The long day in the country finally wound down, and night fully blanketed the landscape.
When Airi and I made it back to the house, BB—also known as the "Busty Big-mama"—already had dinner waiting for us.
"Whoa! Savory mushroom rice! That’s my favorite! And oyster tempura, too? It looks amazing!"
"Hoho, don't mention it. When I told everyone at the village meeting that Airi had brought a boy home, the neighbors all chipped in with ingredients."
BB chuckled as she lined the dishes up on the table.
Oyster tempura, mixed mushroom rice, clam miso soup, natto, and avocado salad... I see.
I’d always imagined country life consisted of nothing but simmered vegetables, but this was a surprisingly sophisticated spread. Still, something felt off. If my knowledge served me right, every single thing on this menu was an ingredient known for... boosting stamina.
I glanced over at BB, only to see her lips curl into a knowing smirk.
(I see... so this is what it feels like to have the grandmother’s official blessing?)
Eat up, get your energy up, and whatever happens tonight, she won't lift a finger to stop us... is that the idea?
Now that I thought about it, she hadn't said a word when we mentioned sleeping in the attic together. That had to be it.
"It looks delicious! Thanks for the food!"
"Now, now, Airi! Don't go stuffing your face in front of a guest."
"Okay~"
Scolded by BB, Airi settled down and began to eat with a bit more decorum.
"Go on, Ryouta-kun. Eat your fill."
"Oh, right. Thank you."
Prompted by BB, I took my seat next to Airi and joined her for dinner.
"Don't be shy, Ryouta-kun. Make sure you get plenty of nutrients, okay? Sigh. I just want to see the faces of my great-grandchildren as soon as possible."
"Munch, munch... Huh? Great-grandchildren? Grandma, what are you talking about?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
BB dodged the question with a wink in my direction.
(Yeah, this BB... she’s definitely a mastermind.)
I mean, if the chance ever actually came to do it with Airi, I’d be more than happy—I’d be ecstatic—but Airi is so childish. To her, laying out futons side-by-side probably feels like nothing more than an extension of a school field trip.
So, no matter how much stamina-boosting oyster tempura I shove down my throat, I’m the only one who’s going to end up frustrated. (Though, obviously, I intend to hold back until we get home.)
"Phew! That was great!"
"Wait, you're finished already? You eat way too fast."
"Ryouta is just slow! Anyway, since Airi came in first during our race, Airi gets the first bath! I'm off!"
Restless as ever, Airi scurried toward the bathroom, her massive chest swaying with every heavy step.
"I'm sorry she's always such a handful."
"N-no, not at all! It's fine. I'm used to it."
Suddenly left alone with BB, I tried to maintain a conversation while finishing my meal.
"Hehe. I never thought I'd see the day when Airi would have a boy she was this close to."
"D-do we really look that close?"
I’d been with Airi since the moment we arrived, so being left alone with her grandmother made me feel incredibly restless. This was a brutal situation for a "tough-at-home" loner like me.
W-what was I supposed to talk about?
"You see, about Airi..." BB started, breaking the silence while I focused on my food. "She lost her father before she was old enough to really know him. She lived here with us for a while, but as soon as her mother's job was settled, they moved away to the city."
"Is that... how it was?"
"That's right. Honestly! That girl's mother is such a dummy. Even though my husband and I used every spare cent we had to put her through a university in the city, she started doing that 'gravure' stuff and dropped out after only a year. Then, before we knew it, she'd gone and had a child out of wedlock. As a parent, it’s just plain embarrassing..."
"H-huh..."
I had no idea how to respond to BB bashing her own daughter. As a complete outsider, I was just lost. But wait, gravure? Was Airi's mother a former gravure idol? I’d have to remember to ask Airi her mom’s name later...
"But, you know. Even as foolish as that daughter of mine is, she's worked herself to the bone for Airi's sake since the father died. Even if they don't have much, she raised Airi to be such a pure, honest girl..."
As BB spoke, I could see tears welling in her eyes.
"U-um. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just so happy that Airi brought home such a fine young man."
"A... fine young man? Me?"
"Yes. You look just like my late husband."
"H-huh..."
Someone looks like me? My late husband? And here I am, just a pathetic, virgin, loner-otaku.
"Please, make sure Airi is happy, okay?"
"Eh, ah... Yes."
We weren't actually dating, but given the mood, I had no choice but to give her the answer she wanted to hear.
☆☆
After dinner, I headed up to the attic to wait for Airi to finish her bath.
I could have stayed in the living room, but I was worried BB would drop more heavy topics on me that I wouldn't know how to handle, so I retreated to our room to escape the awkwardness.
"Phew... man, she's taking a long time."
I couldn't help but think about how much of Airi's "essence" was currently steeping in that bathwater... No, stop. That’s way too creepy. But even knowing that, the thought wouldn't leave my head.
In a normal life, a guy like me would never get the chance to hop into a bath right after a girl from his class.
Airi-flavored broth... N-no, this is bad. If I keep thinking like this, my lower body is going to...!
"Ryouta! I'm all done~"
Airi's head popped up through the attic hatch.
My lower body was definitely starting to react, but in a fraction of a second, I summoned my mother’s face into my mind, instantly killing the blood flow.
This was my specialty: The Instant Lower Body Sedation Technique.
Having survived countless "parents-bursting-into-my-room" scares over the years, my experience level in this area was on a completely different plane compared to your average guy.
"Ryouta? Hurry up and get in."
"O-oh! Right! My turn, then."
I stood up and responded with a perfectly composed face, even if I was walking slightly bow-legged to be safe.
"U-um, hey, Ryouta."
"Hmm?"
"About... what you were talking about with Grandma earlier... a-about Airi, um..."
"With Grandma? Oh, what about it? Wait, were you eavesdropping?"
"N-no! The hook on the bra I brought to change into broke, so I was going to go get another one, and I just happened to hear you!" Airi blurted out, her face flushing with panic.
So Airi heard my conversation with BB? No, wait! Focus!
Did she say her bra hook broke?!
(I-is that just what happens when your chest is that massive? Does the hardware just give up under the pressure? Gulp)
"H-hey, Ryouta? Are you even listening?"
"...Huh? To what?"
"I! Said! About making Airi hap—! Ugh, forget it! You're such an idiot, Ryouta!"
"Why are you so mad all of a sudden? Are you just cranky because your bra hook broke? Look, I can fix it for you, so just let me have that bra—"
"Just go to the bath already! You're an idiot, Ryouta!"
She was legitimately angry now.
Had she realized I was fixating on the bra? Is that why she was so mad?
Feeling a slight sense of regret—but with my heart practically skipping with excitement—I made my way down to the bathroom.