In order for two sides to successfully share a living space, there needs to be a lot of compromises from both parties. For instance, if someone who loves everything organized lives with someone who doesn’t care about that at all, a lack of finding an appropriate compromise could undoubtedly lead to conflict.
Thus, living with someone else shouldn’t be approached lightly.
In that regard, Nagisa and I were really prepared to accommodate each other in many ways. Our personalities were like that, and both of us had a strong tendency to yield to each other, making it hard to come across any disagreements even after our cohabitation officially began.
“Nagi-chan, I’m going to wash up first.”
“Then, how about we shower together today…?”
“Ahaha… That’ll be later. Just a little more when we get used to it.”
“…Got it. But don’t keep me waiting too long.”
If I had to pick a disagreement, it felt like Nagisa wanted to take our current relationship a bit further, while I wasn’t quite ready for that yet.
To make an excuse, my libido had decreased significantly compared to before. It’s not that I didn’t feel sexual tension, but I hadn’t really experienced libido affecting my body at all.
However, when Nagisa pushes the issue, my mind goes blank, and I wish to leave everything to her. But I consider that just a momentary emotional reaction flowing from the atmosphere.
What’s truly important is the fact that Nagisa isn’t an adult yet. That was the biggest brake for me. If I had been in situations overflowing with libido, I might have approached it differently, but in the current condition, ignoring that part and moving to the next stage wasn’t easy at all.
Though I say this, there will come a time when I will ultimately have to yield to Nagisa. If she keeps pushing like this, it’s evident that it won’t be long.
With both a biological female and a female who can’t simply be categorized by age, and considering both were not adults yet, my guilty conscience about not touching Nagisa wasn’t all that intense.
…Besides, it didn’t seem like Nagisa had any intentions of leaving me alone even if I didn’t touch her.
To prevent any unexpected intrusions, I firmly lock the bathroom door and comfortably enjoy my shower. Taking a shower in the morning has its merits, but if you like to relax, nothing beats a nighttime shower.
Even though there are two bathrooms, one has a shower booth while the other only has a bathtub, so I got into the habit of showering at night rather than in the morning. The problem was that we didn’t have enough time for both of us to take turns in the morning. While it was fine to shower in the bathroom with the bathtub, that would lead to a watery mess around!
After finishing my shower, I stepped out with a towel on my head to see Nagisa sitting on the living room sofa, watching TV. She was munching on something from a plate beside her.
…It was the Langue de Chat we bought to share.
“Nagi-chan~ What are you watching?”
“A movie. It’s about the exhibits in a museum coming to life and moving at night; it’s light enough to watch.”
“Hmm… No matter what, how can you eat the Langue de Chat we got to share all by yourself? I’m feeling a little left out, Nagi-chan.”
“Shh! It’s Mika-san’s fault for doing it first. The crime of brutally killing the mochi roll I had saved for myself yesterday, so you must face your punishment.”
“…So petty! If we’re going to talk about that, you drank my Cafe Mocha that I had bought for studying first! And it was from Angel 24, not of great quality in the first place. If you really wanted coffee, you could’ve just asked me to get a cup at the cafe.”
“Could you please be quiet? Because of Mika-san’s voice, I can hardly hear the movie.”
“Ah, so the movie is better than my voice—— nom.”
I went to take a bite of the Langue de Chat that Nagisa brought to my lips and shut my mouth. How sneaky to silence me like this. Now she’s handling me so well it’s a bit too much.
The thin, crispy texture of the Langue de Chat and the sweet yet rich taste of white chocolate was enough to push away the childish quarrel we just had from my mind.
Usually, after showering, we dry each other’s wings and hair. The conclusion that this was much more comfortable for both of us was reached on the second day of living together.
The very act of our hands touching each other’s wings was a form of communication… or something like that. This act had a very comforting effect on the heart. Thanks to that, within just a few days, we became addicted to each other’s touches.
After putting down a plate of Langue de Chat next to me, Nagisa diligently dried my hair with a towel. Meanwhile, she didn’t forget to use her fork to feed me some Langue de Chat.
“But why didn’t you bring the hairdryer?”
“…Ah.”
“I sometimes feel like I can’t shake off a sense of awkwardness with Mika-san… Like in stock dealings.”
“Uh… but, I got back the losses just before being merged with Saint Nephthys.”
“Really, if you get caught like that, it wouldn’t be surprising if you ended up facing strange slander, so it’s better to be cautious. By the way, it looks like I’ll be a little busy tomorrow. Isn’t this our first external work since visiting Sanhaegyeong’s high school at the beginning of the month?”
“Ahaha, visiting Sanhaegyeong wasn’t exactly a T-party official task, so you could say it’s our first for this month. I mean, if this work had been scheduled last month, I would have freaked out.”
The seasons changed, and we had been able to enjoy nearly a month and a half of peace before the summer festival.
Although Haruna and I went to Sanhaegyeong on a personal matter, that technically wasn’t T-party official work, so it felt like a narrow escape…
Despite turning into a foodie date, it seemed there were other matters to discuss with Hyeonmusanghoe, so there would be ongoing contact with them moving forward.
Even calling it an external assignment after a long time isn’t really much. It’s true that it got delayed a bit from the schedule… But, for now, a small meeting is scheduled to finalize details regarding the pilot operation of ETO.
The participants for this would be just me, Hina, and Yukino, and it looked like Yukino had been granted full authority regarding this matter.
When we officially kick off the pilot operation of ETO, the number of participants will surely expand much more than this… But that’s a story for later.
“Hoo. Just wait a moment.”
While Nagisa was off finding the hairdryer, I sneakily grabbed two Langue de Chats and devoured them in one bite.
I’ve often felt this, but dessert is indeed at its best from Trinity. When I visited Hyeonmusanghoe, I brought back gifts from a shop supplying desserts to T-party, and the response was exceptionally good.
“Wait, how many did you eat in that brief moment? Four? Seriously.”
“Huh? Four? What are you talking about, Nagi-chan? I only had two—Ah.”
“Mika-san… Sometimes, I worry a little. I wonder how someone can be so careless. Where did all those wonderful qualities I fell for go, really? I’m at the point where I worry I’ll hear a story about you getting scammed while off doing business.”
“Ahaha, what are you saying? Nagi-chan, seriously…! No matter what, I’m not that messy!”
“That much is correct.”
“Ugh. It’s all because of you, Nagi-chan.”
“…Why is it turning into that again?”
Nagisa tilted her head at my rebuttal, seemingly inviting me to recite my arguments. But I had my own points to make.
“This just means it feels comfortable with you. When have you ever seen me act like this in front of others? Huh?”
“Well, according to my memories, there are almost none…”
“Right? With others, I have an image to maintain, but that doesn’t mean I need to do that with you.”
“It sounds virtuous and nice, but didn’t you say last time, ‘I just want to show my lovely Nagi-chan my best side☆’?”
Ah. How can Nagi-chan be so thorough today? It’s frustrating. I thought the timing would be just right for me to laugh fufu like before and melt away.
“…You know, Nagi-chan. Can you just dry my hair some more?”
“Sure, I’ll just dry your hair then. Is that alright?”
“Are you getting too mischievous these days…?”
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Please dry my wings too…”
Fufu. “Willingly.”
After this, Nagisa will wash up, and it’ll be my turn to dry her off. I have to remember this humiliation and grudge and pay it back precisely when the time comes.
“Oh, and if you act petty… you know what I mean?”
Why am I saying “you know what I mean” now? What am I even saying without properly expressing myself and starting a threat?
“…Yes.”
But it doesn’t feel like it’s a good idea to retaliate when Nagisa acts like this.
So let’s postpone the time for revenge a little.
Tonight is genuinely separate rooms, Nagisa. Even if you come to find me with a pillow at bedtime, calling out, “Mika-san…” in a sorrowful voice, I won’t budge.
*
“Fufu, this feels new because it’s the first time… Shall we just keep sleeping together from now on?”
“…”
How did I end up lying in Nagisa’s bed when I had resolved to use separate rooms for my timid revenge? It’s truly a mystery.
“Mika-san, your expression…”
“Ah, ahaha. No, it’s nothing, so don’t worry. I was just mesmerized by how pretty Nagi-chan is without realizing it.”
“…Just this once, I’ll let it slide?”
In truth, I know exactly why it became like this. It’s all because Nagisa hugging me tightly from behind and whispering with a voice sweet enough to melt my ears, asking if she could grant her one wish, left me with no other answer to return.
As we turned off the lights, lying side by side, facing each other as we tried to sleep, Nagisa gently poked at my hand with her finger.
“Why…?”
“Can I hold your hand while we sleep?”
“You don’t need to ask next time… But won’t it be a bit uncomfortable to sleep like this?”
“I don’t know, about that.”
Then, holding my hand, Nagisa pulled in closer. With a moment of breath exchanged, she closed her eyes and softly muttered,
“Now that we’re holding hands, don’t forget to dream of me while you sleep.”
…Ironically, that night, the one who appeared in my dreams wasn’t Nagisa, but Mika.
