Chapter 26: Twin Beds ①

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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The interior, with its calm tones that made use of natural wood textures, elegantly decorated the room.

The bathroom, finished with a black marble countertop and terrazzo tiles, was a clean, minimalist space stripped of anything unnecessary.

As expected of a high-end hotel, it was a pristine and refined twin room.

…There was just one problem—being in the same room as Nodoka and Sugawara-senpai.

“Wow, the night view is amazing!”

“So this light is the glow of life created by overtime work, huh.”

Both of them seemed satisfied.

…Probably.

(I should stop getting nervous for no reason.)

That's right. I should take a cue from the innocent excitement in their eyes as they looked around the unfamiliar room.

It's only because I'm overthinking that my body's getting tense.

Like senpai said at the front desk, I should just think of myself as one of the girls tonight.

No—maybe it'd be easier if I just pretended they were both guys.

Sugawara-senpai picked up the TV remote and spoke.

“In web novels, when someone casually turns on the TV in a hotel, all sorts of videos start playing, you know.”

“Senpai, that's a love hotel…”

“Oh? So you've been to a love hotel, Fukagawa-kun? You seem awfully knowledgeable.”

Even if I haven't, that's just common knowledge…

“Well, yeah, I have.”

“By yourself?”

“… ”

Does senpai think I'm a virgin with zero experience?

Come to think of it, I've never told her about Yuzuki.

No wonder she'd assume that.

She spoke again, a bit teasingly.

“This is your first time being in a hotel room with girls like this too, right?”

“Well, it's my first time being with you two, yeah.”

I avoided bringing up Yuzuki and kept it vague.

But Nodoka, who had been listening closely, immediately jumped in.

“Senpai, didn't you know? Ren had a girlfriend until just recently.”

“…Huh?”

Sugawara-senpai froze on the spot.

She was probably trying to act like a slightly teasing, older, S-type woman.

She must've expected me to panic and react shyly.

“So, Fukagawa-kun… you've actually gone to places like love hotels with a girl and, you know… done it?”

“He has. Though he has done it more often in his own room.”

Nodoka, you really didn't have to say that…

Now things are getting weird.

Sugawara-senpai's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked down.

“Fukagawa-kun, you're quite the player…”

“No, no. I've only dated one person. And we've already broken up.”

“I let a wolf into the room without realizing it.”

“Senpai, was that Red Riding Hood or the Three Little Pigs?”

I mean, I did say I'd go home by taxi…

“Senpai, you really don't need to worry!”

For some reason, Nodoka puffed up proudly and pointed at me.

“This guy brought me into his room before, and he didn't even lay a finger on me! He's beyond harmless—he's just a coward!”

“Komori-san, that's called strategy. You make them feel safe first, then you enjoy them later. If you show your fangs right away, they'll get scared.”

“Eh!? I-is that true, Ren!? Y-you monster!!”

“Make up your mind—are you trying to defend me or not?”

Nodoka's surprisingly easy to influence.

I'm honestly worried she'll get tricked by some weird guy someday.

…Though given this situation, I guess being cautious is understandable.

“If you're that worried, I can still head home by taxi.”

“Well, jokes aside.”

As I said that seriously, Sugawara-senpai changed the subject.

“Shall we take a bath soon? Who's going first?”

Nodoka and I looked at each other.

After moving around so much at the theme park, we definitely wanted to wash off the sweat.

Still, even if we weren't bathing together, using the bathroom in the same room as girls you're not dating felt strangely embarrassing.

“I'm just taking a quick shower.”

“Ah, then I'll just shower too.”

“Eh!? That bathtub looks amazing though, and you're not using it!?”

Looks like Nodoka prefers baths.

I don't dislike them, but I'm more of a shower person.

“I don't mind, but then I'll go after you, Nodoka. I'll use the water infused with Nodoka essence.”

“G-gross! Fine, I'll just take a shower too!”

“Too bad.”

“What do you mean too bad!?”

Sugawara-senpai asked again.

“So, who's going first?”

“I'll go first. Oh, Nodoka—sorry, can you help me with my cast?”

“Ah, sure.”

With Nodoka's help, I put a waterproof cover over my cast.

Then I grabbed my clothes and headed into the bathroom.

---

Left behind in the room, Airi Sugawara and Nodoka Komori each sat down on their beds.

Silence fell between them.

Eventually, as the sound of the shower began to echo from the bathroom, Airi spoke.

“Komori-san, can I ask you something?”

“Y-yes!”

“…Why do you get so stiff when Fukagawa-kun isn't around?”

“Ah, well… i-it's just… when I'm in front of someone as pretty as you, senpai, I get nervous…”

A question mark practically appeared above Airi's head.

Even if their styles were different, the Nodoka in front of her was more than cute enough.

She had heard Ren's explanation about her “high school debut,” but it still didn't quite convince her.

“Well, anyway. What do you think of Fukagawa-kun?”

“W-what do I think…?”

“His personality and stuff.”

“Hmm…”

Nodoka placed her index finger on her chin and looked upward.

“He can be a bit mean sometimes, and occasionally kinda pervy, but overall I think he's a kind person.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Because… he saved my life.”

“What do you mean?”

Nodoka explained how Ren had risked himself to save her from a traffic accident.

Her words were filled with guilt and gratitude, and her cheeks flushed from time to time.

“When he patted my head after saving me, he really felt like a hero… I still dream about it sometimes. Though me bursting into tears back then is kind of a black history moment…”

Airi hadn't known why Ren had a cast on his arm.

She had assumed, like with other childish boys, that he'd just gotten injured messing around.

On top of that, since he made a lot of money at a young age, she had thought he was the type to solve everything with money.

That's why the fact that he had risked himself to protect someone created a small ripple in her heart.

“Komori-san.”

Airi looked straight into Nodoka's eyes.

“Do you like Fukagawa-kun?”

“E-eh!? Th-that is! I-I like him as a friend, yes!”

“That's not what I mean. Be honest—if Fukagawa-kun confessed and asked you out, would you turn him down?”

“Th-that's…”

Nodoka's eyes wavered.

After a few seconds of silence, she spoke hesitantly.

“I don't know. I really don't know… There's also the whole Yuzuki situation…”

“Yuzuki?”

“Ah, Ren's ex. She's not just in our class—she used to be my friend too… though now we're basically not speaking anymore.”

“So you fell for your friend's ex, and that's why she cut you off?”

“…Ugh…”

Airi didn't know the details of Ren and this Yuzuki girl.

But she could tell there was something complicated between the three of them.

“I-I can't say for sure that I like Ren! And… I don't think Ren wants to date anyone right now.”

“Really? Because he just broke up with that Yuzuki girl?”

“Yes. I can't say it directly, but… it was a pretty awful breakup. Ren got hurt a lot.”

“I see…”

Maybe I should meet this Yuzuki girl myself sometime.

Just as Airi thought that—

“I'm done.”

Ren stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a simple T-shirt and sweatpants.

“What were you two talking about? Nodoka, your face is super red.”

“N-nothing! It's just hot!”

“Hot? Then should I turn on the AC?”

“N-no need! I'm going in next!”

“O-okay…”

Nodoka rushed into the bathroom as if fleeing.

Airi couldn't help but chuckle.

---

What's with her…?

Still confused, I sat down on the sofa.

“By the way, Fukagawa-kun.”

Sugawara-senpai rested her cheek on her hand, wearing a meaningful smile.

“There are only two beds, right? So whose bed are you sleeping in?”

“…Huh?”

I hadn't even thought about that.

Right—this is a twin room.

It's not like someone can sleep on the floor, and the sofa would be pushing it too.

Sugawara-senpai smiled, lightly touching her lips with her pinky finger.

“Will you sleep with me? Or with Komori-san?”