Chapter 73: Pajama party

A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, and Mizuki emerged, looking refreshed. “Ahh~ that’s better!” she exclaimed, her usual cheerful energy restored.

It was remarkable how effortlessly she maintained her ladylike composure. Even after a shower, when most people would be slightly disheveled, Mizuki’s hair was neatly combed, her pajama-clad figure the picture of neatness and order.

“So refreshing! Showers are the best!”

“Mizuki, where do you get all that energy? I’m so jealous,” I said playfully, and she walked over, a towel draped over her shoulder, and leaned closer, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“It’s a trip, duh? Even if it’s tiring, it’s fun~”

Had she… actually enjoyed today’s excursion? I’d been completely wiped out.

“Rina-tan, don’t just think about how tiring it is, have some fun~” she teased, flicking my forehead playfully. I rubbed my forehead, muttering, “Easier said than done…”

Aya, who had been quietly observing us, stood up. “I’ll go shower now.” I looked up at her, watching as she gathered her towel and pajamas and headed towards the bathroom without a word.

The door closed with a soft click, and a brief silence settled over the room. I leaned back against the bed, and Mizuki, picking up the hairdryer, started drying her hair, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Whirrrr—

The sound of the hairdryer filled the room, a loud, steady drone that amplified the sudden quiet between us, Mizuki’s usual cheerful chatter absent as she focused on drying her hair. I closed my eyes, enjoying the white noise, and then… the hairdryer stopped, and Mizuki turned to look at me, her gaze intent.

“So, how are things going between you two?”

I blinked, momentarily confused, or rather… deliberately avoiding the question. “Huh… what do you mean?”

Mizuki chuckled and tossed her towel aside, sitting down in front of me, her posture prim and proper. “You and Aya-ring. You’re dating, aren’t you?”

“W-Well, yes…” I’d assumed she knew. That was why her question felt… strange.

“The way you look at each other, that awkward distance… it was like ‘more than friends, less than lovers’ before… but now… it’s definitely ‘lovers’,” she observed.

“Was it… that obvious?”

“Of course! Rina-tan, your face was bright red today!”

“Th-That was just because it was hot…!”

“Sure~ it was~ the heat~” she teased, nudging my shoulder playfully. “But I’m curious. Did you two… just start dating? Or has it been going on for a while? Since the festival, maybe? Hee hee~ did you accept Aya-ring’s confession back then~?”

She already knew… Mizuki was so nosy.

“I’m… not really sure… she confessed, and…” I admitted honestly. 

“We were dating, but things hadn’t really… progressed. Well, we were more comfortable with physical contact, hugs and hand-holding… but that was it”.

Mizuki nodded, a knowing smile on her face. “I knew it.”

“…Knew what?”

“That you two are both so clueless~”

Clueless? I stared at her, surprised, and she continued, combing her hair, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Aya-ring and Rina-ring, it’s so obvious you like each other. But you’re both so hesitant, so careful… it’s like, ‘Are we really dating?’”

I couldn’t respond, her words hitting a little too close to home. I hugged my knees, feeling suddenly self-conscious. “Well, that innocent, first-love vibe isn’t bad, but!” she continued, her playful tone returning, “when are you two going to act like a real couple?”

Her question made my face burn. “Wh-What do you mean ‘act like a real couple’?!”

“Like, holding hands in public~ being more obvious~ or—”

“No! No, no, no, no!!!” I waved my hands frantically, and just then, Aya emerged from the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a towel. “What are you talking about?” she asked, and I… my gaze was drawn to the damp strands of hair clinging to her neck, even though she’d used the hairdryer in the bathroom…

“…Ah…”

It was… alluring. I wasn’t sure if that was the right word, but there was a definite… allure about her in this moment. Mizuki, with a mischievous grin, replied, “Just talking about how cute Rina-ring is~”

I looked at Aya, waiting for her reaction, but she just smiled faintly and walked past me, settling down on the bed beside me. Or rather, beside Mizuki…? We were all sitting on the same bed now, the three of us, and Aya’s nearness, so casual, so natural, made my heart pound, and I quickly grabbed my pajamas.

“I-I’m going to shower now!”

“Okay~”

****

After Rina left for the bathroom, a comfortable silence settled over the room. Mizuki, combing her hair, scooted closer to Aya.

“…So,” she began, her voice unusually serious, the playful tone gone, replaced by the quiet intimacy of a sixteen-year friendship, a bond forged over time and shared experiences. “How are things going between you two?”

Aya quietly put down her hairdryer and looked at Mizuki, her gaze steady. She knew what Mizuki was really asking, their shared history giving them an unspoken understanding.

“…What do you mean?”

“You and Rina-tan. You’re dating, right?” Mizuki said casually, tossing her towel aside and sitting down properly. Aya didn’t bother denying it, simply nodding.

“Yes.”

“Ah~ I knew it~” Mizuki grinned, leaning closer.

“And…?”

“And~? I know you’re dating, but I’m curious! What’s changed?”

Aya sighed softly. Mizuki’s teasing was… familiar. They’d been friends for so long; there were no secrets between them.

“Are you that curious?”

Mizuki chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. “Of course! Aya-ring dating? That’s a legendary event!”

“…You’re exaggerating.” Aya puffed out her cheeks slightly, looking away, but Mizuki just grinned. “Remember what I said when we were little?” she asked, looking at Aya, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“That no matter who you ended up with, I’d help you out?”

Aya paused, searching her memories… she’d said that, hadn’t she? Back then, she’d thought Mizuki was joking. “…Right.”

Mizuki had said, “You’re going to be super cautious about dating when you grow up. I bet you won’t even be able to hold hands without my help~!”

Mizuki had been right. Even though Aya had realized her feelings for Rina a while ago, it had taken her two months to confess. “So, are you… ‘helping me out’?” Aya asked, a playful smile on her face, and Mizuki, seeing Aya’s relaxed expression, the genuine Aya, felt a sense of satisfaction.

“That’s right! But shouldn’t you two be a little more… obvious?”

“Do we have to be?”

“Aya-ring~” Mizuki sighed, shaking her head, her hair now dry. “Rina-tan likes you so much, and you’re just… being so passive.”

“…Rina can do whatever she wants,” Aya replied firmly. “I don’t want to force her.”

Mizuki chuckled. “Ha~ you really haven’t changed, Aya-ring.”

She leaned closer, looking into Aya’s eyes. “But tell me honestly, Aya. Don’t you want to be closer?”

Aya didn’t deny it, just looked away for a moment, then slowly lowered her head.

“…Yes,” she admitted softly.

Mizuki’s eyes sparkled. “That’s all I needed to hear~” And with a knowing smile, she grinned. Just then, the water in the bathroom stopped, and Rina emerged, her hair wrapped in a towel, a refreshed expression on her face.

Aya’s gaze lingered on her, and Mizuki, noticing this, nudged Aya playfully.

“Ooh~ Rina-ring looks refreshed~” she said, her voice deliberately cheerful, and Rina, smiling, returned to her seat, the atmosphere in the room returning to normal.

But something within Aya… had shifted, a small, almost imperceptible movement in her heart.