was something expensive?”
Although occasionally there are some with ridiculous prices because of added value I don’t really understand, I wonder if I’ve been choosing those without knowing.
“No. it’s not like that, but because I just had the image of people living alone being frugal, like checking the prices more and stuff.”
I didn’t expect to get pointed out by Tendou who was born into a wealthy family, but it certainly seems more typical that way. It’s just that in my case, I basically spend almost all of it on food expenses, though…
“I’m getting by okay each month, so it’s all right.”
“I don’t mind doing household bookkeeping for you, you know?”
“Nah, I’ll accept just the feelings.”
With the current condition where the balance of power is clearly crumbling, I want to avoid having my wallet taken control. Not being able to leave Tendou is still all right, but further decline in our relative position is not good.
I mean when I think about it, it sure is possible I was also in danger from having my stomach captured with food…
Maybe I was bad for thinking that, but I ended up misreading the flow of people and meeting them head-on in the aisle.
“Shino, can I have a minute?”
“Heh?” When I looked up at the familiar voice along with a sense of deja vu, I saw Ogura Kana standing there, whom I haven’t seen since the summer festival.
She, who looks more suntanned maybe because of the season, has a very rigid face.
“Iori-kun, what else do you need?”
“—Ah, let’s see, thinly sliced pork belly, the small pack one, and also bonito flakes.”
“All right, I’ll wait at the entrance if I finish up first, okay?”
Unbothered by me who was scared thinking that a great war Z of catastrophically super strong-willed women was about to begin, Tendou took over the shopping basket and left without exchanging a single word with Ogura.
“I have something to talk about, so come here for a bit.”
Ogura as well, without even a glance at her, said over the shoulder without any preface and turned around and started walking.
While thinking, ‘so they’re both ignoring my will awfully naturally, huh?’ I followed that obediently.
“We sure met at an unusual place, huh.”
“On my way home from the library, I came to buy some water but then I saw you two,” Ogura said and walked outside empty-handed. It took me two seconds to miss the air conditioning.
Perhaps that it’s something she doesn’t want others to hear, and so she finally turned around once reaching a spot away from the people staying in the shade waiting for the traffic light.
“—Say, are you gonna marry Tendou? I heard you’ve got engaged or something.”
“Nah, the engagement was called off, right now we’re normally dating.”
Ogura, whose face relaxed a little bit at the ‘called off’ part, grimaced at the words that followed after. I see, this is not just because she hates Tendou, but to some extent there’s also something involving me.
Still, the fact that she left us alone, that means Tendou probably judged that some talking was OK, though.
“I see… In that case, I want you to take a look at something for a bit here,” Ogura said and held out her phone. And what I saw on the screen was a naughty image.
“—You know, that’s been going around like ‘isn’t that Tendou?’ like that.”
While feeling unpleasant sweat breaking out, I took another good look at the image.
In what appears to have been photographed in a hotel-like room, a young woman is taking a sensational pose on a bed with her eyes covered by her palm and her shirt rolled up, exposing her bare breasts.
Thump, my heart is beating strongly.
The fair skin and loosely curled light brown hair is similar to Tendou, and the overall slenderness is also similar.
It’s a bit hard to make a judgment with the upper half of the face hidden, but I can’t say that the smiling mouth and the nose bridge don’t look similar.
“For your information, I’m not spreading it. Just that I thought I should let you know either way.”
“Aah, yeah—I see.” While listening to Ogura’s somewhat distant voice, I stared intently at the screen.
And, together with a relief, I let out my breath.
“—Nah, it’s just a different person.”
“If you look closely, Tsukasa-san’s breasts aren’t this big, and look, there’s also no mole.”
“Oh yeah? So you saw Tendou naked? Ooh”
Did I get too shaken and slip out something bad?
No, but well this much is normal for college students in a relationship, so it’s all safe!
“Mo-moreover on a second thought, she also said she confiscated their phone every time she did it so she wouldn’t get photographed like this. She said wouldn’t let them take such an eager shot”
“…And you didn’t think of anything when you got to hear that?”
“I’m a bit down as I say it right now…”
Just what sin have I committed that I’m made to step on a landmine at a place like this? And as I was feeling down, Ogura deliberately let out an audible sigh and put away her phone.
Her raised face is as refreshed as if she’s no longer haunted.
“Then I’ll deny it if someone ever asks me, but probably I’ll give you cold eyes after vacation, okay?”
“Well, Tsukasa-san’s also paying for her mistakes there, so it just can’t be helped.”
“You’re the boyfriend, right? Just why’re you going out with one like that…”
As I was thinking ‘I guess because I love her,’ Ogura let out another one damn huge sigh, and one-sidedly declared the talk was over.
“Ogura, thanks for letting me know.”
When I called out to her as she’s walking back inside, she turned around and stuck her tongue out with her usual smile.
“I’m telling you, I hate Tendou sooooo much. I also hate you already for being eaten by one like that. Don’t talk to me ever again, you hear?”
I also had enough brains not to retort with ‘yet you’re the one who talked to me today.’
Although her words were harsh, there’s no unpleasantness in Ogura’s expression; after all, I felt that she must’ve been able to remove something that had been nagging at her all this time today.