Chapter 70: You should sleep here

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Translator: Soafp

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In the end, Aika didn't show up in class that day. Mio had gone somewhere after first period, so maybe Aika had called her. There were no rumors about any trouble involving the student council that Sora had left, and nothing seemed to be happening.

Feeling relieved, Ginji rubbed his sleepy eyes. He could have just slept during class, but his personality made that feel wrong. Nodding off little by little, he somehow endured the lesson.

“Ginji, you look sleepy.”

“A bit… I'm feeling more relaxed now though… Maybe I'll just go to bed early.”

Right after second period math ended, Sora walked up to Ginji. Students from other classes and grades were gathered around the classroom door trying to catch a glimpse of Sora, but none of them came inside.

“Go to bed early… Hey, Ginji, are you free today?”

“After school? Yeah, I am.”

“Then—”

“Um, Takagi-san.”

Sora was interrupted by a girl from their class.

“Yes?”

“Your SNS is amazing. I just saw it, and it’s being shared everywhere.”

“Thanks. I only took that photo for a store discount… so can we leave it at that?”

“Ah, yeah. See you.”

The girl quickly went back to her group, where they started chatting noisily again.

“What was that about?”

“Who knows? That girl used to say all kinds of things when I was dressed like a boy and hanging out with Aika-chan.”

“She probably forgot. That's how people are.”

“It doesn't sit right with me… I can't forget it…”

“If you can't forgive her, that's fine. But shutting everything out because of that isn't good either.”

“I'm not good at talking to people anyway, even without Aika-chan involved.”

“Then try harder.”

Even if Sora's appearance had changed, her loner tendencies hadn't.

“If you're with me, I'll try.”

“Then you've got no choice but to do your best.”

“Ehehe, that's true.”

Sora gave a soft smile, clearly hinting she wanted to be with Ginji going forward. She gently poked his sleepy cheek.

During lunch break, instead of going to their usual clubroom, Sora pulled Ginji along to the student council's archive room. It was their first time entering since they left the council. Papers were scattered across the floor and documents were piled on the desk. Sora moved them aside.

“It's messy. Why here?”

“There's a sofa. And usually no one comes here at this time. I'm lucky I can still borrow the key. I figured it'd be fine since Aika-chan's not around.”

Sora locked the door from the inside with a click. Ginji found it a bit odd, but since she had also tried to avoid being seen on the way here, he didn't question it.

“Today's lunch is marinated horse mackerel.”

“Fish, huh? I love it.”

“I know.”

After cheerfully finishing the vegetable-rich marinated fish and rice balls, Sora sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to her. It seemed she wanted Ginji to sit, so he did.

“You can nap here, you know?”

“So that's why the sofa… but won't you be bored, Sora?”

“I don't mind. Come on, rest your head.”

She placed her hand on her bare thigh showing from under her skirt and urged him. Ginji froze.

“Wait, what?”

“A nap on my lap, and I'll clean your ears too.”

Sora's cheeks were slightly red, but she tugged on Ginji's sleeve, not backing down.

“This is really embarrassing…”

“No one's watching, and you told me to do my best this morning, right? So now it's your turn.”

“What kind of effort is that… Are you really okay with this?”

“Would I offer if I wasn't?”

When Ginji rested his head on her thigh, it sank slightly. As he was surprised by the softness, Sora gently stroked his hair.

“Can you turn to the side? I've never cleaned someone else's ears before.”

“I usually do it myself, so I've never had it done either.”

Still lying on her lap, Ginji turned his head, and Sora leaned in to look in his ear. Being looked at like that made him feel oddly exposed, and his heart started to race.

“It's pretty clean… but there's a little bit. I'll get it with a cotton swab. Done. Now the other side. Turn this way.”

Sora's delicate touch and skillful technique, along with the feeling of her lap, made it all so pleasant that Ginji's embarrassment started to melt away.

“…Do whatever you want.”

Ginji gave in. Once the ear cleaning was done, he lay on his back. At first, he was too embarrassed to sleep, but as Sora quietly stroked his hair, drowsiness came over him again and he began to breathe softly in sleep.

“He's asleep… Ginji, are you really asleep?”

“……”

“Hehe… maybe I should learn some lullabies.”

There was no answer. Sora kept watching Ginji's sleeping face until just before the warning bell rang.