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The pervert kept on looking at me, but thankfully, he didn’t try to come close to me.

I wonder if I’m being protected from him, but I don’t really know for sure.

Regardless, today’s Sat.u.r.day and there isn’t any school, so I don’t really want to think about that pervert.

“Sorry for intruding.” (Kei)

Today I’m going over to Kaori’s as promised.

Of course, since it’s her place, I don’t have to contact them ahead of time.

It shouldn’t be a problem, because it’s in the early afternoon and s.h.i.+ori should be relaxing right now.

“Welcome Kei. You look very cute today as well.” (s.h.i.+ori)

She says when she meets me at the door with a smile.

Although, it still feels strange to be told I’m ‘cute’ by s.h.i.+ori.

It used to be ‘cool’ in the past.

Well, it’s no wonder, not that it matters. I should just be satisfied with being cute and try to get used to being complimented like that.

“Is Kaori in her room?” (Kei)

“Oh, yes.” (s.h.i.+ori)

I take off my ankle boots in the entrance and enter.

s.h.i.+ori heads back into the living room and I head up the stairs to Kaori’s room.

I reach the door to Kaori’s room and open it without knocking.

“I’m here.” (Kei)

Huh? She isn’t here?

I look around again to double check the room, but all I see are some cus.h.i.+ons, a desk, and a round mini-table. Although, the bed doesn’t look quite right, is she sleeping?

I quietly approach the bed and kneel down next to it. I pull back the quilt and there is Kaori, lying on her back, with her shoulder hanging out from the collar of a large s.h.i.+rt, and drooling while asleep.

It sure must be nice to take a nap.

Hmm… she sure is cute when she is like this. Wait a moment. You knew I was coming and you still took a nap?

A little irritated, I quietly set down my overnight bag, take out my phone, and open the camera app.

I center Kaori’s face on the screen…

[Kas.h.i.+ya]

I hope the shutter sound was covered by the sounds from outside.

Well, I seem to be OK.

“…maybe not.” (Kei)

I wonder if the shutter sound woke her up. Kaori, who had been sleeping, slowly opened her eyes.

“Oh, Kei, good morning.” (Kaori)

My heart beats a little faster as Kaori looks at me with an absentminded, slightly silly look.

Although, at the moment.

It’s all ruined by the drool.

“…umm, good morning.” (Kei)

“Uh, what is that?” (Kaori)

I was staring at the drying drool on her face thinking that it’s too bad it’s there, Kaori’s eyes are gradually opened as she rouses herself from sleep.

“What… why are you here!?” (Kaori)

She stands, while wiping away the drool, straightens up, and points her finger at me.

I'm relieved she’s suddenly back to normal, so I look at Kaori with crafty eyes.

“I'm here because I was invited by your mother to come to stay on weekends.” (Kei)

“…..” (Kaori)

Kaori tenses up after I say that.

Her eyes are swimming. She totally forgot about today.

“It would have been nice to contact me before you came!” (Kaori)

Don’t you have it backwards?

“Your mother was the one who invited me." (Kei)

“d.a.m.n it! It's still my house, so call me!” (Kaori)

“Yes. Yes.” (Kei)

I walk to the mini table for the time being, take my homework out of my bag, and spread it on the table.

"Well, I brought my homework." (Kei)

“Since I will be staying here, I have to do it here.” (Kei)

I turned to Kaori, pen in hand.

“I'm sorry I woke you up. You can continue your nap.” (Kei)

“Hey, what are you talking about? Don't exclude me! I'll do mine too!” (Kaori)

Kaori says and takes out her homework from her bag on the desk and sets down at the table as well.

There are only two people here, so no one was being left out.

I think about Kaori’s sleeping face just before and look at her, but her cheeks are puffed out like a squirrel.

“[Ha ha] Kaori is so cute!” (Kei)

I inadvertently say quietly to myself, because I had seen something unexpectedly cute.

“I... Hey, what are you talking about?!?”

I guess she heard me. Kaori’s face is red while yelling at me.

“Oh, I don’t want to hear that from you!” (Kaori)

“Why?” (Kei)

“I don't know!” (Kaori)

Just how unreasonable can a person be? Most girls are happy if they are praised!

Kaori is a girl, so shouldn’t she be happy when she’s told she is cute?

(TN: Can you say tsundere Kei?)

Incomprehensible.

“Yes?” (Kaori)

Someone knocked on the door not long after we had finished our homework.

Of course, it’s Kaori who replied, it’s her room after all.

“Oh, you are doing your homework.” (s.h.i.+ori)

s.h.i.+ori says as she enters the room.

She brought juice and sweets on a tray.

“Oh, thank you.” (Kaori)

“Yes, thank you.” (Kei)

A cup of juice is placed on the narrow table.

We're sharing the textbook, so we can barely have s.p.a.ce to put a cup on.

We’re working on the same problem set, so it’s only natural to share.

“Kaori, are you helping Kei study?” (s.h.i.+ori)

“What?” (Kaori)

Kaori has a ‘What are you talking about?’ expression, while I just have a doubtful expression.

I think I said it before, but Kaori and I have similar results in cla.s.s.

It’s important enough to say again.

My grades are better than hers.

So when it comes to studying, I often help Kaori.

That's why Kaori reacted as if puzzled to what her mother said.

Kaori digs her own grave and I can only try to stifle my laughter.

“Oh, um... yes, that's right. I was helping Kei to study.” (Kaori)

You might recall I was introduced as a soph.o.m.ore in high school, so I’m supposed to be Kaori’s junior.

Kaori says, desperately trying to evade the subject. Her eyes are darting everywhere and she’s obviously acting very suspicious.

“Let’s take a break, since we have snacks.” (Kei)

I say to Kaori, as I quietly close my notes.

“…that’s right. Well, don’t take root there and relax as well.” (s.h.i.+ori)

Even though she had a suspicious expression, she never gave voice to it, and she left the room.

[Haaaaaa]

Kaori lets out a long sigh of relief, after she confirmed the door was closed.

If we’re found out, it will be troublesome, while in its own way, also very interesting.

“[Pfft Ha Ha Ha Ha]” (Kei)

After Kaori fell over limp, I couldn't stifle my laughter anymore.