Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

After Irie-san left our side, we quietly waited for the train to reach its destination.

Holding onto the strap, I was gazing absentmindedly at the pitch-black scenery outside the window.

Hayashi Megumi was looking down, as if lost in thought.

When she was watching the stage performance, she looked so happy when it ended. What could have possibly happened?

Well, even after the performance… when she dragged me into the train, she seemed to be enjoying herself.

So, when did Hayashi become like this?

Well, it must have been after she met Irie-san.

… There’s still a chance that Hayashi isn’t feeling down.

She may just be impressed by the performance and letting her guard down due to the emotions of the moment.

No, that’s not it.

Strangely, looking at Hayashi now, I sensed that she was feeling down.

Why? I can’t explain it well. Just, well… I’ve been living with her for about two months now. So, I kind of understand.

“Hayashi, is something wrong?”

As gently as possible, I called out to Hayashi.

On the day I reunited with her… even though she was in a far more miserable situation than now, I hadn’t thought of speaking to her kindly.

This must be a change in me, born from living with her.

Hayashi doesn’t say anything.

On the day we reunited… even though she was in a far worse situation than now, she was putting up a brave front.

But now, she’s silent.

Maybe, she thinks it’s okay to show her weaknesses to me.

Maybe that’s what she’s thinking. Or maybe not.

I don’t know the truth.

But it was clear that she’d changed a bit.

“Yamamoto, was it okay to say such a thing earlier?”

Finally, Hayashi spoke.

Earlier.

Such a thing.

What is Hayashi talking about?

… Ah, my comment about Irie-san.

Understanding this, I tilted my head.

Hayashi and I have been living together for almost two months now. We’ve warmed up to each other considerably compared to before. We even consider each other’s needs and occasionally go out of our way to help.

If that’s not family, then what is it?

“…She must have misunderstood.”

I don’t quite understand what Hayashi is saying.

I haven’t been misunderstanding that we are a family. But what is she talking about?

For a moment, I tried to stay calm.

It was a strange feeling. Even when I heard Hayashi’s ambiguous words, I would usually just tease her. But I never felt upset.

But now, I…

I let out a big sigh.

I took a moment to rethink everything.

Hayashi and Irie-san were probably meeting for the first time. But my meeting with Irie-san was pretty much the same.

So, even if I can’t understand what Hayashi is saying, I can’t definitively say that it’s different from what Irie-san thinks.

Rather… understanding the complicated and mysterious feelings of a woman, it doesn’t feel wrong to think that Hayashi is correct.

“…Next time I see her at university, I’ll tell her.”

“Okay. That’s a good idea.”

There was a beat before Hayashi replied.

Her words were in agreement. But it’s strange how I felt she wasn’t agreeing after just a beat.

“…Yamamoto, you don’t take family seriously, do you?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You kept telling me to go back to my parents, but you never go back to yours.”

“But you had a reason to go home, didn’t you?”

To heal a broken heart.

And to reunite with her critically ill father.

At that time, Hayashi should have gone home.

“In my case, I have no reason to return to my family home.”

“There’s no need for a reason to go back home.”

“…You’re saying that?”

“…Ahaha. That’s true. Sorry.”

Even though she had resisted going back home, she finally went back because I suggested it.

That’s what I thought, but Hayashi gave a bitter smile as if she was satisfied.

…I finally felt like her usual self was returning.

The air until now had been slightly painful.

“But, about family…”

Hayashi mused deeply.

“Never expected to hear such words from you, not the you from high school.”

“I was surprised myself. Never thought I’d say such things.”

“So, that means… you… you think of me… as important.”

“That’s how it seems.”

Now, one of the few pleasures in my life is eating the meals she cooks for me.

Of course, there’s no way I can say such a thing to her, it’s too embarrassing.

“My previous boyfriend probably never thought of me as family.”

I think of Hayashi as family because we’re living together now.

However, the same applies to Hayashi and her previous boyfriend.

As Hayashi says, her ex-boyfriend, who made her a victim of domestic violence, probably never thought of her as family.

But what about Hayashi?

Even though she was subjected to such painful experiences, she was dedicated to her ex-boyfriend… I wonder what she thought of him at that time.

As we silently looked at the dark night outside, we fell silent again.

It was at that moment.

“The train will stop.”

The announcement echoed inside the train.

The train began to decelerate suddenly. Then, after a screeching sound, the train jerked to a halt.

“Kyaa.”

Hayashi let out a small scream.

“Are you okay?”

I pulled her towards me with my right arm as she had let go of the hand strap.

Her face was right in front of my chest.

My heart started pounding loudly.

“…Sorry.”

“As long as you’re safe.”

Hayashi pulls away from me.

Then, another announcement.

Apparently, the train had stopped because a train running ahead had suddenly halted. The train would remain stationary until the train in front moves.

Right after the announcement, the train started moving again.

Another announcement.

According to the announcement, the train ahead had halted due to a sudden illness onboard. After reaching the next station, our train would halt again.

I absentmindedly thought, what a terrible situation.

I’m worried about the health of the sick passenger, but more than that… I felt slightly uncomfortable.

Awkward.

How long were we made to wait in this situation?

Passengers on the still immobile train began to get irritated and cause a commotion.

Hayashi glanced at her watch.

“Hey, Yamamoto?”

“Hm?”

“We have to change trains once more, right?”

“Yes.”

“We probably won’t make the last train.”

“…I see.”

Should we walk back home after reaching the transfer station?

No, if we walk from there… it will easily take about an hour.

“Hey, Yamamoto?”

“Hm?”

“Should we get off here?”

“…What?”

“I’m tired.”

For some reason, Hayashi’s eyes seemed to be filled with tears.