No choice but to deal with it!

Closing my eyes, I almost get caught up in an illusion.

This is my room, and Hayashi’s just taking a bath right now. As for me, I overate at dinner, and now I’m being ambushed by sleepiness, trying to drift off to the sound of the shower like it’s a lullaby.

It almost feels like a scene from everyday life.

My eyelids are heavy.

My body feels heavy too.

Hayashi said she was tired and dragged me here. I realized I didn’t push back too hard on her invitation, probably because I was exhausted too.

Since morning, it’s been cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning.

Then, past noon, I left the house and had fun with Hayashi.

Rainbow Bridge.

Dinner.

And then the theater.

I got to experience things I wouldn’t in my usual daily routine.

And now, she’s even offering me this ridiculously comfy bed.

Earlier, Hayashi said to me,

that I don’t understand her feelings at all.

Well, for now, that doesn’t matter.

Or maybe it does matter.

But right now, I couldn’t care less.

My eyelids are heavy, my body’s heavy… and even my consciousness is starting to fade.

Up until just a moment ago, I was like a borrowed cat, all meek and quiet.

It’s only natural, coming to a place like this with Hayashi, who’s acting so different from usual.

But… in the end, this scene was just a hair’s breadth away from normal. Once I close my eyes, it’s no different from my everyday life.

Oh, I get it.

Hayashi’s become such a big part of my daily life, hasn’t she?

…Zzz.

“Wake up.”

After a gentle voice, I felt a light slap on my cheek.

How long had I been asleep?

How long had I kept Hayashi waiting?

I jolted awake.

When I opened my eyes, the sight before me… was Hayashi in a bath towel.

Her hair was still wet, not fully dried, and her skin was slightly flushed.

I found myself completely captivated by her.

“…What the heck are you wearing?”

“…You’re not getting excited, right?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, we’re like family, aren’t we?”

Hayashi said it with a pointed tone.

I had no idea what had upset her.

All I knew was that I’d somehow gotten on her bad side, and now we were in this situation.

What had I done to her?

…What?

What in the world…?

My thoughts wouldn’t come together.

My face felt hot.

I wanted to look away…!

But I couldn’t.

“…Put some clothes on.”

Hayashi didn’t say a word.

“You’ll catch a cold, won’t you?”

Still nothing.

“L-Look, I’m sorry, okay…!”

Hayashi, still silent, started closing in on me.

I scrambled back on the bed. The one cornering me was the provocative woman in front of me.

Hayashi’s soft skin…!

Even in this hot weather, I should be used to seeing her in a T-shirt and shorts when she sleeps, but still.

…I was a little out of it.

If this kept going,

maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to just give in.

If I let myself go here, I’d probably be teased about it for the rest of my life.

Hayashi, standing right in front of me, would probably mock me forever.

But, I was starting to think that might not be so bad.

As Hayashi kept pressing closer, I finally gave up.

I stopped trying to escape and instead, little by little… bit by bit…

I snapped back to reality when I heard a voice from the next room. I can’t quite say what kind of voice it was.

I’m just glad the walls were thin.

Or maybe, in a way, I wasn’t glad at all.

Hayashi’s face turned bright red, and she froze.

It seemed she’d snapped out of it too.

“S-Sorry…!”

Hayashi spun around deftly.

She hunched over, as if trying to hide her soft skin.

With one crisis averted, I let out a sigh of relief… but the image burned into my groggy mind came rushing back, and my cheeks flushed.

Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I quickly draped my jacket over her.

“Sorry. I was out of it…!”

“Yeah, no kidding.”

I let out a sigh.

“…I’m not gonna ask what happened.”

“Please don’t.”

“But… I gotta say, I was a little shocked.”

“…Yeah.”

“…S-Sorry.”

Feeling a bit guilty, I apologized.

Damn it. I’m supposed to be the cool guy, but my voice was shaking.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Y-Yeah, me too.”

“Gah!”

Hayashi slipped into the bed I was about to sleep in.

Her soft skin brushed against me under the covers, and I yelped.

“W-Why are you getting in this bed?!”

“What choice do I have?! It’s the only bed!”

Oh, right.

I fell silent.

“Y-Yeah…! It’s unavoidable. No choice at all…!”

“I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“No way!”

“Guh!”

“…Ugh, sorry.”

Hayashi suddenly hugged me, and now my side hurt.

I tried my best to shoot a resentful glare at her, since she was behind me and couldn’t see.

“…Jeez. You’ve been dragging me around all day.”

“…Sorry.”

Hearing her apologize, I thought for a moment.

Honestly… today, no, lately, I’ve been completely at Hayashi’s mercy.

She climbed Rainbow Bridge with me, even though she’s terrified of heights and was practically in tears.

She suddenly sprinted to catch an earlier train.

And then, out of nowhere, she dragged me to a place like this.

Way back, she even told me to talk to some guy from our department at university—an impossible demand.

Seriously.

Lately, I’ve been completely at the mercy of the girl once called the queen.

…But, it’s strange.

“…Well, it was fun, so I guess it’s fine.”

“…Huh?”

“…Today was fun. It was a rare experience.”

I thanked Hayashi.

Because she…

She climbed Rainbow Bridge with me, pushing past her fear of heights.

She made sure we didn’t miss the last train so I could rest sooner.

She brought me here to let me rest.

Even that ridiculous demand to talk to some guy was just her way of helping me make friends.

And through it all, I’ve somehow ended up enjoying myself.

…So, complaining about it would just be foolish.

“Thanks for everything, Hayashi.”

“…Say it again.”

“Huh?”

“One more time. Say it again.”

“…No way.”

“Just do it!”

Overwhelmed by Hayashi’s shout from behind, I stayed quiet for a moment.

“Thanks for everything.”

“One more time.”

“What?”

“One more time.”

“…Thanks for everything.”

“Say my name properly.”

“Thanks for everything, Hayashi!”

Hayashi didn’t respond.

Had she fallen asleep?

No, that wasn’t it.

The arms hugging me started to tighten.

Had she finally had enough?

Or maybe she’d calmed down a bit?

…Man, lately, I’ve really been at her mercy.

I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

“Yamamoto.”

“Hm?”

“Thanks for everything.”

“…Yeah.”

My back felt a little itchy.

This was all Hayashi’s fault…

Chapter Seven, done!

I went too far and ended up chickening out!

But you all were thinking it, right? That we wouldn’t cross that line.

I’ll say it again: if we cross that line, this story’s over, got it?

Only those ready for it to end should dare say to cross that line!

Cross that line, you idiot author!!!!!

You idiot author!!!!!

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