Seventeenth Period: Alone in That Kind of Hotel (Part 2)
"So, Atsuto. Do you... want to kiss?"
The single line whispered in my ear kept replaying in my head, and with every replay, my heart pounded faster.
I glanced over to see Char's clear blue eyes staring straight into mine.
It was clear this was not a joke meant to tease me.
"Y-yeah... let's."
"Eheh?!"
When I replied with a clear voice, Char looked surprised and leaned her face back.
"Why are you surprised?!"
"Well, b-because Atsuto answered with almost no hesitation... O-okay, then... go ahead..."
Char squeezed her eyes shut and offered her slightly parted lips to me.
"Then... here I go."
Char nodded, and I slowly leaned in, gently pressing my lips against hers.
Time seemed to stop.
It wasn't an accident like when we first met, but a kiss to confirm our feelings for each other.
A soft, plump sensation passed through my lips, and the sweet scent of shampoo from Char's damp hair entangled my sanity.
I don't know how much time passed. When I slowly pulled away, Char, her face bright red, muttered with a lowered gaze.
"We... we kissed."
"Y-yes, we did..."
"Your lips were... soft, Atsuto..."
"You're not doing this because you're drunk, are you?"
"I'm not drunk yet."
Unable to look directly at Char out of embarrassment, I glanced at the digital clock beside the bed and realized the date had changed.
"Um... should we go to sleep soon?"
I asked, seeing Char stifle a yawn.
"Y-yeah, you're right! I'm getting a little sleepy. Fua..."
Char bit back another yawn that was about to escape and flopped onto the bed.
"Fuhe... It's so soft..."
She covered herself with the blanket, then poked her head out, smiling blissfully.
...Char is in sleep mode, so I should probably go to sleep, too.
Just as I lay down on the sofa.
"Atsuto!"
I sat up to find Char, who had been looking sleepy just a moment ago, smiling brightly at me.
—And she had lifted the blanket, leaving space for one person.
"Sleep with me?"
Char tilted her head slightly, inviting me with a sweet voice.
I mean, a normal couple would sleep together in a place like this, but our relationship isn't there yet!
"I-isn't it a little too soon for that..."
"Aw? But we kissed, didn't we?"
She looked mischievous, her cheeks red, and that made me choke on my words.
...Calm down, me. The bed is big, so keeping a distance should be fine.
"Then, excuse me..."
I cautiously got into the bed and immediately put space between Char and me.
But she immediately closed the distance, pushing me to the edge of the bed.
"Why are you running away?"
"W-well, it's embarrassing..."
When I answered, Char said, "Hehe, I caught you!" and wrapped her arm around mine.
The sensation of her soft skin. Char's breath tickling my cheek.
"Atsuto. Look at me?"
"Ah..."
Char tugged my arm, forcing my body to turn.
Her eyes, which I saw up close enough for our breaths to mingle, were clear and blue, like embedded jewels.
"...Are you nervous?"
"...Well, yeah."
In this situation, it would be impossible not to be nervous. My heart has been pounding so hard it hurts.
"Hehe, you are nervous?"
"...Aren't you, Char?"
"I am. I'm very nervous."
Char placed a hand on her chest.
"But you know, even though I'm nervous, it feels strange to be with Atsuto. It's tense but fun, and I just want to be with you forever."
She gave a shy, crinkled smile.
Her pure, direct affection made my cheeks burn hot.
But—
"...Are you sure about me?"
The thought slipped out, and Char tilted her head, still smiling.
I was happy about Char's feelings.
But at the same time, a hazy, gray emotion welled up inside me.
If you think about it normally, it's strange for Char and me to be like this.
Char, working hard as a teacher, trying to be helpful to others.
And me, who has no ambitions and just lives a plain, ordinary life.
"I just feel like Char and I aren't really a match..."
"Why?"
"...Because I don't have anything special about me, like you do, Char."
I turned my eyes back to Char, having looked away once.
Char looked straight at me, waiting for me to continue.
"It's not just Char. My friends, Benika and Daikatsu, are all dedicated to something, but I just vaguely go to school, vaguely work my part-time..."
"Atsuto is a hard worker! You come to school every day, and you work your part-time because you have a reason to save money, right?"
Char gently stroked my head, trying to comfort me.
But that kindness felt like a thorn pricking my heart right now.
"...The truth is, I don't have a reason like that."
Char's hand, stroking my head, stopped.
"Huh? But you said so! When I picked up your wallet at school..."
"That was a... a lie I told to get you to let me keep my part-time."
So, I paused.
"I was only working my part-time because I just wanted money to play with."
Ah, I said it. But it was something I had to tell her eventually.
I couldn't look Char straight in the face.
She might be disappointed. She might be disgusted.
As I fearfully waited for Char's reply—
"Even a relationship that started with a lie, I want to cherish it."
The answer that came back was incredibly gentle.
I froze, doubting my ears. Char smiled softly and started stroking my head again.
"But I lied to you, Char..."
"Yes. That might be true. But if it weren't for that lie, we might never have gone out to hang out like this, you know? Besides—"
Char took a small breath.
"—Atsuto, you helped me! I love you just for that!"
She said that, her face blooming into a full smile.
"You helped me the first time we met, and you agreed to my request to 'teach me how to play.' Being kind to people is an amazing thing, isn't it?"
"But that's..."
"So, it's not that you're good enough, Atsuto. It's that I want you."
Char smiled sweetly and hugged my body tightly.
I was nervous, too, but I could feel Char's heartbeat through our chests pressed together.
"You... want me?"
"Yes. I want Atsuto."
In the silence, as if time had stopped, Char's voice echoed.
The sanity I had barely maintained began to peel away.
"I-it's embarrassing, but... I have proof, you know..."
Char whispered that in my ear, then suddenly sat up—
—and swiftly untied the cord of her bath robe.
"H-hey! Char?!"
I quickly turned my back to her, and from behind, her voice returned, laced with shyness. "It's okay. I-I'm wearing something..."
"This is the proof..."
I cautiously turned around, and Char was sitting there in her underwear.
Panties too small to hide the important places.
A purple bra with intricate embroidery, looking fragile against Char's large chest.
Char, who was red-faced, muttered to me, who was speechless with shock.
"I bought this for you, Atsuto, today..."
Char glanced toward the empty paper bag.
She had said she was "shopping," so did that mean—
"I thought that maybe the 'day' would come soon for Atsuto and me... I didn't think it would be today, though..."
Char smiled shyly and closed the distance between us.
"I wouldn't do this for anyone but you, Atsuto..."
"Char! Wait a—"
"Atsuto. ...Come here."
Char cut off my attempt to stop her.
"Tch..."
"I'll stay like this until you come..."
Char squeezed her eyes shut tightly, but her body was surrendered, simply waiting for me.
It was as if my resolve was being tested.
But going beyond a kiss with Char right here still felt wrong, somehow—
Moment by moment, time passed with nothing happening.
(...Okay.)
After a long time, the answer I reached was—to meet Char's expectation.
As if sensing my decision, Char collapsed onto the bed on her back.
"Char."
I took a deep breath, then positioned myself on all fours above Char, grasping her white, slender shoulders.
And just as I was about to press my lips against her soft ones again.
"...Kuu."
"Huh?"
A cute, sleepy murmur suddenly escaped Char's lips.
She went limp and flopped onto the bed, lying on her side.
"Huh? Ch-Char?"
I gently shook her shoulder, but all that came back was her steady breathing.
Did she fall asleep because she kept her eyes closed for so long...?
"She fell asleep again?"
"Funu..."
I was sure of it when a hazy sound came back.
"She's sleeping..."
At that moment, the tension drained from my body, and I let out a long sigh of "Haaah..."
Looking back, this was probably the right outcome.
Maybe Char and I were just getting caught up in the 'mood' of the love hotel.
And above all, I want to cherish my relationship with Char more carefully.
"Good night, Char."
I gently covered the peacefully sleeping Char with the blanket and closed my eyes.
...Though, after all that, there was no way I was actually going to be able to sleep.
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