13 Someday, These Feelings of Love Will Reach You

"Uuugh..."

"Haaa..."

Two corpses were sprawled across the classroom morning.

Chito-chan was completely drained, sitting on her cushion on the floor again. I was slumped over my desk, unable to even muster the energy to tell her how improper she was being.

"Whoa, Sora, Naruse-chan... what on earth happened to you two?"

Luna walked into the classroom and froze. She was wearing her jersey top and athletic shorts—probably because she had PE second period and couldn't be bothered to change after morning practice.

"The truth is... I was with Tochika-kun until morning..."

"So sleepy... Chito-chan... give me... an energy drink..."

"I don't have one today..."

"Why don't you have one when it actually matters...?"

"I’m sorry for being such a failure..."

"Wait, wait, wait! Naruse-chan just said something I can't ignore!"

Luna slammed her hands on my desk and leaned in.

"S-Sora! What were you doing with Naruse-chan until morning?!"

"Luna, we aren't in the gym. You don't have to shout for me to hear you."

The whole classroom was getting noisy now. If people didn't misunderstand this, I’d have to question the average IQ of our classmates.

"Then tell me everything. If you hide a single detail, I’m making you run a full marathon with me."

"I’m not sure even I could break three hours for a marathon..."

"If you could break three hours, I’d drag you to the track club right now. Forget that—tell me about Naruse-chan!"

"We were just... together until morning..." Chito-chan said, giving me a meaningful look.

"It was supposed to be five hours, but then it turned into ten, and then before we knew it, it was morning... I just got so caught up in it..."

"I see. So nothing happened."

As expected of Luna. She knew I’d never do anything weird to Chito-chan. I guess building up a foundation of trust really pays off.

"We were just talking. We spent five hours at the cafe, then I went home, and we just stayed on a video call after that."

"You guys act like high school girls."

"Chito-chan is a high school girl. Yawn... I’m seriously dying. I didn't even get an hour of sleep."

I was confident in my stamina, but being a heavy sleeper usually meant that sleep deprivation hit me hard.

"What were you even talking about all night?"

"We sat in the cafe until Chito-chan’s curfew, watching dog videos while she lectured me on the greatness of puppies."

"Dogs?"

"And I... I talked about the depth of sweets... and I think I might have slipped in some talk about the beautiful Onee-sans I see at cafes... I have a feeling that part went on the longest... and I’m pretty sure my sister came up once or twice..."

"I can sympathize with Naruse-chan’s struggle there. Though even I haven't been forced to listen to it all night."

"If you had, it would be a problem... it would be lewd... uuuuh."

Chito-chan rested her head on my lap and groaned. I couldn't stay slumped over, so I sat up.

"Hey now, Naruse-chan. That is what’s lewd. If you want a lap pillow, I’ll let you use my thigh."

"Is it a knee? Or a thigh? Knees feel hard... and I’m very picky about my bedding..."

"Come to think of it, Chito-chan, you sleep on a futon at home instead of a bed, right?"

"Wait another damn minute! How does Sora know Naruse-chan sleeps on a futon?!"

"I told you, we were on a video call. Chito-chan was rolling around on her futon the whole time."

I had essentially peeped into Chito-chan’s private room—which I’d never been to and had no plans to visit—over the internet.

"Wait one more minute. Does that mean Naruse-chan was in her room wear... no, her pajamas?"

"I like being clean! I don't roll around on my futon in the clothes I wore outside."

Chito-chan was still squirming around on my lap.

"It’s easier to sleep at a low altitude on a futon. I’m a restless sleeper, so I’d fall off a bed... and I use a body pillow too."

"You were using it."

The Chito-chan on the screen had been clutching a dog-patterned body pillow while rolling all over her futon.

"I don't care about the futon or the pillow. Naruse-chan, I have an important question."

"Wh-at?"

"What do you wear to sleep? It’s not a negligee, is it?"

"Does anyone actually sleep in a negligee? I don't think you’d find a high school girl who does..."

I agreed with Chito-chan there. Actually, most people probably didn't even know what that word meant.

"I just wear normal pajamas~... cute pink ones."

"Chito-chan, your chest was peeking out from the collar, and the hem kept riding up so I could see your stomach. You’re gonna catch a cold like that."

"Your stomach always comes out when you sleep. But you’re not allowed to look at my chest... pervert..."

"A bit late for that."

Maybe because she was still half-asleep and dazed, Chito-chan’s filter was failing.

"Sora! If you saw something you weren't supposed to, you should have warned her!"

"Even for me, saying ‘I can see your boobs’ is a bit much. Pretending not to notice was the peak of my politeness."

"Or did you just pretend not to notice while taking a long, hard look...?"

Luna was glaring at me with eyes scarier than the ones she used during volleyball matches.

"Trust me, Luna. I felt like I was literally committing a crime, so I tried to look away as much as possible."

"That’s also kind of disappointing~... It’s like you really don't see me as a girl..."

"Chito-chan, please just be glad I didn't look."

If anything, I felt like she was the one who didn't see me as a boy.

"What is even happening... Naruse-chan, did you actually gain anything from all that talk with Sora?"

"I learned that I don't understand Tochika-kun at all."

"I don't really get Chito-chan either. The nerves it takes to be on a video call while showing off your loose collar is a mystery to me."

"I told you, I didn't realize...! But don't worry, Lu-kun. I’m the type who wears a bra even when I sleep..."

Isn't being seen in your bra also a huge problem?

"Well, I guess a bra is fine..."

"How is that fine?!"

Luna had also let me see her underwear before with only a bit of anger. Chito-chan was weird, and Luna was a childhood friend—I really shouldn't use them as a standard for how other girls would react.

"Oh, Tochika-kun was dressed pretty casually too... like a long-sleeved T-shirt and jersey shorts."

"Eh? Oh, yeah. I don't really do pajamas."

"Really? Sora used to wear pajamas all the time."

"That was back in elementary school when we had sleepovers, Luna."

Back then, when one of our parents was away, we’d stay at each other’s houses. Once we hit middle school, that obviously stopped. I’d switched from pajamas to clothes I could at least wear to a convenience store.

"A boy’s sleepwear... it made my heart race a little... I could see your collarbone and your thighs..."

"Collarbone? Thighs?"

I pulled at my collar to look at my own collarbone and slapped my thigh. Do people actually get excited over this...?

Chito-chan didn't seem to be joking; her face was actually a little red. Even though she hadn't been embarrassed about the bra talk.

"Ugh, forget that... I said something weird. I won't forget the collarbone and thighs, though..."

"I feel like those are the two things you should forget."

"But, but but!"

Chito-chan’s sleepy eyes suddenly snapped wide open.

"The fact that I realized I don't understand Tochika-kun is a huge harvest! I should report this to Amamori-san."

"I wonder if that Onee-san will actually be satisfied with that."

If she found out we talked all night, she’d probably be even more suspicious of our relationship. I felt like the day I’d actually get along with Amamori-san was getting further and further away.

"Since we don't understand each other, we just have to take the time to figure it out. Five hours, ten hours, even a whole night isn't enough. But realizing that I want to understand Tochika-kun more... isn't that a step forward?"

"You’re a real optimist, aren't you?"

Well, it was better than staying strangers. I idly lifted one of Chito-chan’s twin-tails. She didn't resist at all, just let me do it. I guess we were at a level where she didn't mind me touching her hair.

"You might be disappointed once you actually understand me. Actually, you definitely will. I’m just a guy who likes sweets and tall Onee-sans. There’s not much else inside."

"...I’m afraid Naruse-chan is going to end up creating a version of Sora that likes things other than those two."

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

Luna had just said something very suggestive.

"Alright, good morning, everyone."

At that moment, our homeroom teacher, Ms. Kamiki, entered the room. Despite being a grown woman, she somehow pulled off a youthful hairstyle with her long hair tied to one side. She was an undisputed beauty, to the point where other classes were jealous of us.

"Naruse-san, please sit in your chair. Tochika-kun, stop playing with the girl’s hair."

「「Yes, ma’am.」」

Chito-chan and I answered in unison. Chito-chan returned to her seat in front of me, and Luna reluctantly walked back to hers.

"It’s okay. Just because you’re small doesn't mean you have to give up on love," Ms. Kamiki muttered under her breath.

"Hm?"

It was a faint whisper. Only those of us sitting near the podium probably heard it.

"Nn... I’m not giving up. If anything, I’m just getting started."

"What are you even talking about?" I replied, slumping back over my desk.

Right. I was supposed to be sleepy.

"Actually, I thought that Amamori-san was a bit unpleasant," Chito-chan said without turning around.

"...Well, she’s a counselor. Part of her job is saying things people don't want to hear."

I’d had my moments of irritation, but I wasn't the type to hold a grudge.

"Thanks to all the stuff she said, I got to talk to Tochika-kun for a long time, I learned a lot, and since I want to know more, we’re gonna be together forever from now on."

"Are we?"

Chito-chan, are you rewriting history to suit your own convenience again?

"So I’ll be thankful to Amamori-san. I think I can find it in my heart to forgive her for doubting Tochika-kun."

"...Well, that’s good."

"Now then, Naruse-san, Tochika-kun. Do not continue your conversation while ignoring your teacher. I’ve been told since I was young that I’m the type of person you should never make angry."

"That’s a hell of a threat, teacher."

She was such a kind, beautiful teacher, but maybe she was hiding some dark secrets.

Anyway, Chito-chan and I both shut up. Honestly, we’d been talking since yesterday; if we didn't stop soon, our throats were going to give out.

Yes, we’d talked about so many things. Most of it was meaningless, with only a tiny bit of substance. So I still didn't really understand Chito-chan.

But maybe it was because I knew her just a little bit better now...

I found my eyes drifting toward Naruse Chito a little more than usual.