75.葉桜 - I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me

"Who was it?" I echoed the words instinctively. Ayaka gave me a soft nod and carried the empty dishes to the kitchen. Soon, the sound of running water filled the air from the sink. "I know you're not good with housework." She spoke while scrubbing the dishes with a tightly gripped sponge. "At least let me handle the dishwashing." I stood up, but Ayaka immediately declined with a sharp "No." Her voice was firmer than usual. "Just sit down. I can at least do this much for you." "But—" "Having someone who's sick do chores for me would be embarrassing. Just sit." ...With that finality, I had no choice but to sit back down. Reluctantly, I lowered myself into a chair near the kitchen and watched Ayaka's profile. With a serious expression, she diligently washed the dishes. I could tell she was also struggling to find the right words, resulting in a prolonged silence. I knew what Ayaka was about to bring up. Yet, the response eluded me. My sluggish mind insisted that any attempt to think of a reply was futile. The sound of running water, once filling the room, gradually faded to a trickle, and then stopped altogether a few minutes later. "…Thank you." I voiced my gratitude, and Ayaka glanced over briefly with a wry smile, asking, "Where are you sitting?" She then left the kitchen momentarily and walked over by the bed. I threw a comment towards her retreating figure. "Isn’t it awkward for me to just sit here leisurely?" "On normal days, maybe, but it’s fine. You’re running a fever, aren't you?" "I am, but still." With my response, Ayaka reacted with a simple "See?" She picked up a cushion lying next to the bed and tossed it over to me. My extended arms were enveloped by its soft texture. "Thanks." "You're welcome. Now, about what we were discussing earlier..." Standing once more by the kitchen, Ayaka wiped droplets from the dishes and opened the shelf underneath. There, neatly organized, the dishes were laid out in an orderly fashion. Fitted snugly into elegant holders, they didn’t quite feel like they belonged to me. It was obvious that the kitchen area had become Ayaka's domain, filled with unfamiliar tools even unknown to myself. "These definitely aren't yours." "That's…" Honestly, I couldn't find the words to explain. It seemed wiser to just be honest than to make excuses. Given that Ayaka and Shinohara don’t have the best relationship, I should tread carefully, yet making up transparent lies felt like a mistake. Even if I managed to concoct a plausible excuse, Ayaka probably wouldn’t buy it. Especially since, given my current health, I lack the confidence to string together any convincing falsehoods. "It's fine to say it's your mother’s. As long as it’s an answer that makes sense to me." Ayaka approached, having released the hair tie restoring her usual hairstyle. "Here," she said. She met my gaze intently. Her long eyelashes seemed close enough to count. I leaned back slightly, breaking eye contact. What does Ayaka think of Shinohara regularly being at my place? We aren't dating, so there shouldn't be any guilt. We don’t have the kind of relationship where we dictate each other’s social circles. But, emotionally, Ayaka wouldn't be happy about it. Knowing that, I questioned whether honesty was the right choice. "Can't you tell me?" Ayaka questioned gently. Her expression was reminiscent of a moment from our youth. Those blue skies. The afternoons we spent alone in the classroom after school. Because we didn’t pretend, our bond deepened. —Be honest. I resolved myself. If it's the price for the porridge, Ayaka deserves the truth. "Well, uh—" Just as I began, Ayaka reached out with her hand. Her slender fingers pinched my cheek gently. "Hey. It's okay if you lie to me, you know?" "Huh?" "I said as long as it sounds reasonable, it’s fine." "But that doesn't mean anything." "It does. If I can accept it." Ayaka’s eyes held no trace of teasing. Her previous words could be interpreted as wanting me to give a false answer. ...Surprising. That we’ve come this far without hiding anything from each other. Accepting each other as we are, Ayaka and I have our current relationship. Yet, Ayaka said it was okay to lie. Was Shinohara's presence that difficult to accept? —Or maybe. It's true that we know each other as we really are, but it's also true that we don't know everything about one another. Some things can remain unknown. That’s a conclusion I must have reached at some point. I told Ayaka I’d wait for her to share things when she was ready. It meant maintaining a comfortable status quo. Just like during our hot spring trip, I chose that same answer. Twice, I’ve chosen to maintain the status quo. Maybe that's why Ayaka also refrains from probing into parts of me she doesn’t know. Outsiders might see our relationship as strange. We are aware of this perception. We are fine as long as we understand each other. ...That’s what I thought. But perhaps our relationship is more than I had assumed— "Hey." Lost in thought, Ayaka’s perplexed expression brought me back. I became aware of the perspiration on my forehead. It felt like I shouldn’t reach any conclusions about the swirling thoughts yet. "Are you okay?" Ayaka asked, gently wiping my sweat with her sleeve. The beads of sweat that escaped her sleeve’s edge stung my eyes, involuntarily causing them to close. Watching me squirm, Ayaka laughed lightly, then asked again. "Tell me your answer." If she sincerely wanted to hear a lie, setting the stage like this would have the opposite effect. In this atmosphere, in front of Ayaka, I could not fabricate a convincing lie skilfully. Attempting a lie now would undoubtedly lead to awkwardness. But, if Ayaka insists, I have no choice. "My parents drop by sometimes to check on me. That’s probably why everything looks so tidy." "I see, you have good parents." Ayaka briefly responded to my blatant lie and stood up. "Well, I’m off then." "Are you really okay with that answer?" "…Who knows. I’ll let it be for today, I suppose.” Ayaka grabbed a second cushion and threw it. It hit my face with a soft thud. Caught off guard, but not at an evasive speed. "You called me sick earlier!" Ayaka laughed, "If you've got that much energy, you'll recover soon." As she spoke, she slipped on a brown spring coat. Slowly, I got up and followed her to the front door. "You should be resting. You're the one who's sick." "Look who's talking!" "These lips say so, the ones that enchant everyone." "Wow, amazing." "Alright, I've decided—once you're better, I'm gonna punch you." Ayaka playfully tapped her fist on the door in response to my deadpan tone. That sense of determination was very much like her. "…Oh. I didn’t notice when I came, but you can see the cherry blossoms from here." Stepping out into the hallway, Ayaka commented on the view. A few meters from the apartment walkway, several cherry trees were lined up. When they're in full bloom, even I, someone not particularly interested in flowers, find my spirits uplifted by their stunning display. But now, green leaves were mixing in, and the blossoms were beginning to fall. "I should’ve come when they were in full bloom." "I was healthy back then." "True." Ayaka chuckled softly and flicked her finger against my forehead. A small, flicking sound echoed, and the spot warmed up. "Ow." "Lately, I've really wanted to see that face of yours." "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, feigning exasperation, as Ayaka began to walk away. "Thanks for coming," I called after her. Turning back with a smile, she said, "Take care," and left my place. —This is fine. For now, this is enough. A wind somewhat chilly for spring brushed against me, and I quickly headed back indoors. Alone, my room felt more lonesome than ever.