Side Natsumi
I wondered if I had ever felt this much sympathy before.
It was Sara’s style to be fundamentally open about her romance. Since she didn't feel the slightest bit guilty about her feelings, it was far too late to expect her to hide the details of her life with Takanashi-kun.
Their relationship was primarily defined by Kazunari-kun indulging in Sara’s boundless doting. Consequently, the more Sara spoke, the more damage Takanashi-kun seemed to sustain.
That was because Sara’s stories served as a series of disclosure stories, revealing exactly how much he pampered himself by clinging to his girlfriend.
Of course, the person telling the stories was simply speaking out of pure happiness, so there was no malice or hidden agenda involved. That was precisely why Takanashi-kun couldn't bring himself to stop her and was forced to endure it in silence.
Tachikawa: "Sa-Satsukawa-senpai, um, how do you two usually sleep? You’re in the same bed, right!?"
Sara: "Let’s see... I usually lie down first..."
Tachikawa: "Y-You lie down first..."
Sara: "Then I pull Kazunari-san close... right against my chest..."
Todo & Tachikawa: "Kyaaaaaah!!!"
Nishikawa: "A-A man... in her chest..."
Regrettably, I found myself comparing her to my own chest and hated myself for it. It looked like Sara’s were still growing... Ugh... there was a clear disparity here.
She undoubtedly inherited that from Mayumi-san, so she would surely grow into a size that boys truly loved—one that was just the right amount of large.
When I happened to glance to the side, I saw Hanako-san place a hand on her own chest and slump her shoulders in dejection.
No, wait, the subject of comparison was just too high-level! It was too early to despair!
...And I didn't miss it. Tachibana-kun, who appeared to be a disinterested bystander, stole a quick glance at my chest while listening to Sara’s story.
I wondered why he chose that exact moment to look at me.
Tachikawa: "Y-You mentioned that Takanashi-kun is cute when he wakes up, right?"
Todo: "Yoko!! It’s rude to pry that much!"
Sara: "Kazunari-san is quite the affection-seeker when he first wakes up. Whenever I try to get out of bed, he clings to me so I won't leave. That gesture is truly adorable, and when I pat his head while holding him..."
Gulp...
I won't say who, but certain people were listening with bated breath, hanging on her every word.
Sara: "He presses his face tightly against me, as if seeking comfort in my chest..."
Todo & Tachikawa: "............"
Nishikawa: "............"
Todo-san’s face had turned a deep crimson, and she looked like she had lost the ability to speak. On the other hand, Tachikawa-san was listening with rapt attention. Meanwhile, Eririn had departed for a mental trip.
And the most pitiful of them all, Takanashi-kun, had been approached by a scornful Hanako-san before he even realized it.
Hanako: "Hmm... So you like breasts?"
Kazunari: "Eh... no..."
Hanako: "Do you like big breasts?"
He was already reeling from Sara’s disclosures; to be pursued like that was simply too much. I felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Now then, I supposed I should go and interrogate a certain someone myself.
After all, he did seem to glance my way twice.
This was rough... talk about sitting on a bed of thorns.
Watching Sara-san speak so happily made it difficult for me to tell her to stop.
But if I didn't, there was no telling how much she would reveal. And while I had thought I had nothing to feel guilty about, I suddenly remembered one thing that was potentially catastrophic.
We had taken a bath together several times!!
Granted, I had only had her wash my body... but that would surely be considered out of bounds. I could only pray that the conversation wouldn't drift in that direction.
Hanako: "Hey, are you listening to me?"
I was well aware that I was currently being grilled by Hanako-san. For the record, I wasn't the type to be obsessed with size—big or small—but I didn't exactly subscribe to the libertine’s mantra that "there is no rank among them" either.
To be perfectly honest, I simply "liked Sara-san’s breasts."
Kazunari: "Uh, well, I don't really have a specific preference."
Hanako: "...Really?"
Kazunari: "Really."
For some reason, Hanako-san was often able to read my thoughts, second only to Sara-san. But this time should be fine. It was the truth, as long as you excluded the "Sara-san's" part of the equation.
Hanako: "Hmm... I see. Well, whatever."
While maintaining her blunt persona, Hanako-san seemed somewhat satisfied. It appeared I had successfully navigated this particular crisis.
Natsumi: "Hey... I wonder what exactly you were looking at twice?"
Yuji: "Eh!? No, I didn't do anything!?"
Natsumi: "You're naive if you think I didn't notice."
And apparently, a fire had broken out on Yuji's end as well.
Regardless... why was there such a commotion over a talk about breasts?
Todo: "Come to think of it, you're doing all the housework, aren't you? With school and everything, isn't it hard even for you, Satsukawa-senpai?"
Sara: "If you keep up with it every day, the only thing that really takes much time is the cooking. I enjoy it, so I've never once thought of it as a burden."
Tachikawa: "Going to school, then cooking, shopping, laundry, cleaning, making bento... i-it would be absolutely impossible for me..."
Hearing it laid out like that made me realize once again just how much Sara-san was doing for me. Since she had requested that I stay out of her "work," it pained my heart, but the reality was that I was leaving everything entirely to her.
Sara: "It might seem like a lot of work if you count every task, but when I think that the person I love will be happy, it actually makes me want to work harder. I've always liked housework anyway, so it's even more rewarding."
Tachikawa: "Wow... I respect you more and more."
Todo: "Listening to you, Satsukawa-senpai, you already sound like Takanashi-kun's wife."
Sara: "Fufu... I will eventually become Kazunari-san's wife, after all."
Todo & Tachikawa & Nishikawa: "W-Wife..."
Without a hint of a blush, Sara-san used the term "wife" with a calm confidence that suggested she had already fully embraced the role.
There was clearly no hesitation or sense of mismatch in her mind. I was undeniably a lucky man beyond words to be loved that much by such an incredible woman.
Hayato: "To be devoted to that much by Satsukawa-senpai... if the rest of the school finds out, there’ll be a line of guys crying tears of blood. Well, setting that aside, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you to pay her back... By the way, don't you ever help her out?"
Kazunari: "I've been asked not to help."
Hayato: "Asked... Not 'refused,' but 'asked.' That sounds like typical Satsukawa-senpai."
Hanako: "Well... for a wife, taking care of Takanashi-kun is her reason for living. She’s probably happier if he just accepts her care gracefully."
I had come to terms with the idea that if Sara-san was satisfied with that arrangement, then I should just accept it, but I still wanted to show my gratitude in some way. However, I also felt that relying on a present every time was a bit too simplistic.
Kazunari: "I wish there was something other than a physical gift that could convey my gratitude daily..."
Hayato: "Hmm... True, a present every single time loses its meaning. And Kazunari probably wouldn't be satisfied with just words."
Hanako: "In that case, why not let your wife do whatever she wants, even if it's just once a day or once a week?"
Kazunari: "Whatever she wants?"
Hanako: "Yes. Takanashi-kun just has to make it happen."
I see... For example, letting her choose the destination for a date, or doing whatever she asked of me... It felt more like a reward than a simple thank-you.
Hayato: "For Satsukawa-senpai, that might actually be the best thing. She'd be happy just because it's something Kazunari is doing specifically for her. As expected of Hanako-san."
Hanako: "I'm not particularly happy being praised by a handsome guy... but you should give it a try."
Was Hanako-san still being a bit cold toward Hayato? Come to think of it, she still treated Yuji quite indifferently as well. But considering she gave them proper responses, she was at least more open with them than with the other boys in our class...
Kazunari: "You're right. I'll give that a shot. Thanks, Hanako-san."
Hanako: "It's not really anything to thank me for."
Kazunari: "It's not just this. You're always backing me up and teaching me things. I'm truly grateful to you, Hanako-san."
Looking Hanako-san in the eye, I conveyed my sincere gratitude.
While trying to think of a way to thank Sara-san, I had realized that I should probably do something for Hanako-san too. I was fully aware that she had been supporting me at every critical juncture since the day we met, so I wanted to do something, no matter how small...
Hanako-san looked slightly surprised, but my feelings must have reached her, as she gave a soft, gentle smile.
Hanako: "I see. Okay, I'll accept those feelings honestly."
Hayato: "(Hmm, she actually shows a smile like that when Kazunari is the one she's talking to. As I thought, Hanako-san is...)"
Kazunari: "Actually, I'd like to do something for you too, Hanako-san..."
Hanako: "In that case, can I make a request of my own?"
A request from Hanako-san?
It seemed she was playing along with the previous topic and giving me an opportunity to thank her by making a request. Of course, if it was something within my power, I wanted to fulfill it.
Kazunari: "As long as it's something I can do."
Hanako: "Then, I want you to come to my house this coming Sunday. There's something I want to tell you."
Kazunari: "To your house?"
...What should I do?
The thing she wanted to tell me was almost certainly the story regarding her "Big Sister." I didn't think there would be a problem, but I had a precious woman named Sara-san, so I wondered if it was appropriate for me to go to another girl's house alone.
Hanako: "You don't need to worry. I'll tell your wife myself. If your wife says no, then I'll think of something else."
Kazunari: "I understand. If Sara-san is okay with it, then I am too."
Hanako: "Good."
It seemed Hanako-san understood the situation perfectly. For my part, if Sara-san gave her permission, there was no reason for me to refuse.
At any rate, it looked like the opportunity to hear Hanako-san's story had finally arrived. I had been curious about it for a long time...
Sara: "When I give him a lap pillow, I find he’s very pleased when I give him an ear pick as well. When I did it for Kazunari-san the other day, he was quite happy."
Todo: "T-That’s a situation I see a lot in anime and romance novels. So boys really do enjoy that, after all?"
Sara: "At the very least, Kazunari-san was happy. Although, because Kazunari-san is shy, he ended up hiding his face in my stomach halfway through... fufu."
Tachikawa: "I-In her stomach......"
Todo: "Fueee..."
Hanako: "Heh...... his face in her stomach, huh..."
The timing of our conversation ending meant that Sara-san's group was clearly audible now. To think my disclosure story was still going on...
Hanako-san was the only one not looking at Sara-san; instead, she was looking up at me with a scornful look.
Sara: "Finally, it's wonderful to finish by blowing in the ear. Kazunari-san was... fufu... well, let's just say he reacted quite strongly."
I clearly remembered that moment as well, and honestly, it had been an incredibly happy yet embarrassing event. Sara-san was recounting it with such joy, but the more she talked, the more my undignified behavior was exposed. My life points were already at zero...
Natsumi: "Sigh... To think the day would come where Sara would be the one giving romantic advice, it's a truly unbelievable sight. Or rather, it seems Takanashi-kun really likes 'that' quite a bit... Honestly, all men are the same..."
Natsumi-senpai, who had been interrogating Yuji, had moved over to us without me noticing. She had clearly heard Sara-san's story. All men are the same... that presumably included Yuji, who was currently looking haggard behind Natsumi-senpai. It was the first time I had ever seen him in such a state...
Natsumi: "Eririn is lucky, after all...... wait, huh, Eririn?"
Nishikawa: "......Please stop... I can't take any more... s-s-sleeping with a man, or things about chests... give me a break..."
She had been so quiet that I’d almost forgotten her, but Nishikawa-san had departed for some other realm. As usual, she was muttering something under her breath like an incantation... yeah, the darkness was running deep.
Natsumi: "Eririn is lucky because her breasts are so large."
Nishikawa: "Wha!?"
Nishikawa-san, who was supposed to be sinking into darkness, suddenly snapped out of it at Natsumi-senpai's comment. Realizing that the surrounding eyes were focused on her chest, her face turned bright red as she hurriedly tried to hide "them." I barely sensed the danger of looking her way. I successfully performed an emergency evasive maneuver by shifting my whole body and forcibly averting my gaze.
Nishikawa: "W-W-W-What are you talking about, Natsumi!?"
Natsumi: "No, I'm just saying Eririn is the only one here who can actually compete with Sara."
Nishikawa: "Please stop!! You know I'm not good with these kinds of topics!!"
Natsumi: "I wouldn't know. I don't know anything about people with big ones."
Nishikawa: "Wha!?"
Her excessive reaction to the topics concerning me and Sara-san was one thing, but looking back, Nishikawa-san might be more lacking in immunity to these topics than anyone else.
In that case, the conversation so far must have dealt significant damage to her... Natsumi-senpai was truly a demon for forcibly dragging her back into it...
Natsumi: "By the way, Tachibana-kun, come back here for a moment."
Yuji: "Wait... Natsumi-san!?"
It appeared Yuji had failed to perform the emergency evasion of averting his gaze. He was once again seized by Natsumi-senpai and dragged out of the room.
Todo: "......Yokokawa-kun, so you’re the same after all..."
Hayato: "No, this is, well..."
Judging from Todo-san's slightly sulky tone, it seemed Hayato had also slipped up. I had managed to avoid it just in time because I realized Sara-san might get angry, but honestly, as a man, I wished they’d give us a break.
This was simply male instincts—a sort of conditional reflex. Even if it wasn't intentional, one's gaze would naturally drift in that direction. I hoped both of them could find it in their hearts to forgive them.
As it turned out, a reward was waiting for me for successfully avoiding the trap. I felt a presence right beside me, and then Sara-san softly placed her hand on my head and pulled me close.
Sara: "...You have me right here, Kazunari-san, don't you?"
Kazunari: "Y-Yes."
To avoid digging myself into a hole with a poor response, I chose the path of being pampered in silence for the time being.
Nishikawa: "Um... isn't my treatment here a bit cruel?"
Hanako: "I wouldn't know. I don't know anything about people with big ones."