Chapter 14

“S-Senpai…?”

“…Zzz… Zzz.”

She was sleeping.

She had completely fallen asleep.

Riding on top of my lap, turned sideways, entrusting her entire body to me, curled up tight, she was sleeping.

Yuzu senpai is cute. Yuzu senpai is cute. Yuzu senpai is cute.

Cute is Yuzu senpai. Cute is Yuzu senpai. Cute is Yuzu senpai.

Even when I repeated the words I always murmured inside my head, or switched up their order, my heart wouldn’t stop racing.

“Um, my… name…”

“…Zzz… Zzz.”

She said it, right? She definitely said it just now, didn’t she?

She undoubtedly said it!

Because there’s no crew member named Kakeru on the Black Ships, right!?

Well, I wouldn’t actually know, but still!!

…O-Okay.

“Yu… Yuzu senpai?”

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

She called out to me!

I called Yuzu senpai by her first name!

“…Whaaaat…?”

“Whoa?!”

S-She answered again…

Y-Yuzu senpai. Is she really asleep right now…?

“…Senpai?”

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

She was sleeping.

“…Yuzu senpai?”

“…Nng… Nn…”

She was shifting around restlessly.

“Yuzu senpa… Whoops!”

“Ehehe…”

She started sliding off again, so I grabbed her shoulders and lifted her back onto my lap.

Yep, she was definitely asleep.

“…Haa.”

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

I let out a sigh while acting as a chair for the sleeping Yuzu senpai.

Because she was asleep—thanks to her being asleep, because she was asleep—my heart started to calm down.

Why did she say my name?

Why does she sit on my lap every single day?

Why is she sleeping on top of me right now?

No matter how much I thought about it, no answers came.

Did she trust me just as a kouhai?

If that were the case, I’d be overjoyed.

But on the flip side, wouldn’t that mean she didn’t see me as a member of the opposite sex at all?

“Yuzu senpai?”

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

…I really hate that idea.

It’s only been two and a half months since I entered Shinme High School and met Yuzu senpai.

Compared to the time I’ve been alive, it’s overwhelmingly short.

Even so, every time we talked, every time we met, every time I looked at her, I found myself drawn to her more and more.

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

I used to think that just looking at a cute Yuzu senpai was enough to make me happy.

Well, I mean… right now I’m a chair, so maybe I’ve made a little progress?

Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to step any further than that.

“…Haa.”

Another sigh.

When I glanced up at the clock on the wall of the club room, it was almost time for the school chime to ring.

I remembered yesterday’s scene.

The face of Yuzu senpai with her eyes closed.

“…Zzz… Zzz…”

It was the same today, too.

Yet today felt completely different from yesterday.

The school chime could, in a sense, be described as something that stopped us or got in the way. But today, it was on my side.

“…Yuzu senpai.”

The clock hands moved forward.

The usual chime began to ring.

“Ding-dong, dang-dong.”

“Ding-dong, dang-dong.”

“I like you.”

“Ding-dong, dang-dong.”

“Ding-dong, dang-dong…”

The usual chime finished ringing.

“…Senpai, please wake up. It’s time to head home.”

“Nng-wah… Eh? …Wuaaah!? Eh, ah… K-Kido-kun, why!?”

Yep, she was the usual Yuzu senpai.

The Yuzu senpai I love.

“Don’t you remember falling asleep on me while you were dozing off?”

“Whaaaa!? W-Wake me up then!”

“I’m sorry. Your sleeping face was too cute, so I couldn’t help myself.”

“C-Cu–!? Ugh… J-Jeez! Don’t tease me, just forget all about it right now!”

This was my absolute best effort for right now.