I’ll Listen To It, Okay?
The sound of the rain. The distancing thunder.
The dark room. The large bed. The air conditioning that’s just right.
The arm pillow. The weight I feel on my right arm. The heat I feel on my abdomen――.
It’s the norm for us, who share our lethargy, to spend our time relaxingly in this manner for a while.
Although it’s by no means a short time, Mai likes to use my arm as a pillow and stick close to my body.
The shoulder and neck of Mai, who faced her body in my direction, and the slight gap between that and the pillow……if you put your arm through there, it’s surprisingly hard for your arm to get numb, you know? I’m serious!
What we have over there, are truly trifling conversations.
It’s……mundane, something other students would do in a fast-food restaurant on their detour after school.
We just so happen to, do it in the bed――.
“Today, you were……, amazing――”
“Fueh!? Wha, wha wha……what. Were, weren’t you the one……who made me…………”
This fellow’s face that looked up at me for an instant was bright red, and she ended up hiding her face in my chest right away.
……eh, why such a reaction?
“No, you were actually amazing, in today’s match. It’s a comeback grand slam, you know? Furthermore, you switched your hands. Nowadays, not even manga has that kind of a developmentー”
It seems that whilst sending compliments to the legend(heroine) who fit snuggly inside my arm, my excitement that’s associated with that scene ended up being awakened, so I’m getting passionate with my words.
“Ahー, that’s what you’re talking about……huh”
Mai, she scratches her cheek awkwardly.
……like I said, why such a reaction!?
“You sure live up to your reputation as a helper. It probably sufficiently live up to Naru-tan and Michi’s expectations if you get four runs batted in”
“Thanks. But, if that’s the case, I guess it’s five runs batted in”
Huh, it should’ve been the second round that this fellow hit that grand slam, right? Where did the other runs batted in pop up from?
I recall the situation at that time.
If I reenact Naru-tan and Micchi’s conversation as it is, Mai’s batting order is the first. And then, their scores were down one against three right before she enters the second round. Which means…….
Only a single answer derives from that――.
“Oi, don’t tell me during the first batting you……”
“Uh-huh. Homerun”
“!?”
I can’t believe itーーーー! What’s that, what in the world is that!?
“By the way, which ball?”
“Nnー, the first ball, maybe?”
“!!?”
Isn’t that ridiculous!? Or better, isn’t this person ridiculous!?
No, I guess I’m the ridiculous one.
Did I seriously try to break down the play of this incarnation of physical ability like that of an Amazon in my head. It’s super embarrassing……super embarrassing!
“As I thought, you’re amazin’……”
For me, all I could do was sigh.
Perhaps Mai felt great from the candid compliments, she’s smiling, ‘ehehe’.
“Aren’t you honest for being Takaomi. Uh-huh, alright. In that case, shall I bring you along as well to Gracias・Gardens with the ticket that I received?”
“Huh, why? If I’m not wrong, you received one ticket, right?”
“It’s because a single ticket is an invitation for up to two people”
Saying that, she snorts, ‘funsu1‘.
“Hmm, is that so. But, you know, are you fine with inviting me?”
“Eh? What does that, mean…………”
While saying, I recall the words I heard this morning, from my best friend――I guess I don’t have to be grateful since it’s already evening ――my bad friend, Katou.
“I heard that yesterday, you――were confessed to?”
I intended to ask it nonchalantly, but the instant this fellow heard it, her shoulders jerked.
If we’re sticking this closely to each other, there’s no way I won’t notice that slight reaction――.
If I refer to our current state as『pillow talk』, then depending on her answer, the mood will probably turn precarious.
But, it’s just a general conversation.
That’s why, this is not a jab on Mai.
At least, I don’t have that intention. I don’t, but――.
“Ahー, uh-huh. Well, yeah……huh”
It looks like Mai is, slurring.
“Well, if you don’t want to talk about it, then you don’t have to force――”
――yourself to say it. I was about to say that, and I stopped.
I don’t know why, but my instincts hit the brakes.
Instead, I said this.
“You don’t have to force yourself to talk about it. However, if you’re fine with it――I’ll listen to it, okay?
Immediately after, Mai showed an attitude that’s just a slight bit relieved.
“You……your body, seems fine huh……”
“Eh!?”
Ahー, indeed……. Even though it’s a romance-related conversation, there’s no indication of relapse.
I wonder if I’m alright if it’s somebody else’s love affair?
“Ahaha……. Well, yeah……. Uh-huh. …………actually, it took place yesterday after school――――”
And then, Mai started talking about it stutteringly.
- ふんす(funsu) It’s a K-On! reference. A sound they make when they snort (YouTube Video Link)
