Afterward, Himesaki and I spent some time exploring the shopping mall at the station.
Inside a variety store, Himesaki introduced me to all the latest trends. Normally, I’d have zero interest in that kind of thing, but seeing how much she enjoyed talking about it made the experience surprisingly fun for me too.
Before I knew it, our time together had flown by. By the time we stepped outside, the sun had completely set. I couldn't exactly let a girl like Himesaki walk home alone through the dark—she draws enough attention as it is—so I walked her all the way to her house before finally heading back to my own.
"Today was a whirlwind," I muttered to myself.
I was glad I’d finally heard her true feelings, but I couldn't help wondering how she’d handle things from here on out. Of course, having a perverted, lonely, gloomy otaku like me worrying about her might be more of an insult than a comfort to someone like her.
"Friends, huh..."
Looking back, I realized I’d never actually set out with the intention of "making" a friend. Tanaka and I had naturally hit it off in junior high, and we just stayed that way. Even the Beautiful Girl Trio—despite the chaotic start—had become natural fixtures in my life.
Maybe I was just lucky.
Without Tanaka, I might have ended up like some anime heroine, muttering to an imaginary friend or practicing conversations with a "My-Friend-Bot" in the middle of a forest.
The same went for the others. If I hadn't met Yuria, I might never have learned how to use hair wax or keep up with fashion. If I hadn't met Rui, I never would have discovered my inner masochist. And because I met Airi, I finally realized the true majesty of a well-endowed chest.
I wondered what I could actually do for Himesaki as her friend. I pulled out my phone and opened LIME. Right on cue, a notification popped up from her.
Himesaki: Ryouta-senpai, thank you for today! I had a great time. By the way, what kind of textbooks do I need to study perversion?
She really was a hopeless junior. I guess I’d have to lend her some of my materials. It wasn't like I was ever going to run out.
☆☆
Now that I was free from the "loyal dog" contract and we were officially friends, I spent my Saturday in a state of grace. By "grace," I mean I woke up at noon, gracefully went back to sleep, and gracefully woke up again when the sun was already setting.
"Wait... if I keep being this graceful, my whole weekend is going to vanish."
Still, that was the nature of a lazy holiday. Since my family was out on their own errands, I was on my own for dinner. I headed downstairs, half-wishing Rui would show up in her massive heart apron to save me from cooking.
"Well, following the example of the Classic Lit Club's great detective, I should at least be able to make some yakisoba by myself."
As I reached the kitchen, I stopped. Clang... clang... A soft, metallic scraping echoed down the hall.
Was it a burglar? Or... I timidly peeked inside.
"Hehe. Good morning, Ryouta-kun. You’re finally up."
"R-Rui?! What are you doing here?!"
There stood Rui in my kitchen, wearing an apron with a heart even bigger than the last one. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail like it had been during the track meet, and she had her school tracksuit on underneath.
"How... Why... Did my mom call you?"
"Yep. Your mom told me you’d be all alone, so I stopped by after club practice."
"Stopped by? Even if we head in the same direction, my house isn’t exactly on your way home."
"Hehe... it’s fine, really. Because taking care of Ryouta-kun is my happiness."
She said it was fine, but I wasn't so sure.
"Anyway, what was that sound just now?"
"Oh, you mean this?"
Rui was stirring a ladle inside a large pot meant for curry, the metal clattering against the bottom.
An empty pot?!
Wait, did I do something to piss her off? Is this some kind of yandere warning? No way she knows about those tropes... right? It had to be a coincidence.
"More importantly, Ryouta-kun," she said.
"Y-Yessir!"
"What would you like to eat tonight?"
I was trembling, wondering what she was going to interrogate me about, but that was all?
"Uh, er, yakisoba or something?"
"Even though I’ve gone through the trouble of taking out this pot... yakisoba?"
"Ah! Right! Curry! Let's have curry!"
"Hehe... roger that. Then, could you help me make it?"
"O-Okay."
In the end, I just went with the flow. I felt like a henpecked husband. I got out the ingredients as Rui instructed, washed my hands, and started helping.
"Rui, why are you being so kind? You’re tired from a hard club session, yet you came all the way here to cook for a guy who spent his whole day rotting in bed. It’s almost like..."
"Like what?"
"...No, never mind. Anyway, thanks, Rui."
"Hehe... you're welcome."
Rui gave a rare, shy smile as she took the vegetables I’d washed and started slicing them. It felt like she could see through anything I said, so I had no choice but to be honest. Still, I couldn't wrap my head around why she’d go this far for me.
"By the way, Ryouta-kun."
"Yeah? That’s the last of the vegetables—"
I turned to hand her the potato I’d been struggling to peel, but I froze. Rui wasn't smiling anymore. She was looking at me with a dead-serious expression.
"I thought I saw your hand in first-year Himesaki Nozomi-san’s Instagram story. I wonder if I was just seeing things?"
The potato slipped from my fingers and tumbled into the sink. I felt the color drain from my face instantly.
"H-Himesaki and I... I mean, you already noticed something was up, right? You pried about that hair on my shoulder, and you seemed to understand what was going on back then!"
"Yeah. I know it’s not a scandalous relationship. But for a non-scandalous relationship, it sounds like you were having quite a fun time this weekend."
"What’s with that tone?! Honestly, Rui, you always start acting like a heavy girlfriend when you do that."
"Girlfriend... hehe."
"Don’t just smile all of a sudden! It’s scary!"
I couldn't read her mind at all; it felt like my brain was about to crash.
"Sigh... everything’s been settled now, so I’ll tell you the whole story later. Anyway, let’s just finish the curry."
"Oka—y!"
Why was she suddenly in such a good mood?