97 A False Existence
“…So? How is it?”
Riri-chan’s face was buried in my chest.
Well, my chest isn’t as large as Riri-chan’s, so “buried” might not be the right word.
Resting on my chest, maybe.
Anyway, I did this because Riri-chan wanted a normal expression of affection.
I want some kind of reaction.
“…Suu… haa…”
She was… inhaling.
“What are you doing?”
“Smelling you.”
“…”
“Ah! Sorry, sorry. Don’t move.”
She clung to me when I tried to pull away because she was saying strange things.
She’s the one who should act more normal.
“Hey, Suzuna.”
Riri-chan’s voice was muffled against my blouse.
“What?”
“We’re alone right now.”
“…I know.”
“We’re lovers, right?”
“We are.”
“Isn’t this… what we’re supposed to do at times like these?”
“…”
I kind of understand what she’s trying to say.
I do, but…
“We’re supposed to be studying.”
“After I invited you over like this?”
I could feel Riri-chan’s breath against my chest.
It was warm and moist, and I sensed her emotions in it.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Then when will you mean it like that?”
It’s not like I don’t have those feelings.
But I’ve decided that I’ll be the one to initiate it next time.
If I let Riri-chan take the lead, I feel like I’ll just keep relying on her and taking advantage of our relationship.
So I’ve decided that I’ll do it when I have the courage.
“Not today.”
“…You’re teasing me.”
Riri-chan grumbled and lifted her head.
“You can bite me whenever you want, Suzuna, but I’m being kept waiting.”
Riri-chan was rubbing her thigh.
Riri-chan, restricted by the necklace I gave her and the bite mark I left.
That’s good.
Riri-chan is free-spirited, so I need to restrict her.
Even if that free-spiritedness is what brought us closer.
She’s mine now, so she doesn’t need to be free.
“Sorry.”
“…Ah, well, I was kidding.”
Riri-chan seemed surprised that I apologized so readily.
I don’t feel bad about restricting Riri-chan’s freedom, but I do feel bad about suppressing her desire for me.
Because that’s her desire for me.
And those feelings make me happy.
I moved back to my usual spot across from Riri-chan and resumed studying.
“Suzuna.”
“…What?”
Just when I thought we were going to study, Riri-chan spoke again.
She apparently doesn’t intend to study yet.
“What’s my name?”
“…”
It seems like Riri-chan’s brain has been fried from studying too much.
I’m worried.
“Did you lose your memory?”
“I’m asking you seriously.”
“That’s not a serious question.”
“Just answer me.”
…I don’t understand, but I’ll answer if she insists.
“Riri-chan.”
“Buzz! Wrong.”
She stuck out her lower lip, emphasizing the “buzz.”
“It seems like you really did lose your memory. Should we go to the hospital?”
“That’s not true! Tell me my name properly!”
What is she even talking about?
“It’s Riri-chan, isn’t it? What else could it be?”
…Don’t tell me she’s going to say she’s also a reincarnator.
Both heroines being reincarnators is a common trope; it wouldn’t be surprising.
But I’m not hoping for that.
“My name isn’t ‘Riri-chan.’”
“…Don’t tell me you’re trying to say something stupid.”
“Your name is ‘Suzuna,’ not ‘Suzuna-chan.’”
…I’m relieved that Riri-chan isn’t a reincarnator.
But why is she emphasizing such a trivial thing?
“What’s the difference? They’re the same.”
“They’re not. Don’t you think the ‘-chan’ is unnecessary now?”
“…I wonder.”
“It is. Since we’re lovers, shouldn’t we call each other by our first names?”
“I’m used to it, so it’s fine the way it is.”
“It’s not fine. There’s a subtle distance. It’s strange that I call you by your first name, but you don’t do the same for me.”
“Then call me ‘Suzuna-chan.’”
That would be equal, and there wouldn’t be the dissonance she’s talking about.
“No. You know that’s not what I mean.”
I kind of understand, and I kind of don’t…
“But I’m used to ‘Riri-chan.’ It’s fine the way it is.”
“You’ll get used to calling me by my first name too.”
“…Okay, I’ll call you ‘Riri-chan.’”
It’s one thing at the beginning, but we’ve reached a comfortable distance.
I don’t think there’s a need to create awkwardness now.
“You’re so mean, Suzuna…”
Riri-chan slumped onto the desk, throwing her arms out.
“I know you’re shy, Suzuna.”
“I’m not.”
“But I want you to say it someday.”
“…Someday.”
I didn’t make a promise, but I also didn’t completely deny it.
Maybe I’ll call her by her first name someday, if I change my mind.
“So, you’ll be with me during summer break, right?”
Riri-chan’s face lit up.
Her emotions are so easy to read, her expressions changing instantly.
“…Aren’t you the busy one, Riri-chan?”
I can’t imagine Riri-chan’s friends leaving her alone.
Her schedule must be completely full.
“Don’t worry, I’ll cancel everything.”
“…”
Déjà vu.
I’m happy to spend time with her, but I don’t think she needs to cancel everything.
“So we’ll be together all of summer break.”
…All of it, huh?
I’m fine with that, but there’s also the Shindo-kun situation.
The individual routes will be determined after summer break, so I might need to check on his progress before then.
“Yeah, I think it’ll be fine.”
“…You think?”
Riri-chan is fixated on that word.
“Something might come up.”
“Ah, well… that’s true.”
She nodded, accepting that it couldn’t be helped.
I feel bad for giving such vague answers.
◇◇◇
Time passed slowly as we both struggled to concentrate.
“I should probably go home soon.”
Riri-chan initiated the end of our study session, and I walked her to the entrance.
It was completely dark outside, and the oppressive heat had subsided slightly.
“…Riri-chan, your skirt.”
Her leg, with the bite mark, was still exposed.
“Hmm? Ah, this… it’s fine.”
“Really? Are you going to wear it like that at school too?”
“Yeah. If anyone asks, ‘What happened to your leg?,’ I’ll say, ‘Suzuna bit me.’”
“…That’s…”
I didn’t expect her to be so bold.
I didn’t anticipate that kind of development.
“Fufu, just kidding. I’m only showing it off because it’s dark and no one can see. I’ll hide it at school.”
She just wanted to see me panic.
Riri-chan smirked.
“What’s that about?”
“Just… revenge for various things.”
Well, I’ve also been teasing her, so I can’t complain.
“Hey, Suzuna.”
The cool night air ruffled my hair.
Riri-chan gently brushed it aside and looked at me.
“What?”
“I like you, Suzuna.”
“…”
What is she saying all of a sudden?
“So, I’m on your side, Suzuna. Tell me anything.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t lie.”
“…Okay.”
I think she’s saying all this because she likes me.
But Riri-chan’s tone was so serious that I could only nod in response.
“Good. See you later, Suzuna.”
I waved goodbye to Riri-chan.
Don’t lie.
Am I lying, being both Amatsuki Suzuna and Yukitsuki Mashiro?
I watched her walk away, a lingering unease in my heart.
98 Misunderstanding
“…Riri-chan, that outfit…”
“It’s your fault, Suzuna, so don’t look at me like that.”
When I met Riri-chan this morning, as usual, her attire had changed.
It was still the school uniform, but her blouse was buttoned up, and her skirt was longer.
A much more… well-behaved look.
Just the uniform, though.
“It’s because you bite my leg.”
She glared at me resentfully.
But honestly, I’m happy about this change.
“Yeah, it makes me want to bite you even more.”
“Absolutely not! I don’t want this anymore!”
Riri-chan clutched her head, ruffling her hair.
She was genuinely displeased.
“…Well, it doesn’t really suit you, but…”
“You’re the one who did it!”
I was scolded.
We entered the school building and walked down the hallway.
The morning air was tense and heavy.
“Hey, about summer break… how about a sleepover?”
She’s as cheerful as ever, completely unaffected by the atmosphere.
“A sleepover…?”
“Yeah, at my place. Or yours, Suzuna.”
It’s true that we both live alone, so there’s no problem with having a sleepover.
Or rather, even if our parents were around, it wouldn’t be strange for two girls to sleep over.
“Okay, but… what are we going to do?”
“Anything.”
“Anything…?”
“Isn’t it fun just being together?”
“Well…”
That might be true.
“We could also go to the beach, since it’s summer.”
“…Huh?”
“Hey, I didn’t say anything weird.”
“There’s nothing to do at the beach.”
“We can swim. I want to see you in a swimsuit, Suzuna.”
“…Absolutely not.”
Why would I subject the public to my pathetic body?
“I think it would be beautiful.”
Riri-chan’s comments have been… suggestive lately.
I think she should calm down a little.
“If you don’t come, I’ll go with Kaede and the others.”
…Riri-chan at the beach?
At the beach in a swimsuit with her cheerful friends.
I can easily imagine her attracting everyone’s attention.
“No.”
“But if you’re not coming, Suzuna, I have no choice, do I?”
“You said you’d cancel all your other plans.”
“You’re the one who canceled on me, so what else can I do?”
She’s saying strange things again.
“No, just no.”
“You won’t go, and you won’t let me go? Aren’t you being a little selfish?”
“I’ll bite you all over if you do.”
That’s how I’ll make sure she can’t expose her skin in a swimsuit.
“Y-You’d go that far…? That’s scary, Suzuna; you’re capable of anything.”
“I’ve told you before, you’re not allowed to show your skin to other people, Riri-chan.”
“Um… it’s a swimsuit.”
“Are you stupid? If it’s not okay even in your uniform, it’s definitely not okay in a swimsuit.”
“W-Well… I don’t think I’m the stupid one…”
Riri-chan scratched her head, muttering, “Good grief…”
I’m the one who wants to do that.
“But why do you want me to cover up so much, Suzuna?”
“It’s not about what I want you to do. You don’t need to show yourself to other people.”
“Like a sheltered princess?”
“It’s fine, I’ll look at you, that’s enough.”
“Hmm?”
“Eh?”
An awkward silence.
I think I said something strange.
“—I can hear an inappropriate conversation about… exposure… which is unsuitable for this time of day.”
“K-Kanaori!”
“Kanaori-san.”
The student council president, frowning, stood behind us.
“It’s fine to be excited about summer break, but you should focus on the final exams first. Especially you.”
Kanaori-san glared at Riri-chan.
“Just let us talk about our plans.”
“That’s how your personal life becomes frivolous, and you neglect your studies.”
“What’s so frivolous about my personal life?”
“Just look at how disheveled your uniform is—wait…”
Kanaori-san realized her own contradiction and trailed off.
Indeed, there was nothing frivolous about her uniform.
“H-Hinase-san… are you being… punished by someone?”
“Why would you think that just because I’m wearing my uniform properly…?”
“I don’t understand how you could be so… compliant after completely ignoring everything I said.”
That’s harsh, Riri-chan.
“It’s her fault.”
Riri-chan pointed at me.
“Ah, Amatsuki-san… what miracle did you use to… fix Hinase-san?”
A miracle…?
I can’t say I bit her…
“Ah… well, all it takes is one word from me.”
One word that shuts her up instantly.
Riri-chan’s knowing gaze was cold.
“Wh-What words of wisdom did you utter? Please enlighten me.”
Ah, this is bad…
I made her even more curious.
And Kanaori-san, while her uniform is now proper, her makeup and nails are still… flashy.
She must have forgotten in her surprise.
◇◇◇
After school.
It was difficult to explain and smooth things over with Kanaori-san after that misunderstanding this morning.
I didn’t expect that exhaustion to last until now…
I should be more careful with my words, being so bad with them.
I packed my textbooks into my bag, wanting to go home quickly.
“Hey, Suzuna?”
A voice called out to me.
It was Shindo-kun.
“What is it? I’m going home.”
“Ah, well, your birthday is during summer break, right? What are you doing this year?”
I was momentarily confused.
“…Ah.”
My birthday as Yukitsuki Mashiro was in June.
Amatsuki Suzuna’s birthday is in August.
My memories are getting mixed up…
Well, it’s fine since I’m not planning on celebrating with Shindo-kun.
“This year, I…”
“—What’s the meaning of this?”
A sharp voice cut in from beside me.
It was Riri-chan.
“Riri…-chan?”
Her demeanor was different from usual.
Heavy, yet with a fragile, strained quality.
“Isn’t Suzuna’s birthday… different?”
“Ah, um…”
This is troublesome…
It’s true that Amatsuki Suzuna’s birthday is in August; it’s easy to find out.
I can’t lie about that.
And I can’t explain Yukitsuki Mashiro’s birthday either.
This is a complicated situation.
“Suzuna, did you lie to me?”
And the timing couldn’t be worse.
I’m betraying the promise we made last night.
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