Ch.6767. Couple Pajamas Are Always Embarrassing

It may sound a bit tedious, but test preparation is actually something you need to do consistently.

If you think, “I managed with last-minute cramming in middle school, so I can do the same in high school,” you’re setting yourself up for disappointment when you get your report card.

How can I be so sure? Because that’s exactly what I did in the past.

So to prevent Hwa Nabi from following in my footsteps, I planned to help her study consistently.

But then.

“You want to start studying right now, today?”

In front of Hwa Nabi’s house.

She grabbed me just as I was about to turn and leave.

“Yes, the earlier we start preparing for exams, the better, right?”

That was true. With only two weeks left until exams, we were actually starting a bit late. Ideally, you should begin preparing a month in advance, or three weeks at the latest.

Yes, it made sense, but… shouldn’t we deal with the more immediate problem first? My situation wasn’t ideal for tutoring. My clothes were soaked from sharing her tiny umbrella.

I showed her my wet shoulder.

“That’s true, but look, I’m completely soaked.”

“Yes, but why does that matter? I can dry your clothes for you.”

“And what am I supposed to wear in the meantime?”

Surely she wasn’t suggesting I sit around naked. At my question, Hwa Nabi’s eyebrows curved like crescent moons.

…That expression suggested she was thinking something strange.

“I have clothes for you to wear in the storage room.”

“You have clothes for me?”

Hwa Nabi lives alone, so how could she possibly have men’s clothing…?

I used to think that way.

*

Inside Hwa Nabi’s house.

After finishing my shower first, I changed into the “clothes” she had provided and sat on the sofa.

-Whirrr.

In the veranda, the washing machine containing our school uniforms was running.

As I anxiously waited for the laundry to finish, the sound of running water from the shower stopped, followed by rustling sounds of someone changing clothes.

Shortly after, the rustling stopped too, and the door to the dressing room attached to the bathroom opened.

Creeak.

“Siwoo, I’m done with my shower.”

“…”

“Siwoo? Why do you look so serious?”

Would you be okay with this if you were me? I finally turned my head and replied in a flat voice.

“…You said you had clothes prepared for me?”

“Yes, you’re wearing them now, aren’t you?”

Hwa Nabi muttered, looking like she couldn’t understand what the problem was. In response, I tugged at the rabbit ears attached to my “pajama” hood.

“You call this clothes?”

“Why? Those are clothes too.”

“Yes, technically they are clothes.”

“Then there’s no problem, right?”

Hwa Nabi answered primly and covered her mouth as she smiled. She wasn’t even trying to hide it despite knowing I could see her.

“…Sigh.”

I sighed and looked down at my outfit.

Fluffy blue and white fur, with long rabbit ears attached to the hood.

Right… I wasn’t wearing normal clothes, but rather a rabbit onesie that would cause anyone wearing it to feel immense embarrassment.

The pajamas I wore last time were made of thin material, but these were even softer, with unnecessarily pleasant texture.

I said one thing to Hwa Nabi, who was still covering her mouth and giggling.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“Hmm. Well, Siwoo? I mean… um, it suits you really well. Heh.”

Was it just my imagination that her compliment sounded more like mockery? I irritably pushed the hood back toward my neck. Surprised, Hwa Nabi came closer to me.

“Oh, Siwoo. Don’t take the hood off. You need to wear it to look like a rabbit.”

“That’s exactly why I took it off.”

As if determined to see me wearing the rabbit hood… a pink rabbit—no, Hwa Nabi wearing pink rabbit pajamas—plopped down right next to me.

She put the hood back on my head.

“There, now you look cute.”

“…”

There was no point in arguing about this further. After adjusting the disheveled hood, I asked her:

“Are these couple pajamas too?”

The previous pajamas were one-piece, but these were separated into tops and bottoms. She was wearing just a white t-shirt with the rabbit pajama top, while I had no choice but to wear both pieces.

“Yes, the ones I bought before were a bit uncomfortable, so I got new ones. Isn’t it more comfortable when they’re separated?”

“Yeah, it’s comfortable, but…”

Even if it’s your own home, aren’t you dressed too casually? With her bottoms “missing,” I didn’t know where to look.

I kept my eyes straight ahead as I continued.

“Um, could you put on some pants too?”

“Huh? I am wearing pants.”

As if to prove it, Hwa Nabi grabbed the hem of her t-shirt and lifted it up. Her lower abdomen, belly button, and black dolphin shorts came into view in sequence.

Alarmed, I grabbed her hand and pulled her shirt back down.

“W-what are you doing? Why are you showing me that?”

“Didn’t you think I wasn’t wearing anything? So I showed you that I am.”

“I’m not an idiot. Did you really think I thought you were naked? I meant you should wear the pajama pants too.”

I snapped back quickly and took a moment to catch my breath. This girl has no fear—what if someone else had seen? Having witnessed her pale skin directly, my heart was still racing.

“It would be too hot if I wore the pants too.”

“Then just take off the pajamas altogether. It’s hot wearing something with fur.”

While I had no choice, she must have plenty of other clothes. That’s what I thought when I said it, but Hwa Nabi just looked at me blankly.

“Why are you making that face?”

She didn’t answer my question and just stared at me intently. Then she reached into her pajama pocket, rummaged around for a moment, and pulled out a strange carrot-shaped object.

Ah… maybe it comes with a carrot because we’re rabbits? While I was having that silly thought, Hwa Nabi suddenly poked my side with the tip of the carrot.

“…Siwoo, you idiot.”

Why is she calling a perfectly normal person an idiot?

“Why am I an idiot?”

“You’re so clueless.”

“…”

“All you’re good at is kissing and studying.”

…Isn’t that last one a compliment?

I just listened quietly, not knowing how to respond.

Thump. Hwa Nabi rested her head on my shoulder.

“If I don’t wear it, then they’re not couple pajamas anymore.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Is it really necessary to insist on couple pajamas while enduring the heat and exposing your thighs?

“…What’s ‘but’? You don’t even understand why I’m doing this.”

“…”

It’s a mistake to think your feelings will be conveyed without saying them.

If you don’t speak, others won’t understand.

But sometimes, you can convey an even stronger message without words.

The method is…

“…Why are you suddenly hugging me?”

Though her words might have sounded cold, unlike her tone, she didn’t try to escape from my arms. I brushed aside the hair near her ear and spoke.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’m that clueless.”

Though I couldn’t see her face properly, I could sense her disbelief through the pajamas. I held her waist more firmly so she couldn’t retort and continued.

“But that’s just my perspective, and how you perceive me could be different.”

“Yes, and?”

“So if there’s something that bothers you, don’t keep it to yourself—tell me right away. Even if I can’t fix everything, I’ll try to fix what I can.”

Hwa Nabi’s breath tickled my chest.

Fidget, fidget.

As she rubbed my collarbone with her finger, she said:

“Well, honestly, if you asked if there’s nothing that frustrates me, that wouldn’t be true.”

“…”

“…But in a way, I think that’s one of your good points.”

Her finger stopped right around my heart.

Hwa Nabi took a breath.

“So… Siwoo can just stay as he is. I like you including all those—”

“…Like?”

I thought I heard a strange pronunciation, so I asked again. Then Hwa Nabi’s hands wrapped around my neck.

“A-anyway. Siwoo doesn’t need to change. You don’t need to become more perceptive, just stay exactly as you are now. Understand?”

As she muttered this, her earlobes were bright red. Curious, I pressed my finger against her earlobe and asked:

“Why did you stop mid-sentence?”

“I-I said everything I meant to!”

“You said ‘like’ something earlier. Were you about to curse at me but stopped yourself?”

“…No, I wasn’t. Do you really think I would use such vulgar language with you?”

Come to think of it, Hwa Nabi rarely swears compared to other students these days. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her swear.

Not just when talking with me, but even when chatting with friends at school, she doesn’t use slang.

Of course, I’ve been called an idiot a few times, but compared to the curses you hear on the street, “idiot” is practically endearing.

“Then what were you going to say?”

“…Why do you need to know?”

“I’m curious.”

“I-I’ll tell you later.”

“Later, when?”

“Um… in a year? Eek! W-where are you putting your hand?”

Anyone who overheard would think I touched somewhere inappropriate. I just moved my hand from her waist to her back. I rubbed her back through the pajamas.

“Still not going to tell me?”

“I-I don’t know. No matter what you do, I absolutely won’t tell you.”

“Ah… really?”

“Why are you suddenly using such a meaningful tone… Ah! S-Siwoo?”

Let’s see how long you can hold out. I pulled her waist closer. I could now see Hwa Nabi’s flushed face directly in front of me.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll keep kissing you until you do.”

“G-go ahead and try.”

You think I won’t do it if you dare me? Without hesitation, I brought my lips to Hwa Nabi’s forehead.

Surprised, she touched the spot where my lips had just been.

“Ah! W-why are you suddenly doing this?”

“You told me to try.”

No need for words. This time, a kiss on her cheek. Her already warm cheeks turned as red as radishes.

“Ugh… S-Siwoo! Are you really going to keep doing this?”

“Yes. I really am.”

“I-if you keep doing this, I won’t just sit still either!”

“What are you going to do?”

“…Hmph!”

While I was off guard, she counterattacked. This time, Hwa Nabi kissed my forehead. Secretly surprised, I shut my mouth.

Looking at me with subtle eyes, she smiled with just one corner of her mouth raised.

“I told you I wouldn’t just sit still.”

“…Showing off with just that much.”

I couldn’t help but comment when I saw her smiling like she’d won completely. At that, a chilly aura settled in Hwa Nabi’s eyes as she looked at me.

“Showing off…? Siwoo, did you just say ‘showing off’?”

“…Yeah, why?”

“…You’d better be prepared.”