Chapter 90: Amy

The same routine as always.

A small change came to that routine.

No, maybe a big change.

I got out of the blanket and lay on the bed, looking at Shine who was wriggling.

My body flinched as if startled by every movement she made.

I quickly went into the bathroom before Shine woke up and finished a quick face wash.

There was a faint blush on my face dripping with water.

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

“Shine~”

Amy’s voice could be heard from outside the bathroom.

Shine’s sleepy mumbling voice was also heard late.

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

I flapped my arms and immediately got down from the step and headed to where the towels were hanging.

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

I reached out and took out my towel and wiped my face and hands.

I buried my face in the towel and focused on the sounds outside the bathroom.

Shine’s small footsteps could be heard from beyond the door.

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

I hung up the towel in a hurry and left the bathroom.

Even if I didn’t leave the bathroom, I would still run into Shine, but it was a little dangerous to be left alone with Shine in a place where I couldn’t escape.

“Jeff.”

The moment I opened the door and went out, I ran into Shine, who was waiting in front of it.

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

“Did you sleep well?”

Just an ordinary greeting, no different from usual.

I answered her as well.

“Yeah. Did you sleep well, Shine?”

After saying hello, I walked past Shine.

I heard the sound of the bathroom door closing behind me.

I stopped in my tracks and swallowed dry saliva.

My pounding heart showed no signs of calming down.

I immediately turned around and walked towards the bathroom door.

Could it be that I was worrying too much? Could it be that I was thinking too much?

Such thoughts crossed my mind.

I carefully opened the bathroom door, catching my breath.

The door slid open silently.

Shine’s back was faintly visible through the gap.

“Sniff sniff.”

Shine was sniffing with her face buried in the towel.

The moment I confirmed her appearance, I immediately closed the bathroom door.

I didn’t even need to check whose towel it was.

It was my towel.

I wrapped my slightly trembling hands and trudged towards the bed.

“Are you done washing already?”

“Yes…”

“You look tired.”

Amy looked worried as she watched me limply.

I looked up at Amy and mumbled.

It was a bit awkward to consult Amy about this.

I couldn’t say anything.

Shine is young.

A confusion from emotions that I’ve never experienced before.

That’s what I thought.

I collapsed on the bed and buried my face in the blanket.

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

The scent tickling my nose made my face heat up.

I gripped the blanket tightly.

“Jeff, are you going to sleep more?”

“Oh… no!”

I got up from my seat with a start.

Today’s routine was the same as yesterday.

Training was the only exception.

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 unconsciously avoided my gaze.

Maybe it was because there was no training.

It wasn’t the tracksuits she always wore.

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

It was the same for me.

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

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

“You both look good together.”

The clothes Amy prepared for me were always like this.

They were airy and had a slightly soft feel to them.

It was a little awkward, but if it could help Amy with her few hobbies, I could put up with these minor inconveniences.

“Both of you, stand side by side.”

Amy thrust her cell phone camera at us standing in front of the mirror.

Shine and I blinked at each other.

Taking a picture meant cutting out and preserving the memories of this moment.

I nodded, recalling my old empty cell phone gallery.

“Come here, Jeff.”

Shine carefully reached out to me.

Shine had changed a little strangely since the moment she realized that her feelings were not familial affection but something else.

Shine’s hand, slowly approaching me, was no different.

Shine’s hand grabbed my wrist.

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

She, who had been meeting my gaze, turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.

Judging from the reddening tips of her ears, I knew she must have felt the same excitement I felt.

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

Softly and stickily.

Like a snake crawling up the skin.

A hand that moved stealthily.

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

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

Shine, who caught me staggering toward her, slowly pulled away from me and placed her head on my shoulder.

Our breathing was too close.

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

“Why are you both so embarrassed?”

I lowered my head at Amy’s words.

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

I couldn’t do anything.

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

“Look here and smile.”

I raised my head at Amy’s words.

Shine’s hair brushed against my slightly moved cheek.

I flinched at the ticklish sensation, and Shine let out a rough breath.

Huh!

Her strong breathing tickled my ear.

I flinched again at that wind.

Click—

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

“A little…”

Amy checked the photos and scratched her cheek.

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

“It’s a little strange…”

Amy muttered and put her phone in her pocket.

The picture taking was over.

I immediately got out of Shine’s arms.

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

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

Why am I doing this?

I didn’t know 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…”

The road to the restaurant.

The road was no different than usual.

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

The hot gaze I felt from behind me felt a little burdensome.

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

As I walked in front of Amy with a slightly quicker pace, Shine, who had been following behind me, dug in between Amy and me.

I immediately walked next to Amy.

Shine also followed me as I moved.

As I repeatedly spun around Amy, Amy opened her mouth.

“What are you guys doing?”

I kept my mouth shut.

My face felt hot.

There were many people in the restaurant.

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

I stuck my tongue out and licked my lips.

“Jeff, tonkatsu?”

“Yes!”

I nodded vigorously.

I ate tonkatsu every single day without fail.

“Wouldn’t it be better to try something else?”

I shook my head at Amy’s suggestion.

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

That’s when you feel truly happy.

“I want to have tonkatsu too.”

Amy started ordering food for the two of us.

I immediately looked around the restaurant.

I was checking to see if I knew anyone.

Rain was nowhere to be seen.

“Ah.”

I looked around and found Victor.

I ran straight to Victor.

Victor always ate alone, so his surroundings were deserted.

“Victor!”

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

“Hello!”

I immediately sat down across from him.

“Hello, Victor.”

Shine, who always ignored Victor, also greeted him.

I was slightly touched by the way she listened to what I had said before.

Shine was gradually changing.

For better or for worse.

“Okay. Hello?”

Victor looked happy today.

A faint smile appeared on his face that always looked tired.

“What’s wrong?”

Victor looked around at my question.

His gaze seemed to be looking for Amy.

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

“Amy is over there.”

“Hmm…”

Victor nodded and ate his fried rice.

I frowned at Victor’s behavior.

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

Victor kept his mouth shut as if he didn’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 thought of talking to Shine and answered with a bewildered expression.

It was also the first time I saw Shine and Victor talking.

“Does Victor like someone?”

Victor’s face stiffened at Shine’s question.

“Does Victor like Amy?”

Victor started to look visibly flustered at Shine’s innocent question.

He put down the spoon he was holding so loudly that it made a loud noise.

“Me… Me!?”

Snap—

He must have been so flustered that a faint blue light swept over the spoon he had put down.

I was flustered by Victor’s attitude.

Just looking at his reaction, he looked like a boy who had been caught in a crush.

“No?”

“No!”

A strong denial contained an affirmation.

I had 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 action.

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

However, it was unexpected.

Because just looking at his usual attitude, it didn’t seem like he had feelings for Amy.

“How did you know, Shine?”

“Because we were similar.”

“Similar…?”

“Yeah. Jeff is trying to become similar.”

I swallowed dryly at Shine’s explanation.

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