Chapter 143: Lazy and Laid-back
Translator: Soafp
The day after their volunteer cleaning work, Ginji was stretched out on Sora's couch, reading a book.
Next to him, Sora was wearing red-rimmed, non-prescription blue light–cut glasses and working on a laptop. Ginji glanced up from his book to look at her.
“Hey, Sora. Like I said earlier—let me help. You're adjusting CAD settings, right?”
Sora closed the laptop at that and adjusted her glasses, then crawled over on all fours toward Ginji.
“It's fine. Actually, I just finished. And like I've said a bunch of times already, you should be resting. You're tired from yesterday's club practice, aren't you? Don't you have a backlog of books you've been wanting to read? Today, your job is to take it easy.”
“I did say that on the way home yesterday, yeah… Still, feels weird hogging someone else's couch and reading all day.”
“Don't worry about it. I'll get started on lunch and prep the cheesecake for snack time. When I'm done, I'll give you a massage. Today, I'm in full-on ‘I want to spoil someone' mode. It's like doing laundry for my soul.”
“Just don't overdo it.”
“I won't, I won't. Now then—mugyuu~!”
She gave him a quick squeeze before heading into the kitchen. A faint citrus scent lingered behind her. Watching her walk away, clearly happy, Ginji couldn't bring himself to argue further. He returned to his book.
The day before, after baseball practice, Ginji had been bombarded with questions from the younger members. With help from the girl managers, he managed to escape. He said goodbye to the two at the school gate. Tetsuya had apparently left before practice ended, likely to avoid being asked about Sora.
“Damn, I'm wiped. Sachi, Yuki—thanks for everything.”
“No problem at all! Those guys kept bothering Sora even though she was clearly freaked out… I'm gonna beat some sense into them later!”
“I-I wasn't freaked out! They were just really intense, that's all…”
It stung Sora a bit to have to be saved by middle schoolers.
“Ahaha, please come again! The boys may be dumb, but they're really looking forward to seeing you again.”
“Yeah. Oh, right—I just thought of something. Hey, Sora, can I tell them about the art festival?”
“Eh? Of course, but…”
Confused, the two girls watched as a link to the festival's site popped up in their group chat.
“Sora and I are submitting a piece this year. If you've got time, come see it. It'll just be one small thing tucked in a corner, but still.”
“Wow, really? I'll definitely go!”
“Yeah! That's amazing—you two made something together? So cool… as expected of high schoolers!”
“Say hi to Hiroshi and the others for me. Let's go, Sora.”
“Okay.”
On the way home, the two walked slowly, stepping on each other's shadows.
“Ginji, can I ask why you told your juniors about the art piece?”
“You already know, don't you? I just wanted to show them that I'm doing okay. After all, they worried about me too.”
He'd only managed to get through rehab thanks to the support of his teammates and juniors. That's why he wanted to show them: I'm up and running too, just like my old partner. Maybe, just a little, he wanted to show off as a senpai.
Sora looked at him with a gentle gaze, one that made her seem mature beyond her years.
“I'm glad I fell in love with you, Ginji.”
“Me too. I mean, I definitely got the better end of the deal.”
“That's not true! I'm the lucky one. That's why I want to make you happy. Hmm, now I really feel like spoiling you. How about we take it easy tomorrow? I want to pamper you for once. You must be tired, right?”
The mature expression disappeared, and Sora was back to her usual self.
“I'm not that—”
“Fufufu, my eyes can't be fooled. Your hips and thighs already hurt a bit, don't they? I can tell by the way you walk. Let's have a slow day tomorrow. Oh! Maybe I'll go to your place. What should I bring… maybe some aroma oils…”
Correction: Sora was now giving him a slightly suggestive look.
“Hold it, hold it, hold it—”
Oh no, this is bad, Ginji thought, but it was already too late. Sora's “I want to spoil you” switch had been fully flipped. At this rate, she'd storm the Momoi household and start fussing over everything. Tetsuya already saw more than he wanted to as it was, but letting Sora handle his personal care would be too much, even as an older brother. Feeling a very delayed sense of danger, Ginji hastily suggested they spend the day at her house, where he could quietly catch up on his reading.
And so, now he lay on the couch, nursing his muscle aches. Delicious smells were already wafting from the kitchen. Sora came back in.
“I put the duck in the Hel〇. Gotta get some protein after all that exercise. Once you finish that book, I'll give you a massage.”
“You're gonna spoil me rotten.”
“Ehehe~ That's fine~ I'll take care of everything. Whoops.”
With a sleepy smile, Sora leaned in close, and Ginji playfully ruffled her hair.
“That wouldn't be any fun, though. We've gotta be happy together, right?”
“That's true… but still, I can't help wanting to spoil you. Hmm, I'll read something too—got any recommendations? Oh, and I want more head pats.”
Still under his hand, Sora reached into a paper bag next to the couch and started rummaging through the books Ginji had brought.
“Let's see… how about something that wraps up nicely in one volume? Like this one.”
“…Isn't the cover kinda lewd?”
“That's just how it is with those kinds of books.”
“Huh… maybe I should practice drawing illustrations like this.”
Saying that, Sora plopped down next to Ginji. And so, the two of them sat side by side and started reading together.
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