“So, you see, upperclassman. I think everyone should be more honest with their desires!”
While stuffing her mouth with a fourth hamburger, Hiyori Suzunose—a junior who is one year below me at university—passionately argued her point.
Hiyori has a so-called baby face and skillfully rolls her semi-long brown hair. Her girlish style, which seems designed to appeal to men, never wears her; instead, it simply brings out her natural charm.
And she is the person I, Mikoto Shibuki, am in love with.
We met in a club last year, and I fell in love with her at first sight. The reason is simple: everything about her is totally my type. Her voice, her vibe, her gestures, her face.
Right now, Hiyori and I are at a fast-food restaurant together.
Expecting her to take five hamburgers home after ordering them all by herself, I was surprised when she started eating every single one of them right on the spot. When I teased her, asking, “Isn’t that too much to eat?”, she launched into this passionate speech.
Even while talking, the burgers are disappearing in the blink of an eye. Now, her hand is reaching for the fifth and final one. Where does she put it all in that slender body of hers?
“Hello? Are you listening, Mikoto-senpai?”
“Yeah, I’m listening. I’m really listening.”
I rest my cheek in my hand and listen to Hiyori’s words.
Seemingly relieved to see that I am paying close attention, Hiyori happily starts talking again.
Hiyori calls me “Mikoto-senpai.”
She is about the only underclassman who treats me this way, so friendly.
Unlike Hiyori, I have straight black hair, and people have told me since I was little that I have a fierce look in my eyes. Combined with my height, I probably often come across as somewhat unapproachable. Honestly, I rarely get the chance to interact with underclassmen.
I used to feel lonely about it sometimes, but now it doesn’t bother me at all. If anything, it’s relaxing.
“In short! It’s totally fine for me to eat as many hamburgers as I want right now. Appetite is one of the three basic human desires, after all. If you hold back, your body breaks down!”
“I see. Well, eat up then. Should I buy you something else?”
I ask with a smile. Hiyori eating so much is extremely cute. She looks like a hamster.
“I’m good now. Thank you.”
Hiyori crams the very last bite of her fifth hamburger into her mouth. Then, she gulps down her drink in one big breath.
Since it was a carbonated drink, it must have gotten stuck in her throat, because she pats her chest up and down.
When she finally calms down, Hiyori leans forward a little bit closer to me.
“Mikoto-senpai. I have a favor to ask you!”
“Hm? What is it?”
“It’s something I can only ask Mikoto-senpai… Will you listen to everything I have to say?”
Hiyori says this while looking up at me through her eyelashes.
Given such a cute face, there’s no way I can refuse, so I give a small nod.
At that moment, Hiyori’s face lights up instantly.
She’s so cute. I adore her.
Hiyori leans back to her original position and starts talking again, looking right at me with pure, clear eyes.
“During our next break—”
“Oh? Hiyori-chan!”
The voices overlap.
Seriously, what terrible timing. Who is this?
Moving my gaze away from Hiyori to look in the direction of the voice, I see a classmate from our club standing there.
Takuto Yamaguchi.
He’s a guy with a decent-looking face, and he knows everyone regardless of year level. A typical extroverted guy.
Some underclassmen in my group called him cool or handsome, but to me, he just looks like a country high schooler who just debuted in college.
According to my friends, Takuto apparently likes Hiyori and has asked her out on dates many times. But Hiyori’s answer is always a flat “No,” and he is currently trying to figure out how to close the distance between them.
I am furious that our conversation was interrupted and glare at Takuto, but Hiyori just smiles and chats with him. In moments like this, Hiyori is much more mature than I am.
“Hey, Hiyori-chan, did you think about what I said the other day?”
“As I have said many times, my answer is no. I cannot go on a date with someone I don’t like.”
“Eh? Come on, just once. I’ll treat you to whatever you want, okay?”
Even though Hiyori is turning him down flatly, Takuto keeps nagging her.
Hiyori looks troubled.
Thinking this, I try to step in, but Hiyori raises her voice a little to stop Takuto.
“I don’t like persistent people. If you want to hit on someone, please ask someone else.”
Hearing that, Takuto seems unable to say anything more, drops his shoulders a bit, and leaves the spot.
Hiyori-chan makes a face behind Takuto’s back and then turns back to me.
“So, about my request!”
Her mood has completely changed from a moment ago, which takes me by surprise.
Just how much does she hate Takuto…?
I feel a little bit sorry for Takuto.
Still, it’s pretty impressive that he keeps trying even though he’s disliked this much.
“Yeah, what is it? What’s the favor?”
“Yes! Um… I…”
Hiyori hesitates and watches my expression.
I tilt my head slightly, thinking I’ll grant any favor Hiyori asks for.
Then Hiyori looks at me as if she has made up her mind and says in a loud voice:
“I want to try going to a love hotel!”
“————… Huh?”
I say this and freeze in a daze.
Hiyori keeps talking smoothly about something, but none of it registers in my head.
A l-love hotel…? A love hotel, as in that kind of love hotel? The kind that couples or people close to them go to? Hiyori? With me? Why?
So, when she said humans should be more honest with their desires, she meant that?!
I keep staring at Hiyori without understanding what is going on.
“————So senpai, please take me to a love hotel!”
And finally, Hiyori says that with a huge smile.
♢
“————… And that’s what happened. What do you think that means!?”
I ask my friend Seina Igarashi, holding a mug of beer at an izakaya.
Seina is also in the same club and one of the few mutual friends Hiyori and I share. She is also the only person who knows I have feelings for Hiyori.
Seina laughs and takes a sip of beer.
“Man, Hiyori-chan is pretty bold too. That’s hilarious.”
“Come on, it makes zero sense. I agreed to it for now, though…”
I hold my head in my hands.
“You actually agreed? So? When are you going?”
“Next Saturday…”
“Huh. That’s pretty soon.”
Hearing that, I hold my head in my hands again.
I really don’t have time. There are a million things I need to prepare.
I want to go buy new underwear, and I want to get a wax. I need to research how women do things, too. I don’t want Hiyori to be disillusioned and call Mikoto-senpai clumsy.
I did book a waxing appointment, plan to go buy underwear tomorrow, and researched a bit, but I have too many anxieties—or rather, worries.
A bunch of things I want to do pop into my head, and I end up not knowing what to do.
“—I mean, why me out of all people? Does Hiyori like me? No, no, no… Eh, why, why…”
Seina rests her chin in her hand and watches me mutter this with an amused look.
“Maybe Mikoto just looked like she had a lot of experience?”
Seina says this with a laugh.
People often say I look like I stay out late or have a lot of experience, but I’ve never done anything like that, nor have I ever even had a partner.
I’ve confessed to people or had confessions, but I’ve never had mutual feelings with anyone. Well, it’s impossible to meet a woman who likes women in a rural high school, so it can’t be helped.
“Gosh… give me a break…”
I gulp down my beer.
If I don’t borrow the courage of alcohol right now and forcefully hype myself up, I won’t get through this.
“Well, whatever happens, do your best!! Today is the eve of the big day! Excuse me! Two draft beers, please!”
Seina says this and hits me on the back with a pretty strong force.
It’s definitely not the eve of anything yet, I think to myself, but I decide to lean on Seina’s kindness today.
♢
Time passes, and the promised day finally arrives.
I am waiting for Hiyori in front of the station turnstiles, fiddling with my smartphone. I have a cool look on my face, but inside, I am a total mess.
My heart is beating fast and loud, and my eyes are wandering around instead of looking at my phone.
“Mikoto-senpaiiiii!!!”
Hearing that voice, I look up and see Hiyori coming out of the ticket gates, waving her hand.
I put my smartphone in my pocket and give Hiyori a small wave back.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, not at all. Let’s go.”
I turn my back to Hiyori and start walking.
I’ve already checked the route to the hotel on Street View multiple times. It’s memorized in my head.
Just when I think Hiyori has caught up a step behind me, she suddenly links her arm with mine.
My heart leaps heavily.
We’re both women. Walking with linked arms is totally normal.
I tell myself that, but those words don’t work on me today.
“I wonder what a hotel is like.”
“Uhm, I wonder what it’s like…”
I am too nervous to speak properly, and I have no idea if we’re even making conversation.
Hiyori keeps talking about something after that, but I can only manage vague nods.
After walking for about twenty minutes from the station, we arrive at the hotel.
Stepping through the entrance, a strangely pop background music is playing, making me feel like I’ve come somewhere I shouldn’t be.
Four large touch panels line the wall, with various notices written on them.
Using my internet knowledge, I quickly finish checking in and step into the elevator.
The moment she enters the hotel, Hiyori goes completely silent. Even so, our arms remain tightly linked.
We reach the room, unlock the door, and step inside.
At that exact moment, Hiyori’s face lights up brightly.
“Senpai, look! The bed is huge!! Ah! You can watch movies on the TV too!!”
“R-RIGHT.”
Conversely, the moment I enter the room, a massive wave of nervousness washes over me, and my brain is a complete mess.
For now, should we take a bath or something…? No, the internet also said it’s better to squeeze in a movie time first…
I stay standing near the entrance, spinning my thoughts in circles.
Finding me suspicious, Hiyori walks over and looks up at me through her eyelashes.
“Mikoto-senpai, are you okay??”
“Y-Yeah. I’m okay.”
I am not okay at all, but that’s what I reply.
Hiyori says, “I’m glad, then,” and pulls my hand back toward the bed area.
Ah, is it finally starting…?
Is Hiyori the type who doesn’t need to take a bath or anything? I might smell like sweat, so I want to wash up…
Shall we take a bath first, or—
Just as I am about to say that, Hiyori opens her mouth.
“Well then, senpai! Right off the bat!!”
Hiyori spins around playfully and turns to face me. She has such a huge smile on her face that you’d never think she was about to do that.
As I feel bewildered by how composed she is, Hiyori continues speaking.
“Let’s eat a honey toast!!!”
… Eh?
H-Honey toast? Honey toast, as in that? The one with big bread and toppings on it??
Eh, why???
“—Huh?”
After a long, heavy pause, that pathetic sound is all I can manage to let out.