Chapter 102 - Negligence, A Slack Atmoshpere (1/2)
Negligence, A Slack Atmoshpere
“Fuun fuun, fuun ♪”
Hiiragi-chan fluttered her legs back and forth while humming and lying on the couch. She was looking at a travel magazine.
“Seiji-kun, where should we go?”
With a sweet voice, she came crawling over to me while I was playing with my phone.
“Where should we go… There aren’t any consecutive holidays, are there?”
After munching on a senbei, Hiiragi-chan brushed off the crumbs from her magazine.
“There are. I can just take a paid vacation ♡”
“…”
I’m happy. I’m happy, but what is it, this uncertain feeling.
At Hiiragi-chan’s family’s house, Hiiragi Mama (her name is apparently Airi), after ending the meeting there… Hiiragi-chan seems to have somehow… started slacking. Slacking and slacking.
Is it because when I confronted Airi-san, I said that I was thinking of marriage and that Haruka-san was a wonderful person whom I wanted to be with, or is it because we gained approval in the end, or maybe both?
The relieved Hiiragi-chan has started to slack off. It was as if she was a cat that forgot its instincts, and ended up in a harmless state.
It could be because Hiiragi-chan had defeated her strongest enemy… or maybe it should be called the last boss? After defeating the demon lord, even a hero would turn lazy and slack off.
However… Her room has turned into a mess, as all the clothes she takes off are just scattered everywhere. The kitchen sink is packed with unwashed cooking utensils and dishes. The refrigerator contains food past its expiration date and rotten fruits. There are ten cans of beer and shouchuu, and a bunch of cheese and ham that would be great for snacking.
Is this her true personality?
“What has been going on recently, Haruka-san?”
“Nothing’s going on?”
Hiiragi-chan came hugging me from behind. She gave me kisses on my neck and cheek. Hiiragi-chan pampered me in every way.
On the other hand, for me… I really have to wonder. I do want to respond. I’m not one to be strict with her after all. Rather, Hiiragi-chan was perfect at so many things, that I didn’t have a reason to be strict with her.
“Ah, that’s right. I should drink some alcohol.”
Hey hey, it’s still the middle of the day.
Excited, and with a spring in her step, Hiiragi-chan took out a can of beer from the refrigerator, and quickly opened it.
“Nnnnnnnnn~ tastes great ♡”
It was as if she was living the prime of her life…
“You’re drinking in the middle of the day…”
“It’s fine, right? I’m on break anyway.”
That’s true, it’s okay, there shouldn’t be anything wrong. A teacher’s job is quite tough and can cause a ton of stress. I get that.
“Haruka-san, you’ve been strange recently, you know? Before, your house would be nice and clean, and you would also only drink during dinner.”
“Is that so?”
This isn’t Hiiragi-chan—or is that just me pushing my ideals onto her? But still, I should be honest about it. This isn’t Hiiragi-chan.
“Is the reason… me? Is it because I’m great for self-control?”
“What’s wrong? Why are you making a troubled face like that?”
When I was in the present, I often heard my senpai’s complaints about his wife.
Before we married, it wasn’t like this—or something like that.
Is it possible that this slacking Hiiragi-chan is because she is in such a state? I tried to unravel Hiiragi-chan who continued to languidly entangle herself with me.
“W-what? What’s wrong?”
How can I return her back to normal? Shock therapy might work the best.
“I won’t come by your place for a while.”
“Eh?”
Hiiragi-chan’s expression became stiff as she dropped the beer can that she was holding.
“Why!? T-the only place where we’re guaranteed to be able to see each other alone is at my house!”
That’s right. I completely understand it. It’s basically the same as me proclaiming that I won’t spend time with Hiiragi-chan over the weekends. Not spending time with her on weekends, means that I won’t spend time on weekdays. It’s basically the same as saying I won’t spend time with her.
“It’s just for a bit. Just for a bit.”
“N-no way~”
Even I want to see her and spend time with her.
“Haruka-san, you like to cook and clean, right? Do you still like it?”
“That’s right.”
Looking at the state of the kitchen and her room, I don’t think she’s been doing that recently. Today, the first thing that I did after coming to this house, was not a kiss or anything like that, but to clean her room.
“You’re slacking off too much. I understand that your mother did accept us and you’re happy about that, but still.”
“Uuu~. Is Seiji-kun not happy?”
“I am happy, but that doesn’t mean we get to marry for sure, you know?”
“—It is decided, we can do it. Please don’t say stuff like that.”
Ah, she’s sulking.
Since I’ve come and gone from the future, I can’t be relieved at all. Of course, Hiiragi-chan doesn’t know that, so it’s not like I don’t understand her behavior.
Hiiragi-chan was looking at me with teary eyes. Those eyes are unfair, so I wish she would stop.
“Uuuuuuuuu…! I-is it because… y-y-you d-d-don’t love me anymooore!?”
“My feelings for you haven’t disappeared, I still love you.”
“Then, it’s fine, right?”
She stretched out her feet and clung to me, asking to be pampered.
Kuu! This! She’s too cute!
Pun pun, I shook my head and hardened my heart. I peeled Hiiragi-chan off of me.
“It’s decided. After eating lunch, I’ll go home for today.”
Hiiragi-chan, who couldn’t accept it, kept jumping at me saying, “Why? Why?”, to which I ignored as I ate the cup noodles Hiiragi-chan had prepared for lunch.
That’s right… cup noodles… I don’t have anything against cup noodles, but before she would make a lot of different things. The gap between the before and now is just too large, and so I still don’t understand how I should take this.