Vol. 2 Chapter 5: Cold. — Part 2

“Aw, what the hell!? We were so close! I’m gonna complain to whoever it is!” In a cute-angry tone, Kurosaki huffed downstairs.

We were both completely overwhelmed by the atmosphere, so it’s safe to say we were saved by the unexpected visitor. But I just couldn’t imagine who else would have any business in this house. Maybe this time, it’ll actually be a religious solicitor or something else. If so, it’s my duty to protect Kurosaki, so I must be ready to move at any time.

“…It’s… It’s!”

As I quietly listened in, I could barely make out Kurosaki’s voice, which seemed to be confronting the visitor. They were talking pretty loudly, actually, and soon I could clearly hear them from my room on the second floor.

Listening in with more attention, I noticed they were both using harsher words, so… they were arguing, I guess? While I was wondering this, I heard footsteps getting closer from downstairs. It sounded like two people, almost as if one was following the other.

As I tried to guess who it was, the sound finally reached my room and—

“Miyamoto-kun, are you okay?”

“Hey, what are you doing in here?”

It was Asakawa…

“So… Miyamoto-kun had an aquarium date with this maid, or whoever she was?”

“No, look, what’s important now is my consultation about Katayama’s situation, so—”

“Did you have fun there?”

“Well, yeah, but that doesn’t really matter now, does it?”

I could tell by my own words this reply had no effect. Hey, have you ever had that feeling of deja vu? Maybe this is how it feels to be a certain protagonist of a time loop series, huh?

So, let me explain the current situation again. Asakawa came to my house unexpectedly, so I’m currently being nursed while being pushed by this outlandish turn of events.

Kurosaki just stared with bloodshot eyes, as she did before, and since I don’t really have anything else to do, I thought I’d ask Asakawa for her opinion on Iwashiro-san while throwing some small talk.

As a result, while I don’t mind that much now, my body was pierced by a second stabbing glare today. However, when Asakawa, along with her poker face, stares at me, I feel a bit deflated.

“Senpai is… Hand him over…”

That one over there doesn’t seem to be recovering still, so I’ll just ask something that has been on my mind for a bit now.

“Asakawa, what about today’s class?”

“I heard in homeroom this morning you caught a cold, so I thought I’d give you a hand. I knew from a rumor you lived alone, so I didn’t expect her to be here.”

While I appreciate the thoughtfulness, what’s that about a rumor? Do people think I’m some sort of loner? Ugh, y’all are noisy.

“T, thankfully, Kurosaki came since she was also worried about me too. Well, shouldn’t you be taking classes right about now?”

“I appreciate your concern, but I can’t concentrate when the most important person in the world is suffering.”

Wow, thanks to her firm smile, her wishy-washy phrase was almost negated. Impressive. Seriously though, her ability to put on a confident front is colossal.

“How should I put it, thanks? Now that that’s done, can you tell me your opinion about Katayama’s story?”

“…K. Being distracted like that may be surprisingly good. Well, about him, I have a good idea.”

…I wonder what that good idea is.

Well, let’s not get into why she wriggled herself so happily while being talked rudely to. I’ll just listen to whatever her plan may be.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“That’s something for you to look forward to next homeroom. I’m not interested in Katayama-kun, but that kind of romance sounds interesting, so I’ll help you with that.”

“Oh? So you’re surprisingly the type of person who likes to talk about love?”

“I like it. Especially childhood sweetheart stories, since I think childhood friends are the most understanding people. I just can’t wait to see them go from friends to lovers. Ah, I want that kind of love too.”

“…I don’t really talk about love that much.”

I won’t say from where, but I feel terrible pressure hitting me from outside our conversation, so I just forced it to end.

Regardless of reason, Asakawa has a wide net and may be able to source information on Iwashiro-san, so her offer of help is much appreciated.

“Well then, I was able to do a lot today, so I’m going to make some porridge with this girl, then we’re going home.”

“Huh?! I still wanna be with my senpai!”

Asakawa then grabbed Kurosaki’s arm, who, as if injected with pure energy, regained her life.

“I just think Miyamoto-kun will get tired if we hang around him too much. Look, I don’t want to interrupt your new daily fun from now on and stuff, but do you still wanna be here?”

That last part wasn’t a suggestion. It was a threat.

Kurosaki managed to somehow resist her “proposal,” but after being told this much, it must’ve been hard for her to keep holding on, so she turned to me for help.

“You two made me feel much better, and I don’t wanna get worse, so I’m gonna be fine on my own.”

“Uuu… If you start feeling bad or anything call me, k? Any time you call I’ll fly here asap!”

“Mhm, thank you a lot. You two, Asakawa.”

“Don’t worry about it. Look, Akane-chan was it? Let’s go.”

“Ugh, I don’t like it! Help me! Senpai!”

“…Good luck, you two.”

The demon king dragged Kurosaki to the depths of hell. In all seriousness, thanks to the two I’m feeling much better now, so I’ll get better soon.

Oh, by the way, the porridge was delicious.