The Love of My Childhood Friend, Who Has Overcome a Terminally Ill Diagnosis, Is Overwhelming
After dinner, I left Kanade and my mother chatting happily in the living room and went back to my room to study.
To be honest, I wanted to talk with Kanade a little longer… but I knew that if I gave in to that immediate urge, my future would be obvious without even having to think about it, so I decided to hold back.
My quiet room, where the only sound was the ticking of the clock.
As I concentrated on my studies for a while… I heard the sound of a door opening downstairs.
That’s when I finally checked the clock to see what time it was.
It was 10:00 p.m.
“…I was able to concentrate today.”
Lately, whenever I’m inside, I’ve been feeling this strange sensation like someone’s staring at me, so my studying hasn’t been going very well, but today was different.
Not only did I not feel that gaze I usually sense, but I also didn’t have that chill running down my spine like when I have a fever.
Things are going pretty well.
“…Well, I’m probably just overthinking it.”
There’s no way anyone would go out of their way to secretly film a social outcast like me.
Besides, I don’t even remember inviting anyone into this room recently.
…I must have been feeling stressed and depressed because the test is coming up, which made me overly sensitive.
Still, if I managed to get through it today, I feel like I’ll be okay from tomorrow on.
“…Come to think of it, I wonder if Dad’s home yet.”
Lately, Dad—who had been deeply lamenting his promotion to section chief—has been coming home even later since the promotion.
On top of that, apparently he doesn’t get overtime pay anymore because of the promotion… and he’s been complaining about that nonstop.
“…I wonder if Kanade’s home yet?”
Setting Dad aside, I wonder if Kanade is still home.
No, she probably isn’t.
After all, it’s too dangerous to let a girl her age come home alone at this hour.
…But if that’s the case, she could have at least said something to let me know she was leaving.
Well, I guess she was being considerate since I was focused on my studies.
“Akkun. I made a late-night snack. Want some?”
“Yeah. I’ll take one.”
Suddenly, the door to my room swung open, and Kanade walked in carrying a large plate with two rice balls on it.
Looking closer, I saw she was holding another rice ball in the hand not holding the plate.
She must have been feeling a little peckish herself and had been eating it on her way here.
That’s so bad manners…
……Huh?
“Kanade, you didn’t go home?”
“Nope.”
Kanade nodded happily.
“Auntie said if I wanted to focus on my studies, I should stay over tonight. I asked Mom, and she said it was okay. So I stayed.”
“……Oh.”
Without me even realizing it, things had somehow progressed so far that I couldn’t even come up with a proper response.
“So, I’m going to stay at your place tonight.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I already took a shower a little while ago.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. I smell just like you.”
“You do…?”
The shampoo I usually use is for men. There should have been women’s shampoo in the bathroom that my mom uses, but maybe she accidentally grabbed the wrong one.
“Also, I borrowed your gym uniform to wear as pajamas.”
“Looks like it.”
“As for the size… it’s a little tight around the chest.”
“…I guess so.”
I glanced briefly at Kanade’s chest and immediately looked away.
“Also, I’m going to sleep on a futon in your room tonight.”
“……”
“Auntie told me to. If Auntie says so, there’s nothing I can do about it, right?”
“…………”
“Hehehe.”
“……No way.”
I looked down.
“……Akkun?”
“……No way, Kanade.”
“……Even if you say no, there’s nothing I can do about it. Auntie said so. It’s none other than Auntie who’s saying it, right? In that case, I have no choice but to obey. After all, Auntie said so.”
“……It’s absolutely out of the question.”
“……Hmph.”
I let out a deep sigh.
“……The idea of you sleeping on a futon…”
That was the one thing I simply couldn’t accept.
“……Huh?”
“You should sleep in the bed. I’ll take the futon. If you lay the futon directly on the floor, it won’t be cushioned, and your body will feel stiff the next morning. Kanade… you need to get some proper rest.”
“…Akkun.”
Kanade was gazing at me with a dreamy look. Her voice sounded a little feverish.
“Akkun. Today, I think I’m going to sleep more soundly than I ever have in my entire life.”
“What are you talking about, Kanade?”
“But…”
“I’ll be in trouble if you don’t do that.”
“Huh?”
“Letting you stay at my place means exactly that.”
Now that Kanade was staying at my place, there was no way she could wake up the next morning without being fully recovered.
With that resolve, I was letting her stay in this room for the night.
“…W-what do you mean?”
However, it seemed Kanade didn’t quite grasp my intentions.
“Kanade, nice to have you here tonight.”
“…Y-yes.”
“I’m going to take good care of you so that you’ll want to stay at this house again.”
“…Hehehe.”
Kanade smiled shyly.
Maiasa