We ended up buying so many things that weren't even on our original list that I had to walk home with a large plastic bag in each hand.
Haruka looked apologetic, but since these were daily necessities for both of us, I couldn't exactly let her carry the heavy stuff. Seeing her look momentarily lonely because we couldn't hold hands on the way back actually made me feel like the one who should be apologizing.
By the time we managed to reach the house, my hands aching slightly, the sun had completely set.
After changing into loungewear and taking a breather, we sat at the dining table to examine the contents of the bags.
"Looking at it again, we really did buy a lot. Let’s start putting this away for now."
"Good idea. I'll organize the tableware and the kitchen supplies, and give the plates a quick wash."
"Thanks, that helps. I’ll get the rest of it out. I’ll take the towels and detergent to the washroom... and we can do the laundry after we've both had our baths."
Since we had no plans to go out tomorrow, there was no need to rush.
Leaving Haruka to unpack the boxes of tableware, I stuffed the towels and toothbrushes into one of the bags and headed toward the washroom.
I tucked Haruka’s towels into the space I’d prepared earlier, put the detergent in its designated spot, and lined up the toothbrushes and cups by the sink.
"...This feels strange."
It was such an unfamiliar sight—two toothbrushes sitting side-by-side at the washbasin I saw every single day.
The sudden, tangible sense of domesticity made the reality of this stayover—or more accurately, the fact that we were essentially living together—really sink in.
With our daily necessities sorted, our true life together was about to begin.
While I was excited to share my life with the girl I loved, I couldn't shake a lingering sense of nervous anticipation.
§
"I'm out. Your turn."
"Okay~."
Later that night. Having finished my bath, I called out to Haruka in the living room while drying my hair with a towel.
I watched her as she trotted toward the bathroom, passing me in the hall... then I tilted my head in confusion.
Was that paper bag she was holding the one containing the swimsuit we bought today?
I suppose it wasn't that weird if she just wanted to check it one more time while she was in there.
"Whew..."
Letting out a soft sigh, I sat down on the sofa. Picking up my phone from the coffee table, I noticed I had LINE messages from Hashimoto and... my father.
Hashimoto's was a quick thank-you for earlier today and an invitation to hang out again soon. When I sent a brief confirmation that I was in, he replied seconds later with a sticker of what looked like a soccer player.
I sent back a random sticker and opened the message from my father.
"Is this about the Obon visit...? Wait."
I thought about my parents' house, where I hadn't returned in a while, as I scanned the text. My eyebrows furrowed at the contents.
"You can bring that rumored girlfriend of yours along when you come home." ...What did he mean by "rumored"? And why was "you can bring her" phrased in such a subtly condescending way?
Normally, I would have wanted to flatly refuse, but apparently, my stepmother wanted to meet Haruka too... Well, I’d have to ask her.
Predicting her answer with some certainty, I typed out a reply and set the phone down.
"Maybe I'll do some stretching."
Moving too vigorously would make it harder to fall asleep, so I decided on some light exercise—just enough to stay loose without breaking a sweat.
I had plans to go to the beach with Haruka, after all, so it couldn't hurt to stay in shape.
...I didn't even want to imagine it, but it was hard to believe a girl like Haruka could be at the beach in a swimsuit without getting hit on at least once.
After a quick warm-up, I moved through various stretches to loosen my muscles.
I’d been loosely following a routine I found on a video site back during my club days, and thanks to the consistency, I could actually feel the results more than I’d expected.
"...I really can't settle down."
I muttered to myself while staring at a variety show on the TV.
No matter how much I tried to focus on the screen, the faint sound of splashing water from the bathroom kept drawing my attention.
Still, it wasn't as bad as yesterday; I wasn't completely paralyzed by it. I’d probably be used to this in a few days.
With the laughter from the TV as background noise, I killed time by browsing news sites on my phone.
Come to think of it, I had that movie to watch for my English assignment. I should check if it's on any of my streaming services.
I idled away about thirty minutes like that.
Suddenly, I realized the sound of water from the bathroom had stopped several minutes ago.
Haruka must be out. Thinking I’d get her a drink, I stood up and headed for the refrigerator.
I put some ice into the cup we’d just bought and poured some pre-made barley tea.
I prepared a glass for myself as well, and just as I was about to put the pitcher back in the fridge... I heard the subtle click of the washroom door opening.
"Tatsumi-kun..."
"What's up? ...Wait, what's wrong?"
For some reason, Haruka was only peeking her head through the gap in the door. She looked strangely flushed and bashful—did something happen?
Did a bug show up? I was wondering where I’d put the bug spray... when Haruka, seemingly making up her mind, pushed the door wide open.
"...Ta-da!"
—The dazzling expanse of bare skin that filled my vision immediately after made my mind go completely blank.
I lost my voice, staring in stunned silence. From her shoulders to her chest, down to the curve of her waist—Haruka's skin, which was usually hidden behind her clothes, was now fully revealed.
For a split second, I thought she’d forgotten to put on a towel. But a beat later, I finally registered the presence of the vivid fabric.
The memory clicked. It was that vivid Brazilian bikini I’d seen during our shopping trip earlier.
It was the one swimsuit that definitely wasn't among the ones we’d picked out together—a tiny, daring thing that required a lot of courage to wear in public.
And Haruka was standing right in front of me, wearing it.
"I bought it secretly this afternoon, but... h-how is it? Does it look weird...?"
Haruka’s face was beet-red all the way to her ears as she fidgeted and squirmed, glancing up at me. Her eyes, wavering with embarrassment, held a mix of expectation and anxiety.
At her question, my brain, which had been paralyzed by the shock, slowly began to reboot.
Her skin, slightly flushed and warm from the bath, looked even more radiant in the revealing bikini. Strands of wet hair clung to her cheeks and shoulders, and droplets of water traced paths down her white skin.
Haruka’s bashful expression was different from her usual innocence; it was a blend of mature allure and girlish charm—and it mercilessly shredded my self-restraint.
The moment I truly processed that this sight was reality... an unidentifiable heat erupted deep in my chest.
"..."
"Eh...!?"
Before I could say a word, my body moved.
Before I knew it, I had set the glass on the counter and pulled Haruka into a tight embrace.
"T-Tatsumi-kun...?"
I didn't have the mental capacity to answer her confused, bashful voice.
Her damp skin clung to my arms, and the sweet scent of shampoo tickled my nose.
As her softness and warmth pressed against me, the thread of my rationality groaned under the strain.
The moment she looked up at me with those moist eyes, my throat went dry and my vision narrowed. I tightened my hold on her slender body, drawing a small moan from her lips.
My gaze was drawn to her fresh, trembling lips—...
"Haruka...!"
"...Tatsumi-kun."
—Beep, beep.
I jumped at the sudden electronic sound from behind me.
The refrigerator door, which I’d left standing open, was sounding its monotonous warning for me to close it.
Startled, I released her and practically lunged toward the fridge.
I slammed the door shut and pressed my forehead and arms against it, exhaling a long, shaky breath.
I desperately tried to use the cold metal of the fridge to suppress the lingering warmth of Haruka on my skin and the impulses still raging in my chest.
"...I'm really sorry. I lost my head... I didn't mean to scare you."
Still leaning against the refrigerator, I carefully picked my words for an apology.
I probably should have faced her properly to show my sincerity, but I didn't have the courage to look at Haruka in that state again just yet.
"...No, it's okay. I was just a little surprised... but I'm glad you liked it that much..."
"It’s not just about 'liking' it..."
"You weren't happy?"
"............It's not that, it's just... it's too much for me!"
"Hehe, I see. So that's how it is..."
The playful tone in her voice made my face burn even hotter.
But her voice didn't sound angry or uncomfortable—if anything, she sounded happy.
§
"But why!?"
"There is no 'why'..."
I replied to Haruka, who was protesting with puffed-out cheeks, while feeling a wave of exhaustion.
We had been arguing in front of the bed for over ten minutes now, and I wasn't planning on backing down.
"Just for tonight—at least for tonight, let me sleep on the sofa!"
"No!"
"Are you a child...?"
Haruka turned her head away with a huff, acting exactly like a stubborn kid. It seemed she wasn't planning on backing down either.
Just looking at her made the image of that... stimulating swimsuit flash through my mind.
There was no way I could survive the night in this tiny room in such a state.
"And you didn't even dry my hair today..."
"Ugh, look... I'm sorry about that."
"What about the goodnight kiss? You gave me one yesterday."
"...Sorry, I can't do that today... That's a different story. I mean, aren't you worried at all, Haruka?"
"Worried? About what?"
Haruka tilted her head with such a genuinely puzzled look that I was the one caught off guard.
"What do you mean 'about what'? You were wearing almost nothing and a guy suddenly grabbed you. Isn't that scary? I couldn't even control my strength... I probably hurt you, and I’m really sorry."
"If it were a total stranger, it would be scary and awful, but I'd never be scared of you, Tatsumi-kun! In fact, you're welcome to do that anytime! Even if it's a little rough, it just makes me feel wanted, so I'm happy!"
With that, Haruka spread her arms wide. Her eyes were sparkling, as if she were inviting me to dive right back in.
I was so taken aback by her boldness that I almost stumbled backward. The power dynamic had completely flipped.
...Just one night. I only needed one night of distance.
I’d dry her hair and give her goodnight kisses starting tomorrow, so I just wanted her to let me off the hook for tonight.
Please, just let me sleep on the sofa.
Like a criminal begging for mercy—and from my perspective, that's exactly what I was—I piled on the pleas.
I looked up at the ceiling, searching for one last argument—and Haruka didn't miss the opening.
"Hah!"
"Whoa...!?"
Haruka lunged at my waist, and without even a chance to resist, I was tackled onto the bed.
Clinging to me with both arms, she used the remote she’d grabbed at some point to kill the lights and kicked the blanket up over us with her feet.
While I was still reeling in confusion, the culprit finished all the preparations for sleep—and with a look of pure satisfaction, she closed her eyes.
Naturally, I couldn't just follow her lead and drift off to sleep.
Moving as little as possible, I desperately whispered my protest.
"Haruka...!? What was that for? Let go...!!"
"Zzz... zzz..."
"You are clearly faking...!! Please, listen to me...!!"
Ignoring my pleas, which were bordering on a cry for help, Haruka continued her clumsy act of sleeping.
It seemed my cute and clever girlfriend, fed up with my hesitation to even be in the same room, had decided to enforce a mandatory co-sleeping session.
A chill of nervous dread ran down my spine, and my whole body was stiff with tension.
The warm, soft sensation pressed firmly against me from the chest down sent my thoughts into a tailspin.
My mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
...As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw something I couldn't believe.
Gradually, her expression relaxed, and her features softened. Her breathing took on a steady, rhythmic pace... her "fake" sleep was becoming the real thing.
As Haruka fell into a deep, peaceful slumber, I sank into despair.
I couldn't exactly bring myself to forcibly peel her off me.
On the other hand, I wasn't thick-skinned enough to just fall asleep nonchalantly in a situation like this.
I was completely trapped. This was the end for me.
The peaceful hours meant for resting and recovering from the day's fatigue had been transformed into a period of ultimate trial—all by the hand of my beloved girlfriend.
Resigned to my unavoidable fate... and listening to the light breathing of the person who had imposed this trial upon me, I finally closed my eyes in surrender.
§
And then, the next morning.
"Yawn... Good morning, Tatsumi-kun.♪ Did you sleep well?"
"............Perfectly. I’m actually surprised by how refreshed I feel. My body’s in great shape..."
"I see! That's great! Then let's sleep together from tonight on, too! It's a promise!"
"Wait, what?"
And that was how it was decided.