Episode 234: The Procedure for Making Up

Today, after enjoying another delicious dinner from Sara-san and taking a breather during our post-meal tea time, I was trying to find the right timing to bring up today’s events.

But just then, Sara-san suggested,「Let’s take our baths first,」and I felt like the wind had been taken out of my sails a bit.

It wasn’t like I was in a rush to talk, so it wasn’t a problem, but still…

By the way, regarding the bath, we naturally take turns.

I’ve had Sara-san wash my body a few times before, but we haven’t done that since we started living together. If that happened every time, I don’t want to think about it too much, but I don’t think my self-restraint would stand a chance. So, the other day, I made sure to firmly talk her out of it. Of course, I didn’t explain the part about my self-restraint…

By the way, I don’t want to remember how I convinced Sara-san because it’s too embarrassing.

…………

………

……

As usual, I can’t help but feel「something」different from Sara-san when she comes out of the bath. Of course, I know that the fact she just finished bathing is a huge factor, but it still makes my heart race every time, so it can’t be helped.

And I feel a slight sense of danger in that myself. That’s why I was careful to avoid looking at her directly as much as possible.

Then, Sara-san, having finished her preparations for bed, came over and plopped down right next to me.

Is it okay to talk now?

Just as I thought that, Sara-san spoke up first.

「Kazunari-san, how did your talk with Hanako-san go?」

「Eh!? …Well, she gave me a lap pillow.」

I hesitated for a split second, but I decided to confess on my own before it was discovered. I’m confident it would definitely come out if she pressed me later, and besides, there’s a chance she already received a report from Hanako-san. I thought it would be better to tell her from the start.

「Yes. I heard from Hanako-san. You were able to speak honestly. Good boy, good boy ♪」

It seems speaking honestly was the right move after all.

I’m glad I didn’t try to hide it…

With a smile on her face, Sara-san proceeded to slowly stroke my head. From an outsider’s perspective, I think it might look like I’m being treated completely like a child. But I know very well that Sara-san doesn’t mean it that way.

After stroking my head for a while, Sara-san adjusted her sitting position and started patting her thighs, making her appeal for a lap pillow.

In other words, she’s saying we should talk while she gives me a lap pillow.

I braced myself and renewed my resolve. Because Sara-san’s lap pillow after a bath is really dangerous in many ways. Moreover, she won’t hold back at all, so I just have to do my best. I don’t really know what I’m supposed to be doing my best at just for getting a lap pillow, though…

Squish…

The sensation of Sara-san’s soft thighs, still holding the warmth of the bath. It’s transmitted almost directly through her thin pajamas.

And apart from the wonderful comfort, I felt「something」that made me feel a sudden sense of panic.

But… as I gazed at Sara-san smiling happily, my heart slowly regained its composure.

The love I have for Sara-san in my heart, the feeling of treasuring her, grows stronger than anything else… so as long as I have this, I’m okay.

Pat, pat…

Once my heart settled down, what waited for me next was an intense sense of comfort. On top of that, having my head stroked made me feel like I was going to melt from sheer bliss. So, I decided to pull myself together once more. If I stay like this, I’ll be turned into putty and won’t be able to talk at all.

………

Regaining my calm by refreshing my mind, I decided to explain everything in order first.

How the past Hanako-san began to depend on an imaginary younger brother as her support. How she was hurt by the Yamazaki incident just as that dependence became more prominent. How meeting me led her to overlap that ideal brother image onto me…

And the circumstances today where I felt Hanako-san’s heart might have been saved by becoming my sister.

「Salvation, is it… I can relate to that feeling myself. Until I met Kazunari-san, I was a truly boring person who only thought about myself, seeking evaluation and dressing myself up for it. A person like that was surely waiting for someone who would look at my true self… no, I was waiting for Kazunari-san.」

「It’s the same for me. I think to myself that I was waiting to meet you, Sara-san.」

There are differences, of course, but in the end, both Sara-san and I were looking for someone who would accept us as we are. That person for me is Sara-san, and for Sara-san, it’s me.

「In other words, we were waiting for each other. And then we met, and we saved and were saved by each other. But Hanako-san was different. The brother who was supposed to save Hanako-san was just a fantasy, after all.」

「And then Kazunari-san appeared… as a long-awaited existence that overlapped with the image of the brother who was supposed to save her. Hanako-san had wanted you to save her for a long time… and today, she was finally saved.」

「If that’s the case, then as a friend, I’m happy too.」

Sara-san seemed to fully understand my explanation, even the parts that were a bit abstract. Probably partly because she had already received a report from Hanako-san.

「Please don’t be so humble. The one who saved Hanako-san was Kazunari-san. Hanako-san was saved. It was over the phone, but I could tell well enough by hearing her voice. So… thank you for your hard work.」

With that, my explanation was finished.

Sara-san is looking at me with a satisfied smile on her face. I’m sure everything connected for her between Hanako-san’s report and my story.

「I’m glad everything settled peacefully. However… to be honest, I was a little anxious thinking about the possibility of Hanako-san wanting Kazunari-san as a woman.」

「I told her clearly that if she couldn’t promise to just be a sister, then it’s impossible, because I don’t want to trouble you, Sara-san.」

「Fufu… thank you. Phew… now I can feel at ease.」

Even though she didn’t show it on her face, I knew Sara-san felt worried and anxious. So, to dispel that as much as possible, I intended to firmly tell Hanako-san the things I wouldn’t budge on. I don’t want Sara-san to feel unnecessary anxiety, so I told her I’ll keep things as they’ve always been. Because the most important thing to me above all else is just my precious Sara-san.

「In the end, what do you plan to do from now on? Will you act as siblings to some extent?」

「No, I told her clearly that I can only see her as a best friend. It seems Hanako-san wants to act like a sister, though.」

Actually, I didn’t really know how that was going to work. I told her it’s her choice, but I also promised that I’d never do anything Sara-san would dislike…

Oh right, come to think of it, I haven’t mentioned the naming thing yet…

「Just so you know, she asked me to call her ‘Onee-chan’ sometimes, so I decided to give in on that one part.」

「…Eh?」

「Hm?」

Sara-san froze with her smile still on her face. What happened? I don’t know the contents of Hanako-san’s report, but I intended to give a report that matched the facts.

「Um… Onee-chan… is it?」

「Y-Yes. She said she wanted me to call her that every once in a while…」

「!!??」

I wonder what this is… behind Sara-san’s smile, I feel like I can see a dark aura like Nishikawa-san’s. She’s still smiling, but I feel a strange pressure…

「…Um, you heard this from Hanako-san, right?」

「I did not hear about this… Onee-chan…」

Apparently, Hanako-san’s lack of words had occurred at a crucial point.

And looking at Sara-san, I felt a sense of deja vu.

Trying to remember…

Right, that was back in the days when I used to call Sara-san「Senpai.」The incident where Sara-san got jealous of me calling her Natsumi-senpai and I started calling her「Sara-senpai.」

Isn’t the current situation exactly like that?

「Are you going to call her Onee-chan?」

「No…」

「Are you going to call Hanako-san ‘Onee-chan’?」

「S-She asked me to.」

Puff…

As if reenacting that day, Sara-san’s cheeks began to puff out cutely…

It’s the same scene as back then… which means she’s jealous… no, it seems I’ve made her angry.

An upset Sara-san puffs out her cheeks, putting everything into her appeal of「I am angry.」I think Sara-san looks truly adorable like that, but I know that saying so would only make her angrier, so I’ll never say it.

Instead, following up with Sara-san is the priority right now. Even if she looks cute, there’s no doubt Sara-san is angry.

「S-Sara-san, look, Hanako-san is just a sister…」

「…I know that! But even so, it makes me feel restless. When I imagine Kazunari-san happily calling her Onee-chan, I am not amused!!」

Puff!!

Sara-san’s cheeks finally puffed out to their limit. They’re so full that it feels like they might burst if I poked them with a finger. And as inappropriate as it is, my own cheeks are about to loosen because she’s too cute…

But what should I do, for her to be this angry…

No… come to think of it, not just the Natsumi-senpai incident, we just had a bit of trouble over what to call Mayumi-san too.

And yet… I’m an idiot.

Thinking I should apologize anyway, I hurriedly sat up and tried to look Sara-san in the eye. But at that moment, she huffed and turned her head away. It’s my first time seeing this kind of reaction, and I can’t hide my confusion.

「S-Sara-san? It’s not like I’m happy about it or anything…」

「Then, was it a bother?」

「No… that’s…」

「…………」

It seems she’s completely sulking now.

I didn’t think Sara-san would get this angry…

But since I know the cause, if Sara-san says she hates it, there’s only one path for me to take.

「Um, Sara-san, I told Hanako-san that I won’t do anything you dislike. So, I’ll tell her I won’t call her Onee-chan after all.」

「………」

「I’m really sorry for making you feel bad…」

I never want to do anything Sara-san dislikes. Even though I’ve decided that in my heart, I…

Filled with regret and unreliability, I felt pathetic and apologized sincerely. I feel angry at myself for taking it so lightly even though I knew Sara-san had strong feelings about「names.」

I really am…

「Uuu…」

But then, a change came over Sara-san. She looked troubled by something, reaching her hand out toward me and then immediately pulling it back repeatedly. But in the end, it seemed she decided to reach out, as she slowly wrapped her hand around my back and hugged me.

「…You’re unfair. If you do that, I can’t stay angry anymore…」

「No, I didn’t mean to…」

「…I know. It’s my fault for sulking like a child.」

Sara-san began to stroke my head hesitantly. After she did that for a while, it seemed her feelings settled down. Before I knew it, the way she stroked my head had returned to its usual gentle touch.

「Kazunari-san, if Hanako-san wishes for it, please call her Onee-chan every once in a while.」

「No, I won’t do things you dislik—」

「In that case, please listen to a request from me. That will make me feel better.」

Apparently, Sara-san found a compromise. Of course I intend to accept, but I’m not thinking of it as a replacement for calling Hanako-san「Onee-chan.」Of course it’s partly an apology, but I simply want to do my best to accept any request from Sara-san.

「Please call me just ‘Sara’ without an honorific sometimes too.」

「!?」

「Don’t worry. I’ve decided that officially it will be after we’re married. I don’t mean all the time. For the time being, when I call you ‘Dear,’ would you please call me just ‘Sara’?」

Calling her without an honorific…

To be honest, I’m not mentally prepared to call Sara-san by just her name yet.

We called each other「Sara」and「Dear」for a little bit before, but at that time, I felt like I was going to go crazy with something beyond embarrassment.

Still, if Sara-san is satisfied with that…

「I, I see. If you’re okay with that, Sara-san, I’ll, I’ll do my best.」

「Thank you! Now, please don’t forget, okay? If you forget… it’s a punishment, you know?」

A punishment… when Sara-san says it, it’s a word that carries a different nuance, even if it’s inappropriate. If anything, it sounds like a reward.

「Dear?」

「S-Sara.」

「Yes, once more. Dear?」

「Sara.」

「…Dear.」

「……Sara.」

I feel like my face is going to catch fire… what is this shaming play!!!

「U-Um, Sara-san, that’s probably enou—bugh!?」

I was submerged in two soft things, and my speech was forcibly terminated. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this method is already Sara-san’s specialty. Of course, from my perspective, it’s nothing but a reward.

So, after being hugged tightly by the charging Sara-san, I became unable to speak.

「…It’s a punishment ♪ For now, please call me Sara. Also, please change your way of speaking. If you forget next time, I won’t give you a reply.」

「I, I get it… Sara.」

Sara-san loosened her hugging strength just a little, so I managed to get my voice out somehow.

It seems she’s cheered up, as I can clearly tell from the tone of her voice. I’m relieved for now, but it seems I have to continue the name-dropping.

And that goes for my way of speaking too… honestly, it might take time to get used to.

「Fufu… please get used to it soon, Dear?」

「I’ll do my b… I’ll do my best, Sara.」

Ah, I’m about to be ruined again by embarrassment, bashfulness, and something I don’t understand.

Contrary to my panic, Sara-san looked incredibly happy.

When we got into one futon together as usual, Sara-san immediately pulled me close.

She reached for the remote at the bedside and turned off the lights in the room.

Of course, we have two futons lined up as always, but since I’m pulled close like this, we end up in one futon together.

Stuck closely together, we were having idle talk while reflecting on today’s events, when Sara-san suddenly stopped talking. I thought for a moment that she might have fallen asleep… but her hand stroking my head was still moving, so apparently not.

「Kazunari-san… please let me say I’m sorry.」

「? I’m sorry… for what?」

I obviously didn’t recall anything to be apologized for, so I was curious what she meant and tried to see how she was doing. Since we turned off the lights in the room, I only had the moonlight to rely on. And Sara-san’s expression, which I could see faintly, looked somewhat troubled, or downcast… something like that.

「Yes. Well, because I got angry all on my own.」

I felt like I’d been scolded to some extent, but originally it was my fault, and I don’t think Sara-san has any need to apologize at all.

「Kazunari-san… I might get jealous like this from now on too. If you feel I’ve gone too far, please don’t hesitate to scold me. Please get angry at me.」

I understand what Sara-san is saying, but to be honest, that’s difficult. Because while there are times when I’m happy to have her be jealous, the option of getting angry at Sara-san for that absolutely doesn’t exist for me.

「It’s inappropriate, but I’m actually happy when you get jealous, Sara-san, you know?」

「Even so… please. Scold me if something is wrong. The same goes for the reverse. I might scold Kazunari-san too. Or maybe that will cause a fight between us. But after that…」

Believing in the possibility that Sara-san would be happy, I decided to try being needy on my own. When I leaned my face into Sara-san’s chest, she immediately wrapped her hands around me and slowly hugged me. As I entrusted myself to her, she pulled me even deeper and more firmly.

「Let’s make up immediately like this. If we live together, we might have fights. There might be unpleasant things. But we can make up immediately. If we do this… because we are happy…」

I can’t even imagine what a fight with Sara-san would look like. But if that did happen, we’d probably be able to make up right away. We’ll definitely be fine.

「Now, for the final making-up kiss.」

「Eh?」

「Kazunari-san, please look this way…」

As I was called, I turned toward Sara-san… but the room was still dim, so I couldn’t see how she was doing clearly with just the faint brightness of the moonlight. Eventually my eyes got used to it, and when I looked again, this time I could clearly see Sara-san with a pained expression. I felt a strange sexiness in that expression and got flustered.

As we stared at each other, Sara-san smoothly closed her eyes. Of course, I knew immediately that she was seeking a kiss from me.

So I tried to bring my face closer, but a fatal problem arose where I couldn’t reach her due to my position. I could just pull my body away once, but since I’m being held firmly by Sara-san, that’s impossible.

In the meantime, Sara-san seemed to think it was strange that I didn’t kiss her, as she opened one eye to check on me. It seems she understood the situation.

「Fufu… my apologies. Then, from me…」

Keeping the position of hugging me as it was, Sara-san closed the distance that I couldn’t reach.

Chu…

Perhaps because we both closed the distance, today’s kiss felt a bit different from usual, giving me some kind of mysterious feeling. Maybe that’s why, even after it ended, I couldn’t get rid of that feeling, and we couldn’t take our eyes off each other.

And… it came to an abrupt end. In the end, I lost to the embarrassment and gave up first.

「Fufu… Kazunari-san is cute.」

Seeing me like that, Sara-san let out a cute giggle.

「Uuu… sorry.」

「It’s fine. That way, I get to see lots of cute Kazunari-san ♪」

In that happy smile, I could no longer see any of the darkness or shadows from before. It seems she’s completely back to normal.

It was worth it for me to feel embarrassed.

「There, now we’ve made up. Now, all that’s left is for Kazunari-san to pamper yourself with me to your heart’s content, okay?」

「Eh?」

「Since we’ve made up, it’s only natural to be close afterward. So, Kazunari-san, please be as needy as you want with me. I’ll pamper you with everything I’ve got.」

I don’t know the logic behind it, but in Sara-san’s mind, that form seems to be the correct one.

Is there… no problem?

「Fufu… I’ll shower you with lots of love until you fall asleep, Kazunari-san ♪」

In the end, until I fell asleep after this, Sara-san consistently pampered me… literally letting me be as needy as I wanted until I melted.