When they arrived at Ahmed's apartment, the atmosphere inside the place was different from the school's clamor. The scent of spices still lingering in the kitchen from the previous day's dinner, and the distant sounds of the city outside the window, gave the place a special warmth. Misaki placed her school bag near the door, then turned toward Ahmed with a serious look, her eyes holding some hesitation, but she gathered her courage and said in Japanese:
Misaki: "Ahmed-kun... I sweated a lot today. Can I take a shower here? And I want... to borrow some of your clothes to wear."
Ahmed froze for a moment; he hadn't expected such a direct request. He felt embarrassment creep onto his face, but he quickly gave a small smile, trying to hide his fluster. He nodded and said calmly:
Ahmed: "Of course, that's fine."
He went to his closet and took out a loose white shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants. They were certainly larger than her size, but he imagined she would look cute in them in her own way. He handed the clothes to her, avoiding looking directly into her eyes, while she took them with caution and a shy smile, as if she felt the weight of the situation more than her words let on.
Ahmed gestured toward the bathroom with his hand, saying: "Go ahead... you'll find everything you need there."
Misaki entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Ahmed heard the sound of water running, and light steam emerged a few minutes later. He sat in the living room, trying to occupy himself by setting up the gaming console, putting the controllers in place and turning on the screen. But his focus was scattered every now and then, as his heart was pounding for no clear reason other than the thought that Misaki was now showering in his home, and would come out wearing his clothes.
Ahmed (in an internal voice, smiling in confusion): "What have I gotten myself into?... It seems this girl knows exactly how to put me in embarrassing situations."