While the women prepared dinner, I cleaned up the shop with Menma and also helped prepare for the following day. We had already pretty much finished cleaning the store, so there was only one thing left to do.
"Gwahh… heavy…!"
From the back of a truck, we had to take some materials to a separate refrigerated room located at the back side of the store. People who have worked part-time for a sweets store can probably empathize, but the bags they used for business were all excessively heavy. My arms are probably going to be feeling this tomorrow. Yoshina Oba-san had already gladly accepted my offer to help. Or should I rather say, the minute she saw me her face lit up, as if she was planning on getting me to help out even if I hadn't asked in the first place. As far as I could remember, she never had any reservations about putting me to work. Well, that's fine. This way, I don't have to worry either.
"That was the last one… phew." I wiped off my sweat with the towel I had around my neck. I was inside the refrigerated room, so I could see my breath in front of me. Leaving the refrigerated room and going out into the yard, I saw an apron-wearing Yasaka waiting for me.
"Thanks for your hard work today, Haruto."
"I'm really tired."
Yasaka chuckled at my frank confession.
"You really helped us out by being here today. Seriously, thank you… I worked really hard on making dinner, so be sure to eat a lot, alright?"
"Thanks."
"Do you want to eat first? Or do you want to take a bath first?"
"You went through all that trouble of making the meal, so I think I'll eat first. Umm, by the way, bath?"
"Yeah… Mom said that because Haruto came all the way to visit today, he should spend the night… i-it's because Mom said so!"
"You don't need to clarify like that… I understand." She wasn't Naruko, but this girl also occasionally took an attitude I couldn't comprehend. I responded without hesitation, "Alright, I'll stay the night then."
"Ahh… are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure… I'm fine with it. I'll call my mom and tell her."
Even though she had been the one who asked me… when I agreed to her proposal matter-of-factly, Yasaka gave me a broad grin. Her expression softened to a point that was difficult to describe.
"Heh heh… that makes me happy. It's been such a long time since you've stayed over."
"I guess so. We used to go back and forth between each other's houses so often a long time ago too… but at some point we stopped. I wonder why?"
"Eh? Hmmm… I wonder why…"
We exchanged glances. Thinking about it once again, I couldn't come up with a reason.… I guess that's just how it was. That's generally how to describe it when people's relationships change.
"Yeah. Could it be… Haruto is in high school and an adult now, so he gets nervous when he stays over at a girl's house?"
"Why would I get nervous going over to your house at this point?"
"Eh? You're not?"
"I'm not."
Why does she seem a bit unsatisfied with that answer?
"In fact, I feel like I can relax more here than in my own home." At any rate, my sister wasn't here…
At my words, the previously unsatisfied Yasaka reversed her attitude. "… I see," she said with a smile.
"Hm? Do you have something you want to say or something?"
"Hmm…? I was just thinking if it would be better that way…"
In the end, I really had no idea what she was talking about.
On our way to the living room, Yasaka and I bumped into Grandpa Hashirama who had just gotten out of the bathtub.
"Thanks for your hard work! As a reward, you have the privilege of taking a bath with Yasaka!"
"Shut up, gramp! And don't be wandering around with just a towel on you! You perverted old man!"
"S-sorry… Haruto. Ugh… everyone is just so…"
"Nah, no problem. I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me at all."
When I responded curtly, Yasaka for some reason seemed to pout a little. "Hmph, it doesn't bother you at all…?" She went, her lips thinning.
And then… a not particularly eventful dinner passed by. Right now, everyone was resting after their meal. A variety show was on television, and every time the comedian on screen told a joke, Menma guffawed and clapped his hands. It seemed to be pretty easy to get him to laugh.
If everyone were like him, performers would probably have a much more fun time with their jobs. Sitting next to him and watching the same show, I almost wanted to smack him on the back of the head and tell him to shut it. He was being loud and seemed to be completely focused on the program, so I lost interest in the television, when suddenly I felt someone's stare on the side of my face.
"Hm?" Turning in that direction, I happened to make eye contact with Yasaka, who had been looking at me. We stared at each other with a table between us.
"… Giii." Speaking only in mimetic words, Yasaka stared at me as if she wanted to say something.
"… What is it?" Faltering a bit, I questioned her. But Yasaka seemed to be signaling "you should know what!" and didn't break her silence.
"… Giiii."
We began our little staring contest. The first person to avert their gaze would be the loser. But I couldn't think of one instance when I had won a competition like this before. In just a few moments, I couldn't take it anymore and averted my gaze. I had announced my surrender. But I probably could guess from the very beginning what she was trying to get me to say. Umm… it's probably… I had complimented her on her Halloween candies earlier… so she's hoping for more?
"Ah… about the meal tonight… It was great."
"Hee hee… thanks. That makes me happy."
Even though she all but forced me to say it, Yasaka seemed very happy and her eyes sparkled. To me, there was nothing more awkward than situations like this. And to my great annoyance, she seemed to take pleasure in making me blush like this. Then again, I also took pleasure in annoying Yasaka… so I really shouldn't be talking here…
"H-hey, isn't it about time your mother got out of the tub?"
"Mm, I guess so."
When I tried to change the subject, Yasaka glanced up at the clock in the room and put a finger to her lips. As always, her posture was almost perfect. Almost to the point where I was fascinated by her.
"Do you want to go next?"
"I'm fine with going last."
"I'm fine with going after you, you know?" Yasaka encouraged me to go take a bath.
"Nah, you go first."
"You don't have to be so restrained here, you know? Haruto, please, go first, go."
These types of exchanges were repeated several more times… at last, Yasaka seemed to suddenly have thought of something. She clapped her hands lightly.
"Well then."
"… What?"
She quickly leaned forwards, and her head drew near to mine. With a mischievous expression, she softly whispered into my ear. "I guess we really should go in together?"
"…!?" It was a trick to make me feel embarrassed… I knew that it was a joke! But, in my carelessness, I was disturbed by her statement.
After I bit my bottom lip and calmed my heart, Menma swung his head in our direction from his position lying on the floor watching the TV. Traces of his laughter were still lingering on his face.
"Hey, hey. What kind of secret talk are you two doing?"
"Shut up! Go watch the damn television!"
"Ahaha, Haruto, your face, it's completely red."
"Gngg…!"
This was so frustrating. Dammit, even though it was Yasaka… she was getting pretty cocky. She seemed strangely confident when she was in her own house. "Home Field Advantage Yasaka," I should call her. Keh, whoever ends up marrying you, after the marriage is official and he understands what the reality of the situation is, he's going to be tortured day after day by your embarrassing statements. Don't be surprised when he dies in agony from embarrassment.
Hmph… don't think that I'm the same person I used to be though. These few months, I've come into contact with my sister and her otaku friends, and I've contracted a nasty disease. You don't know, do you, the ultimate power that idiots can summon when they're cornered? Well, listen up!
"Alrighty then, let's go in together Yasaka-chan!"
"E-eeeeeeeeeehhh!?" My do-or-die counterattack took its effect, and the triumphant Yasaka's face suddenly boiled red. "S-seriously?"
"Absolutely seriously! You're the one who invited me, so don't back out now!" Standing up vigorously, I made my declaration with my fists clenched. Seeing me do that, Menma also became extremely excited.
"Ooooh! Haruto's acting like a real man?! As expected from my favorite cousin!"
Indeed, indeed. I'd certainly expect you to understand. After all, you're an idiot.
Having transformed into the manliest of men, I grabbed two bath towels and two changes of clothes, and made a further declaration.
"Come now, Yasaka! Let us go quickly! To the place where we will take our bath! I will show you my hyper weapon!"
It seemed to be a bad habit of mine lately to not be able to stop once I really got going like this.
"W-wah…" With both her eyes as wide as dinner plates, Yasaka flushed a brilliant red and fiddled with her hands.
Hah… serves you right! Now you regret saying that, don't you! But I really might have gone too far. Feeling a bit embarrassed myself, I began to tell Yasaka that it was all a joke, but… at that time, Yasaka's quivering lips began to move purposefully…
"Mom! What should I do!? Haruto asked me to take a bath with him!"
"Don't go telling your mother idiot!"