Just before Yamamoto returned to the living room, I started eating my dinner as if the thought had only just occurred to me.
While munching away and letting the food slide down my throat, I stole a glance at Yamamoto’s face as he sat down across from me. He looked visibly dejected.
"How was the call?"
I'm not actually worried. I just happened to notice your attitude and got a little curious. Maintaining that facade, I posed the question.
"It’s fine, don’t worry about it..."
Still looking completely glum, Yamamoto began picking at his rice, eating it grain by grain.
The way he looked now was a far cry from "fine." He had clearly been told something during that call home. But for him to look this depressed... what on earth could they have said to him?
"You can’t say it’s fine when you’re wearing such an obvious expression."
"I’d appreciate it if you just ignored it."
"No can do."
"I’m begging you..."
How rare to see Yamamoto pleading like this. For some reason, it stirred my inner sadist.
"Look, it’s not like I’m asking just to be mean."
"Then why?"
"Because we’re roommates...?"
As the words left my mouth, I felt my face heating up. Even though I’d wanted to use my mean streak to pry the truth out of him, I didn't expect to get hit with a counter-attack like that. No, it wasn't even a counter; I’d basically blown myself up.
"...I see."
"Y-yeah. So just tell me."
Yamamoto seemed to hesitate for a moment. Was it really something he wanted to keep secret that badly? Up until now, I’d just been curious, but now that he was stalling, I was determined to drag it out of him.
Yamamoto let out a heavy sigh and finally started talking.
"They told me to come home."
"...Okay. And?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
We looked at each other, both of us tilting our heads in confusion.
"T-that’s it."
"That’s all?"
And that was why he’d been looking so pathetic earlier?
"...Just to be sure, you aren't exactly having a falling out with your parents, right?"
"As if I’d do something like that."
The way he said it felt like a pointed jab at me.
"Then there’s no reason to hate going home that much, is there?"
"...A lot of things are involved."
A lot of things? I wanted to press him on it, but it didn't look like he was going to say anything more. I fell silent and went back to eating my dinner.
"...So, are you going?"
I spoke up again almost as soon as I’d started eating. My train of thought had wavered after considering various possibilities, but in the end, was this guy actually going back to his parents' house?
"I have no choice."
"No choice?"
"...Yeah. Shiho told me I had to."
Twitch.
My brow shifted ever so slightly. It was a movement so faint that an oblivious guy like Yamamoto surely wouldn't have noticed.
...Now, I don't want to be misunderstood, but this isn't jealousy. That much is certain. I was simply indignant that he’d called a girl by her first name so familiarly.
I mean, even now, he still calls me by my surname, and he even referred to Akari—someone he actually dated—by her surname. And yet, for this person... he uses her first name? That’s practically a scandal.
"...Heh. So, who is this Shiho girl?"
"Huh? ...Oh, she’s a cute kid. Though her cheekiness is a bit of a flaw."
A cute kid...!
...It’s not jealousy. This is definitely not jealousy. That much is absolutely certain.
"Heh... and what’s your relationship?"
"She’s my sister."
...Now that he mentioned it, his attitude on the phone earlier didn't really seem like he was talking to a parent. An older brother being bossed around by a pesky younger sister and caving under the pressure—his behavior during the call fit that perfectly.
...Well? I figured it was something like that. I totally did. Like I said, this isn't jealousy. That much is certain.
...Hmph. I’d like to know what defeat feels like.
"I see. Your sister really relies on you, then."
Relief flooded through me, and my tongue suddenly loosened. In contrast to my upbeat tone, Yamamoto’s troubled expression didn't budge.
It was jealousy. That much is certain.