IWSBSB 03

Chapter 03

After arriving at my place, I ushered Nakanishi-san into the living room, started the bath water, and went to grab a change of clothes and a bath towel. Handing the towel over, I murmured, “You must be freezing. The bath is running now, so just wait a little bit. More importantly, don’t stand there—please sit down on the sofa.” I spread the bath towel I’d brought onto the sofa and gently urged her to sit right there.

We sat across from each other on the sofa without a word while the bath filled. Part of it was that I genuinely didn’t know what you were supposed to talk about with a girl my age, but mainly, I just couldn’t bring myself to speak to Nakanishi-san with that sadness etched onto her face.

”The bath is ready, so please go ahead and get in. You can just toss your wet things into the dryer. And, I left some clothes for you; you can wear those. They’re mine, of course, but they’ve been properly washed, so they’re perfectly fine. Ah! The underwear is brand new, so please feel free to use it.”

Once Nakanishi-san was in the bathroom, and I had a chance to calm down, the reality of the situation hit me: the girl who was my first crush and the school’s idol was alone with me, under my roof. My heart started pounding. I was swamped with questions, too—she knew I lived alone, so why did she come with me? Why was she alone at the convenience store in the first place? I decided it was best not to ask until she brought it up. All the same, knowing Nakanishi-san was completely unclothed in my bathroom had my mind racing.

”Inamori-kun, thank you.” Her voice drifted out. “You should take one, too, Inamori-kun.”

I looked toward the sound and saw Nakanishi-san standing there, dressed in my school uniform shirt. Her beautiful legs extended from beneath the shirt’s hem, and I struggled desperately with where to look.

”I’m sorry, Inamori-kun,” she confessed, her eyes lowered. “The sweats you left out were just too big, and this was in the dryer, so I just put it on. Was that okay?”

”No, it’s perfectly fine,” I stuttered out, “But won’t you be cold wearing just that? I’ll turn up the room temperature right now.”

After her bath, Nakanishi-san settled onto the sofa, looking at her smartphone. Her eyes lifted to mine. “I trust you, Inamori-kun, so can I stay the night today?”

Nakanishi-san explained that she’d had a fight with her mother and just ran out of the house. She’d tried to call her good friend, Miyama Yuzuki¹, but Yuzuki was out to dinner with her family, and that was when I happened to walk by.

Miyama-san is in a different class but the same grade, and she’s one of the other school idols. Nakanishi-san and she were classmates in their first year.

She’s the kind of stunning girl who reminds me of Ingrid Bergman in ‘Casablanca’—a film I watched with my dad. ‘Cool beauty’ is the perfect description for her.

I don’t really know her since we’ve never been in the same class, but I hear she’s actually the opposite of her cool exterior—a fiercely loyal friend. It’s a bit of a problem, though—because I watched so many old movies with my father, my standard for girls always ends up being some unforgettable actress. My classmates are always talking about idols, but I can never keep up because I just don’t care about their shallow standards.

”I told my mom I was staying at Yuzuki’s and would be home tomorrow,” Nakanishi-san stated. “Is it really alright if I stay?”

”Are you really sure?” I pressed, shifting uncomfortably. “I am, technically, a guy, and we are completely alone.”

”It’s okay,” she insisted, her gaze steady. “I just believe that you’re not the kind of person who would ever do anything.”

I had no idea where this incredible trust in me came from, but it was well past nine o’clock, and it was still raining outside. I had no choice but to convince myself that this was an unavoidable situation. I knew for certain I was in for a night of frustrating turmoil.

Nakanishi-san hadn’t eaten dinner, so I had her eat the meal I’d bought, and I ate a cup of instant noodles I had on hand. I didn’t think I should ask her why she fought with her mother, and since I hadn’t talked much with girls my age, we ate in silence. Feeling awkward halfway through, I turned on the TV, but I couldn’t focus on the program at all.

That night, I let Nakanishi-san sleep in my parents’ unused bedroom. Just the thought of her being under my roof made my mind race, and I struggled to fall asleep.

Suddenly, I woke up, and Nakanishi-san was curled up asleep right next to me, embracing me from behind as I lay on my side. Was this a dream? I checked multiple times.

But no, Nakanishi-san was definitely sleeping beside me. I noticed the tear tracks on her cheek.

At school, I’d always seen her as strong-willed and dependable, but seeing this vulnerable side of her, I felt a powerful need to protect her. Without thinking, I gently put my hand on her shoulder, as if to hold her close.

As a healthy high school boy, it was—sadly—inevitable that having the girl I adored sleeping right beside me caused me to, well, become aroused. My resolve to simply protect her wavered, and I felt pathetic. I carefully pulled my hip away from her so as not to wake Nakanishi-san.

I couldn’t sleep even with my eyes closed, and Nakanishi-san woke up just as the outside light began to creep in. I pretended to still be asleep so she wouldn’t know I was awake.

”Inamori-kun, thank you.”

With that soft whisper, Nakanishi-san quietly got out of the bed and left the room. With a deep sigh of relief, I finally managed to fall into a proper sleep.

When I finally woke up, it was nearly nine in the morning.

”Good morning, Inamori-kun,” Nakanishi-san’s voice called from outside the room.

”I hope you don’t mind, but I used your kitchen and made breakfast! Please eat it if you like.”

I immediately jumped out of bed at her words.