Hayashi Megumi’s Intuition
Following Yamamoto out of the bath, I stepped into his room.
Yamamoto, walking ahead, was drying his hair with a bath towel. Normally, I might tease him and dry his hair for him, but since we were at his place today, I held back.
“You’re probably misunderstanding something about Shiho, aren’t you?”
The moment we entered the room, Yamamoto blurted that out.
What on earth was he talking about?
I tilted my head in confusion.
“If you don’t get it, that’s fine, I guess.”
Yamamoto said it in a tone that didn’t sound fine at all.
In a small voice, he muttered, scratching his head, I didn’t think she was this* dense, though.*
What in the world was Yamamoto thinking to say something like that about me?
I had no clue, so I tilted my head even further.
“So, what’s up? You corner me fresh out of the bath to shake me down or something?”
“Huh? I’ve never done anything like that.”
“Yeah, I know. You’re not the type to act like some delinquent.”
…He’s actually paying pretty close attention to me, huh.
For a moment, I almost felt happy, but then I thought, If that’s the case, don’t make annoying comments like that, and I put on a sulky face.
Even though I was clearly showing my displeasure, for some reason, Yamamoto looked a little pleased. No, not just pleased—maybe amused?
“So, if it’s not about shaking me down, what’s it about?”
Yamamoto sat down on the bed he probably used back in high school, before he moved to the city.
Without thinking, I plopped down right next to him.
But then… for some reason, Yamamoto shifted his body slightly away from me.
“…Why’d you move away?”
“No reason, really.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I scooted closer to Yamamoto.
“Why’re you moving closer?”
“No reason, really.”
“…Is that so?”
Yamamoto said in a heavy tone.
It was obvious he had a reason for moving away from me. And because I could tell, I couldn’t help but tease him a little.
Oh, no.
The conversation was getting completely derailed.
I tightened the muscles in my face to keep from smirking and cleared my throat.
“I heard from Shiho-chan.”
“Heard what?”
“…About the secret between you and your sister.”
The air around Yamamoto changed.
I could feel it on my skin, and I knew immediately.
“…She knew, huh.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’ve got something to ask me about it, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Isn’t that a bit tactless?”
“Sorry…”
All I could do was apologize.
With a dejected look, I bowed my head to Yamamoto.
“Don’t do that to anyone else. Some people would care.”
“I wouldn’t. Not to anyone but you.”
“Is that trust… or are you just underestimating me? Which is it?”
Yamamoto said it with an exasperated tone.
Isn’t it obvious?
I didn’t say it out loud, but…
Of course, it’s…
“So, knowing that, what do you want to ask me?”
…Right now, my feelings don’t matter.
What I need to say right now is…
“Why didn’t you want to come back home for so long?”
Yamamoto… looked a little surprised.
“Why’re you clamming up?”
“No… I just didn’t expect you to ask that.”
“What did you expect me to say?”
“Something like, ‘I’m disappointed,’ or ‘I’m shocked.’ Something like that.”
“…There’s no way I’d think that.”
“No way, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“…I see.”
Yamamoto fell quiet again.
What could he be thinking right now?
Surely, it’s not something I need to overthink.
Surely… Yamamoto will tell me soon enough.
Slowly, Yamamoto opened his mouth.
