When I greeted her with a bit of nervousness, what I got was Harukiās words in such a matter-of-fact way
She looks like a completely innocent and pretty girl
But if she reacts like a bratty girl she used to be, then youāll be in trouble
While I was thinking about that, Haruki suddenly shouted [Ah!], as if she had noticed something
[Hold on right there! Just wait!]
[Oi!]
Just as I thought, she was running up the stairs while holding her skirt in a panic, I heard a slamming, clattering, and some other noisy noise. She must be cleaning up her room
[... Honestly, what the hell are you doing?]
Being left in the doorway of a strangerās house, I couldnāt help but sigh
Not only that, but because she was running up the stairs at such a high rate of sped, I accidentally caught a glimpse of a boxer-type panties with no-hint of sex appeal on it.
A strange feeling of guilt tormented me afterwards.
[Thanks for the wait!]
[...Hm]
After waiting for a while, I was invited to her room by a breathless Haruki. At first glance, the room was tidy. Even though Iām pretty sure that she just slammed everything to the closet
The room is dominated by black and brown colored furniture. In the shelves, there were lots of manga, plastic models, and various game consoles. A typical room for a grown-up Haruki
If it werenāt for the mirror and cosmetic products that were placed on the desk, it wouldnāt be much different from my room
[Iāll just go see what I can find]
[Oh, ok. Hey, Haruki]
[Hm? Also, why donāt you take it off Hayato? Isnāt it hot wearing socks?]
[Well yeah, but...]
Haruki threw a cushion to me and started to take off her socks. Unlike in the past, her bare feet, which were white and plump, reminded me that sheās a girl. I was flustered even though I knew that itās Haruki
And then, she sat down on the cushion vigorously, then sat down on her knees and leaned forward. I couldnāt help but think of the Haruki I knew back then. Her sex appeal had faded away for some reason, that made me laughed for a bit.
However, looking at me, Haruki has a condemning look in her eyes
[So, who was the one who said anything about a monkey monster?]
[Ah, no, itās...]
It seems that Haruki is still angry about my words from this morning
Not only that sheās serious, I could definitely see that sheās sulking right now.
But when those pouting lips and piercing eyes sneered up on me, I felt a strange sweat running down my spine
[Well, Iām sorry. Just consider it as a ālendā. I owe you]
[Hmmm, ālendā... Okay, fine]
Satisfied with my reply, she pulled back her sulky face. Then she muttered the word āloanā as if to chew on it, and started grinning
āLendingā has a special meaning for both of us
The loan was to be given on one side, never āborrowedā, it is never āowedā and it is never offset, it just keeps piling up
[āLendingā, huhā¦ I miss it. How many do you think you owe me now?]
[Thatās my line, you owe me lots of things]
[Haha, no doubt]
[... Hehe]
[... Ahaha]
The two of us looked at each other and laughter broke out
In this atmosphere, I asked something that had been bothering me
[I mean, Haruki, thatāsā¦ illegal, right?]
[My face?]
Far from being the little brat that she used to be. Sheās now a neat and pretty, Japanese woman
Unfortunately, her true nature has come out and she is sitting with her bare feet proudly exposed
[Well, Iāve been through a lot. Thatās why Iām doing this mimicry
[Mimicry, huhā¦ As expected, you are a monster...]
[Hayato!!!]
[Ahaha, Iām sorry. I owe you this]
[Honestly, what a troublesome person]
Iāve had many of these little tussles, complaints and fights over the years. Each time, Iāve lent them out and let it go as time passed. It was also an accumulation of memories
It was both funny and embarrassing to think that weād be able to ālendā each other again
I felt a bit annoyed that my feelings were being noticed, so I looked around the room and found something nostalgic
[Eh, I didnāt know that someone still has this game]
[Thereās the software version too, I think I have it]
[How nostalgic]
[Ok then, how about playing a game after all these years. If you lose, you owe me one]
[Thatās a cheap ālendā]
[Five wins in a row]
[Ok!]
It was a console game that we used to play back in the old days, and it was two generations old. It was a karting game with characters resembling mushrooms and turtles. Even I was really enjoying it back then
And that feelingās still the same today
[Eh, thatās not fair! Whyād you draw that item at this time!]
[Is it because Iām good at this?]
[Bullshit]
[Haha!]
We hadnāt seen each other in a long time, but we were playing a game, shoulder to shoulder without talking. Whenever we opened our mouth, the only thing we talked was about the game in front of us
But thatās enough for now
I felt as if the distance between us was being filled
I noticed that the summer sunlight was beginning to set, letting me know that it was time to end this for today
[Well, I better get going]
[Ahā¦ I see...]
It was a fun time. So when I was about to go home, I felt a sense of sadness
I understand about this feeling
The feeling when you thought something would last forever, but it suddenly ends.
Haruki looks at my back as I put on my shoes, looking like a spoiled child
I felt her gaze, and her feelings. It was because I felt the same way
So, in order to shake off such anxiety, I tried my best to make a cheerful voice
[See you]
[ah...]
It was the usualā¦ Farewell
Thatās where all the feelings were put. There arenāt just 2 people who understands it
She came back right beside me, just as we promised. So for Haruki, the greeting for the reunion wasā¦
[Yep, Iāll see you aroundā¦ And then, Welcome back!]
[Welcome back?]
[Itās Welcome back for me]
[Haha, whatās that?]
Haruki showed a big smile just like a large flower blooming