Following Yamamoto after he finished his bath, I stepped into Yamamoto's Room.
Walking ahead of me, Yamamoto worked a bath towel through his hair. Normally, I might have taken the towel and dried it for him while teasing him, but since we were at his Parents' House today, I decided against it.
"You know, Shiho is probably harboring some weird misunderstanding," Yamamoto said as soon as we entered the room.
What on earth was he talking about? I tilted my head in confusion.
"If you don't get it, fine," Yamamoto added, though he didn't sound like it was "fine" at all. He scratched his head and muttered under his breath, wondering how I could be so dense.
I wondered what Yamamoto thought of me to be saying such things. Having absolutely no idea what he meant, I tilted my head even further.
"So, what is it? Cornering me right after my bath—are you planning a shakedown or something?"
"Huh? I've never done anything like that."
"I suppose. You're not exactly the Delinquent type."
...He actually pays more attention than I thought.
For a moment, I was almost happy, but then I made a grumpy face, thinking he shouldn't make such annoying comments if he really felt that way.
Despite my sour expression, Yamamoto actually looked a little pleased. Or rather, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
"So, if it's not a shakedown, then what?"
Yamamoto sat down on the bed he’d used throughout his High School Days, Before Moving to Tokyo. Instinctively, I sat down right beside him.
I was about to reply, but for some reason, Yamamoto shifted a little further away from me.
"...Why are you moving away?" I asked.
"No reason."
"Oh, really?"
I slid closer to him.
"Why are you pressing closer?"
"No reason."
"...I see," Yamamoto said in a heavy voice.
There was clearly a reason he was keeping his distance, and seeing that made me want to tease him all the more.
Oh, this won't do. The conversation was getting completely off track. I tightened my facial muscles to stop myself from grinning and cleared my throat.
"I heard it from Shiho-chan."
"Heard what?"
"...The Siblings' Secret."
The air around Yamamoto shifted instantly. I could feel the change on my skin.
"...So she knew."
"Yeah."
"And that means you have something you want to ask me about it?"
"Yeah."
"Isn't that a bit inconsiderate of you?"
"I'm sorry..."
There was nothing I could do but apologize. I bowed my head to him with a crestfallen expression.
"Don't do that to anyone else but me. Some people are sensitive about that kind of thing."
"I wouldn't. Not to anyone besides you."
"I wonder if that's trust... or if you just don't take me seriously," Yamamoto said with an exasperated sigh.
That much was obvious, wasn't it? I didn't say it aloud, but... of course, it was...
"So, knowing that, what is it you want to ask me?"
...My feelings didn't matter right now. What I needed to say was—
"Why were you so reluctant to come back to your Parents' House?"
Yamamoto looked slightly surprised.
"Why are you being quiet?"
"No... I just didn't expect you to go there."
"What did you expect, then?"
"That you'd be disillusioned, or appalled. Something like that."
"...There's no way I'd feel that way."
"No way, huh?"
"Yeah."
"...I see."
Yamamoto fell quiet again.
I wondered what was going through his mind right now. But surely, there was no need to guess.
Surely, Yamamoto would tell me soon.
Slowly, Yamamoto opened his mouth to speak.