After leaving the tavern.
“O-Okaku-kun. So… what do we do now? It’s not even late yet, I mean… um, I don’t really have any other plans for tonight, so…” “Ah… let’s head home.” “Eh… y-yeah… I guess that’s fine…”
That was when Ichika and I decided to start our journey back home.
“Konchā! Sis!”
“M-Mirō? What are you doing here?”
Right as we were stepping out of the tavern, there stood Ichika’s little brother, Niekawa Mirō-kun.
He wore sunglasses and a suit, giving him a rather conspicuous appearance.
But upon seeing us, he broke into a bright smile and struck up a conversation with easy familiarity.
“Yaa-yaa! Long time no see, big bro!” “Hey. What brings you out here?” “Just here to give your sis a ride or something.”
“A ride? Besides, how did you even know we were here in the first place?”
“Totcho… ahem ahem. Whatever, it’s just family vibes!”
…I swear I caught a few unsettling words there.
Ichi-ha let out a weary sigh.
“Fine, please take me home. Okatani-kun, do you want a ride as well?” “Ah… yeah, that sounds like a good idea…”
Well, since he went all the way over there (though I have no idea how he even knew where we were), it would be rude to refuse and send him back.
I gratefully accepted Sanjo’s offer to drive me home… until a moment later. “Here, we’ve arrived!”
“Huh? Wait! Sanjo?! This place is…”
“Dang it☆ I accidentally drove all the way to that love hotel on the outskirts☆”
We had ended up at a love hotel in the neighboring prefecture, quite far removed from the city limits.
I didn’t exactly believe Sanjo-kun was “lost,” but… “Oh, is that you, Takahara-sama?”
Just then, Sanjo-kun pulled out his smartphone.
“Oh, hello? Yeah, yeah. What!? No way! Takahara-sama has caught bird flu and might die!? That’s terrible!”
After dropping us off, Sanjo-kun…
“Sorry, sis! It seems Takahara-sama is in critical condition from the bird flu! I’m gonna go meet her before the Reaper gets there first!” “Wait, hold on!” “Ta-da! Good luck!”
Miro-san left us behind, disappearing into the night.
…By the way, the last train had long since gone (it took stupidly long to get here). All that was left were me and Ichika.
And right in front of us was a love hotel… ”…”
Ichika pulled on my arm, her face burning bright red.
She looked up at me with glistening eyes.
Ichika is tall, but I’m still taller than she is. ”…”
After setting things up this way, I don’t think I’m stupid enough not to know what she’s expecting of me. ”…I am”
But right now, I was struggling and wavering over how to handle our current unhealthy relationship.
”…Please. Oka-san. Today is… somehow lonely.” “Ichika…” “Please…”
Before I knew it, I had wrapped my arms around Ichika’s slender waist and pressed my lips to hers.
Here I was again, drifting toward the easier path. From this sweet quagmire… I couldn’t pull myself out.