"Sluuurp, aam aam…"
After letting out a satisfied sigh, "What should we do now?"
Lazily leaning against the headboard, her lower body still under the blanket, the pale-faced Masuzu tilted her head and gazed at him with a soft smile on her lips.
"What can a teenage boy and girl possibly do alone in a bedroom… I don't think I need to spell it out for you, right?"
(...If only she'd stayed silent, the sight before me would've been as beautiful as autumn leaves.)
Yuu regretted that thought.
"Do you want a battle that brings smiles? Now, get some good sleep! If you get hungry, just reheat the porridge and eat. You'll definitely be better by tomorrow."
He had already washed the dishes he used and left a day's worth of Chiffon Porridge in the fridge. He'd done everything he could.
There was no point staying any longer. What mattered now was going home to play games with his little sister.
"Leaving your sick girlfriend all alone in a quiet house, yet leaving behind warm, heart-and-belly-soothing porridge… I can't decide whether to call you thoughtful or cruel."
Masuzu glared at him with deep resentment as Yuu put on his bag and prepared to leave. She let out a heavy sigh.
Even so, when she recalled the taste of that porridge—despite her stomach already feeling slightly full—she couldn't help but lick her lips, as if still unsatisfied.
It had looked like nothing more than pure white, snow-like porridge. Yet inside, it contained seven or eight carefully selected, nutritionally balanced ingredients. Their complex flavors blended perfectly in a waltz of broth and rice. When that warm snowball melted into her stomach, it felt as though frozen earth had suddenly thawed, and spring burst forth in vibrant colors across every corner of her senses.
With cooking skills like these, countless girls would surely fall for him.
Winning the stomach means winning the heart—it applies to both men and women.
"If you can give me a reason to stay, I wouldn't mind intruding on your rest."
Yuu didn't seem in a hurry. He crossed his arms, leaned against the doorframe, and watched her sink into thought.
After a pause, Masuzu ventured, "Giving you a chance to do something to me?"
"Great. Then I'm off."
"Wait!" Masuzu quickly called out as he turned to leave. Her flawless white forehead glistened faintly with sweat, and her expression grew serious. "That was just a joke. This is my real answer… As long as you stay here, you're free to enjoy all the bonuses a beautiful, sick girl has to offer!"
Yuu rolled his eyes. "I've already enjoyed enough."
"What?"
He didn't say anything—just pointed toward his own chest.
Masuzu looked down and realized that the top two buttons of her pajama top had somehow come undone without her noticing, revealing her collarbone and the unbound cleavage beneath.
If she leaned forward even slightly, everything would be exposed.
Her eyes widened, pupils shrinking. For several seconds, she froze like a statue on the bed. Then, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she yanked her collar shut and dove under the blanket in panic.
After a moment, a weak voice emerged from beneath the covers.
"...Did you see it?"
The mix of embarrassment and anger in her tone surprised Yuu, raising an eyebrow. He asked curiously, "What? Embarrassed? Just a second ago, you said I could do whatever I wanted and offered 'bonuses,' so why get flustered over a little peek?"
"..."
Masuzu seemed to be clenching her teeth in frustration. The blanket quivered slightly beneath her.
Seeing this, Yuu's smile widened. He spoke cheerfully, "How strange. Who was it again that once paraded down the hallway without panties and begged me not to tell anyone? Was it this same little girl now hiding under the blanket out of shyness? Or…"
Masuzu slammed her hand on the bed, cutting him off.
"That was obviously a joke! And that day, I was wearing underwear, so I wasn't naked!"
Her head popped out from under the blanket, face blazing red. She glared at him furiously. "You're destroying a girl's dignity! Ah Yuu, you idiot, stupid donkey, brainless thug, street punk, thirty-year-old virgin!"
"Virgin and perawan mean the same thing!"
"Don't interrupt! I'm angry now—I need some rubbing to calm down!"
"Well then, you clearly aren't that angry…"
Masuzu's expression was dead serious. Her eyes turned icy, and she snapped sharply:
"If you can't do that, then at least stay and keep me company until I fall asleep!"
"..."
After those words were spoken with visible effort, Yuu finally understood—and couldn't hold back a laugh.
"When you asked me to be your shield earlier… All you needed to do was say it honestly. Instead, you took the longest possible detour."
Her fierce, cold demeanor vanished instantly. It was as if Masuzu had spent all her strength. She gently leaned back against the pillow and chuckled proudly.
"Thank you for the compliment. The shortest shortcut is the longest detour—that's one of JOJO's core philosophies. You could even call it a golden spirit, you know? Not bad, right?"
"I never said it was bad."
Yuu closed the bedroom door, returned to sit beside her bed, and set his bag on the floor.
"But for me, all you need to say is 'Stay with me.' If there's nothing urgent pulling me home, I'll stay and keep you company."
Yuu smiled casually. "You haven't forgotten our promise yesterday, have you?"
"Of course not. This is our agreement," Masuzu murmured softly.
She lowered her gaze, looking at his large hand resting on his knee. Slowly, she slipped her index finger out from under the blanket and hooked it gently around his.
That rough, warm sensation was like tying a rope to a drifting strand of seaweed—always offering immense comfort.
"You give me what I need, and I give myself to you… This bond is stronger than what people call love. It's simply mutual necessity."
"Any complaints?" Yuu asked.
"How could I?"
Smirking at herself, Masuzu lifted her eyes. Her blue gaze was calm, and reflected within its depths was his own image.
"I'm just a troublesome woman who can't speak honestly—always taking the long way around."
"I can't trust others because I lie, so I assume others lie too… Living in such falsehood, I've lost faith. Every moment, I doubt, deny, and belittle."
Like a child abandoned at a station, unable to go home, she smiled—helplessly, all alone.
"It's rare for me to have a bond I can truly rely on. How could I possibly complain?"
"…True enough."
Yuu tightened his grip slightly. Not too hard—just gently enclosing hers.
Closing her eyes, Masuzu leaned her cheek against his palm, as if ready to fall into peaceful sleep.
The surroundings fell utterly silent, as though even the flutter of bird wings could be heard. Warmth flowed between their hearts like a gentle stream.
…Rub.
…Rub rub.
…Rub rub rub.
"Hey, Masuzu."
Yuu spoke flatly.
"Yes? Yuu."
Masuzu didn't open her eyes, replying as if delirious.
Yuu sounded like he was barely restraining himself. His voice was low. "The mood was perfect. Why are you ruining it with rubbing?"
Masuzu's tone was flat but serious. "You misunderstood. I was just adjusting the position of my cheek. I wasn't rubbing."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"I see. I thought… if you'd been honest, I might've let you rub longer…"
"I'm sorry. I lied. I couldn't help it—I just really felt like rubbing. The mountain is right there, so I have to rub, rub rub rub rub rub rub rub rub—"
Yuu: "…."
(My girlfriend's brain is a little broken. Is it still too late to swap her out?)