episode_0090

Same routine as always.

A small change has come into that daily routine.

No, maybe it’s a big change.

I got out from under the blanket and lay on the bed, looking at Shine wriggling.

Her every movement makes my body flinch in surprise.

I quickly go into the bathroom and finish a quick wash before Shine wakes up.

There was a faint blush on her dripping face.

I looked in the mirror and started to straighten my wet hair.

Shine~

Amy’s voice is heard from outside the bathroom.

The voice of the sleepy Shine was also heard belatedly.

The girl in the mirror started to flinch at Shine’s voice.

I flapped my arms and immediately got down from the step and headed towards where the towel was hanging.

Shine and Amy’s towel racks are hanging side by side.

I reached over and pulled out my towel and wiped my face and hands.

I bury my face in the towel and concentrate on the sounds outside the bathroom.

Shine’s small footsteps begin to be heard beyond the door.

Every time she got closer, my hair stood on end.

I hurriedly hung up the towel and left the bathroom.

Even though I would run into Shine without having to leave the bathroom, it was a little dangerous to be left alone with Shine in a space where I couldn’t escape.

“Jeff.”

The moment I opened the door and came out, I ran into Shine, who had been waiting in front of it.

She met my gaze, smiled brightly, and opened her mouth.

“Did you sleep well?”

Just an ordinary greeting, no different from usual.

I answered her too.

“Yeah. Did you sleep well, Shine?”

After saying hello, I walk past Shine.

The sound of the bathroom door closing behind me.

I stood still and swallowed dry saliva.

The pounding sound of my heart shows no signs of subsiding.

I immediately turn around and walk towards the bathroom door.

I wonder if I’m worrying too much. I wonder if I’m thinking too much.

Such thoughts cross my mind.

I took a deep breath and carefully opened the bathroom door.

A door that slides silently.

Through the gap, Shine’s back was slightly revealed.

“Sniff sniff.”

Shine was sniffing with her face buried in the towel.

The moment I saw that sight, I immediately closed the bathroom door.

There was no need to check whose towel it was.

Because it was my towel.

I walked to the bed with my hands clasped together, shaking slightly.

“Are you done washing already?”

“Yes…”

“You look listless.”

Amy looked worried as she watched me limp away.

I looked up at Amy and mumbled.

Because it was a bit awkward to consult with Amy about something like that.

I couldn’t say anything.

Shine is young.

Confusion from emotions experienced for the first time in my life.

That’s what I think.

I lay down on the bed and buried my face in the blanket.

Because I had been wrapped around Shine’s body the night before, her scent was deeply ingrained in me.

The scent that tickles my nose makes my face heat up.

I gripped the blanket tightly.

“Jeff, are you going to sleep more?”

“Ah.. no!”

I stood up from my seat in surprise.

Today’s work was the same as yesterday.

Training was excluded.

I changed my clothes right away.

Shine also came out of the bathroom and changed her clothes.

It was a sight I always saw, but I found myself avoiding my gaze without realizing it.

Is it because of lack of training?

It wasn’t the tracksuit I always wore.

Shine, wearing a pure white one-piece dress that reached down to her knees, looked as white as snow.

Same goes for me.

I stood in front of a large full-length mirror and smoothed the hem of my dress.

I pulled my legs together because of the awkward feeling of the clothes.

“They both suit you well.”

The clothes Amy prepared for me were always like this.

It was light and airy and had a slightly soft atmosphere.

Although it was a little awkward, I was willing to put up with these minor inconveniences if it meant helping Amy with her few hobbies.

“Both of you stand side by side.”

Amy thrust her cell phone camera at us as we stood in front of the mirror.

Shine and I looked at each other and blinked.

Taking a photo is an act that means capturing and preserving memories of this moment.

I nodded, recalling the empty gallery of my old phone.

“Come here Jeff.”

Shine cautiously extended her hand to me.

From the moment Shine realized that her feelings were not familial affection but something else, she started to change a little strangely.

Shine’s hand, which was slowly approaching, was unchanged.

Shine’s hand grabs my wrist.

The skin that touched my fingers felt as if it was on fire.

She was making eye contact with me, but she turned her head away and avoided my gaze.

Judging by the reddening tips of her ears, I knew she must be feeling the same excitement I was feeling.

Unlike Shine’s behavior of turning away, Shine’s hand moved boldly.

Soft and sticky.

Like a snake crawling up the skin.

A hand that moves stealthily.

I was startled by the movement and tried to pull my hand away, but she was quick-witted and grabbed me tightly and pulled my body away.

I, who was standing there awkwardly, was dragged towards Shine.

Shine, who caught me as I staggered towards her, slowly moved behind me and placed her head on my shoulder.

The breathing sound was too close.

I couldn’t tell if the pounding heart was mine or Shine’s.

“Why are you both so shy?”

I bowed my head to Amy’s words.

As I listened to Shine’s breathing tickling my ear, my vision became dizzy.

A situation where you can’t do anything.

I couldn’t push Shine away because I was worried about the hurt she would get.

“Look here and smile.”

At Amy’s words, I raised my head.

Shine’s hair brushes her slightly moved cheek.

Shine let out a ragged breath as she flinched at the ticklish sensation.

Huh!

A strong breath tickles my ears.

That made me cringe again.

Click-

The cell phone in Amy’s hand let out a camera shutter sound.

“A little…”

Amy checked the photo and scratched her cheek.

It seemed like there wasn’t a scene I liked.

“It’s a little strange…”

Amy muttered as she put her phone in her pocket.

I’m done taking pictures.

I immediately got out of Shine’s arms.

Shine let out a weak sigh as if she was sorry, but I couldn’t bear it any longer.

My heart was pounding so hard I felt like it was going to burst, so I needed to calm down a bit.

Why am I doing this?

I couldn’t figure out why.

I walked a little away from Shine and leaned against the wall, catching my breath.

I was out of breath as if I had run a long distance at full speed.

“Shall we go eat?”

“Yes…”

On the way to the restaurant.

A street no different from usual.

Shine, who would normally have walked side by side with me, stayed behind me.

Shine’s hot gaze from behind felt a little burdensome.

I felt burdened by Shine’s constant gaze, so I eventually avoided Amy’s gaze.

As I walked ahead of Amy at a slightly faster pace, Shine, who had been following behind me, got between Amy and me.

I walked straight next to Amy.

Shine also followed me wherever I moved.

As I kept spinning around and around with Amy as the center, Amy opened her mouth.

“What are you guys doing?”

I kept my mouth shut.

My face felt hot.

There were a lot of people arriving at the restaurant.

The delicious smell that stimulated my appetite pushed my worries about Shine to the side.

I stuck out my tongue and licked my lips.

“Jeff is Donkatsu?”

“Yes!”

I nodded vigorously.

I ate tonkatsu every single day without fail.

“Wouldn’t it be better to try other things too?”

I shook my head at Amy’s suggestion.

When it comes to food, eating means you have to eat what you want.

Only then can you feel truly happy.

“I want to eat pork cutlet too.”

Amy started ordering food for the two of us.

I immediately looked around the interior of the restaurant.

It was to check if anyone knew him or not.

Rain was nowhere to be seen.

“Oops.”

As I looked around, I was able to spot Victor.

I ran straight to Victor.

Victor always ate alone, so his surroundings were quiet.

“Victor!”

Victor, who was eating fried rice, lowered his gaze at my voice.

“Hello!”

I sat down right across from him.

“Hello Victor.”

Shine, who had always ignored Victor, also greeted him.

I was a little touched by the way you listened to what I had said before.

Shine was changing little by little.

Either in a good way or in a bad way.

“Okay. Hello?”

Victor looked in a good mood today.

A faint smile appeared on her face, which always looked tired.

“What good is going on?”

Victor looked around at my question.

His gaze seemed to be searching for Amy.

I extended my finger and pointed in the direction where Amy was standing.

“Amy is over there.”

“Um..”

Victor nodded and ate his fried rice.

I frowned at Victor’s behavior.

In the end, he didn’t answer my question.

Victor keeps his mouth shut as if he doesn’t want to talk.

This time, Shine, who was sitting next to him, spoke to Victor.

“Victor.”

“Uh…”

Victor furrowed his eyebrows as if he had never expected to have a conversation with Shine, and answered with a bewildered expression.

It was my first time seeing Shine and Victor talking.

“Does Victor have a crush?”

Victor’s face stiffens at Shine’s question.

“Does Victor like Amy?”

At Shine’s innocent question, Victor began to look visibly flustered.

He put down the spoon he was holding with a loud noise.

“Me..Me!?”

Ppachik-

He must have been so embarrassed that a faint blue light appeared on the spoon he had put down.

I was taken aback by Victor’s attitude.

Because just by looking at his reaction, he seemed like a boy who had been caught in unrequited love.

“No?”

“No!”

They say that a strong negation contains an affirmation.

I heard it somewhere.

I looked at Victor with an excited expression.

Victor immediately got up from his seat and glanced in the direction where Amy was standing.

Then he picked up his plate and left right away.

Victor’s sudden actions.

Judging by his reaction alone, it seemed like Victor had feelings for Amy, just like Shine had said.

But it was unexpected.

Because just looking at his usual attitude, it didn’t seem like he had any interest in Amy.

“How do you know Shine?”

“Because it was similar to me.”

“Similar…?”

“Yeah. Jeff is trying to be similar.”

I swallowed dryly at Shine’s description.

It was a vague and inaccurate explanation, but I could guess what it meant.