"Am I that kind of guy?" Hayashi Shuichi spread his hands, the picture of innocence.
"You absolutely are!" Yukiko bit her lower lip, cheeks puffed in anger. "I used to think you were a good person; I was just blinded. You're nothing but a huge pervert!"
"Come on, I don't live alone—Reiko's here too. Even if I wanted to… I couldn't," Hayashi Shuichi glanced up at the overcast sky. "Looks like rain any minute. You really want to spend the night soaked outside?"
Only then did Yukiko remember he lived with his little cousin. After a moment's hesitation, she muttered, "F-fine, I'll stay just one night."
They headed back. It was past eleven; the streets were nearly empty.
Yukiko glanced at the chef's jacket he still wore. "You just ran out like that—aren't you worried the glasses girl will be mad? And what about the pub?"
"I didn't have time to think," Hayashi Shuichi said honestly. "When I saw you leave, I panicked and chased after you."
"…At least you still have a bit of conscience." Yukiko tried to keep a straight face, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her happiness.
…
When they reached the Mouri building, the pub lights were still on.
Yukiko hesitated at the door.
"What's wrong?" Hayashi Shuichi asked.
"The glasses girl will definitely mock me…" Yukiko pouted.
"Eri's not that petty." He defended his childhood friend, then realized how hollow it sounded and simply lifted the noren curtain and walked in.
All the customers had gone. Only Mouri Kogoro remained, lazily dragging a mop across the floor.
Seeing Hayashi Shuichi, he stopped and grumbled, "Where the hell did you disappear to? Everyone ditches work tonight and leaves it all to me…"
"Where're Eri and Reiko?"
"Right after you ran after Yukiko, Eri stormed home with a dark face," Kogoro said, wiping sweat from his brow. "And your little sister went upstairs to join the fun."
"Two customers' orders weren't finished because of you—I had to grovel and apologize to get them to leave!"
"Sorry, I'll handle the rest," Hayashi Shuichi said, reaching for the mop.
"Then it's all yours!" Kogoro handed it over, stretched dramatically, and yawned. "I'm beat."
He stepped outside to head upstairs, only to spot Yukiko standing awkwardly at the entrance.
"Yukiko? Didn't you go home?"
"She forgot her house keys and is crashing at my place tonight," Hayashi Shuichi explained, poking his head out.
"Ah, got it." Kogoro yawned again and trudged upstairs.
"Come in," Hayashi Shuichi waved to her. "Eri and Reiko already left."
"Thank goodness…" Yukiko exhaled in relief and relaxed.
She stepped inside, rubbed her stomach, and headed for the kitchen to find food, then remembered she was still mad. Face stern, she declared, "I'm hungry. Make me something good."
"Coming right up," Hayashi Shuichi chuckled.
Rain began to fall softly outside, pattering against the windows.
Yukiko sat by the window, chin in hand, watching the rain blur the glass.
If I hadn't become an actress… if I'd just gone to school normally, graduated, married… would this be what it felt like?
Running the pub together, closing up after the last customer, cleaning side by side…
Her cheeks warmed. She quickly shook her head to banish the thought.
Like I'd ever marry that womanizing jerk!
Besides, my acting career is just beginning—I'm going to be a world-famous star. If I can't act, what's the point of living?
Lost in her tangle of thoughts, time slipped by. When she snapped out of it, a large bowl sat in front of her—thin, wide noodles topped with bright green onions and tender toppings, the rich broth fragrant and inviting.
"You said you couldn't make this?"
Yukiko eagerly picked up chopsticks, slurped a mouthful, and sighed. "Exactly like the ones in Gunma…"
"I just followed what you did—how could the taste be different?" Hayashi Shuichi smiled watching her enjoy it.
It was the Kiryu Belt Udon she'd ordered when pretending to be a customer before—really just extra-thin, wide belt noodles.
She'd only made it a couple of times in the pub, but Hayashi Shuichi had picked it up after watching once.
To Yukiko, though, it felt like he'd learned it just for her.
She didn't say anything aloud, but sweetness filled her heart, and her gaze softened when she looked at him.
…
After finishing the udon, she stopped sulking and helped him clean up. They worked in comfortable sync—one washing dishes, the other wiping tables—until the pub sparkled. Then they headed upstairs together.
At the apartment door, Yukiko bit her lip. "Reiko won't mind me staying, right?"
"Don't worry, she's long asleep." Hayashi Shuichi unlocked the door.
Just as he said, his little cousin was out cold. The place was quiet except for Ousho, who trotted over wagging his tail.
"Ousho, long time no see," Yukiko crouched and petted him.
The dog lowered his head happily, making soft whines of welcome.
"No idea how Reiko trained him," Hayashi Shuichi laughed. "Anyone can pet him except Eri."
After playing with the silly dog a bit, Yukiko stood in the living room, cheeks pink, shifting awkwardly. "S-so… where do I sleep?"
"My bedroom, of course…"
Before he finished, Yukiko stepped back warily, arms crossed over her chest.
"You sleep in the bedroom, I'll take the sofa," Hayashi Shuichi said helplessly. "Do I really have zero credibility left?"
"Hmph, whose fault is that!" She glared, then added awkwardly, "I… didn't bring pajamas…"
"Wear mine." He led her to the bedroom and opened the wardrobe.
Her eyes lit up at once on the sky-blue set with little cats printed all over it. "I'll wear this one! Didn't know you liked cats too—if my apartment allowed pets, I'd have a house full by now."
He'd seen her own cat-print pajamas when he visited her place before.
Seeing her hold the set against herself, muttering it was a bit big, Hayashi Shuichi swallowed the truth: the pajamas were a gift from Eri—exactly the same style as hers.
"I'm taking a bath—don't peek!" Yukiko warned, then hummed her way to the bathroom.
Once she was gone, Hayashi Shuichi pulled out plain pajamas for himself.
He'd just stripped and was about to change when the bedroom door flew open. Yukiko barged in without looking.
"Shuichi, there's no sham—"
She froze. Her eyes went perfectly round at the sight of a completely naked Hayashi Shuichi.
He lunged forward and clapped a hand over her mouth. "Shh! You'll wake Reiko!"
Yukiko's face burned crimson. She refused to look down, flailing in panic and making muffled "mmph!" sounds.
"Think about it," he whispered. "If Reiko sees us like this, the whole house will explode."
"…Mm." She nodded frantically.
He slowly released her. She whipped around, back to him, and squeaked, "W-why aren't you wearing clothes?!"
"This is my bedroom—I have to change for bed, right?" Hayashi Shuichi hurriedly dressed while explaining. "You went to shower—why'd you come back?"
"The shampoo ran out—I came to ask if you had more…" Yukiko stomped, blush reaching her ears. "Who knew I'd see… that!"
"Hey, you're the one who saw me naked—I'm the victim here, and you're mad at me?" Hayashi Shuichi grinned mischievously. "Want to even the score and let me see you too?"
"Pervert! In your dreams!" Yukiko spun around, shot him a furious glare, and fled the room.
Hayashi Shuichi followed, laughing. She stopped dead. "Why are you following me?!"
"You said no shampoo—I'm getting it for you."
"Then hurry up!" Yukiko huffed, mortified. "If I'd known this would happen, I'd rather shower in the rain than stay here."
He placed a new bottle in the bathroom.
She locked the door the instant she was inside, then leaned against it, hands over her burning face.
No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, the image kept flashing: Hayashi Shuichi standing there, completely bare…
…
Over forty minutes later, Yukiko emerged from the bathroom in his oversized pajamas, face flushed, hair still damp and clinging to her cheeks. The loose fabric made her look even smaller and more delicate.
She meant to head straight to bed, but saw Hayashi Shuichi already sprawled on the sofa, eyes closed.
"I'm done," she said softly, nudging him. "You can shower now."
"Too tired… skipping tonight…" he mumbled sleepily.
"No way—go shower!" She yanked him upright. "If you don't shower, you're not allowed in the bedroom tonight…"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how wifely they sounded.
Right—Mom always says that to Dad when she nags him to bathe. Why did I copy her?!
Flustered, she blocked his path when he stood. "Y-you're not allowed to shower!"
"Didn't you just tell me to?" Hayashi Shuichi blinked blearily. "Make up your mind."
"I…" Tongue-tied and panicking, she blurted, "Even if you shower, you're still not coming into the bedroom!"
Hayashi Shuichi instantly woke up. "Coming into the bedroom? Who said anything about that?"
Oh… he was too sleepy to catch it earlier.
Relieved, Yukiko pushed him toward the bathroom. "I'm going to the bedroom—it has nothing to do with you. Go shower!"
…
Early next morning, Hayashi Shuichi woke with a sore back and aching body.
Sleeping on the sofa after being used to a bed was brutal…
He rubbed sleepy eyes, saw it was still dark outside, and slipped downstairs in his pajamas to exercise, careful not to wake the girls.
Not long after, Reiko shuffled out of her room, hair a bird's nest, yawning hugely.
She used the bathroom, then padded to her cousin's bedroom door.
She'd gone to bed early last night and had no idea when he came back…
Curious, the little girl quietly pushed the door open.
The curtains were drawn tight; the room was dim.
Tiptoeing to the bed, she saw "her brother" buried under the blanket, even his head covered.
Reiko shook her head, about to pull the blanket down, then noticed the clock—it was still early.
Shrugging, she kicked off her slippers, crawled under the covers, and snuggled up for a bit more sleep.
She reached to hug "her brother"…
Only to touch two soft, large mounds…
(End of chapter)
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