Chapter 29: Staying at a girl’s house

8 HOURS AGO 3 COMMENTS

　I dropped off my friend from college, Ichika Niekawa, at her house.

　I missed the last train, so I had to spend the night at her house.

　On the balcony of her apartment.

“You’re probably asleep already.”

　I sent a message to Akari and Nanako on LINE, stating that I would be staying overnight.

　Within a second, the message was read.

　Purrrrrrrrrrr!♪

　I received a call from Akari.

“What’s the matter, at this time of night?”

‘No, Okarin. What’s wrong? What do you mean you’re staying over?”

　Akari’s voice contained a hint of concern for me.

　She was probably waiting for me to come home.

　She is a kind person. And I apologize.

“Sorry, I missed the last train when I dropped my college friends off at home.”

“Hmm. …… girl?”

“?　How’d you know?”

“I knew it ……. But, Okarin-san, ……, at least give a little excuse. Please make something up. I feel depressed.”

Depressed?　Why do you feel depressed?

Haa, Akari sighs.

　Ah, I get it. So I’m a guardian who takes care of them, and they’re wondering why I don’t just leave her alone and go home in the morning.

“I’m sorry, but she was too drunk. I couldn’t just leave her there.”

“No, that …… is not what I meant. You should say …… [This is different from cheating!] and [Don’t get me wrong because Akari is the best].”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Muu~…… this is depressing~…… You’re our perfect guardian, ……. our…..

“What are you talking about? I’m her temporary guardian, me”

　There was a moment of silence.

　Then she let out a small sigh.

“I’ll tell my sister that Okarin spent the night with a girl he was close to in college.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, please tell her.”

“That’s why….Haa. This is going to take a while~…… How lucky~…..that person”

“I’m sorry to have kept you up at night. I’ll be home early tomorrow.”

“Good night, Okarin.”

“Yeaht. Good night.”

　I hang up the phone.

　Even though it’s summer vacation, I’ve woken up a high school student this late.

　Next time if I’m going to stay out overnight, I’ll call earlier.

“Okaya-kun.”

　When I turned around, I saw Niekawa after taking a bath.

　She was wiping her wet black hair with a towel.

　She was wearing a simple, but slightly transparent, light blue nightgown.

“I’ve finished my bath. A-Are you going in next?”

“No, I’m good.”

　I can’t bear to use someone’s bathroom.

　This is especially true if it is a woman of my age.

“…… I wonder if Okaya-kun prefers to do it without taking a shower.”

“?　What’s wrong?”

“Wh ……?!　IIIIII-It’s nothing!”

　Maybe it’s because she’s just finished taking a bath, but she’s red up to the base of her neck as she screams.

“I’ll take a bath tomorrow when I get home.”

“A-ah……Well, …… then, let’s go to …… bed.”

“Right”

“…… Finally, after almost ten years, the time has finally come.”

Niekawa gulped and went to the bedroom with a serious expression.

I am……

　I sat down on the sofa in the living room and laid down.

“Good night.”

“Wait, Okaya-kun, wait.”

“?　What’s wrong?”

Niekawa said while pressing her hands on her head.

“You’re not going to sleep?”

“?　I’m going to sleep. Ah, I’ll borrow your couch.”

“No, …… that’s not what I meant. …… Eh?　In this atmosphere, …… Rh?　Maybe you’re …… really just going to sleep.”

　Niekawa said with a puzzled face.

“What are you talking about?”

“What, because ……”

“because?”

“Ka～～～～～～～～～～！！！！”

　Niekawa crouched down and curled up like a child.

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

“…… No, it’s nothing. It was just a one-sided outburst on my part. ……”

Niekawa said while hiding her face with the bath towel she was wiping her hair with.

“… I’m 28, what are you mistaking me for a virgin, no I’m …… a virgin.”

“What’s wrong, Niekawa?”

“Nothing.”

Haa …… Niekawa sighed and stood up.

“If you’d rather sleep on the couch, why don’t you sleep in bed with me?”

“You ……we can’t do that. We are both adults.”

“Before that, we’re [friends. ]I don’t want to see my friend catch a cold sleeping in this place.”

　She seemed to be concerned about my physical condition.

　It would be rude to say too much here.

　To be honest, I don’t think it’s a good idea for a man and a woman to be sleeping in the same bed, but she’s right, we’re friends.

“Thank you. Then, I will take your offer……. What’s the matter?”

　Niekawa squatted down on the spot and curled up again.

“You’re accepting …… too easily. You should be a little flustered and mend your ways. …… It’s depressing.”

　I don’t understand the female mind, like Akari and the Niekawa

　I lay down with her in the same bed in her bedroom.

　The time was around 2:30.

　The only sound in the bedroom was the ticking of the clock.

“…… Hey, Okaya-kun.”

Potsuri said Nibikawa.

“…… Are you still awake?”

“…… Yeah.”

“……I see. I’m so nervous I can’t sleep. Can you help me out a little?”

“…… Nervous?　Yeah, it’s because you’ve been drinking.

　I heard that alcohol before bed is not so good because it causes excitement.

“Ku, I’d like to be on your back right now.”

　She turned her body towards me.

　Her long hair and large breasts hang down according to gravity.

　In the moonlight, her white skin and black hair were so beautiful that I felt a little thrown off.

“Hey, about what you said earlier, are you no longer pursuing the dream you had back then?”

　When I was in college, I used to be a novelist.

“Didn’t you want to create something that would give people dreams?”

“You remember ……, that one?”

　I was surprised.

　It was seven years ago, so I thought she had forgotten about it.

“I remember. Of course I remember. I still think it’s a nice dream …….”

　I wasn’t happy that she was praising me for my …… lost dream.

　But I could tell she wasn’t being mean or rehashing the whole thing.

“I….love (it)”

Niekawa blushed, looking embarrassed.

“O-Of course, I’m talking about Okaya’s work, so please don’t misunderstand me.”

　Awawa said Niekawa hurriedly.

　Misunderstanding, aren’t we talking about my work?

” Okatani’s work …… is not dramatic in the sense that people are dying, but the psychological portrayal of the characters is careful, and you can feel that everyone is desperately trying to live in that world in the midst of hardship. …… It’s a wonderful work.”

“…….The only person who can say that is Niekawa”

　I couldn’t look at her dusky, straight eyes, so I turned my back.

　…… just as I, as an author, did.

“In hindsight, my work was a complete disaster. I couldn’t keep up with the latest trends. Stressful developments nowadays will turn readers away. Readers don’t like to read too many words these days, so filling up pages with psychological descriptions can be stressful for them.

“Okaya-kun: ……

” Okatani ……7 years ago, I didn’t know what I was doing. No wonder it didn’t sell.”

But …… you know it now, right?　Then don’t you think you should try to write …… again?”

Niekawa was probably trying to say, “Why don’t you try again as a novelist?”

　I’ve already come to a conclusion about that.

“I’m not going to write again.”

　I answer immediately, and Niekawa’s face clouds over.

　I wonder why she has such a sad look on her face.

“…… Why?”

　I didn’t really want to answer …… about this.

　But I couldn’t keep quiet or lie about it.

　The person in front of me was a dear friend who I had spent my college years with.

“My dream of becoming a writer is already over.”

“Your dream …… is over?”

“Yeah, I’ve published three books, and they failed miserably. I figured it out. I knew I didn’t have the strength in my hands to show people my dreams.”

“Tthat’s not…..true”

“Yes, it is. Then why didn’t sell it well?　The work that I worked so hard on, that I thought I was going to die, that I put all my energy into writing…..”

　…… Seeing her sad face, I came back to myself.

　It’s no good. I can’t control myself when it comes to this topic.

“I’m sorry, ……. I was rash.”

“No, ……, I’m sorry too.”

　The other side thought that she had touched my trauma, but she didn’t say anything more.

　It was awkward for me too.

　But I didn’t want her to misunderstand.

　So I said.

“Niekawa ……, please don’t misunderstand me. I haven’t given up on everything.”

“……Eh?　You mean you’re making a comeback?”

“No, I’m not. I’ve come to terms with myself. I’ve changed the way to fulfill my dreams.”

Niekawa tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand what I meant.

“There are a lot of real geniuses in the world who can create amazing works that make people dream. Like Kamimatsu-sensei and Ouji…….”

Ouji Hakuba. He is also a genius.

　AMO is able to give dreams and excitement to children all over the world.

　There are people in this world who can do that, but I couldn’t.

“I put my dreams in their hands. Instead of writing my own work that gives people dreams, I wanted to help people create their own work that gives them dreams.”

“That’s why you became editor…..? And stopped being a writer.”

“Yeah. Well, in the sense of creating works, what we do now and then is the same, isn’t it?

　The only difference is whether you write it yourself or work with others to create it.

“My dream has changed, but it’s still there inside me. So you don’t have to be so negative”.

　I told Niekawa everything I wanted to say.

　It’s all right. This……

“…………”

“Niekawa?”

　She hugged me from the front.

　She pulls me into her arms and presses me against her large breasts.

“Oi?　What’s wrong, suddenly?”

“……. I’m sorry. It is painful to look at.”

　Painful?

　What does that mean?

“…….I’m not going to deny your determination and resolve, Okaya-kun. But ……, I want you to write again. I want to read your story.”

　I think what Niekawa is saying is that she wants me to write again as a writer.

　As an Okatani. An unsuccessful writer.

“…… It”s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t have the shining talent like Ouji”

　The most I can do is find a buried gem of talent, polish it up, and bring it to the world.

　My job is to create jewels that give people dreams, not to become a shining jewel myself.

” But ……, there are people waiting for your work. “

” …… There are no such people. Nobody.”

　That’s when it happened.

　Niekawa cupped both my cheeks in her hands.

　With her cheeks dyed bright red, she closed her eyes and placed her……

　Lips on mine.

“Mmm. ……”

　Her hot breath and sweet, debauched warmth ……

　It’s coming inside me.

Niekawa kissed me, just like that.

　She pulls her lips away and looks away.

　The white skin all over her body had turned bright red. I guess she was that embarrassed.

“Why ……?”

　I was bewildered by the suddenness of the question.

　Why would she, my friend, doing this to me…….

“Okaya-kun is …….”

Niekawa kept her mouth open, unable to finish her sentence.

　Many times, she tried to say something, but could not say anything.

“A spell to make Okaya-kun …… energetic.”

　For a moment, I felt nervous.

　In that atmosphere, I thought that she might confess her love to me.

　I thought that the person I thought was my friend might become my lover.

　I was a little scared at that thought. I was afraid that this comfortable relationship would fall apart.

　But only a little.

　It is true that I felt a surge of excitement in my heart.

　Well, it was a dud, or rather, it was my mistake, and I was disappointed.

“Fufu.”

Niekawa smiled and hugged me tightly.

　I was soothed by her large breasts, her sweet smell and her warm body.

“You’re also upset, Okaya-kun.”

“Of course I am. What do you think I am?

“Like a hermit? Or a dead tree?”

“What the hell is that?”

　She broke the embrace and laughed quietly.

“From now on, if you have a hard time, tell me first. I’ll listen to everything.”

“No, You can’t be that kind of an outlet for my stress.”

“It’s fine. I’m just trying to be an outlet for Okaya-kun because I want to. Don’t worry about it.”

“Usually you care”

　Hmm said Niekawa, thinking for a moment.

“Then, why don’t you go out with me once a week?　Just like the old days.”

　The suggestion from Niekawa was such an attractive one.

“I know it won’t be exactly the same as when we were in college, but I thought if we could remember those fun times, Okaya-kun might feel a little more at ease.”

“…… Why are you doing this to me?”

　She dots her eyes, scratches her cheeks with her fingers, blushes and says.

“…… Don’t you get it?”

“What?”

“Yes, it’s because Okaya-kun is a dear friend.”

Niekawa squeezes me again and hugs me.

　I was so comfortable that I couldn’t shake her hand off.

“I’ll wait for you. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ll be waiting for the day when Okaya-kun will be proud of his dreams and give them to others with his own hands alone.”

With a snap, she lets go of my hand and says with the biggest smile on her face.

“Because I’m [Okatani] Sensei’s …… Yes.”

　She says straight away, reflecting me with her beautiful eyes.

“I’m Okaya-kun’s number one fan.”

The next day, I asked Niekawa to take me home.

　At the entrance of my house.

“What’s wrong with you, Niekawa? You’ve been so sullen since this morning.”

　From the moment she woke up, to the time she ate, to the time she drove here, Niekawa had been grunting and groaning.

” …… I want to kick myself in the back for being such a slacker that I couldn’t confess in that fashion.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing. It’s a hangover. Yeah, it’s a hangover.”

“I see. Be careful.”

Niekawa was dressed in a neat outfit.

　She was wearing a suit and sunglasses. She’s going to work now.

“Okaya-kun, about yesterday, …… I’m serious, you know.”

　It would mean going out once a week for fun.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll call you later.”

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting.”

Niekawa said, getting into the car and driving off at a brisk pace.

　I was left alone, but I turned around and headed home.

　The painful feeling of leaving my wife …….

By interacting with so many people in this way, I somehow forgot about the pain I was feeling.

　…… Although it is not easy to change a dream once it has been changed.

　I can try to change it. ……

I thought it would be nice.