Mandarin Orange, Kotatsu, And A Found Cat

d not do it intentionally, but it is clear that it was not something you can do to a woman without her permission.

“I was at fault, too.
But you can’t pretend to have not slept with me.”
“Ummm…I thought it was a perfect idea.”
“Satou-san.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Aside from the second half, I had thought I had done well in the first half, and I didn’t expect her to see through it so easily.
Seeing my unconvinced expression, she continued her words.

“Before you pretended to be asleep, you couldn’t hide the beating of your heart.”
“I didn’t realize I was being bugged…caught me off guard.”
“Who was the one pressing me to his chest…?”

I was able to get up on the bed again while going through Mashiro’s righteous argument.
Mashiro got up to join me and got off the bed first.
She went straight to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast.

As I stared at her back, I think back to what just happened a few minutes ago.
If she had noticed my heartbeat, why didn’t she mention it right away?
On the contrary, it would mean that she knew I was awake and she was hugging me too.

Was it just payback? Or—

“Satou-san, if you don’t hurry up, you’ll be late.”
Y-Yeah.
I’m going to go wash my face first.”

She urged me, and I headed for the bathroom with a slight tug on my back hair.

As usual, I have breakfast with Mashiro, who sat across the table from me.
My favorite meal as usual.
The news on TV as usual.
And yet, the atmosphere between the two of us is not the same as usual.

“…”

We don’t talk to each other at all.
We just spend our time silently munching on our breakfasts.
The awkwardness of the situation almost made my cheeks pull in unintentionally, but I managed to suppress it so that she doesn’t find out.

Yesterday we were in a happy mood, but how did it come to this?
It was not a very good atmosphere to start the week.

“Ma-Mashiro.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“So, that.
I’m sorry about earlier.”
“I’m not angry anymore.”
“T-That’s good.”

While she certainly did not speak in an angry manner, I felt that she was not as gentle as usual.
Awkward… I felt guilty because I was the cause, and she won’t accept any more apologies.

“By the way, Satou-san.”
“Y-Yes.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to.”
“Hmm?”

With an unbearable sense of guilt, I quickly raised my face, which has been downcast for a long time.
There was only Mashiro, who looked like nothing was wrong and ate like usual.

“In other words, you were happy.”
“Please don’t get carried away.”
“Ah.”

When I replied with a serious face, I was gently cat-smack on the head.
But thanks to that smack, the tense air seemed to soften a little.

After that, I ate breakfast as usual and finished my morning preparations.
Meanwhile, Mashiro prepared my lunch and handed it to me at the entrance.

“Well, good luck with your work today.”
“Yeah, I’ll work as hard as I can for Mashiro.”
“He…don’t be weird, please go quickly.
You’re interrupting my housework.”
“What a hurtful reason…”

Well, my level of the housework was nothing compared to hers, so what she says was not wrong.
That, too, was hurtful, but for the time being, I would pretend that it was an embarrassment and keep my peace of mind.

“I’m off then.”
“I’ll see you later, Satou-san.”

Mashiro saw me off to work again today.
I eat the bento she made for me, and when I get home, she greeted me warmly.

For me, she was an important existence that I would not trade for anything.
And she always tells me that she feels the same way.
That was why I feel it was more important than anything else to face her past.
Her resolve and determination last night.
And I was going to face it head-on and cooperate with her.

And above all, her feelings and those two people in her memory.
What we hope for should be the same for both of us…