Part 2: You Really Don’t Need to Thank Me, Touha-san

[Did you buy it, Rikou-nii?]

Tsuki rushed over happily, grabbing my arm tightly like she did when she was little, her eyes darting around the bag, peeking here and there.

She’s already a high school student, yet she’s still just like a child.

But—

Ah, it hurts.

Especially when she grabs my arm like that, I can already feel the pain in my back.

Thankfully, it didn’t land on Touha-san.

That would’ve been troublesome.

For some reason, I suddenly froze, and before I noticed, Tsuki tugged at me.

[What’s wrong, Rikou-nii?]

Tsuki looked at me in confusion, then leaned closer and sniffed me lightly, as if she’d noticed something.

[That’s strange, why does Rikou-nii smell like something I’ve smelled before?]

[No, it’s definitely not Rikou-nii’s own smell.]

[Alright, Tsuki.]

I pulled my arm away and took the bento out of the bag.

Even I had to stop Tsuki at this point, using this vague action to divert her attention.

After all, Tsuki and Touha-san have been friends for quite a while.

If I let her keep sniffing, she might really notice something.

That would just cause trouble for Touha-san.

And since it’s something I promised to do, I can’t let Touha-san down no matter what.

Anyway, I handed the bento to Tsuki.

[I bought it back.

Your favorite, sauce-glazed grilled meat.]

[Yay, Rikou-nii is the best!]

Tsuki jumped around happily with the bento in her hands.

She really hasn’t changed at all since she was little.

Neither have I.

I just smiled at her from the side.

Touha-san actually got it wrong.

I don’t have anything I particularly like.

The reason I often make sauce-glazed grilled meat is simply because Tsuki likes it.

But if I’d denied it back then, she would’ve been really hurt, wouldn’t she.

After all—

She observed me so carefully, Touha-san.

She really made an effort to know me.

As a friend, that makes her an incredibly good one.

If only she didn’t try so hard to force herself.

Being too awkward like that can really hurt you, you know.

[Rikou-nii, Rikou-nii!]

Tsuki’s voice pulled me back from afar as she grabbed me.

That’s when I realized—

I’d slipped into another daze again.

How many times has this been already.

And this time, while talking with Tsuki.

Now I’ll have to apologize again.

[Sorry, Tsuki.]

[Hmph, I thought Rikou-nii was going to ignore me forever.]

She puffed up angrily.

I really had been pretty awful just now.

[If Tsuki forgives me, I’ll make your favorite fried rice tomorrow morning.]

[Rikou-nii’s fried rice!

Really?!

That’s great!]

She’s loved it ever since she was little.

Especially when I first learned how to cook, and especially the first time I made fried rice.

She was so happy she spun around on the spot.

[Rikou-nii, I want to eat your fried rice forever!]

I still remember her voice from back then.

Still, being able to eat properly is a good thing.

You need to eat well to grow healthy and energetic.

I wonder if Touha-san listens to my advice at all.

Given her personality, she probably just ignores it.

She’s really nothing like Tsuki.

To the point she almost seems to dislike food.

That’s honestly worrying, Touha-san.

Even my cooking, which I’m fairly confident in, only barely lets her eat without resistance.

I change dishes every time, yet I still can’t find anything she truly likes.

To be honest, it’s troubling.

Maybe she’d like the fried rice Tsuki loves too.

Thinking that way gave me motivation to cook tomorrow.

I’ll make an extra portion for Touha-san.

[Hey, hey, Rikou-nii!]

[What is it, Tsuki?]

[Rikou-nii, what’s wrong with you?

You’ve been spacing out all the time.

Are you sick?]

Tsuki looked worried and even reached out to touch my forehead.

But—

[Maybe I’m just really tired.]

I pressed her hand down and let out a breath.

It really is strange.

I never had these symptoms before.

Maybe it’s because I got hit with that bat.

[Tsuki, eat first.

I’ll go take a shower.]

Running around like that really wore me out.

[Once you’re done eating, just leave it on the table.

I’ll clean it up.]

I grabbed my clothes and gave her one last reminder.

[Okay, Rikou-nii.]

Tsuki’s voice always helps me relax.

I’ll just take a shower and loosen up my body.

As the hot water poured down, my head cleared a little.

Then it felt like I might sink into it again.

Faintly, I heard—

[Thank you, Ichijou-kun.]

[I really don’t need you to thank—]

I muttered without thinking.

Was that… hallucination?

I shook my head hard under the falling water.

You really don’t need to thank me, Touha-san.

Once I, Ichijou Rikou, decide to help someone, I’ll see it through to the end.

I’m not doing it for anyone’s gratitude.

It’s just who I am.

I have this impulse and habit to reach out and hold onto people.

Everything I did is simply what I should do.

You can just take it as something natural.

[No, Ichijou-kun.

Daily thanks are necessary.

That’s something I should do.

If I can’t even do that, then I wouldn’t have the face to stand before you.]

[Or is it that Ichijou-kun wants some other kind of compensation?

Have you already made up your mind?

Touha Tsuki’s body is pretty, right?

As long as Ichijou-kun is willing to take responsibility, it’s not impossible.

I’ll cooperate as best I can.]

Really, Touha-san, you don’t need to joke like that every day.

I smiled bitterly without realizing it.

After all, I am a man too.

Whenever she says those things, I can’t help but unconsciously look at her body.

And my gaze always gets drawn to certain parts.

I have to admit, Touha-san has a figure men simply can’t resist.

So it’s really, really rude of me.

And what I did earlier was even more inappropriate.

Being that close to Touha-san—

Even if it was to protect her, I inevitably touched her body.

[Whoosh—]

I closed my eyes while washing my hair.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t clear my mind.

I kept thinking about Touha-san.

But this time, it was a feeling I couldn’t put into words.

Aside from Tsuki, this was the first time I’d ever been this physically close to a girl.

You could say it was my body’s instinctive desire for the opposite s*x.

Even when I tried not to think in that direction, strange thoughts kept surfacing.

In such a tense situation, what I felt most was that indescribable sensation of being so close to Touha-san.

When I looked down at her, I could clearly see her face.

It was a very calm, reassured expression.

That made me ashamed of my thoughts, and at the same time, more certain of my actions.

Touha-san is someone who needs to be held onto.

Someone who needs to be treated gently.

[Haa—]

[Rikou-nii, aren’t you done yet?]

Tsuki’s voice came from outside, snapping me back.

[Ah, almost done, Tsuki.]

[It’s already late, Rikou-nii.

We still have school tomorrow, and I have a 100-meter test.]

Ah, she’s complaining now.

Even though I promised Uncle and Auntie that I’d take good care of her.

And for me, she’s family I’ve acknowledged since childhood.

When it comes to family, I can’t let them feel uneasy.

Isn’t this exactly what I’ve always pursued?

[Okay, okay, I’m done, Tsuki.]

I hurriedly washed up.

Aside from some pain flaring up from moving too much, nothing else happened.

[Rikou-nii, you really seem strange today.

Did something happen when you went out?

You can tell me, you know.]

If I don’t say anything, she’ll probably get upset or disappointed.

Until it’s unavoidable, I don’t want to see those emotions on Tsuki’s face.

[Was the bento good, Tsuki?]

Another deliberate change of subject.

I smiled bitterly inside.

But I had no choice.

If Tsuki found out I was attacked, she’d definitely worry.

I don’t want my family to worry.

Besides, for Touha-san’s plan, our private contact has to stay hidden.

[It was really good.

But not as good as Rikou-nii’s cooking.]

[Then next time I’ll manage my time better.

I won’t let today happen again.]

[Mhm.

Rikou-nii being careless once in a while is kind of amazing.]

I got teased.

As expected.

At this point, all I could do was smile bitterly and accept it.

[By the way, Rikou-nii, did you only buy one?

What about yours?]

She asked after all.

I thought she’d overlook it, but she didn’t.

[Um— something happened on the way back, and I ate it.]

That vague answer should be enough, right?

[Something happened…

Did Rikou-nii get hungry on the way?]

Staying silent is usually taken as confirmation.

That’s what I did.

I really can’t lie properly.

Even though what I’m doing now isn’t much different from lying.

[I see.

Then I’ll go take a bath.]

[Yeah.]

I cleaned up the bento box and the odds and ends on the table.

Then—

Before I realized it, I was spacing out again.

[Rikou-nii, you really look worrying right now.

Aren’t you just too tired?]

[You should go to sleep soon, Rikou-nii.]

[Alright, alright.

I’ll go to sleep now.]

Maybe Tsuki’s right.

After that intense running, I’m probably exhausted.

I should go lie down.

Once in bed, the dull pain in my back made me frown.

I had to turn onto my side before it finally eased.

It’s really strange.

Why do I keep thinking about Touha-san?

Why?

[Ichijou-kun, ah, one more bite.]

Touha-san gently lifted the food with her chopsticks.

Even though she always says she’s just acting, that gentleness couldn’t possibly be fake.

As far as I remember, this was the first time someone had ever fed me.

I’ve always had the responsibility of taking care of my family.

I’ve never really had the luxury of being taken care of.

Yet, I had no thought of refusing Touha-san.

[If you’re feeling guilty, feeling guilty that I took that hit for you—

You don’t need to feel that way.]

[Ichijou-kun, I’m just responding to your kindness.]

[Kindness?]

[To be honest, it’s troublesome.

But I really can’t ignore it.]

If it’s the kindness you’ve always shown, you can just take it as natural, Touha-san.

[Thank you, Ichijou-kun.]

[Yeah—]

I swallowed the food.

When I woke from the dream, it was already morning.

So everything just now was a dream.

Still, I more or less understand why I kept zoning out last night.

If it was just to respond to my kindness over this time, Touha-san, you’ve already done more than enough.

—Thank you, Ichijou-kun.

My phone displayed that message.

It was sent last night, after I’d fallen asleep.

So really, you don’t need to thank me.

Touha-san—