Chapter 207 – It’s Been Winter for a While, Suki-san

The heater hummed softly, filling the living room with warm air.

Aoki set his electric guitar aside and sat on the sofa, tuning the acoustic guitar he’d bought recently out of curiosity.

From the bathroom came the faint sounds of running water and rustling movements.

He wasn’t the type to think, “Just hearing this sound is enough to fill me up for three meals.”

But still—being a guy and a girl alone together in one apartment… there was no denying the faint tension in the air.

Aoki sighed inwardly.

‘Once she’s done showering, I should just retreat to my room and sleep.’

He finished tuning the guitar and set it carefully onto its stand.

Just then, the bathroom door creaked open.

Ryo peeked her head out, scanning the room cautiously.

The steam from the shower still clung to her skin, leaving her cheeks faintly flushed.

Aoki turned his head—and their eyes met.

“Suki-san.”

“…Hm?” He only glanced at her briefly before dropping his gaze again, picking up the electric guitar and adjusting it on the stand.

Ryo didn’t seem to mind his curt reply.

Instead, she continued, “The towel in the bathroom… I saw there was an unopened one, but it felt wrong to just use something that wasn’t mine. So… I used yours instead.”

“… …Hah?”

Aoki’s head snapped up, eyes locking onto her.

“…Hah!?” He repeated, this time with even more disbelief.

Ryo held his gaze for two seconds, then faltered and looked away.

Her voice shrank to a whisper.

“It’s not a big deal, is it…? We’re already close enough.”

“This has nothing to do with being ‘close’ or not… No, you know what—forget it. If it makes you happy, whatever.”

Aoki considered giving her a proper lecture on boundaries and the importance of respecting them, but after a moment’s hesitation, he let it drop.

With a resigned sigh, he refocused on his guitar.

“Anyway, you’re done showering, right? Then hurry up and get to bed. Oh—by the way, you did bring a change of clothes with you, didn’t you?”

“Ah, right, Suki-san, I was just about to say…”

Ryo paused, then fully stepped out of the bathroom.

“I forgot to bring anything to change into. So I just went into your room and borrowed one of your shirts.”

“… … …Hah!?”

Aoki took a deep breath, his voice trembling with disbelief.

“You’re telling me… the same girl who thought it was ‘wrong’ to open a fresh towel… walked into my bedroom, grabbed my shirt, and is now wearing it!?”

“…Yeah.” Ryo nodded solemnly.

Aoki pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing his tone to stay calm.

“…Ryo-san, if you have some ulterior motive, just say it outright. Don’t make excuses like this.”

But his words trailed off when he actually looked at her.

She stood framed in the bathroom doorway, steam still drifting out behind her.

Damp strands of deep blue hair clung to her cheek, droplets of water sliding down her skin.

And on her body—his shirt.

On him, it was the right size.

On her, it hung loosely, collar slipping low enough to expose her collarbones.

The hem just barely covered her thighs, leaving pale legs completely bare beneath.

The so-called “absolute territory” peeked out faintly from the oversized fabric.

She noticed his gaze and, flustered, tugged the hem down.

Ironically, that only made her curves more obvious. But she didn’t seem to realize.

“…Anyway,” she said calmly, though a faint blush lingered on her cheeks, “Suki-san, can I sleep in your room tonight? I’m scared of the dark.”

“You wish. In fact, you can just move out tomorrow—I’ll cover your food expenses for a whole week, no conditions attached.” Aoki waved her off firmly.

“Maa~ Suki-san, please?”

Her tone turned soft, almost teasing—fake sweetness layered over her usual calm voice.

But then, as she spoke, a strange realization hit her.

‘Weird… this isn’t like me at all.’

Normally, she could handle solitude just fine.

Normally, she never used this kind of tone with anyone except maybe Nijika.

Normally, she was cold, distant, unreadable.

But right now, with Suki-san—just the two of them—why was she slipping into gestures and words more suited for a bashful schoolgirl?

Was this “fake sweetness” really fake?

She blinked, looking back at Aoki.

The warm air from the heater brushed across her skin.

The temperature was just right, perfectly comfortable.

It struck her—she’d never felt this kind of warmth before.

“…Suki-san.” She spoke softly.

“Fine, fine. Do whatever you want. I’ll sleep in the guest room, you take the main bedroom. That’s acceptable, right?”

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

“…Hm?”

“Suki-san… I’m glad. I’m glad I ran into you at the music store that day. I’m glad I didn’t let laziness stop me from talking to you. I’m glad I followed you to find Bocchi-chan.”

“…What are you suddenly rambling about? Go put your uniform in the dryer before it wrinkles, or you’ll have to skip class tomorrow.”

Ryo pouted briefly, but quickly forced a smile instead.

Then, in a burst of uncharacteristic energy, she jogged over in her slippers, stopping right beside him.

“Suki-san, come on—don’t bother with the guest room. Sleep in the main bedroom with me.”

“…Suki-san, that night with Nijika, how far did you go? You kissed, right?”

“…Oh, and Suki-san, remember when I mentioned stockings? I brought some.”

“Ryo-san… you should really just move back. I’ll support your meals, no problem. Unconditionally.”

Outside, the neon lights had already gone out.

It had been days since the snowfall.

Aoki wondered if the snow was still clinging to the tops of the pine trees outside the apartment.

If it was, then under the moonlight, it would look beautiful.

“…Suki-san.”

Ryo’s eyes lingered on the curtains as she thought.

Then she spoke again, almost as if finishing a sentence left hanging months ago, back in Uji.

“It’s been winter for a while now, Suki-san.”

“After Christmas, once the music stuff calms down, forget school for a bit—let’s go to Hokkaido and see the snow together.”