Chapter 35

Yuzu senpai is cute.

So cute that it’s making me feel like my brain is going to break.

At this point, wouldn’t it be rude not to call Yuzu senpai cute when she’s practically started sitting on my lap of her own accord?

Cuteness that blows away the heat of June.

Soft, warm, and smelling nice.

I feel like I’m turning into someone who finds happiness just by having Yuzu senpai sit on me.

Well, it might already be too late for that, though.

I wonder why Yuzu senpai smells so good.

What shampoo or body soap does she use?

Yuzu senpai taking a bath… No, no, no, if I start thinking about things like that in this situation, there’s a danger of crossing a point of no return.

Still, it smells so good.

It’s unrelated, but didn’t Ayato say he keeps a cat?

He was enthusiastically talking about how cat sniffing is addictive and dangerous, but we don’t have a cat at home, so I had no idea what he meant.

I could sniff Yuzu senpai’s scent forever, though.

If I were to sniff, where would be the best spot?

Location-wise, the head… the nape of the neck is hard to pass up, too… and the back has a large surface area, so it definitely smells amazing…

…That’s way too creepy, so I should stop.

“Come on, come on! Read already!”

“S-Sorry!”

See, because I was thinking weird thoughts, I ended up keeping Yuzu senpai waiting.

Um, hey, Yuzu senpai, I know you’re excited, but rocking back and forth on my lap right now is, well, probably not a good idea—yeah, just my personal opinion.

Visual cuteness, olfactory comfort, tactile excitement.

No way, my five senses have already been taken over by three of them.

…Could this be an advanced strategy by Yuzu senpai, where she shakes my heart to gain a psychological advantage and make me understand her dignity?

“Rooftop! Rooftop! Rooftop! Rooftop!”

Yeah, that’s not it.

She just genuinely wants to have fun, that’s all.

My sense of hearing has been conquered by a cute singing voice.

Four-fifths of me has fallen for Yuzu senpai.

The final fortress, the sense of taste.

Taste… what even is taste supposed to be in this context?!

Isn’t that crossing the line way too much?!

“W-Waah, I’m so excited.”

My heart was so flustered that I ended up speaking in a totally deadpan, monotone voice.

And that’s all because Yuzu senpai is too cute.

It’s entirely the cuteness’s fault.

“Let’s read, then!”

“Y-Yeah! Huh?”

I’m grateful for Yuzu senpai’s broad-mindedness in ignoring my monotone delivery.

However, a new problem has been born.

This world seems kind to me, yet it’s very harsh.

Let’s quickly check our relative positions.

I’m sitting in the usual seat, and Yuzu senpai is on my lap.

Yuzu senpai’s favorite book, Tomorrow, Fall in Love on the Rooftop!!, is on the desk, which means from my current position, I can’t see it.

Which naturally leads to a situation just like that squeeze-chime day last week—where in order to read this, I have to lean forward and press closely against Yuzu senpai from behind…

“I’ve memorized the whole thing, so Kido-kun can hold it, okay?”

“…Swoosh”

Thus, Yuzu senpai’s face ended up right in front of me, off to the side.

I leaned over Yuzu senpai from behind, wrapped my arms around, and held the book.

Yuzu senpai’s face right beside me, next to me, right in front of my eyes, smelling so good.

Even though nothing has changed since last week, what’s with Yuzu senpai’s composure?

The squeezing?

Or is she just that excited to read the book?

Even here, Yuzu senpai’s amazing ability to get completely absorbed in her favorite things was showing.

By the way, didn’t she just casually drop a bombshell by saying she’s memorized the entire contents of the book?

“……? What’s wrong?”

Her face is so close!

Having her tilt her head at point-blank range is dangerously cute!

Her breath is hitting me…!!

“N-No… I-I’ll read it…!”

Struggling, bluffing.

Reading, yes, reading.

The book Yuzu senpai was looking forward to this much.

A book that Yuzu senpai claims to love.

If it’s a book recommended by Yuzu senpai, surely all distracting thoughts will instantly blow away, and a wholesome literature club activity will begin!

With anticipation and a sense of relief swelling in my chest, I settled Yuzu senpai on my lap, wrapped my arms around from behind, and opened the book.

Bathed in the twilight, the figures of Koichi Shindo and Nagi Hiiragi stood upon the rooftop.

The two of them rested their hands on the wire mesh, silently looking down at the school grounds.

This was a secret place for just the two of them, a world belonging only to them. A special, quiet solitude shared by just the two of them.

The rooftop.

Today, right here, Koichi would confess his feelings to Nagi.

‘…Senpai, you smell really nice.’

Wait.

Yuzu senpai, wait.