「Thank you for the meal.」
「I-It was nothing!」
The next day, Satou immediately treated me to a homemade bento.
Moreover, the menu centered around what seemed like labor-intensive karaage, and it was truly, truly exquisite. Although it couldn’t maintain the crispy, juicy texture of freshly made karaage due to being in a bento, what Satou prepared had its own charm as a bento, different from freshly made food.
「It was seriously delicious…」
「Hinata-kun, you looked like you were enjoying it so much, so I-I was really happy too.」
「It’s because Satou’s seasoning suits my taste buds too well.」
「T-That’s… ehehe.」
I’ve been told by my sister countless times to honestly compliment a girl’s charms, so I’m conscious of it, but regardless of that, words of praise for Satou just come out naturally.
That’s largely because of Satou’s personality, which has the dazzling virtue of “honestly getting embarrassed”, and even more so because there are just endless points to praise about Satou.
Thanks to the bento, there’s no need to go to the cafeteria, and now we’re alone in an empty classroom.
Not in a weird way, but there’s no need to worry about others seeing whatever I do with Satou. Come to think of it, even including the train and bus rides, this might be the first time we’re in such a situation.
「…Satou.」
「Y-Yes?」
「Um… if you don’t like it, please feel free to refuse…」
「…Hinata-kun?」
I slowly reach out my hand.
Ahh, what am I trying to do to a girl who’s barely comfortable with linking pinkies?
But it’s also true that just words don’t seem enough to express my gratitude for the bento Satou prepared.
This situation of being alone together is loosening the restraint I’ve had recently.
And then I… pon, placed my hand on her head.
「Hyaa… H-Hinata-kun, w-why so suddenly…」
I meet Satou’s confused eyes for just a moment,
「I’ll stop right away if you don’t like it.」
I said, and she immediately looked away, her face turning red.
Then she mumbled, moving her lips and shyly letting out her words.
「I-It’s not… like that… T-There’s no way… I wouldn’t like it…」
「…Then, let me do this for a while.」
「……」
I slowly and gently move my hand, careful not to mess up Satou’s hair.
Then she narrowed her eyes as if feeling good, “uaa…”, and let out a sweet-sounding voice.
The old Satou would have probably run away by now, but perhaps this is part of her growth, as she now surrenders herself without showing any signs of dislike.
In fact, she’s even tilting her chin up a bit, making it easier for me to stroke her.
「How is it?」
「…It feels good. Very much.」
Her white throat exposed.
Perhaps from tension, her back is straight, and the slight wrinkles in her uniform are being stretched out from her chest.
…With such a good figure, it’s even more wasteful for her to usually have a hunched back.
I thought so, but I swallow that comment.
It might be okay from a same-gender friend, but being told about her figure by a male friend would probably just create distance.
As I continued to stroke her head for a while, Satou’s tension seemed to finally ease…
「……」
Now she had completely closed her eyes, breathing calmly as if feeling comfortable.
「If you’re sleepy, you can sleep. I’ll wake you up before the afternoon classes.」
「N-No… I can’t sleep when I’m finally alone with Hinata-kun…」
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I don’t mean to nitpick, but it seems she doesn’t deny that she’s getting sleepy.
I stopped stroking her head and intertwined my pinky with hers, which was resting on her lap.
Linking pinkies, just like yesterday and this morning.
Noticing it, Satou opens her eyes, and I gaze into them gently.
「It’s a promise that we’ll always be together from now on, so you don’t have to think of being alone together as something special.」
「…Uuu…」
「Then if you don’t sleep, I’ll force you to sleep on my lap.」
「Th-That would be troublesome.」
「Right?」
「…Geez, you’re being unfair.」
Satou said with a small, wry smile.
Even if she says it’s okay, making bento for two is definitely more burdensome than for one.
On top of that, Satou has recently been putting effort into self-care, combing her hair, pinning her bangs, paying attention to her scent, and today, perhaps because of our pinky promise, she even applied hand cream.
It’s strange not to be tired with suddenly so much to do.
I can make time for her whenever she wants, so I want her to sleep without hesitation when she’s sleepy.
「T-Then… I’ll sleep for a little bit. Ah, um… I’d like to keep our hands like this…」
「Got it. We’ll stay connected, so don’t worry. Good night.」
「T-Thank you. …Good night, Hinata-kun.」
Satou smiled as she greeted me, then closed her eyes, removed her glasses, and lightly shook her head to adjust her hair… eh, she removed her glasses…?
「……」
「……Give me a break.」
The words I muttered dissipated before they could take shape.
Or rather, I didn’t have the luxury to form them.
Because my heart was screaming at full force, “Can someone’s atmosphere change this much just by taking off their glasses?”
It’s not that I’m denying the concept of glasses itself.
It’s just that I felt that the black-rimmed glasses Satou wore were simply a weight that suppressed her charm.
Whether she chose them herself or they were a gift from someone, I don’t know, but at least I found Satou’s bare face without glasses… cute.
Ahh, this is bad.
I’m starting to want to let go of her pinky.
「…Hinata-kun.」
「…Hmm?」
「Um… can I be a little selfish?」
「…Sure.」
No, it’s not really okay, but my heart refuses to reject her.
「…C-Can I… borrow your shoulder? Ahh, um, I… I feel like I can sleep better that way…」
「…Of course.」
「T-Thank you very much.」
And so, after Satou gently rested her head on my shoulder, I felt more discomfort than yesterday.
The softness I could feel, the way she placed her weight on me as a sign of trust, and of course, the refreshing scent.
All of these made me feel Satou’s charm, whether I wanted to or not.
What’s with this… naturally sweet and affectionate beautiful girl?
She once mentioned she plans to cut her hair someday, but now that I’ve seen her bare face, I seriously want her to stop enhancing her looks any further.
「……」
「……Fufu.」
When I squeezed her pinky tightly with that meaning in mind, Satou just smiled happily and snuggled closer.