The air between them was charged with unspoken feelings, like the final moment before a confession in a high school romance drama. Their gazes held for just a second longer than they should have, the room heavy with that peculiar early-morning ambiguity…
Until— "Excuse me, guest! Would you like your breakfast now?" came the landlady's voice from behind the paper door, cheerful and completely oblivious.
"…"
"…"
Kanade and Utaha froze, then instinctively turned their heads away from each other with perfect anime timing, cheeks subtly flushed. That shared glance just now? Too dangerous.
"A-Ah, yes! Thank you! We'll get up right away," Kanade called out with a slightly higher-pitched voice than usual.
He had informed the landlady last night that they'd need breakfast early to catch the first bus—another one of those responsible decisions that now felt more like a trap. His alarm clock, the scheduled breakfast… it was like everything was conspiring against that fleeting moment of closeness.
After answering, Kanade quickly sat up, adjusting his half-open yukata with a bit too much urgency. "You too, senpai. Don't sleep in just because we're traveling… We're outside, remember?" he said, avoiding eye contact.
Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed the small laundry basket with his clothes, picked up his phone, and walked straight toward the bathroom like a ninja escaping a compromising mission.
Utaha didn't say a word. She just nodded, calm and composed—as always. Or so it seemed.
The second Kanade disappeared behind the door, her entire demeanor collapsed. She rolled under the blanket with a muffled squeal, then buried her face in the futon.
"Ughhh… that was too close… I almost couldn't hold back…"
It was true what they said—morning was the start of a new day. But for someone like her, who had barely made it through the night, it was more like the reset button on all her suppressed urges! She'd thought she solved the problem herself last night without Kanade finding out, and now just a bit of sleep had undone all that effort!?
"Am I… that kind of girl?" she muttered into the futon, face red. "No, no, no, calm down… Breathe…"
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Kanade was splashing cold water onto his face like he was exorcising a demon.
"Geez... that was way too close..." he muttered. He stared at his reflection in the mirror and then let out a heavy sigh. "This is not an eroge. Pull yourself together."
Only once he had fully calmed down—and his face no longer looked like it belonged on a tomato—did he dare to head back out. The room was quiet, which made him wonder for a moment if Utaha had already gone back to sleep.
And sure enough, she was lying back down, her eyes closed and her breathing slow. From the outside, she looked completely peaceful.
"…You've gotta be kidding me." He sighed and walked over to her futon, crouching beside it.
"Senpai, come on. Wake up already. If you sleep in now, the breakfast will get cold. You can catch up on sleep on the bus, or back home… but at least eat first."
Utaha stirred at his voice, slowly blinking awake. She let out a tiny yawn and murmured, "Nnnh… Kanade… I'm so tired… I don't wanna move…"
"…Seriously?" Kanade gave her a look. Weren't you just blushing and kicking the futon like five minutes ago? Don't try to act like some delicate little princess now…
"Stop pretending. If you don't get up now, I'm eating your share."
"Ehh… so mean…" she pouted, rubbing her eyes. Then she slowly pushed herself up, lifting one hand to Kanade.
"Then… Kanade, help me up~"
Kanade rolled his eyes, but took her hand anyway.
And that's when he noticed it.
As mentioned earlier, Kasumigaoka Utaha's sleeping posture wasn't exactly what one would call refined. She rolled around quite a bit during the night—like a restless cat—and the yukata she had worn so neatly yesterday evening had already been twisted and tugged halfway to oblivion. Though not completely in tatters, the loose garment was slipping in a very unladylike manner.
One side had already fallen off her shoulder, exposing fair skin that caught the soft morning light. She looked peaceful, unaware of just how disarming her appearance was right now.
Natsukawa Kanade instinctively reached out to adjust it for her. Just a simple gesture, something polite. But the moment his fingers brushed near her shoulder, she stirred slightly, and the fabric shifted again—this time baring just a bit too much.
His eyes widened.
She moved a little, just enough to shield her "northern hemisphere," as some might say, but not fast enough to erase the image that had already been burned into Kanade's mind.
Ugh... what a shame—no! I mean, I shouldn't be looking at something so improper!
This moment... this wasn't like the accidental "event" with Katou last night. No, this was on a whole other level. The tension was real. The danger, immediate.
Kanade quickly turned away with a dramatic anime-style spin, practically pointing at her like some flustered student council president caught in a compromising romcom scene. "Senpai! Your yukata! It's—it's falling off!!"
He expected her to yelp in surprise, maybe scramble to cover herself, or at least show a shred of embarrassment. But Utaha, being Utaha… simply blinked at him with those sleepy, seductive eyes and stretched lazily toward him.
"Mou, does it really matter? I was going to take it off anyway…" she said with a soft, teasing voice, then added shamelessly, "Why don't you help me undress, Kohai-kun~?"
Kanade's jaw nearly hit the floor. "LIKE HELL I WILL! Are you a child or something?! What kind of messed up logic is that?!"
He fumed, face bright red, and shoved the laundry basket toward her. "Stop playing around! Just hurry up and get dressed already! I'll wait outside!"
His heart was still racing from earlier, and if he didn't escape soon, he might actually short-circuit. He spun around and dashed toward the door like a soldier fleeing a battlefield, muttering "Yamete kudasai…" under his breath.
Outside the room, Kanade leaned against the door, letting out a long exhale. That girl… seriously, she's gonna be the death of me someday…
Thankfully, his direct approach worked. A few minutes later, the door slid open, and Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped out, fully dressed. Her yukata was fixed, her posture graceful as always—but Kanade could sense something slightly… off.
"…"
She noticed his look. "What's wrong, Kohai-kun? Why are you staring at me so intently?" She tossed her hair over one shoulder and gave a sly smile. "Could it be that you regret not helping your dear senpai get dressed~?"
"Tch… Of course not." He turned his head slightly, lips twitching. "You just… feel a little different than yesterday, that's all."
"Oh~?" she tilted her head with faux innocence, then smirked as if a lightbulb went off in her head. "Ara ara… So you are that kind of person after all…"
"…Hah??" Kanade blinked. "What kind of person—?"
Utaha giggled. "Never mind. Since it's Kohai-kun, I'll give you a reward. Here." She stepped closer. "Hold out your hand."
Confused, Kanade complied. The moment his palm was open, she dropped something soft and vaguely stretchy into it.
"Huh?" He looked down. A black… something. Slightly crumpled. Cool to the touch. "…Wait. These are…"
"Stockings," she said sweetly. "I wore them all day yesterday. Since you're so interested, I figured I'd gift them to you."
With that, she turned and strode off, looking completely unbothered, her hair swaying confidently behind her.
Kanade stood frozen, staring at the item in his hand as if it were a live grenade. Wh-what the hell…?!
Hadn't she taken these off yesterday and not washed them? More importantly, why give them to him?! It's not like he was some kind of "used stocking" freak!!
With a horrified expression, he attempted to chase after her, holding the offending item like it was cursed. "S-Senpai, wait! Take these back!"
But before he could catch up, the landlady appeared around the corner.
"Ah! Good morning, young man!"
"…!"
Kanade's expression changed instantly. Like a guilty villain, he shoved the stockings into his pocket with lightning speed and straightened up, forcing a strained smile.
He absolutely could not afford to be misunderstood.
Not like this.
I'll return them later… when no one's watching!