As night fell, the summer sky over Yaso Inaba was dotted with stars.
Nanao Akane heard a "click," someone twisting the doorknob.
She had been lying on her side, one foot resting on the other.
The room was dark.
Only the faint, soft light from her phone screen illuminated her smooth, jade-like skin.
To describe it precisely, it was pretty much the same posture most people use when reading web novels.
She wasn't learning advanced postures this time; after transitioning from a theoretical to a practical fighter, Kobayashi-chan had taught her many techniques, making these paper-based discussions unnecessary.
It was just that Kobayashi-chan's birthday was in August, and she was counting on her fingers, calculating the time and her remaining pocket money, constantly pondering what gift to buy him.
The first gift for the first birthday in their first year of knowing each other.
She didn't want it to be too vague.
After hearing the sound, Nanao Akane first straightened her back slightly and looked towards the door.
As a sliver of light from the hallway lamp pierced through the door crack, she immediately put down her phone, dropped her head onto the pillow, and pretended to be sound asleep.
Light, cat-like footsteps entered the room.
Nanao Akane's eyebrows twitched slightly, but she remained unmoving.
"...Already asleep so early?"
Nanao Akane heard Hayato's voice. After many days of interaction, Nanao Akane believed she understood Hayato very well, even able to guess with her eyes closed that when he said this, he must be placing his palm on his neck, subtly stretching.
In fact, Hayato, after entering the room, was indeed murmuring to himself in that posture.
His gaze fell upon Nanao Akane.
The latter wore thin pajamas, her delicate lips tightly closed, but her brow furrowed slightly.
Hayato pulled out his phone.
Although he had previously informed Nanao Akane that he "wouldn't be home for dinner," it was still only a little past eight o'clock.
Nanao Akane's bedtime shouldn't be so early.
"Hmm?"
Hayato then noticed a new message on his phone and opened it.
It was from Shiina Chizuru, sent over two hours ago.
> "Just letting you know, I'm home."
Reply:
"1"
Then he put down his phone, his gaze sweeping over the hem of Nanao Akane's blue and white striped sleep dress.
The sleep dress wasn't long; it was a home-style garment meant to be worn only in front of family or in one's own room, and with her sleeping posture, it was easy for her to expose herself.
"...Oh dear."
Hayato suddenly exclaimed in surprise, muttering in a voice careful not to disturb Nanao Akane's sleep: "Hmm... why does it feel a bit unclean? Akane, this..."
"!?"
Nanao Akane immediately sprang up as if startled from a deathbed, almost bending her head to her crotch: "How could that be? I clearly—"
No, wait.
After she showered and changed into her underwear, she hadn't used the restroom.
Nanao Akane's mouth twitched. She sat down in a duck-like squat, collapsing as if paralyzed.
Then, with watery eyes, she looked up at Hayato, who stood before him.
Hayato cast a sharp gaze and a smile that could only be described as malicious.
"You, you're back?" Nanao Akane mumbled somewhat indistinctly.
"Still trying to trick me?" Hayato asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Darn it!"
Nanao Akane burst into tears, turning to punch the pillow. She had just thought she understood Kobayashi-chan so well, but in a blink of an eye, she had fallen for his trick!
She then looked at the futon that had been laid out.
"I'm already in your room today, so there's no need to change..."
"Grandma isn't home today," Hayato said.
Nanao Nanako was even busier than he had imagined. Two days ago, she was stuck on the mountain due to heavy rain, and today, it seemed there was a vigil ceremony at the shrine.
"Even if she's not home, no!" Nanao Akane pushed out her hands in refusal: "Today is really not possible!"
"What I mean is, if she's not home, there's no need to change rooms," Hayato frowned. "What strange things are you saying?"
"...Eh, i-is that so?" Nanao Akane blinked, saying somewhat sheepishly.
But for her own safety, she still twisted her body, refusing to face Kobayashi-chan directly.
"N-no need to change it," Nanao Akane scratched her face with her other hand. "Kobayashi-chan, you can just sleep in my room. It should be more comfortable with a bed."
"Hmm, actually, I wanted to ask you if you want to go to Amagi Onsen Ryokan," Hayato asked. "I met Ayaka-senpai today, and she's currently staying at that ryokan on the mountain. It seems they have extra invitation tickets, so it would be cheaper if we go."
Amagi Onsen Ryokan was one of Yaso Inaba's few distinctive features.
But just like Hangzhou locals aren't interested in West Lake, or Xiamen people are tired of seeing the sea.
Nanao Akane, who grew up in Yaso Inaba, wasn't particularly interested in the renowned "Amagi Onsen"; what attracted her was something else entirely.
"Eh, Ayaka-senpai?"
"Ah, mm."
"Is Ayaka-senpai in Yaso Inaba?"
"Yes, she took on a modeling job, and it seems she'll be shooting around Yaso Inaba during this period. In short, you could say it's a 'business trip,'" Hayato said, scratching the top of his head. "I just found out about it. I've been in contact with Ayaka-senpai before, but she never mentioned this to me. We just happened to run into each other today."
"...I see."
Nanao Akane was a bit dazed, feeling that hearing the name "Kobayashi Ayaka" in Yaso Inaba was quite novel. She giggled, "So you were with Ayaka-senpai today, then?"
"Mm, we just had a quick meal nearby."
"That's great!" Nanao Akane's expression brightened even more: "I thought you went out with someone like Shinomiya or Shiina Chizuru or something! Hmph?"
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