Chapter 32: Accident.

Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one’s older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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“I’m fine now,” Saki moved away from my hug and turned her back. Then, she took a whole box of tissues and used them to blow her nose and wipe her tears.

“Good to hear, but why are you facing that way?”

“W-Well, I can’t show you a face full of snot and tears now, can I?” She responded maidenly, and I was also unsure how to react. The sounds of her ripping tissue from the box filled the room in almost a rhythm, creating inexplicable tension. In other words, it was awkward.

Should I change the subject? I asked myself. She probably didn’t want to delve into this conversation any further, so I had to. But the only topic in common we had at the moment was—

“Oh, by the way, I have my first day in my job at the council tomorrow. What should I do?”

Yeah, it was too brusque a change, but I couldn’t think of anything else.

“Since it’s this time of year, our jobs will mostly involve the cultural festival. We need to make the ideas proposed by the festival committee a reality. That’s the toughest part.”

“I see…”

“We’ll greet various parties, procure supplies, and promote our school to various junior high students so they aspire to join us. Just thinking about all that is exhausting. Especially in the financial department…” She turned back to me as she spoke. Her eyes were still red, but she seemed to be calmer. “Be prepared to work like a workhorse,” she declared with a bright smile, unlike the vulnerable sadness she showed moments prior.

“…I’ll do my best,” I said. I experienced the cultural festival itself last year, so I remember it well. Never had I realized so much effort had been put into it, which they were going to repeat this year as well. Life can be such an unpredictable thing, my working with the council is a part of it.

“Well, ‘s long as you’re sensible, you’ll be fine,” she reassured with a kind expression. I found it strange just how much she always knew what to say to make me feel at ease.

“Hope so,” I smiled wryly.

“Well, there’s nothing more to talk about for now, so I’ll tell you about the specifics tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

“Good response,” she chuckled. “Well then, see you.”

Before I could even open my mouth, she suddenly took off her jacket and moved on to her other articles of clothing.

“What are you doing?!” I turned around in reflex.

“Just changing into my pajamas, duh. I’m staying over tonight, so please bear with it.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to change here… Wait, you’re staying over?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ll be staying here for a while.”

Though I understood, she should’ve consulted with me before. A heads-up, even. Saki’s expression turned sour before she continued.

“After I gave the ol’ witch a piece of my mind, I can’t go back home. Not now, especially.”

“Well, true, but…”

“Plus, that scumbag occasionally comes to my place now… If I stay in that house with the r*tarded duo, I’ll go insane. Are you planning to leave me alone with those two?”

“Course not…”

“Just understand, okay?”

With a sigh, the tyrant declared her stay to me. On top of that, her tone accused me of doing something I hadn’t, namely abandoning her to the sharks. Truth be told, I had a feeling this would happen as soon as I saw her by the door. I recall she had a large suitcase with her, which meant she probably calculated the risks when she punched Mikiko to the floor.

“Hehehe, I get to sleep with Akito again~!”

Yup. Definitely planned this. Just one look at her and it was clear she had it all planned out. Not that it meant I’d take it lying down.

“Saki, sorry, but we can’t sleep together tonight.”

“Oh, why not?”

“I bought a new futon.”

I prepared myself for Saki staying over and the possibility of guests coming around after the tests. This means there’s no need for us to share a futon anymore. Honestly, it’s not good for a teenage boy and a teenage girl to sleep together. I felt sorry for her, but I had to be cautious.

“Yeah, that’s too bad…”

She looked downtrodden. It made me feel like I’d committed some crime, but that reaction was probably also part of her master plan. I had to be firm

“Right. So, Saki, you can sleep in the loft. I’ll set up a futon here.”

“Got it…” With that, she went to the restroom. She seemed a bit lonely as she walked, but I couldn’t let it bother me. I really had to hold myself back.

“I feel bad, but I need to be firm. I do,” while she was preparing herself to sleep, I set out my own makeshift crib. The room was small too, so I had to move things around, desk, chairs, and stuff. Quite the hassle.

“Akito, I’ve made some tea,” Saki called a few minutes later. She had gone from the restroom to the kitchen and made some.

“Thanks, but is it fine to have tea at this hour?”

“I’m going to do some light studying, so it’s fine.”

Studying now, huh? I had relaxed after the tests were over, but maybe I should learn a page from her book and work some. “Maybe I should join you.”

“Yes, let’s study toge—Wah!”

“Saki?!”

She tripped over my futon and spilled tea all over it. We both stood in silence, me being more in shock. I raised an eyebrow and locked eyes with her.

“Did you do it on purpose…?”

“No way! No!”

Her eyes were swimming around like panicked fish. Highly suspicious. I looked down back at the sticky mess of tea and sheets, wondering what to do.

“Akito, I really didn’t do this on purpose, okay…?” She peeked at me from under her eyelashes.

“Considering your past actions…”

“This time is different! Please believe me!” She grabbed my collar and shook me, but I still couldn’t focus on anything. I was really caught off-guard with this.

“I’ll sleep downstairs for now, then.”

“That’s not allowed. You’ll catch a cold! Let’s just sleep together, okay?” She seized the opportunity and suggested so. Her actions really made it hard for me to believe it was an accident.

“Is this really not on purpose…?”

“It’s not! Well, I do think this situation is quite convenient, though.”

“So you did it!”

“Did not!”

In the end, I succumbed to her pressure (and the cold), and we both ended up sleeping together in the loft.

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