Haruka had kept her desired birthday present a closely guarded secret until the day itself. Her request: a sleepover at my house.
Since we’d started dating, we had gone on plenty of after-school dates, weekend outings, and even home dates, but we had never once spent the night together.
Since day one, she had been subtly—well, maybe not so subtly—hinting that she wanted to stay over, but I had consistently and gently turned her down.
Why? To put it simply, I didn't trust my own self-restraint.
The day we’d confirmed our feelings for each other, I had carved a vow into my heart: I would cherish Haruka and never do anything to hurt her.
I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to suppress my own desires and would end up hurting her, so I just couldn't bring myself to say yes to her request.
One might wonder why I was being so precious about it after we’d been kissing like crazy since the very beginning, but that was exactly the point. I was afraid that if we took that next step, I wouldn't be able to stop myself.
However... it was clearly my fault for forcing Haruka to constantly hold back her own wishes.
"……By the way, exactly how long were you planning to stay? If I may ask."
"Why the formal speech? For starters, I'm hoping for three nights and four days—the same length as Papa and Mama's trip."
"For starters...?"
"Actually, I'd like to stay for the whole summer vacation! It’s a pain to travel to your house every day, and even though it's a long break, it's lonely only being able to be together until evening!"
She grabbed my arm and spoke with such passion that I was momentarily overwhelmed.
I didn't think she needed to come over every single day... but since seeing her daily would make me happy too, I decided not to call her out on it.
On the other hand, it had been bothering me for a while that, unless we were out on a date, it was always Haruka who put in the effort to visit me.
Because places like movie theaters and shopping malls—the staples of dating—were concentrated around the station, we’d fallen into a pattern where we would meet at my house and head out from there.
The truth was that I felt guilty. No matter how much she claimed she didn't mind, the current situation placed the entire burden of travel on her.
"……And did you get your parents' permission?"
"Of course I did! And I got your parents' permission too, Tatsumi-kun!"
"I see... Wait, what!? H-How... and when!?"
A pathetic, high-pitched voice escaped me at the completely unexpected revelation.
My parents? Dad and my stepmother gave permission!? Why would those two... no, when did they even talk to her!?
Seeing my state of total confusion, Haruka patted my shoulder to soothe me.
"I didn't speak to them directly. I went through Yui-chan to ask. I needed to gather enough ammunition to make the stubborn Tatsumi-kun surrender!"
"……And, just out of curiosity, when was this...?"
"The night you came over to my house, on LINE. She said, 'They both gave an immediate OK! Please use the bedding I use when I stay over!'"
Sure enough, the smartphone screen she showed me displayed an exchange between Haruka and Yui that said exactly that.
That Yui...! What does she mean, 'I'll keep it a secret from my spineless brother; I hope the surprise is a success!'...? Just how much of a struggle does she think her so-called spineless brother has been going through? For that matter, what does she think of my privacy!?
For now, I resolved to give Yui a piece of my mind when I went back for Obon... but for the moment, I had to set the matter of my parents aside. Thinking about it any further wouldn't be good for my mental health.
"Didn't your parents have anything to say? About their daughter staying multiple nights at the house of a guy living alone..."
"Papa said, 'If it's Tatsumi-kun, I have nothing to worry about.' Mama was already in favor of it, but after she met you the other day, she's been very supportive."
Supportive of what? I didn't even have the energy to snap back.
I was truly grateful that they trusted me enough to entrust their precious only daughter to me while they were away... I really was, but still.
The traps had been set and the escape routes blocked. The only thing left standing in the way of Haruka's ambition was my own psychological barrier.
"……Either way, I guess you can't go home tonight."
"That's right. The last bus... just left, actually."
Haruka checked the time on her phone and giggled happily. This was undoubtedly exactly as she had planned.
I certainly couldn't let her go home alone at this hour. At the very least, I had no choice but to let her stay for tonight.
"……I really am a sore loser."
"Tatsumi-kun?"
……Just man up and accept it, Tatsumi Yanagida.
How long do you intend to keep hiding behind Haruka's kindness and ignoring your girlfriend's wishes?
I swore to make her happy. Are my trivial hang-ups really worth more than Haruka's smile?
"Haruka, do you have plans for tomorrow?"
"Eh? No, nothing..."
"I see... then let's go buy some daily necessities together tomorrow. You'll probably need a few things."
"……! Tatsumi-kun, does that mean...!"
Her eyes sparkled instantly. I gave her a wry smile in return.
"It’s your birthday, but I haven't actually given you anything yet. Things like shampoo, body soap, a toothbrush, a charger... also, we should probably buy some more dishes. Think of the things you can keep at my place as my gift to you—gah...!?"
A powerful impact struck my side, cutting me off as I rambled to hide my embarrassment.
I was caught completely off guard as Haruka lunged at me, knocking me onto the sofa before I could even react.
The culprit—my girlfriend—looked down at me with eyes moist with emotion as I groaned in pain.
"Thank you so much, Tatsumi-kun! I love you!!"
"O-Oh... I'm just glad you're happy. Is it really that big a deal?"
"Of course it is! From now on, I can be with my beloved Tatsumi-kun all day long without having to watch the clock!"
The expression on Haruka’s face as she proclaimed her joy was one of pure, unadulterated happiness.
As I stared into her eyes, which were shining with excitement and anticipation, I felt my heart rate spike.
"We can play together, relax together, eat together... we can touch each other and talk as much as we want! I'll get to see the face of the person I love at the end of every day and the start of every morning! Isn't that wonderful?"
"Yeah... that does sound nice. Really nice."
"Right!?"
While I found her excited chatter endearing, I couldn't deny that my own heart was racing with anticipation.
Actually, there was no need to hide it. Looking forward to spending time under the same roof as the person you love was perfectly normal—and incredibly lucky.
"I'm out. You're next."
"Wow, you're done already?"
After finishing my bath, I called out to Haruka while drying my hair with a towel. She looked up at me with surprised eyes.
She had been organizing the contents of her bag, and various items of clothing, cosmetics, and toiletries were scattered around.
"Sorry, I'm not finished yet... can you wait a little longer?"
"There's no rush, take your time. ...Ah, um, if you could keep your underwear out of sight as much as possible, that would be a big help."
"Fufu, okay. But if I'm staying for a while, I'll have to hang them up after I wash them... Ahaha, don't make that face! I've thought about it!"
Haruka laughed merrily at my expense. I, however, didn't find it funny at all.
Naturally, she seemed reluctant to have me see her underwear, so she said she would return to the Akise residence every few days to do her laundry there. That was a massive relief.
Whether it was because of the tension of the stayover or something else, my body felt even hotter than usual after the bath. I poured myself some cold barley tea and sat on the sofa to cool down.
While I was sitting there, Haruka handed me a small paper bag.
"Papa said this was a gift for you. With everything going on, I almost forgot to give it to you..."
"From Nobuyuki-san? I feel like I'm always on the receiving end with him..."
I resolved to send a thank-you note later as I took the bag. It looked like sweets from a different shop than the one she’d brought before.
It might be rude to say 'surprisingly,' but does Nobuyuki-san have a major sweet tooth?
"Alright, that's about it. I'll use the bath now."
"Go ahead. You can put your clothes in the laundry net in the dressing room... it's already late, so let's worry about the laundry tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Haruka replied energetically and stood up, grabbing her makeup pouch, a bag of clothes, and... the shirt I had lent her.
I wondered if it was really okay for her to wear that. Well, she seemed happy, so maybe it was fine. I’d suggested buying pajamas tomorrow, but she had adamantly refused.
Maybe I should pick out a few more shirts to lend her...
As I absentmindedly watched her walk away, she suddenly turned back to look at me.
"……Don't peek, okay?"
"I would never."
I answered instantly, but for some reason, Haruka disappeared into the dressing room with a somewhat dissatisfied pout.
……Now that she’d warned me, I was becoming painfully conscious of it.
Just a few meters away, separated by a single wall, Haruka was undressing... Just the thought sent a jolt of dangerous impulses through my body.
This was bad. Really bad.
In an attempt to distract myself and ensure I didn't hear the sound of rustling clothes, I turned on the TV and cranked up the volume.
I tried to focus on the variety show on screen, but I couldn't follow a single thing. Dammit, why is this comedian so unfunny!?
Despite the laughter from the TV, I found myself accidentally straining to hear the faint sound of running water. Am I a teenage boy...? Right, I am a teenage boy!
"……Oh right, the sweets from Nobuyuki-san."
I looked at the paper bag on the table. Thinking about her father helped cool my thoughts down rapidly.
Inwardly thanking Nobuyuki-san, who was likely enjoying a hot spring right now, I opened the bag. It was a tin of cookies. It was late, so I decided I’d share them with Haruka starting tomorrow.
"Hm? There's something else."
As I went to fold the bag, I realized there was something else inside.
Peering into the bottom, I saw a box even smaller than the cookie tin.
There were numbers printed on the front... 0.01...!?
"Wha—! A... Co...!?"
The moment I realized what the box was, I practically jumped off the sofa, accidentally tossing the bag. A glimpse of the box peeked out from the mouth of the bag as it tumbled onto the table. I shoved it back inside in a panic and reflexively buried the whole thing under a sofa cushion.
I wasn't sure if I needed to hide it, but I just didn't want it in my sight.
"……Phew…… calm down, calm down...!"
I covered my face with my hands and took a few deep breaths. Even so, my heart was thumping so loudly it was annoying, and the heat in my face wouldn't subside.
……I understood why Nobuyuki-san had given me that. As a parent, his concern was perfectly natural.
But still... why did it have to turn up at such a perfect—or rather, terrible—time!?
A man waiting for his girlfriend to get out of the bath with contraceptives in his hand... It looked like the setup for exactly that kind of night.
"……Anyway, I need to forget about this for now."
I needed to hide it somewhere Haruka wouldn't accidentally see it.
Bag in hand, I retreated to my room to find a hiding spot.
I wandered around the room, debating different spots, but I couldn't make up my mind.
Part of me wanted to throw it somewhere I could never reach... but since we were two teenagers living under the same roof, another part of me thought I should keep it somewhere accessible, just in case of an emergency.
"Well, this should be fine... I'll get Haruka's bedding ready while I'm at it."
I took the futon and pillow that were kept for Yui out of the closet and spread them on the floor.
……The question of whether it was okay for her to sleep in my room crossed my mind, but it was too late for that now. Haruka would probably stage a massive protest if I tried to suggest otherwise.
I wondered if I’d even be able to sleep tonight.
With that lingering anxiety, I laid out a blanket, finished the rest of the chores, and headed back to the living room.
A fair amount of time had passed, and the sound of water from the bathroom had stopped.
Just as I sat back down on the sofa, I heard the click of the dressing room door opening.
"Phew, that was refreshing!"
Haruka returned with a bright, clear smile.
Her skin was flushed from the heat, and her damp hair was gathered loosely in a towel.
She was wearing the oversized shirt I'd lent her with nothing but a pair of short shorts underneath. It was a hopelessly defenseless look.
"……"
I felt the air catch in my throat.
The ill-fitting shirt emphasized her petite frame, and the slender legs peeking out from the shorts were dazzling.
Frankly, I had no idea where to look. All the intrusive thoughts I’d managed to push away while setting up the bedding came rushing back at once.
Haruka sat down next to me and started drying her hair, tilting her head curiously.
"Hmm? What is it? Why are you staring?"
"No... it's nothing. I'm going to get more tea. Do you want some, Haruka?"
"Yes, please!"
"Sure," I said, making a quick exit toward the kitchen.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to notice my agitation. She was humming happily to herself while she started her skincare routine.
I marveled at the effort girls put into their beauty as I brought the glasses back to the living room.
"Thank you! Nothing beats a cold drink after a bath, right?"
"Agreed. ……So, what’s the plan for sleeping? I’ve laid out a futon for myself, so if you don't mind, I'd like you to use the bed."
At my suggestion, Haruka's brow furrowed slightly.
"It’s not that I mind... but it feels a bit wrong for me to take the bed when it's your house."
"Don't worry about that. As your boyfriend, I’d feel terrible making you sleep on the floor."
I tried to sound cool, but I could feel a bit of embarrassment leaking through.
Haruka let out a little giggle, looking at me as I turned my gaze away. Then, her face lit up with an idea.
"In that case... wouldn't it be easier if you just slept in the bed with me, Tatsumi-kun?"
"No."
"Why not!?"
"No means no. Absolutely not. I'm already at my limit here, so please don't tease me anymore..."
At my desperate plea, Haruka finally dropped it, though she still looked a bit pouted.
She really seemed to underestimate a man's desires. ……Or perhaps she understood them perfectly and was just messing with me. I didn't know which was worse, so I stopped thinking about it.
As I was grappling with these life-altering—well, important to me—thoughts, she suddenly thrust a hairdryer into my hand.
"I’ll give up on the bed thing. But in exchange, I want you to dry my hair. You do it for Yui-chan, right?"
"……Fine."
"Yay!"
Drying Haruka's hair was just as nerve-wracking in its own way, but it was far better than sharing a bed.
I stood up and moved behind her, just like I did for Yui.
"Okay, here goes."
"Ready!"
Haruka removed the towel, letting her flaxen hair fall. Droplets of water still clung to the strands, sliding down toward the ends.
I clicked the dryer on and gently ran my fingers through her hair. It was damp but felt incredibly soft and smooth to the touch.
I moved the dryer carefully, making sure it didn't get too hot as I worked my fingers through her hair.
"Wow, that feels so good... You’re really good at this, Tatsumi-kun."
"I don't think it's exactly a high-skill job."
"That’s not true. Hey, will you do this for me every day?"
"……If you want me to."
"I do. It's gentle and warm... it makes me feel so safe. Fuwa..."
A small yawn escaped her. Her head began to bob slightly as she grew drowzier.
Knowing that I was making her feel safe enough to fall asleep made me feel a bit proud, but I couldn't let her pass out here.
"Haruka, wake up. Just a little longer. If you’re going to sleep, at least do it in the bed."
"Mmn... sorry. I think I... got a little too excited for my birthday. I wanted to talk to you more, Tatsumi-kun."
Her voice was soft and airy.
She rubbed her eyes like a sleepy kitten, a gesture so adorable I couldn't help but smile as I whispered to her.
"If there’s something you want to say, tell me tomorrow. We have all the time in the world."
"……Ehehe, I guess so. Hey, Tatsumi-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"…………"
"Aren't you going to say it back?"
"If I say it now, you'll definitely fall asleep, so no."
"Hmph, I won't... fuwaaa."
I laughed as she let out another massive yawn, which earned me a pout. Even that was cute.
Seriously, I have a girlfriend who is far too good for me.
"Alright, here we are."
"Mmn..."
After finishing the nightly routine, I practically had to carry a half-conscious Haruka to the bed.
Her eyes were closed, and she didn't even respond when I spoke. I gave a wry smile as I lifted her light frame and laid her gently on the bed.
She squirmed for a moment, burying her face into the pillow.
"Ehehe... smells like Tatsumi-kun..."
"Stop that. ...It's embarrassing. Here, swap it for this pillow."
"No!"
She was like a child. Apparently, when Haruka reached the limits of her exhaustion, she regressed into a toddler.
I impulsively patted her head. She smiled happily and leaned into my palm. The sheer cuteness was enough to make my head spin.
"Nn... uuh..."
As she finally stopped responding, I pulled the blanket over her and leaned down to whisper into her ear.
"I couldn't say it before... I love you, Haruka."
"…………Ehehe."
I pulled back to find her looking up at me, a look of pure, blissful happiness on her face.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I hadn't said goodnight yet... mmu!"
"……What's that for?"
"A goodnight kiss! It's my birthday, so I'm allowed... right?"
I almost laughed at her shy little request.
As if I’d ever turn down a kiss from her, birthday or not.
"Mmn..."
"……Goodnight, Haruka. See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Tatsumi-kun... See you tomorrow!"
We whispered to each other, our noses almost touching.
Once I was sure her eyes were closed for good, I used the remote to turn off the lights and climbed into my own futon.
Closing my eyes, I replayed the day's events in my head and thought about the days to come.
I recalled what Haruka had said earlier.
"Seeing the face of the person I love at the end of every day and the start of every morning," huh?
Yeah... that really is a wonderful thing.
I found myself genuinely looking forward to the summer vacation ahead.
I gave a wry smile at my own simplicity—after resisting for an entire month, here I was, practically buzzing with excitement now that the stayover had finally begun.
With a heart full of anticipation, I finally allowed myself to drift off into sleep.