Even after Kobayashi Mika's well-meaning warning, what Shiginomiya Shion was more concerned about… was the fact that Mika had once again assumed she and Kuroba Akira were a couple. So she quickly tried to clarify.
"Um… Kobayashi-obaasan, I'm not in that kind of relationship with him…"
"I know. You're just at the stage where you're starting to care about him, right?"
"Mm… It's just that Akira-kun really is… kind of an incredible person."
Ah, child… that's how it begins. The start of love—and the start of chaos.
Mika sighed quietly to herself.
Back when she was young, she too had fallen for a man named Kobayashi Tokumasa at first sight—and had followed him for the rest of her life.
It hadn't been a smooth road. There were countless moments when fate seemed determined to pull them apart. And when they'd finally managed to be together, even after marriage, there were still women trying to send gifts and worm their way into his life, trying to steal her place.
She'd been furious about it more times than she could count.
And in the end, despite all her anger, he was the one who left first—so suddenly and easily. Sometimes she didn't know whether to laugh or cry about it.
"I've only known that kid for six months, so I can't say I really understand him. But from what I've seen, he's the type who'll attract a lot of attention."
"Attention?"
"I mean, the kind of guy who ends up surrounded by people. Right now it looks like he's a loner, but that's just because he hasn't started opening up. Once he does, he'll draw people in—especially women. In fact, you ended up here because he talked you into it, didn't he?"
"Ugh…"
"No need to feel embarrassed. Guys like that… they're just different. So different it's like they don't even belong to this world."
Which, in his case, is technically true.
"That's why you should make the most of it. You're still the only one by his side."
"…Kobayashi-obaasan, I'm not thinking about that kind of thing right now. I want to focus on my future first. If I can support myself, then maybe I'll think about romance."
"So Shion-chan, you don't long for love?"
It was unusual. Most kids her age dreamed of sweet or passionate love stories, imagined what it would be like to have someone by their side.
But Shiginomiya Shion had locked her feelings deep inside a box at the bottom of her heart.
Maybe it was because of her family. Maybe it had everything to do with why she'd run away in the first place.
"I just think… it's dangerous to believe in love too easily."
"There's nothing wrong with thinking that way. If you expect everything from love, then losing it will leave you with nothing. Like having your soul ripped out."
"Then why bother at all? If you know from the start that it'll hurt, why not just throw it away?"
"Because love is a beautiful thing. Giving up on it would be a shame."
"…I don't understand."
"That's because you haven't really fallen in love yet. But when you do… you'll understand. It's a feeling where just having it is enough to make you happy."
"Just having it makes you happy… that sounds like magic."
"Heh… yeah, it does sound like magic, doesn't it? But love doesn't only bring happiness. Sometimes, it brings immense pain too…"
As she said it, Mika's warm smile turned into something softer—more bitter.
"You see, even though he's gone, I still keep his clothes. Because it's the only way I can feel like he's still here with me."
"Kobayashi-obaasan…"
"Ah, listen to me rambling. This is what happens when you get old. I'm just talking nonsense. I won't meddle in your young people's business."
Mika brought the topic to a close right on cue. She'd seen the faint hint of longing in Shion's eyes when she'd talked about her marriage—and thought maybe, just maybe, the girl wanted a glimpse of what love could become.
Besides, she still thought it was a bit of a waste for Shion to end up with someone like Kuroba Akira.
What did that brat ever do to deserve such a pretty girl?
And the treasured daughter of the Shiginomiya family, no less…
If that good-for-nothing Akira ended up as a kept husband, the heavens might as well collapse.
Mika figured it'd be better if Shion stayed in charge—train Akira into a model househusband, and keep him from going down the same road her husband did.
"Well, anyway. Living under the same roof gives you plenty of chances to get to know him. Use this opportunity to see what kind of person he really is."
"I will, Kobayashi-obaasan."
"Good. Now, tell me your clothing size. I'll go buy you a proper set of loungewear tomorrow."
"Thank you so much, Kobayashi-obaasan."
Just then, Akira returned, now changed into the jinbei. He walked in, rubbing his hair dry with a towel.
"All done! Pretty quick, huh?"
Mika's face changed in an instant. That soft, kind expression she had for Shion vanished like smoke. She scowled and barked:
"You damn brat! Dry your hair before you come out here! Stop dripping water all over the place!"
Akira pretended not to hear her and stuffed his gym uniform into Shion's arms.
"Here. Your turn. You can wear this after your shower."
"Okay. Thanks…"
Shion took the uniform in her hands. The oversized jacket and pants would definitely hang off her, loose and baggy.
It made her think of something: the infamous boyfriend shirt look. Girls wearing their boyfriend's oversized white shirt like a makeshift dress—barely covering anything, leaving just enough to the imagination. Men were known to go crazy for it.
She'd read that every guy secretly wanted to see his girlfriend wear one at least once.
But in her case, it was the reverse. She'd have nothing underneath.
Akira's short-sleeved gym shirt was still in the wash, and she didn't have any spare underwear either. Which meant…
After her bath, she'd have to put this uniform on completely bare.
Her entire body wrapped in clothes that had absorbed Akira's scent…
Even if it didn't show any skin, the thought made her feel strangely… embarrassed.
"I'll wait in the room then. Kobayashi-obaasan, hurry up and get the bedding—I'm sleeping in the living room tonight."
Mika responded with an eruption of pure, unfiltered dialect swearing that even Akira's hometown elders would struggle to match.
But in the end, she still brought out a fresh futon and pillow—not for Akira's sake, but because she didn't trust that brat not to sneak under Shion's blanket.
Sure, he said he wouldn't do anything—but young men and women sharing a room? Better to assume the worst.
Mika didn't trust his so-called "self-control" for a second. A guy who always talked about slacking off and freeloading? You give him the chance, he'll devour it without hesitation.
That punk would go all the way and pretend it just happened.
But Mika had already noticed: Shion's heart was sealed tight, even from herself.
She needed time to realize her feelings.
If something happened too soon, it'd only warp her view of love—and herself.
With that in mind, Mika recalled an old item that might be just the thing. Something to help Akira and Shion maintain the perfect emotional distance.
"Hey. Brat. Come with me to the storage room."
"Huh? What for?"
"Need help moving something. If we use that, you won't have to sleep in the living room."
"Oh? What is it?"
"A double bed."