[Vol 1] The Secret Life Of An Honor Student Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – This Is Exactly Why You’re Not Popular

 

During P.E. class.

The boys’ activity was basketball. The court was divided by nets hanging down from the ceiling. On the other side, the girls were having their own class, and the boys who were good at sports were fired up, trying to show off.

I watched the match from the court’s edge, stifling a yawn.

Even though I’m not all that eager about sports since I’m in the go-home club, I still put on an act like I’m participating seriously in class.

“You’re totally putting on that ‘look, I’m being serious’ face.”

Standing next to me, Natsu teased me while tapping my shoulder. He looked full of energy, as always. I couldn’t help but think, how does he keep that up?

I don’t really like getting tired. It just makes me sleepy for the next class, and I don’t want to get sweaty. But since it’s class, I show up and move around enough to make it look like I’m doing my part.

“I just want to keep a grade of three.”

“Your ambition is way too low.”

“Three is average, you know?”

“Sounds like the perfect score for Akito, who just blends into the crowd.”

“What’s with that jab?”

“I just want you to spread your wings and fly out into the world, Akito—just kidding.”

I gave the joking Natsu a light shove, and he replied with a casual “my bad, my bad.” Since I wasn’t actually mad, I just let it go and we kept chatting until a sharp whistle blew, signaling the end of the previous game.

Swapping with the tired students, I stepped onto the court along with Natsu and eight others. It was a 5v5 match, and Natsu was on my team. There was one basketball club member on each team.

Alright, just move around enough not to stand out and not get in the way.

The whistle blew, starting the mini-game, and the opposing team won the jump ball.

The pass went to the basketball club member, who looked like he was having the time of his life as he dribbled and charged for the goal. I tried to block him, but with his sharp movements, he broke past me and two others with ease.

But the basketball club member on our side stopped him impressively, switching us to offense. The ball was passed with a long throw to Natsu, who had already sprinted to the goal. He made a clean layup and scored.

Yeah, that guy’s good at sports. He’s in the soccer club, after all.

I don’t need to be as good as him, but maybe if I could move a little better, I might actually enjoy sports.

“Nice shot, Natsu.”

“Thanks. Get ready, Akito. They’re coming.”

As Natsu returned to our side of the court and exchanged words with me, the other team came charging in, desperate to get their points back.

From there, it turned into a back-and-forth match.

We scored, then they scored, and the voices of the crowd grew more and more excited.

I didn’t take an active role in attacking, focusing instead on defense. Of course, I couldn’t stop them all by myself, so I focused on slowing them down with blocks.

Before long, it was clear the match was almost over. We were winning by just one basket. The ball went to the other team—this was probably their last chance to attack.

They passed carefully, closing the distance little by little. But then, the basketball club member received the ball and suddenly started dribbling in for an attack. He blew past two defenders in an instant and even faked out Natsu, breaking through.

I stepped up to face him, spreading my arms wide in a defensive stance. Luckily, our basketball club member was right behind me.

If I got pushed back, he’d stop them.

“Move!”

The player yelled aggressively and charged forward, dribbling hard. His speed was nothing an amateur like me could stop—but I reacted halfway, and that’s when it happened.

My body moved on its own, and just then, the basketball club member collided with me—

“Hah—!”

“Akito!”

A sharp pain hit my back.

By the time I heard Natsu’s panicked voice, I was already lying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

Thump, thump—the sound of the ball bouncing echoed through the floor, resonating in my head.

“Crap, are you okay?!”

A panicked voice called out. When I cracked my eyes open, I saw the boy who had been dribbling, crouching down with a guilty look on his face and reaching out a hand to me. He probably didn’t mean to knock me over.

He must have just gotten carried away in the heat of the game.

“I’m fine—ah.”

Just as I stood up to show I was fine, a dull pain shot through my left ankle. I managed to stay on my feet by shifting my weight to my right side.

Looks like I twisted it when I fell.

“Did you hurt your foot?”

“Seriously, don’t worry about it. You didn’t do it on purpose, right?”

“Well, no, but…”

“Then it’s fine. I’ll just grab some ice from the nurse’s office.”

“Need a shoulder, Akito?”

“No. Do I look that injured to you?”

I brushed off Natsu’s exaggerated concern, got permission from the teacher, and headed to the nurse’s office.

But the place was empty. The nurse was apparently out, so I went to search the medical box for some ice packs.

I found what I was looking for right away. Just as I sat down on the bed—at just the right height to put it on—

The closed door slowly opened.

“Are you okay? I heard you got hurt.”

The one who stepped in was Mamiya, dressed in her gym clothes.

There wasn’t a trace of dishonesty in her worried expression and voice, which just made me feel more awkward.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was worried. I saw what happened from the other side. That was quite the collision—how bad is it?”

“Probably just a light sprain. It’ll heal if I leave it alone.”

“…Personally, I think you should go to the hospital and get it checked properly.”

“If it doesn’t get better, I’ll go.”

(What are you, my mom?) I thought as I reached for the ice pack again—only for Mamiya to take it away from the side.

“Give it back.”

“You shouldn’t move it too much, so I’ll do it for you.”

“No, it’s fine, I can do it myself.”

“No.”

A bright, full smile—one that almost felt like I could see the mischief behind it. Just from that expression, I knew Mamiya had no intention of giving it back. It was obvious she just wanted an excuse to tease me, and my cheek twitched in frustration.

In other words, this was her other side.

“Come on, show me your foot. Take off your sock too.”

“…Yeah, yeah.”

Resigned, I did as she said and pulled off the sock from my sprained foot, holding it out to her. Mamiya carefully checked my ankle, then gave a small nod.

“It doesn’t seem too swollen. How’s the pain?”

“As long as I don’t put pressure on it, it’s fine.”

“I see. Then stay still for a while and rest.”

“It’s not that bad—”

“No.”

“…Fine.”

Yeah… that smile is a little scary. Her tone was gentle, but the pressure it carried was no joke.

Mamiya peeled off the clear sheet from the ice pack.

“Alright, I’ll put it on now.”

I nodded, and a cold sensation spread around my ankle. Mamiya carefully smoothed it down so there wouldn’t be any wrinkles, her expression completely serious. She clearly wasn’t planning to fool around this time.

Her long, silky hair, the white of her soft cheeks, and the faint pink of her lips caught my eye. Because she was kneeling, the collar of her gym uniform had loosened, letting me see all the way to her collarbones.

I hurriedly turned my eyes away and tried to steady my breathing so she wouldn’t notice I was flustered—

“…Ah, you were just looking, weren’t you?”

Mamiya caught me immediately, sharp-eyed as ever.

When I looked back, she was wearing the familiar faint smile of her other side.

“I’ve said this before, but I’m not mad at you, Aisaka-kun. You’ve seen it plenty of times already, haven’t you?”

“Please just have some normal shame like other people.”

“What do you think I am?”

“An exhibitionist with a bad habit of stripping.”

“Wow, that’s harsh. So, does that make you a pervert, Aisaka-kun? You’ve seen my bra and panties, touched my boobs, and gotten excited, right?”

“You were the one who showed me and made me touch them!”

“That’s one way to put it.”

Don’t agree with me so easily!

“Even during P.E. class, the boys can see you… and there’s no way you don’t notice.”

“Or maybe you just think they haven’t noticed?”

“You say that like it’s none of your business. Well, I guess I’ve never seen you paying much attention to the girls.”

Staring at people is rude, and I don’t have that much interest in the opposite sex. I see other guys checking out girls all the time, but… if the roles were reversed, I’d hate it.

While we talked, Mamiya finished applying the ice pack. She gently rubbed my ankle over the pack as a final touch.

“Okay, all done.”

“…Thanks, I guess.”

“You’re welcome. Now, rest for a bit.”

“No, I think I should go back to class—”

I stood up, not wanting to skip class over a light injury—but a sharp pain shot through my ankle, making my knee buckle.

I reached out to grab onto something—only to end up grabbing Mamiya instead. I didn’t have time to pull my hand back, and I accidentally pushed her down while my entire palm sank into something soft.

“Hyah!”

A short squeak escaped her lips.

Before I knew it, Mamiya and I had fallen onto the other bed, our bodies overlapping. A weird sound escaped my throat as I realized what my hand was feeling—soft, yet firm.

It was Mamiya’s chest. My fingers were practically sinking into it through her jersey.

Mamiya’s eyes were squeezed tightly shut, her long hair fanned out messily across the bed. My right knee was caught between her legs, and I couldn’t stand up right away because of the awkward position we were in.

“S-sorry! I’ll get off right now!”

I quickly moved my hand off her chest and planted it beside her head to push myself up—but when I met her gaze, her eyes had a mischievous gleam, pulling me in—

And then Mamiya yanked me back down onto the bed.

She quickly shut the curtain around the bed and pulled the blanket over us.

“M-Mamiya—”

“Shh, someone’s coming.”

She silenced my protest with just that, covering my mouth with her hand. In the darkness under the blanket, our eyes met.

Her arms wrapped around the back of my neck. Her warm breath tickled against my neck, sending an involuntary shiver up my spine. And because the blanket was so small, her chest pressed up against me, the soft sensation messing with my head.

The pale skin peeking from the loose collar of her jersey was too much, and I squeezed my eyes shut to resist the urge to stare.

“Huh? The nurse isn’t here.”

“Yeah. Let’s just grab some band-aids and go.”

“Where’s the first aid box?”

The voices of two girls reached my ears, and my breath caught—but honestly, that wasn’t even my biggest concern right now.

The faint sweet smell under the blanket. Mamiya’s warmth soaking into me. Her soft breathing, right next to my ear. With my eyes shut, every little sensation of her clinging to me felt more vivid, and my head felt like it was boiling.

“…Don’t move, okay?”

She whispered in my ear, her voice tinged with both tension and a hint of unease. When I cracked my eyes open, her face was right there, barely a breath away.

But her gaze darted nervously, unable to stay still. So even Mamiya hadn’t expected this situation. Realizing she felt the same awkwardness eased my tension a little.

But only for a moment—because Mamiya buried her face against my neck.

The smoothness of her cheek brushing against me, and the ticklish feeling of her silky hair, made me hyperaware of her presence.

“Huh? Where is it…”

“Ah, is this it?”

“Yeah, that’s it!”

It sounded like they’d found the first aid box, rustling through it noisily.

Please just find the band-aids and leave already—I prayed silently as Mamiya still refused to let go. At this point, she was practically hugging me, and my head was spinning.

My whole body felt hot, sweat soaking my back, my throat completely dry.

“C-could you move away a little…? You’re… uh, pressing against me in a lot of ways.”

“—!”

When I whispered that into her ear, Mamiya blinked in surprise.

That reaction was so unlike Mamiya, with her anxiety written all over her face, that it made me feel strangely amused. Almost as if aiming for the moment my guard dropped, the bed frame creaked, the loud sound echoing through the infirmary.

Did they notice?

A prickling sensation ran down my back, and my heart rate spiked.

“What was that? Just now.”

“It came from the bed, right? Did we wake someone up?”

“Or maybe someone’s just skipping class and hiding here.”

“Could be.”

The two girls laughed softly. But thankfully, they didn’t go as far as opening the curtain.

If they noticed us, pulled open the curtain, and yanked off the blanket… my peaceful school life would be over in an instant.

After all, I was lying on the same bed with a girl in her gym clothes, practically hugging her. No one would believe it was just a misunderstanding—because it wasn’t. I wouldn’t be able to talk my way out of it.

My body stiffened up, joints feeling locked as if rusted.

“Okay, all done. Let’s head back.”

“Yeah.”

After a moment, it seemed their business was finished, and the two girls left the infirmary. The door clicked shut, and peace returned once more.

“They’re… gone?”

Mamiya muttered cautiously, still under the blanket. We strained our ears. No voices, no footsteps. No sign of them coming back.

“Probably.”

“Phew… that was close.”

“It’s still pretty dangerous right now, though? Get off me already.”

“Eh? You sure you wanna say that, when you’ve got such a cute, big-breasted girl hugging you?”

“…It’s just uncomfortable, so stop.”

“Geez, fine.”

With a small sigh, Mamiya’s arms loosened from around my neck. But the weight on my body didn’t go away—she was still leaning against me.

Her gaze was hazy, her eyes faintly feverish. It was hard to see clearly in the dark, but her face looked flushed, and her skin felt warm to the touch.

…Wait. Could this be…

“Sorry if I’m wrong, but do you have a fever?”

“Nn… huh? Oh, right. Maybe I do?”

Her voice and expression were soft, almost melting.

Her eyes curved like bows, long lashes fluttering slowly. Her shallow breaths brushed against my neck, making me restless.

Still, if she really had a fever, I couldn’t just leave her like this.

“I’m taking the blanket off.”

“Eeh… but it’s warm.”

Her arms squeezed tighter, pressing me against her softness, filling my nose with her sweet scent. Forcing myself to stay rational, I tossed the blanket aside, letting the trapped heat escape.

Carefully prying her arms away so I wouldn’t hurt her, I got up from the bed and stepped back.

Mamiya puffed out her cheeks, glaring at me.

“You’re not supposed to be rough with girls, you know?”

“I wasn’t rough. And please, snap out of it. You’ll regret this later.”

“Regret…? Ah, but being warm felt nice.”

“Then just stay under the blanket. I’ll go find a thermometer.”

I told her to stay in bed, and although she let out a sulky groan, she obediently lay on her back. I pulled the blanket over her and went to look for a thermometer.

Finding one inside the medical kit, I handed it to her so she could take her temperature. I waited outside the curtain, and when I heard the beep signaling the end of the measurement, I called out and stepped back inside.

“What’s the result?”

“Mm… like this.”

“37.4°C… a slight fever. Since when?”

“Probably since this morning. I started feeling weird during class, so I came here.”

I swallowed hard at her sweet tone, but judging from how she looked, it seemed like just a cold. Still—since morning? Couldn’t she have just stayed home?

Well, whatever. The point is, even a slight fever might get worse later.

“Just stay here and rest. I’ll let our homeroom teacher and the nurse know.”

“…Aisaka-kun, you’re leaving?”

“Well yeah, I still have class. And I have to tell the teachers. Besides, if I stay here, it’ll just look suspicious and be a bother.”

I had skipped gym class to come here, and Mamiya had too, most likely.

If we both missed the next period as well, people would definitely get the wrong idea. That would be a problem for me, and Mamiya wouldn’t want that either.

“So just stay put and rest.”

“…Then, will you walk me home today?”

“Sure, but only to make sure you get home safely. If no one’s around, I’ll go with you. I’d feel bad letting you go home alone like this.”

Honestly, the thought of letting this dazed version of Mamiya walk home by herself was kind of terrifying. She looked like she’d lost most of her caution and clear thinking—she might even follow a stranger if they called out to her.

…Okay, that’s probably rude of me.

I didn’t know if the teacher would even let her go home alone, but since we lived in the same apartment building, it wasn’t too bad if I tagged along as a sort of chaperone.

Still, I wish she’d stop looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes.

Even if she didn’t mean anything by it, it made me worry and overthink things. At this point, it was just a bad habit I couldn’t break.

Feeling reluctant, I closed the curtain behind me and left the infirmary.

After that, I told the teacher and the nurse that Mamiya had a fever and was resting. Since my own injury was mild, I was sent back to class.

Though the empty seat next to me left me feeling oddly lonely, I convinced myself this was how it usually was and focused on class.

When lunch break came, the teacher came into the classroom and asked some of the girls to pack up Mamiya’s belongings.

Apparently, she was leaving early. Then, the teacher turned to me and asked, “Since you live nearby, could you walk her home after school?”

I could feel my classmates’ envious and jealous stares stabbing into me, making my stomach hurt.

Well, whatever the reason, I’d be walking home with Mamiya. Plenty of guys would die for that chance.

Ignoring those looks and vibes, I made it through the rest of the day, then went to the infirmary to pick Mamiya up. Opening the curtain around her bed, I saw her lying on her side with a cooling sheet on her forehead.

But maybe she sensed someone’s presence, because her eyelids fluttered open. Her blurry eyes focused on me, and her cheeks relaxed in relief.

“…Ah, Aisaka-kun.”

She gave me a loose, silly smile.

“Did I wake you?”

“Nope. Wait, school’s already over?”

“Yeah. Think you can walk home?”

“Probably. I feel a little better after sleeping.”

Even so, her face was still faintly flushed, her eyes slightly watery. She still looked feverish.

Sitting up, Mamiya let out a soft sigh. She was still in her gym clothes—probably for comfort while sleeping.

“Do you have your uniform?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah… this one.”

“Thanks. I should change before we go.”

“Then I’ll step outside.”

“You can stay. Talk to me while I change.”

Well… I guess that’s fine. There was a curtain anyway, and I wasn’t going to look.

I pulled the curtain shut and stared out the window. I could see the soccer team practicing outside, with Natsu running after the ball among them.

From behind me came the rustling sound of clothes. Just the thought of what she might be doing made me flinch and force my mind elsewhere.

“…I think I was letting my guard down a little.”

“About what?”

“Catching a fever, having Aisaka-kun walk me home… I was just thinking, wow, this is happening.”

“Come to think of it, you don’t usually get sick, huh?”

“I usually take good care of myself, you know? I wonder why this time. Maybe it’s because I started talking to you.”

“Don’t make it sound like I’m the cause of your fever.”

“Haha, sorry.”

She laughed softly as she apologized, and I couldn’t help but frown slightly.

At school, Mamiya was always the perfect honor student—always showing only her flawless self. That’s how she had always appeared to me. I didn’t think catching a fever would ruin her image, but maybe she was more self-conscious about it than I thought.

Everyone gets sick once in a while. Some people even fake it just to skip class.

Compared to that, Mamiya was almost too earnest.

“Still, you really are kind, you know? Aisaka-kun.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“It’s just who you are, huh. It shows without you even trying. That’s why, when I’m tired, I can’t help but lean on you a little.”

Her voice was quiet and gentle. The rustling stopped, and the curtain opened. She was back in her uniform, looking once again like the perfect honor student.

“Hey, let’s take a picture.”

“If you’re talking about undressing here, cut it out.”

“No, not like that. I mean a selfie, the two of us together.”

“…Why? What’s the point?”

“To remember this day forever, of course.”

“Your reasoning is nonsense.”

I just couldn’t follow her train of thought at all.

"Well, if you want to take a picture, go ahead."

Since it wouldn’t actually hurt me, I just gave a vague reply, and Mamiya’s cheeks visibly softened as she stepped up beside me. Our shoulders brushed, and her hair brushed against my neck.

She raised her phone with her left hand, closing the distance so we would both fit in the frame. My own reflection on the screen still looked kind of tense, stiff even.

Mamiya, on the other hand, was completely natural.

"Say cheese."

Without caring about my expression, she pressed the button. Click—the moment was captured on screen.

Mamiya stepped back, checked the photo, and said in a completely innocent tone, "See? Your face still looks so stiff, Aisaka-kun." I wanted to tell her not to be unreasonable, but she was still a sick person recovering from a fever.

"If you’re satisfied, I’m heading home."

"Okaay. If I collapse, you’ll catch me, right?"

"I’ll at least call an ambulance for you."

"So cold."

"Your fever’s gone down, right?"

"I took the medicine and slept, so yes."

"Good. Is there someone waiting for you at home?"

"I live alone right now. …What, are you planning to attack a sick girl?"

"I’m just asking what you’d do if you got worse while alone."

On the way back.

We walked home at a relaxed pace. Mamiya was wearing the mask she got from the nurse’s office, but she looked a lot healthier than I had imagined.

"Come to think of it, since you live alone, you cook dinner for yourself too, right?"

"That’s right."

"Can you even cook in that condition?"

"I don’t really have a choice, do I? I’m used to living alone, and I’ve done it plenty of times."

Her tone was polite, leaning more toward her usual honor-student mode. Probably because we were outside where someone might overhear.

Even so, it had to be tough catching a fever while living alone. She probably couldn’t even go shopping properly.

"Are you worried about me?"

"Got a problem with that? It’s not like we’re total strangers."

We weren’t exactly friends, but calling us mere acquaintances also didn’t feel right. I couldn’t bring myself to say the word friends out loud—not when she held leverage over me.

But maybe she sensed something from my words, because Mamiya gave me a faint smile. The way her gaze seemed to say “I know,” made me feel oddly uncomfortable.

"…Ah, sorry. It’s just, I guess it feels kind of refreshing."

"Because you’re not used to being worried about?"

"In short, yes. I can’t show weakness to the people I deal with at school. If I ever let my guard down, I might as well sign my death warrant."

"You’re exaggerating."

"That’s just how a girl’s world works. And if a boy ever found out, there’s no doubt he’d go, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,’ and start coming on to me. It’s actually happened before."

Mamiya said it with genuine annoyance.

At school, she was smart, graceful, and trusted by teachers—of course she was highly regarded, which attracted people. Some probably admired her sincerely or wanted to be friends, but it wouldn’t be strange if there were also people with less pure motives.

Still—

"So you never thought I might hit on you?"

"You don’t seem the type, nor do you seem to have the guts for it."

"…Did you just call me spineless?"

"Am I wrong?"

"Well, I never had the slightest intention anyway."

"I can tell from how you act… You couldn’t even make a move after everything that’s happened."

Her words made me recall what everything referred to—and all too vividly, I remembered how it felt.

The softness of her chest, the heat of her breath, the silky smoothness of her hair. That unique sweet scent mixed with sweat, and Mamiya’s slightly flushed face.

I guess there really was no better way to hide at the time… but forgetting it wasn’t easy.

"Just so you know, it wasn’t only because I had a fever. That really was the best choice. If it had been only me, I could have come up with an excuse."

"That last part I didn’t need to hear."

"And yet you already know I’m a schemer, don’t you?"

"Schemer’s one word for it… I’d say more like conniving."

"…That’s a bit harsh."

I ignored her reproachful glance. There was no way I was going to call a classmate who’s blackmailing me just “sly.”

Though connivin might be a bit much too.

"You’re actually kind of childish, you know. I never saw that side of you at school."

"…You think I’m childish?"

"If that offended you, sorry."

"…As long as you don’t tell anyone else, I don’t mind."

She turned her face away, looking a little sulky.

"I’m not really the perfect person everyone seems to think I am. I’m not flawless, and I make mistakes. I even get sick like today."

"Sounds exhausting, living like that."

"Yeah. It’s exhausting. Not just physically, but mentally too. Always having to stay on guard… sometimes I just want to relax and be myself."

"Then just do that. If someone cuts you off for being yourself, that’s their problem for having false expectations."

That was probably the burden of someone who naturally drew attention.

I did feel shaken when I first learned Mamiya’s true nature. But it only added to what I knew about her, and didn’t change anything fundamental.

And more than anything, I knew Mamiya was a good person at heart. Otherwise, my school life would have been over long ago.

Even if we had mutual benefit involved, that was still part of who she was.

Not a lie, not an illusion—just reality.

Mamiya let out a small sigh and smiled faintly.

"…It’s really too late for me to change, though. I study for my own sake. I behave well so the teachers will trust me. I keep smiling so as not to invite unnecessary trouble—it’s become second nature, like a mask I can’t take off anymore."

"Sounds tough"

"Exactly. That’s why I want someone I can relax around, at least a little."

"And what is it you want?"

"How about having dinner together? At my place."

Her casual words made me stop walking.

"There’s no deeper meaning. I just don’t feel like cooking in this condition."

"You mean you want me to cook? I’m not that good."

"That’s fine. I won’t complain. And… when you’re sick, don’t you just feel unbearably lonely? It makes you want to have someone around."

"well, You’re the one who said I might attack you earlier."

"So what, are you planning to now?"

"…I’ll cook, we’ll eat, then I’m leaving."

"It’s settled then."

She smiled when she said that, but for some reason, she looked a little lonely.

"Here we are. Come in."

"…Thanks for having me."

I stepped into Mamiya’s apartment, nervous as I passed through the door.

The entrance was neat and tidy, save for two pairs of Mamiya’s shoes. A faint floral scent from an air freshener tickled my nose.

The layout was the same as my own place, and yet it felt like an entirely different space.

"So, I’m cooking dinner, right?"

"Yeah, I’m leaving that to you. Honestly, I’m starting to feel bad again now that the medicine’s wearing off. You can use whatever’s in the fridge."

"Got it."

"Sorry for asking you to do this."

"You should be."

"And yet you’re still doing it. You really are nice. I’m going to change real quick."

Mamiya disappeared into the back room.

Left alone, I headed to the kitchen with mixed feelings. Opening the fridge, I found a decent stock of ingredients. Vegetables, ground meat, eggs.

Considering her condition, I should make something easy to digest. Given what was there… porridge should work. If I simmer the veggies and meat, then season it simply with salt and pepper, it should at least be edible.

Cooking rice from scratch would take too long—oh, there’s frozen rice. I can just microwave that.

"Let’s get this done quickly."

I tossed the frozen rice in the microwave to defrost and started prepping the ingredients.

I chopped carrot, onion, and cabbage into bite-sized pieces and stir-fried them in a pan. Once they softened, I added the ground meat. While that cooked, I beat the eggs.

"Wow… you’re actually cooking."

Mamiya’s voice of surprise came from the kitchen entrance.

Just as she said, she’d changed out of her uniform into something comfortable—a loose sweatshirt. So Mamiya really does wear sweats, huh… For some reason, I found that oddly impressive.

"You’re the one who told me to."

"I know, but… I didn’t think you could cook."

"I wouldn’t have agreed if I couldn’t."

"Thanks. So that’s… porridge?"

"Good guess. Think you can eat it?"

"Yeah, I’ll be fine. Can I watch?"

"Go ahead."

Having someone watch me cook was kind of nerve-wracking.

I cooked fairly often at home, but rarely for anyone outside my family. And doing it for Mamiya was on another level.

Not wanting to mess up, I deliberately shut out the awareness of her presence and focused on the cooking.

I prepared another pot, mixed water with dashi, and brought it to a boil. Once the onions had turned translucent, I added the veggies, meat, and rice, then poured in the beaten eggs. A little salt and pepper to season, a quick taste test, and once it seemed just right, I turned off the heat.

It didn’t look that great, but she had no right to complain.

I ladled it into a bowl, sprinkled chopped green onions on top, and it was done.

"Sorry it’s just this one dish."

"It’s fine. I didn’t feel like I could eat much anyway."

"You mean you don’t trust my cooking?"

"No, I mean my condition. You know that. And it looks good—I’m not going to complain after you made it for me."

She gave a loose, almost childlike smile.

That expression made my chest tighten again—but I quickly pulled myself together.

I only made this because she was sick and needed help. There was nothing more to it, and Mamiya knew that too.

I brought the porridge to the living room table, sat across from her, and joined my hands in a little "itadakimasu" after she did.

"Careful, it’s hot—you’ll burn yourself."

"Then why don’t you blow on it for me, Aisaka-kun?"

"Do it yourself."

"So cold."

What part of that was cold, exactly?

Mamiya scooped up some porridge, blew on it properly, and took a bite.

"…It’s good."

She said it softly, eyes still on the porridge.

I knew it was at least edible, but being praised so directly still made me feel embarrassed.

"You could make something like this yourself, right?"

"I’m good at cooking, but that’s not the point. It tastes better because someone made it for me."

"That’s just sentimental talk. Cooking is about following the recipe, not feelings."

"And that’s exactly why you’re not popular, Aisaka-kun."

"Mind your own business."

I wasn’t cooking to be popular anyway. Finishing my portion first, I thought maybe it was a little too salty.

"You eat fast."

"I’d look bad if I ate slower than a sick girl."

"Fair enough. Then keep me company until I finish."

"...Sure."

I was planning to stay until the cleanup was done anyway. I couldn’t leave until Mamiya finished eating. After leaving my own dishes soaking in the sink, I returned to the table.

"Aisaka-kun, do you have any siblings?"

"I have an older sister."

"Heh... sounds nice."

"She’s already a working adult though. It’s not as great as you think."

"Really? I’m an only child, so I kind of admire that."

Mamiya kept eating her porridge as she looked at me with a hint of longing in her eyes.

"My parents divorced quite a while ago. I ended up living with my dad, but he’s away on business trips most of the time. That’s why… having someone to say ‘welcome home’ feels kind of nice, you know?"

"...Are you sure it’s okay to tell me stuff like that?"

"Why not?"

Mamiya said casually, then scooped up another bite of porridge and chewed.

So that’s why she said she lived alone. Since she didn’t seem bothered by it, I figured it’d be rude to dig any deeper. I tried to think of a new topic—only to come up empty.

"Having you here today made me feel really reassured, you know... If I’d been alone, I probably would’ve died of loneliness."

"You’re not a rabbit, you’d be fine."

"Girls aren’t that different. Especially girls like me."

She laughed self-deprecatingly and took the last bite of her porridge.

Then she looked satisfied, her expression softening as she put her hands together. "Thanks for the meal."

"Alright, you’ve eaten. Take your medicine and get some rest."

"I know. Thanks for today. Not just for the food, but for staying with me too."

"...It’s not like I did anything that big."

For some reason, looking her in the face felt awkward. I took Mamiya’s dishes to the kitchen, washed them quickly, and got ready to leave.

"Next time, I’d like to talk with you a little more. As a way to thank you for today."

"If anyone found out, my peaceful school life would be over, so no thanks."

"You’re exagger—actually, no, you’re probably right. Haa... Okay, then let’s call this one favor you can cash in sometime."

"I don’t care about favors. If anything, just get rid of that photo—"

"Okay okay, see you tomorrow!"

Mamiya cut me off, shoved me out the door, and closed it behind me.

A chilly night breeze brushed past my skin, reminding me that winter was close.

"...See you tomorrow, huh."

Swallowing down the strange feeling of how naturally Mamiya had become part of my daily life, I headed back to my own place.

 

◆

 

"You’re late, Aki."

"Aka-nee... how much have you been drinking?"

"Can you blame me~? My adorable little brother says, ‘I’ll be home late,’ and how am I supposed to stay calm? I was so worried I couldn’t swallow anything but alcohol!"

Who greeted me when I got home was my completely drunk sister—Aisaka-Akaha. Even if she says it’s my fault, I don’t know what to do about it. And now she was about to open her next can of beer, making me hold my head in my hands.

Can she please start acting less obsessed with her little brother already?

Seriously, it’s getting troublesome.

"So, you haven’t even eaten dinner yet?"

"I can’t cook."

"At least make an effort."

"Last time I tried making a late-night snack, it tasted so weird I burst out laughing, so I gave up."

"You probably just didn’t follow the recipe."

Aka-nee didn’t answer and simply tipped back her beer can. Judging by that reaction, I hit the mark. Looks like Mom didn’t leave us dinner either. Dad tends to come home late, so by default, I end up being the one who cooks.

She was probably waiting for me to cook in the first place, but because of Mamiya, I got home late today.

"I’ll make something now. What do you want to eat?"

"Meat! And if you make something that goes with alcohol too, even better!"

"That’s a lot of demands. Just wait a bit."

After saying that, I went to change clothes first, then headed to the kitchen. I checked the ingredients in the fridge, figured out what to make in my head, and started cooking.

"Hey hey, where were you today?"

Aka-nee wandered into the kitchen, bringing with her the smell of alcohol.

This was that classic drunk pestering... seriously, I wished she wouldn’t.

"Does it matter?"

I tried to brush her off, but Aka-nee leaned close to me, sniffing like a dog.

"This smell... it’s a girl, right? You have a girlfriend?"

She said it with this all-knowing look on her face.

I felt my cheek twitch. Even after changing my clothes, she figured it out by smell? What is she, a bloodhound?

"Are you a dog?"

"You didn’t deny the girl part. Hee~..."

"Stop overthinking. You know I’m not the type to get a girlfriend."

"But you never know, maybe you just might~."

"You know, I could just not cook dinner."

"Please, anything but that—!"

As soon as I used dinner as a bargaining chip, Aka-nee pressed her hands together like she was praying and bowed her head. What a shameless sister... I thought, while deliberately pushing away the faint prick of guilt in my chest.

The reason I got involved with Mamiya today was purely circumstantial. If her condition had worsened and she’d collapsed, knowing about it and not helping would have left me feeling guilty, that’s all.

It’s definitely not for the reason Aka-nee was teasing me about.

With that thought, I kept my hands busy cooking and eventually sat down with Aka-nee to share the dishes I’d made.

 

◆

 

[Mamiya's POV]

 

"...He’s gone, huh."

I found myself muttering as I stared at the closed door. Something like a lonely, restless feeling swirled endlessly in my chest, and I couldn’t help but hate it.

Aisaka-kun and I are connected by a strange secret. That’s why, even though I thought I might have pushed things too far by asking him to do so much, it was surprising that he didn’t refuse.

"It’s not like he has feelings for me or anything."

As I walked back to the living room, my thoughts kept drifting to Aisaka-kun.

He seemed to take this stance of not making me his enemy.

That was probably because of the photo. As long as I have that, Aisaka-kun is always at risk. Even if I have no intention of revealing it, it still functions as a card to make sure he keeps the secret.

"But still, when he does something like that... I mean, I’m still a girl. Of course I’m going to feel a little conscious of it. And I want him to be a little conscious of me too."

Why am I even worrying about this? Maybe it’s just because I’m feeling unstable after having a fever.

This isn’t love. It’s just that my need for acknowledgment is a little out of control.

Even though he seems uninterested in me, Aisaka-kun still reacts innocently whenever it comes to anything girly. I have to admit, it makes me feel a little restless inside.

And... today completely caught me off guard.

Clinging to him in the infirmary— It only turned out that way because of the fever. Inviting him over was also because of the fever. Even feeling like this right now is because of the fever.

"It’s been so long since I wasn’t alone. And to think it would be a classmate, a boy, of all people..."

Aisaka-kun’s face floated into my mind— That calm, unchanging face he kept, even while we were in the same room alone together— And I couldn’t help but feel just a tiny bit frustrated.

I mean, my heart was pounding the whole time, you know?

But more than that, there was this happiness that came from being with someone, and I couldn’t help but feel a little attached. That part, I guess, can’t be helped.

"A lonely girl will just die if she’s all by herself... or something like that."

On a day like this, I should just take a nice bath and get some good sleep. If I want to keep being the perfect honor student tomorrow, I have to shake off this cold tonight.

...Well, at least now I know there’s someone I can rely on. That alone makes me feel a little lighter.

It’s not fair to Aisaka-kun that our connection came about by chance, But hey, I get some benefits out of it too, so we’re even. After all, he did push me down today.

That little flutter in my chest—just a tiny one— That will stay my secret.

And thanks to those two who came to the infirmary, everything got muddled anyway. I can just tell myself I hugged him to hide, and that memory overwrites the rest.

"...He really was comfortable to hold, though."

If only I could have used him as a pillow and fallen asleep just like that— No, I’ll just blame that thought on the fever.

Otherwise... I’ll be in trouble.

"Okay, enough. Bath, then early bed. If I sent him a picture of me in my pajamas, I wonder how he’d react?"

He’d probably just leave me on read, Or send back a curt, “Put some clothes on.” That would be funny in its own way, But I’m not in that kind of mood right now. I feel... satisfied somehow. I just want to sleep and wake up to a new morning.

But there’s still fear.

I feel like I might just give in to this creeping, poisonous sensation seeping into me.

"...I really am weak, huh."

My self-deprecating laugh echoed through the quiet room before fading away.