“Well then, excuse me.”
“Yeah, come in.”
After the marathon ended, Yuzuru returned home together with Arisa.
They had already finished their lunchboxes, so that part was taken care of.
“I’m tired…”
Arisa murmured as she sat down on the carpet.
She stretched out her long legs and slumped slightly.
Though it looked more like a pose of exhaustion than genuine fatigue.
“Yeah… same here. Competing like that was a mistake.”
“It was really close at the end.”
“Yeah. Without your support, I might’ve lost.”
At that, Arisa’s eyes widened.
“…You heard me?”
“More like… I felt like you were cheering for me.”
He hadn’t actually heard her voice.
But somehow, he just knew.
Arisa scratched her cheek, blushing slightly.
“I-I see… I actually thought about cheering loudly like Ayaka-san and the others, but… it was a bit embarrassing…”
“I got the message, so it’s fine.”
If Arisa had loudly cheered him on, their classmates would’ve realised how close they were—
That would’ve been a bit too soon.
“A-anyway, Yuzuru-san… um, about the bath…”
Her fair skin flushed a rosy pink, her voice slightly unsteady as she brought it up.
Yuzuru nodded.
“Yeah, it should already be ready. I set the timer before we got back.”
“I-I see…”
For some reason, Arisa kept glancing at him from beneath her lashes.
Like she wanted to say something—but couldn’t bring herself to.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-no, it’s nothing…”
“Do you want to go first? I don’t mind.”
He tilted his head inwardly.
Maybe she wanted the first bath, but felt awkward saying so?
Though that didn’t quite explain why she seemed so embarrassed.
“I-is that okay? Then I’ll go ahead first!!”
Apparently, that was the right answer.
Arisa stood up in a slight hurry.
“I’ll use the bath additive too, alright?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
She disappeared into the changing room.
Soon, the sound of the shower began.
“…This is oddly nerve-wracking.”
It wasn’t the first time Arisa had used his bath.
And yet, something about it felt different.
Then Yuzuru realised—
She’d gone in without bringing her change of clothes or towel.
With a sigh, he picked up her bag and headed towards the bathroom.
The door was frosted glass—he couldn’t see clearly, though a faint silhouette of skin was visible.
Yuzuru swallowed.
(…It’s not like I’m trying to do anything weird.)
Calming himself, he knocked.
“Hey, Arisa.”
“Fwah!? Y-Yuzuru-san!? N-no, that’s not okay!! That’s definitely not okay!!”
“What are you even talking about…”
As Arisa panicked on the other side, Yuzuru replied calmly.
She seemed to regain her composure, clearing her throat rather deliberately.
“Ahem… um, what is it? If you’re trying to peek, I’ll splash water on you.”
Her tone was cool—almost guarded.
…but it also felt like she was trying to cover something up.
“Not going in. You forgot your clothes and towel, right?”
“…Ah.”
Understanding dawned on her.
“Could you bring them to me?”
“I’ve got your bag. They’re in here, right? Want me to take them out?”
He didn’t know exactly what she’d packed.
But if there were spare undergarments inside, she’d probably be embarrassed if he saw them.
So he asked first.
“Well… yes, I’d rather not rummage through my bag with wet hands, so if you could—”
She cut herself off.
“Ahhhh!!! No, absolutely not!! Please don’t open it!!”
She shouted so suddenly that Yuzuru’s hand froze mid-motion.
“O-okay… got it.”
He obediently placed the bag in front of the door.
“You didn’t look, right?”
“I didn’t.”
“…Don’t. Absolutely don’t look, okay? If you do, I’ll hate you, Yuzuru-san!!”
“…Alright.”
Being told that so strongly stung a little.
Feeling slightly deflated, Yuzuru turned to leave—
And then noticed it.
Arisa’s “shell” lay scattered on the floor.
Perhaps she’d been in a rush—or perhaps she was more careless than she seemed.
Her clothes were strewn about rather messily.
Her tracksuit, her sweat-damp gym clothes.
Her shorts, bra, and camisole lay there as well.
“….”
Arisa smelled nice.
Whether that was because he liked her, or because she naturally smelled good—he didn’t know.
But to Yuzuru, her scent was pleasant.
And today, especially so.
The mix of shampoo, sweat, cooling spray, and that uniquely feminine scent had stirred his instincts all the way home.
And now, right in front of him, were the clothes she’d worn all day.
Soaked enough that her undergarments had nearly shown through—
There was no doubt they carried a strong trace of Arisa’s scent.
After her bath, most of that scent would be gone.
Of course, that was fine too—
But it meant he wouldn’t get to smell it again today.
And that made it feel like such a waste—
To just walk past what was right in front of him.
“…Honestly, what was that about? Saying she’d hate me if I opened her bag…”
That was a bit harsh, wasn’t it?
If she didn’t want him to see, she should’ve been more careful.
Yuzuru felt slightly hurt.
In that case…
Didn’t he have the right to a little payback?
“Actually, this is Arisa’s fault. Yes, entirely her fault. Coming into a guy’s room without caution, leaving her clothes lying around like this… honestly, what kind of upbringing did she have?”
Muttering that, Yuzuru crouched down.
Right in front of him lay Arisa’s discarded clothes.
“…I’m not in the wrong. She is. Really, what a troublesome girl.”
Saying that—
He picked up her gym shirt.
It was still faintly damp.
And then—
He brought it to his nose.
“…What am I even doing…”
Later—
Yuzuru sat slumped on the sofa, overcome with self-loathing.
