Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

“Hey, Yamamoto-kun?”

This happened just before I was about to head home.

Kasahara, whom I was carrying on my back, smiled quietly and then wrapped her arms around my neck.

It was a midsummer night. Despite the sweat beading on my forehead due to the heat, the rise in body temperature caused by Kasahara clinging to me wasn’t unpleasant. On the contrary, it was somehow comfortable.

“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”

Kasahara’s question was far too abstract for me to understand.

Probably, there was nothing at all about the last train home. Even if Kasahara was thinking of letting me stay at her place tonight, and even if I were to guess that, Kasahara would likely not agree. She would deny it, probably brushing me off by saying she hadn’t been thinking of that at all.

“Sorry for the uncomfortable back.”

“There’s nothing uncomfortable about it. Actually, you’ve gotten a bit bigger since high school.”

“I haven’t been working out, so I can’t see why I would get bigger.”

“Did you gain weight?”

“Ah, Hayashi’s home cooking is really good, you know.”

“Haha. You’re being fattened up quite well.”

Lately, I’ve started to take walks when I wake up early, but I wonder if that’s not enough.

The only time I had carried her like this before was during high school, when she sprained her ankle during PE and I carried her home.

I was in the prime of my strength training days at that time, so my back was probably bigger than it is now.

“You probably feel that way because it’s been a long time.”

Kasahara rested her face on the back of my head.

Slowly, Kasahara’s body was becoming more closely pressed to mine. I don’t feel weird about it. Probably.

“It’s your fault for not carrying me more during high school.”

“Eh, are you blaming me now?”

“Yes, I am.”

“…Did you want to be carried more?”

“…Ah, I wonder?”

Her response was rather harsh, whether true or not.

I felt a bit dejected.

Then, I realized.

Having these conversations with her, laughing, feeling happy, feeling down.

Our relationship now is different from before. But, I don’t feel a significant change in the relationship itself.

Rather… I feel like I can be more natural with her than before.

I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything, I think to myself.

If I slowed my pace a bit, would Kasahara notice the change in me?

There’s no more last train home now.

Then, no matter how long it takes to get home, it doesn’t matter, right?

That’s right.

The last train.

Kasahara has been reminding me that there’s no more last train home.

What’s the purpose of that…?

Is she just curious? It’s possible. She often makes suggestive remarks.

But…

But, what if…

What if it was her way of excusing herself for inviting me to stay at her place…?

If that’s the case…

What would I…?

“Hey, Kasahara?”

“Hey, Yamamoto-kun?”

Our calls to each other overlapped.

After a moment of silence, we smiled at each other.

“You should say it first.”

“You should say it first.”

Kasahara poked my cheek. There’s nothing I can do in retaliation. Even if there was, I wouldn’t.

“…How about we say it together?”

“…Alright.”

We took a deep breath.

What I wanted to say here and now…

It was nothing other than about what’s going to happen next.

Given this situation of missing the last train.

“What am I going to do from now on?”

I thought to tell her that.

Just somehow, I thought that.

I thought perhaps, she was also thinking the same thing and wanted to tell me now.

“I’m going to walk home.”

“Are you really walking home today?”

Just as I thought.

I couldn’t help laughing, but kept it low so as not to disturb the neighborhood.

“You’re telling me that after making me miss the last train?”

“You were going to say the same thing, weren’t you? Besides,”

“Are you worried about Hayashi?”

“Mmm.”

“You really do love Hayashi, don’t you?”

Even I, who rarely harbors improper feelings towards others, feel a tinge of jealousy.

“…Right now, you’re the only one who can be there for Meg.”

I haven’t told her yet.

That Hayashi managed to mend her relationship with her estranged parents.

All thanks to Kasahara, who provided the opportunity.

“You also remain unrewarded.”

I muttered.

Right now, Kasahara is dealing with a lot for Hayashi’s sake. But for some reason, it seems their relationship is a bit awkward at the moment.

I felt a bit of sympathy for her unrewarded efforts.

“It’s not like I’m unrewarded. I’m pretty fulfilled right now, you know?”

“But,”

“I don’t regret anything.”

Kasahara smiled. There wasn’t a hint of deception in her joyful voice.

“If you’re satisfied, then it would be ungracious for me to say anything.”

“That’s right. I love that pragmatic side of you, Yamamoto-kun.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

We continued our conversation for a while, keeping our voices low as we walked through the residential area.

And so, when we arrived at Kasahara’s apartment, we said our goodbyes.

…That one time I visited her place with Hayashi.

We walked from my room to Kasahara’s room via the supermarket. It took about thirty minutes.

It’s not an impossible distance to walk.

Not at all… it’s not a distance from which I can’t return.

So why is it that I can’t seem to take the first step?

Perhaps, deep down, I wanted to stay at Kasahara’s house and be alone with her.

Of course, I will never share such feelings with anyone.

I plan to take this secret to my grave.

After a thirty-minute walk, I arrived home.

…Hayashi.

My, roommate.

Is she already asleep?

The lights in the room are on.

But it’s usually time for her to be asleep by now.

“I’m home.”

In a quiet voice, I said.

Quietly walking into the living room.

Hayashi was still awake.

“…Sorry. Did you wait up for me?”

While sprawling with a pillow in her arms on the bed, Hayashi was idly watching TV.

On closer inspection, the pillow Hayashi held was my pillow. Maybe she’s half asleep.

“No, it was such a hassle. I had a hard time because of you.”

Considering the events of the day were caused by Hayashi taking my cleaning supplies hostage, a little grumbling should be allowed.

“Could you please not resort to such ruthless threats in the future?”

I removed my socks and stuffed them into the washing machine.

I headed to the living room to grab my pajamas. I was thinking about taking a shower.

“…Hayashi?”

In the middle of heading to the living room, I noticed.

I noticed my roommate, who hadn’t uttered a word since I arrived.

Hayashi…

Her eyes are open.

Her hand that’s touching the pillow moves every now and then.

And when I look at her face, she buries her face in the pillow.

She appears to be fully conscious.

Then why has she been ignoring what I’ve been saying?

“I’m sorry about today…”

With her face still buried in the pillow, Hayashi said in a muffled voice.

… I heard words I would never expect from the high school Hayashi.

“There’s no need to apologize. You did it for me, didn’t you?”

“…Idiot.”

“Hm?”

“Why didn’t you come home earlier…”

“Eh?”

A complaint suddenly follows her apology.

I let out a strange voice in surprise.

“Why do you have to go to a mixer? You should come home earlier. Don’t worry me…”

“Awawa, sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing, idiot…”

“Eeh…?”

So, what should I do?

I ended up spending quite a while comforting Hayashi, who seemed to be feeling a bit down for some reason.