NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20
“I see. So Ryuichi…”
“Yes. He’s been very kind to me…and he’s become all I can think about these days.”
Shizuna and Chisa were talking amicably in front of Ryuichi. He was relieved to see that nothing awkward had transpired between them, but at the same time he also felt a little uncomfortable. The reason was that their conversation had been all about him for quite some time now.
“Girls…could you not talk about something so embarrassing in front of the very person you’re talking about?”
“Oh, don’t be such a wet blanket.”
“That’s right, Ryuichi-kun.”
“…Tch.”
He gave a small click of his tongue, which only had the effect of making them laugh. Originally, Shizuna was the only one who was supposed to visit today, but as usual, Chisa decided to join in without calling ahead. At first, Shizuna had had a complicated look on her face, but as could be seen from the scene unfolding before Ryuichi now, the two quickly became friends.
“Chisa-san, would you like to eat with us too? I actually came here today to make some meat and potato stew for Ryuichi.”
“Oh, really? I’d love to try some homemade cooking from a younger girl!”
“Fufu, I’ll get started then. Ryuichi-kun, I’ll be borrowing your kitchen.”
“‘Kay~.”
Meat and potato stew. Ryuichi’s stomach rumbled the moment he heard those words. It was a sign that Shizuna had completely captured his stomach. Chisa stared at Shizuna as she stood in the kitchen and began cooking.
“She’s a good girl. Too good for you, in fact.”
“For sure. I’ve gotten my hands on a pretty good catch, if I do say so myself.”
“‘Gotten your hands on a pretty good catch’…huh. You said the same thing about me too, y’know?”
“Did I?”
“Yup.”
Now that she’d brought it up, Ryuichi remembered that he really did say that to her. When he had met Chisa at a party Makoto had invited him to, Ryuichi had asked her out at that moment. Their relationship continued to the present, and those were the words he’d said to Chisa, who’d become infatuated with Ryuichi.
“I didn’t think much of it because I was fine with our relationship remaining purely as it was, but now I can tell you really care now. Not just for her, but for me as well.”
“Really? Can’t really tell myself, though.”
As has been said before, Ryuichi had had a change of heart ever since he regained his memory. However, it wasn’t to say that the way he’d been until now has changed. He wasn’t going to prioritize a certain partner he’d had before, and had accepted his relationship with Shizuna and Chisa as it was.
“I think you’re much better now, y’know? Though I don’t think I’ll ever have romantic feelings for you. I think you and the girl are a good match for each other, don’t you think?”
Indeed, just as Chisa said, Ryuichi couldn’t imagine being in a lover’s relationship with her. Because of the length of time they’d spent together in a ‘sex friends’ sort of relationship, he couldn’t see a future in which they would progress to such a relationship now.
“I don’t know about Shizuna, but I totally agree with you about our relationship. If I had to say, it feels like you’re more of a troublesome sister to me.”
“Hey, who are you calling troublesome?”
Thunk. She hit him on his shoulder quite powerfully. Ryuichi’s sturdy body didn’t seem the least bit phased, however, and neither was it enough to anger Ryuichi. He reached his arm toward Chisa and embraced her body.
“Ah… ♪”
“You always quiet down when I hold you like this.”
“…I can’t help it, you know? My body’s been conditioned to do this when it’s in the embrace of these arms of yours.”
Chisa buried her face in Ryuichi’s chest. She had once said that any woman held in his arms like this would be captivated, and she herself had experienced this firsthand. When held in his thick, strong arms, Chisa immediately felt her body tingle with desire for Ryuichi.
“Hey, Ryuichi. Can I stay the night here?”
“That’s been your aim from the very start, hasn’t it?”
“Of course! ♪”
And so, that was how Chisa’s sleepover was decided. By the way, could the two have forgotten that Shizuna was still in the room with them? When Ryuichi felt her gaze on them, he turned to look at her. There, he saw Shizuna with her cheeks puffed out sulkily. It was as if she was saying that it was mean of them to exclude her from the group.
“Geez…”
“She’s seriously so cute.”
Ryuichi left Chisa’s side and made his way to where Shizuna was. She looked up at him with her cheeks still puffed out, but once he took her in his arms, Shizuna’s face instantly lit up. She hugged Ryuichi like Chisa did earlier and let out a sweet sigh as if to say she was happy.
“…I’m such an easy-to-please girl, aren’t I?”
“Yup.”
“But…only for you, Ryuichi-kun. I’m only an easy girl for you.”
“Haha, I see.”
Well, in any case, Ryuichi felt good to have such clear displays of affection from a woman. Shizuna then suggested that he take a shower, and Ryuichi did as he was told, leaving the dishes to her.
“…Geez, he knows just the thing I want him to do.”
Shizuna let the words slip as she thought about Ryuichi, who was heading for the bath. She was easy. Too easy. But that was fine with her. Because Ryuichi would do for her what she wanted him to do, just as she had said. Ryuichi’s existence was already too big for Shizuna, and she was crazy about him in the first place because she could look straight into his true nature.
“You’re so different from me, Shizuna-chan. You’re genuinely in love with him.”
“…I don’t think somebody genuinely in love would have sex with their crushes before even going out with them.”
“True. But everybody is different, or are you saying you regret it, Shizuna-chan?”
“No, I don’t. I have absolutely no regrets about doing it with Ryuichi-kun.”
“Then good. It doesn’t matter what others around you think; your thoughts and feelings are the only things that matter, Shizuna-chan.”
Shizuna unconsciously stared at Chisa’s face. She wasn’t particularly trying to judge her by her looks, but she couldn’t help it. After all, Chisa was so flamboyant-looking, the likes of whom she’d never seen at the high school she and Ryuichi went to, yet she was so kind.
“…You’re so kind, Chisa-san.”
“I know, right~? Ah, but even I was a naughty girl in many ways before I met Ryuichi, y’know? I think it was only after I met him that I became who I am today.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Such was Chisa’s story to Shizuna. She told him that when she met Ryuichi, she realized the darkness that lay within him. Of course, part of the reason she continued her relationship with Ryuichi was because she was in love with his body, but the most important reason was that she wanted to watch over Ryuichi, seeing as she was older than his younger self.
“He’s usually curt and blunt in many ways, but of course, there’s a reason at the root of it all. Shizuna-chan, have you heard about Ryuichi’s family?”
“…No, I haven’t heard the details. Just that they’ve passed away.”
All she’d heard was that Ryuichi’s parents had already passed away. From what she could see of Chisa, Shizuna knew she probably knew the deeper side of the story, but the fact also frustrated her a little.
“You’re so easy to understand, Shizuna-chan. But don’t worry. I’m sure…you will be able to illuminate Ryuichi’s darkness. He’ll probably tell you everything one day, so make sure to tell him whatever you think needs to be said when that time comes, okay?
“…Alright, I will.”
“Good girl ♪ …But I have to say, you really are one heck of a beauty, aren’t you, Shizuna-chan?”
“Is that…so?”
Those around her often told her she was beautiful, and Ryuichi, too, had told her the same once. But whether she could consider herself above average than others in retrospect was another matter. Whenever she walked down the street, numerous men would look at her, and she would often get hit on, just as she had been that one time. Now that she thought about it, she was able to objectively consider her appearances above average.
“Y’know, I think you’d rock a showy and flashy look, too.”
“A showy look…?”
“Yeah. Your pure and innocent look now is fine and all, but I think you’d look even cuter if you tried to look a little gyaru-like. Makes for a nice gap, y’know?”
“Huh…”
Gyaru-like. The idea essentially meant looking more flamboyant and showy. Shizuna had never thought about that before. Although she did worry about her appearance, that only ever extended to her keeping her hair and skin as beautiful as possible.
“Next time, why don’t we try putting you in some gyaru-like attire to surprise Ryuichi? Seeing you looking different from usual might get him excited, so—”
“I’ll do it.”
“W-Wow, an instant response, huh… But sure. Let’s do it!”
Thus began the plan to turn Shizuna into a gyaru, albeit temporarily, leaving Ryuichi completely unawares. Although today was their first time meeting, they’d gotten quite close to each other. Once Ryuichi finished his bath, it was Shizuna’s turn to take hers. Then, finally, it was time to serve Shizuna’s meat and potato stew.
“Man, this is just as tasty as I remembered it.”
“This is so good! You’re amazing, Shizuna-chan!”
“Thank you. I made seconds for you, Ryuichi-kun, so make sure to eat it all up, okay?”
“Don’t have to tell me that again.”
Ryuichi, who carried spoon after spoon to his mouth, abruptly stopped moving his hand, and just as Shizuna had done last time, she offered him a cup of tea. She and Chisa laughed at Ryuichi’s childish side which hadn’t changed.