Chapter 28: Lovers Help People Grow
Having someone sitting behind him didn't affect Ren's school life at all. He could grasp whatever needed to be learned with just a glance, so he spent his classes openly playing on his phone.
During lunch breaks, he would drag Hitori to their secret spot under the stairs.
"Ren, we could go somewhere else too, you know."
One day, as they settled into their little space under the stairs, Hitori nervously fiddled with the hem of her clothes. Once or twice was fine, but after doing it repeatedly, she began to feel bad about always making Ren crawl into such a dark corner with her.
This stemmed from Hitori's own lack of confidence. Before, she hadn't had the courage to change, but now that she was dating Ren, if she stayed stuck in the same place without making any changes...
What if she ended up dragging Ren down with her? She didn't want him to become like her, so she wanted to step out of this dark corner. With Ren by her side, she felt she could do it.
"Then let's think about going somewhere else tomorrow. For today, let's just keep things as they are."
Ren was happy that Hitori was willing to change. If things stayed the same forever, it would be quite troublesome.
Some of the quirks he once found cute were starting to feel a bit inconvenient after they started dating.
For example, Hitori's tendency to transform at the drop of a hat—melting when scared, turning soft like a slime when proud, or having her facial features distort when embarrassed.
Just imagining her turning into a pink snake out of shyness during an intimate moment was enough to kill Ren's mood. So, it was definitely a good thing that Hitori was willing to change. He didn't expect her to become bright and cheerful, but at the very least, she shouldn't be so socially anxious that she morphs on the spot.
Still, since they were already here today, there was no need to go out of their way to find another spot. Finding a quiet place at school wasn't easy.
They had the same lunch boxes, though unfortunately, it was made by his future mother-in-law, not a lovingly prepared meal by Hitori herself. As he ate, Ren asked Hitori about her plans for the weekend and Golden Week.
It was already the end of April, and with the weekend plus the May holiday, they had a full seven days—perfect for Ren and Hitori to go on dates.
"I'm not sure yet. If Nijika and the others don't have any plans, I might just stay home and play guitar. I don't know if my family will go on a trip either."
When it came to holidays, the concept felt distant to Hitori. Her breaks were mostly spent at home, and she had no experience going out with friends.
"Then let me know once you have a clearer idea. If you have time, we can go on a date."
"A date!? With me!??"
Hearing this, Hitori abruptly sat up straight, pointing at herself in disbelief.
"Do I have some other girlfriend I don't know about?"
Ren couldn't help but laugh. Hitori seemed to have a slightly skewed understanding of what being in a relationship meant. Was it really so strange for them to go on a date?
"I'll definitely make time! Hehehe~ I'm someone who can go on dates with her boyfriend now~"
Once she realized this was real and not a joke, Hitori broke into a silly grin. The boasts she'd made online were about to become reality, and she was so excited her body seemed on the verge of morphing again.
"You'll get used to it eventually. You might even get tired of it."
"But for today... yesterday, you gave me a lap pillow, Bocchi-chan. How about I return the favor today?"
Though Ren also felt some anticipation, he wasn't as excited as Hitori. After discussing their holiday plans, he patted his thigh, signaling for Hitori to rest her head on his lap.
"Eh? Shouldn't I be the one doing this? If you keep kneeling, Ren, your legs will get uncomfortable."
Yet Hitori hesitated, afraid that leaning on him might cause Ren discomfort—a thought that felt like a grave sin to her. How could she possibly let Ren feel uncomfortable because of her?
"If you know it's uncomfortable, of course I wouldn't let you keep doing it either. Or would you prefer leaning on my shoulder? I actually really want to hug you."
Ren smiled. Even if one was accustomed to kneeling, prolonged sitting would still make the legs sore. Just as Hitori didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, he felt the same, which was why he wanted Hitori to experience this closeness too.
But if Hitori was too nervous, another way would do.
"That would be fine too, but are you sure? I smell bad..."
Hitori glanced at Ren's shoulder, broader than hers, but what struck her most was his desire to hug her. If even one word were missing, she might have misunderstood.
But if someone as musty as her were hugged, wouldn't Ren catch a whiff of mildew and grow to dislike her?!
Plagued by self-doubt, Hitori's expression and posture began to crumble, and she let out a distressed groan.
"There's nothing that isn't allowed, Bocchi-chan. I believe that accepting and embracing your partner's flaws is an essential part of being in a relationship. Besides, isn't it just you who thinks you smell bad? I think you smell wonderful—like a beautiful girl."
Ren gently grasped Hitori's hand from her flustered state and comforted her. Under his soothing touch, Hitori gradually calmed down, though she still felt she carried a musty odor.
Seeing her continued hesitation, Ren made the decision for her: "Bocchi-chan, take off your tracksuit."
With a bit of firmness, even if Hitori was scared, she would comply. As soon as Ren spoke, she tremblingly removed her tracksuit, then leaned into his embrace with a look of resigned determination.
A beautiful girl is made of all the lovely things in the world. Though Hitori always believed she smelled musty, in truth, she carried the sweet fragrance unique to a lovely girl, and her body was as soft as marshmallow. When Ren held her, even through her uniform, he felt his arm sink into her softness.
"You smell really nice, Bocchi-chan."
Ren lowered his head and gently inhaled the scent of Hitori's hair, where the faint aroma of shampoo blended with her natural fragrance, bringing him immense peace.
"..."
Hitori was too nervous and shy to speak, but hearing Ren's praise eased her heart considerably, though she didn't dare move.
And they were so close—she leaned sideways against Ren's chest, half her body pressed against him, clearly feeling the firmness of his form and the warmth of his breath.
Without realizing it, Hitori twitched her nose, taking in Ren's scent. She found it pleasant and captivating, unconsciously making her swallow.
Was this really something she could experience?
Hitori felt it was somewhat unreal. She mustered the courage to open her eyes and found it wasn't a dream—she was truly leaning against Ren's chest, and Ren was indeed holding her while resting with closed eyes.
If this were a dream, she hoped it would never end.
Hitori raised her hand and wrapped her arms around Ren's waist, adjusting her position to hold Ren more comfortably. This was one of those rare lunch breaks at school where she felt drowsy and wanted to take a short nap.