“Arisa-chan, you’re staying at Yuzurun’s family home right now, aren’t you?”
Spring course, day three.
During a break at prep school, Ayaka leaned over and asked.
Arisa nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m staying with them.”
“Anything… happen?”
“…Happen?”
Arisa tilted her head.
Ayaka, meanwhile, grinned mischievously and whispered in her ear—
“Well, if you’re living under the same roof as your fiancé, there’s only one thing to do, right?”
“Wha—!”
Arisa’s face instantly turned bright red.
“His family is there too, you know!? There’s no way we could do something like that!”
It was true they were under the same roof—
But Yuzuru’s family was there as well.
Even if no one saw them, the thought of being suspected of anything like that was more than Arisa could handle.
“So if they weren’t there… you would?”
“Th-that’s…”
Arisa recalled what Yuzuru had said three days ago—
That once his family left on their trip, they could sleep together.
His family would be leaving after they returned from prep school today.
Which meant—
From tonight, they could share the same futon.
“You’re blushing hard. So I hit the mark?”
“N-no! Don’t twist my words! …Besides, this isn’t the first time I’ve slept next to Yuzuru-san.”
They had stayed under the same roof before.
And sleeping side by side wasn’t new.
She told herself she was overthinking it—
And insisted as much.
“I never said ‘sleep,’ though? Wow, you’re dirtier than you look.”
“Ugh… but you clearly implied it!”
Arisa shot her a glare.
Ayaka shrugged.
“Well, yeah… but there’s more than just that, you know.”
“…More?”
“Yeah. What, when you think of living together with your fiancé, that’s the only thing that comes to mind?”
“Please stop. …There are too many possibilities, I don’t even know what you mean. We’ve already done most things anyway.”
Sleeping together.
Lap pillows, arm pillows.
Kissing. Hugging.
Cooking for each other. Cooking together.
Spending time together doing nothing in particular.
They had already done just about everything—
Aside from… that.
“Hmm. So you’ve never shown him your naked body?”
“N-naked!? N-no, of course not! Absolutely not!!”
They’d seen each other in swimsuits—
Something close to half-naked.
But completely naked?
No.
There was a big difference between what was hidden and what wasn’t.
“I mean… you only show that kind of thing in those situations, right?”
“Is that so?”
“It is! …You don’t just suddenly get naked for no reason, do you?”
If someone suddenly said “Show me,”—
Of course she’d be troubled.
It wasn’t that she refused…
But atmosphere mattered.
“Really? I can think of other situations.”
“…Like when?”
“Oh? Curious now? Want to show him? Or see him?”
“That’s not it!”
Flustered and pouting, Arisa turned away from Ayaka’s teasing.
“Well then, we’ll be out of your way. Enjoy yourselves, you two.”
“Thanks for the consideration.”
At Ayumu’s words, Yuzuru replied with a wry smile.
She waved at them, then looked up at her parents as if to say, Let’s go already.
But Yuzuru’s parents still seemed reluctant.
“Yuzuru, come here for a moment.”
“What is it, Mum?”
At Ayu’s beckoning, Yuzuru walked over.
She glanced briefly at Arisa, then leaned in to whisper.
“You understand, but don’t go overboard.”
“I know.”
“Absolutely nothing that would make us have to apologise to Arisa-san’s guardians, understood?”
“I said I know. …You could trust me a bit more, you know.”
Yuzuru frowned slightly.
Yes, he wanted to spend time alone with Arisa—
But he knew his limits.
More than anything, he would never do anything that would trouble, hurt, or upset her.
“A truly good wife and mother trusts her husband and son—but never blindly.”
“‘Good wife and wise mother,’ huh…”
“Got something to say about that?”
“Nope.”
Yuzuru shook his head.
Satisfied, Ayu turned to Arisa.
“Take care of my son, alright?”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
Arisa nodded firmly.
Both Ayu and Kazuya smiled at her response.
“Reassuring words. We can leave things in good hands. …We’re off, then. Call us if anything happens.”
With that, the three of them got into the car and left.
After seeing them off, Yuzuru placed a hand on Arisa’s shoulder.
“…Is something wrong?”
“It seems my parents don’t trust me. I’m wounded. Comfort me.”
He leaned his head towards her.
Of course, he wasn’t actually hurt—
It was just an excuse to get closer to her.
“…Honestly.”
With an exasperated look, Arisa gently began stroking his head.
