Trial Lover 43 (Patreon)

Main Story 42 - The Best Medicine

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1:30 pm.

I arrive at Hiori's house at the appointed time. This is the first time I've come here from my house by bicycle. The sunlight is warm and the air is refreshing, so it felt great to pedal.

I park my bicycle in the yard of the Aoyama house and ring the intercom.

“Akito-san, welcome.”

Less than ten seconds after I ring it, the front door opens and Hiori comes out. I thought she’d answer through the intercom, but to think she’d show up so quickly. I’m a little surprised. Also, she looks cute in a long light blue skirt and a black turtleneck vertical knit sweater. She looks warm.

When our eyes meet, Hiori laughs.

“Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, Hiori. I didn't expect you to come out so soon.”

“As it was getting close to the appointed time, I was looking out the window of my room. Then I saw Akito-san pedaling his bicycle. So I went down to the entrance and waited.”

“So that’s how it is.”

That’s too cute.

“Your clothes today look good on you as well. It's a turtleneck, so it looks warm.”

“It is warm. Since I’m recovering from illness, I thought it would be better to be warm. Akito-san in the dress shirt looks refreshing and cool.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, please come in.”

“Yeah. Sorry for the intrusion.”

I go inside Hiori's house.

After greeting Hiori's parents in the living room, we head to Hiori's room on the second floor. By the way, Nanami-chan has club activities in the badminton club and went to her middle school about 30 minutes ago.

“Go ahead, Akito-san.”

“Sorry for the intrusion.”

“We're planning to watch Miyabi-sama together, so could you please sit on one of the two cushions next to the bed? Please put your bag somewhere appropriate.”

“I got it.”

Following Hiori's instructions, I go to the bed and see two cushions placed next to it. However, the cushions are placed close together. It’s probably because, up until now, when we watched anime together, we sat next to each other. I can understand that Hiori accepts that. I'm so happy.

I sit down on one of the cushions and place my bag next to me.

“I'll bring you something to drink. What would you like?”

“Then... can I ask for some hot tea, please?”

“I understand.”

“...Also, I'm returning the yuri manga I borrowed the other day. Thank you.”

From my tote bag, I take out a Yotsuba Bookstore bag containing the yuri manga. I slowly stand up and hand the bag to Hiori.

Hiori takes out the yuri manga from the bag, looks me in the eye, and smiles.

“I have certainly received it. I'm glad you enjoyed it.”

“It was interesting.”

After I say that, Hiori smiles happily and nods slowly. She puts back the manga I returned to the bookshelf and leaves the room.

I once again sit down on the cushion and gently lean against the bed. As a result, I smell Hiori’s sweet scent and the refreshing smell of detergent coming from the bed. She did say she was sweating yesterday, so she might have changed the sheets. ...What the hell am I thinking?

To think I’d be coming to Hiori's house for two days in a row. It's like a dream. I wonder if I’d believe it if someone told me about this before. I probably won’t believe it.

“Sorry I made you wait.”

“Welcome back.”

Hiori returns to the room carrying a tray with two mugs on it. Since she’s bringing the hot tea, as soon as she returns I can feel the aroma of the tea. I take comfort in that.

Hiori puts the two mugs in front of me and the tray on the study desk.

Hiori sits down next to me, immediately after that, I pick up the mug. I can feel quite a lot of heat coming from the steam, so, ‘fuuu’ I blow on it and take a sip of the tea.

“...It's slightly sweet and delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Hiori also picks up her own mug and takes a sip of the tea after blowing on it. The side profile of her face as she smiles at that time is very beautiful.

“It's delicious. ...I'd like to watch Miyabi-sama Season 2 right away, but... Is it okay?”

“Of course! Shall we start with Volume 1?”

“Yes.”

* (T/N: I think volume 1 of blu-ray contains more than 1 episode.)

We start watching the Blu-ray of Miyabi-sama Season 2 Episode 1. Of course, we sit next to each other like before.

We've both seen it before, so we watch it while exchanging thoughts like “this scene is interesting” or “this part made my heart skip a beat.” But, since I’m seeing Hiori’s smile at point-blank range, I end up focusing on Hiori rather than on the anime sometimes.

“Episode 2 is over, so, I guess this marks the end of Volume 1, huh?” (Akito)

“It went by so quickly, wasn’t it?”

“That's right. We watched it while talking after all.”

“Yes. It was fun. But, perhaps because I'm still recovering, I'm a little tired. Is it okay if I take a longer break?”

“Of course it’s okay.”

She didn’t only watch anime, she also had fun talking with me. That might be why she’s so tired. Besides, Hiori is still recovering after all.

“It might be better if you lie down on the bed. It’d feel more comfortable that way.”

“That's true. But... I’d like to have Akito-san's lap as the pillow. During the at-home date the other day, Akito-san slept on my lap, so I thought I'd like to experience it as well. Can I...?”

Hiori's cheeks turn slightly red and she glances at me. Since she gave me a lap pillow before, she wants to try a lap pillow this time... huh? What a really cute idea she thought of.

“Sure.”

“Thank you very much.”

I stand up from the cushion and sit down on the edge of Hiori's bed.

Hiori turns over the bed cover and lies down on her back on the bed. And then, she softly rests her head on my lap. I can feel Hiori’s weight and warmth from my lap.

I look down and see Hiori. When our eyes meet, she softly smiles.

“How is it, my lap pillow?”

“It feels really good. The sensation is nice, and it feels slightly warm. I think I can relax here.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“...Also, am I not heavy? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m totally okay.”

“I’m glad.”

Hiori looks relieved. She's a girl, so maybe she’s concerned about her weight.

I’m lost on where to put my hands. But, remembering when Hiori gave me her lap pillow the other day, I gently put my right hand on Hiori's head and my left hand on her stomach. When I do, Hiori's body twitches, but she doesn’t show any signs of displeasure.

“I put my hand on you like Hiori did the other day, do you dislike it?”

“No, it's my stomach after all. Besides, I feel safe because I can feel Akito-san's warmth. I wonder if it's because I caught a cold and missed school yesterday. Since I was absent from school, I couldn't meet Akito-san and the others. So I was very lonely.”

“...So that’s how it was, huh.”

I also felt lonely without Hiori in the classroom. But unlike me, Hiori was all alone. The loneliness she felt might be stronger than mine. But, I'm incredibly happy that our feelings of loneliness overlap with each other.

“To divert my loneliness even just a little bit, I hugged the stuffed animal that Akito-san gave me as a present on our Hagikubo date.”

“I see.”

When I look around the bed, I see the stuffed brown and white eight-split cat that I gave her near the pillow. When I pick up the stuffed animal, I remember the time I gave it to Hiori as a present. At that time... Hiori was really happy with it.

Hiori reaches for the stuffed animal, so I hand it to her. When I do, Hiori hugs the stuffed animal.

“I hugged it like this. Hugging it feels comfortable, and the brown part is the same as Akito-san, so I felt calmer. That's why I was able to sleep soundly.”

“I see. Then, I wonder if it was thanks to this stuffed animal that Hiori got better so quickly.”

“I think so. But, this cat-chan looks a bit like Akito-san, and this is something Akito-san gave me as a present, I think that’s why I slept well.”

Hiori looks at me with a smile on her slightly red face. She's really cute like this. My heart skips a beat and my body becomes hot. Is it just my imagination that the area around my thigh where Hiori's head is resting is the hottest?

“Yesterday, when you came to visit me with Saaya-san and Kyoko-san, my heart felt lighter. The way you put your hand on my cheek felt so good, and my fever subsided. Even now, because I’m resting my head on your lap like this, my fatigue from watching the Blu-rays is starting to disappear. Perhaps Akito-san is the best medicine for me.”

“...Those words make me happy.”

I'm really happy that my existence is connected to Hiori's health. I gently pats Hiori's head.

If I get sick and Hiori comes to visit me... I'm sure that alone will make me recover. I am confident that it will. I know that being healthy is the best thing, but, just once, I want to experience having a cold and having Hiori come to visit me.

“The lap pillow felt so good that my fatigue disappeared.”

“That's good. I've only ever given a lap pillow to my sister, but giving a lap pillow sure is nice too.”

“Fufu. Thank you very much, Akito-san.”

Hiori slowly raises her body and gets off the bed. As she does, she places the stuffed cat by the pillow.

“Blu-ray Volume 2, want to watch it?”

“Yes, let's watch it.”

“I got it.”

I get off the bed and insert Miyabi-sama Blu-ray Volume 2 into the player. I sit down on the cushion next to Hiori, who is already sitting.

When the Blu-ray starts playing and the opening video is playing.

“Hi-Hiori?”

Hiori leans on me and puts her head on my right shoulder. This is the same position we were in when we rode the Ferris wheel in Dome Town, so it reminds me of that time.

Hiori looks at me, and when our eyes meet, she smiles kindly.

“I thought it would be less tiring if I watch it while feeling Akito-san’s warmth like this. Akito-san... is that okay?”

“Of course. I also... feel that Hiori's warmth feels good.”

“Thank you very much. Now, let's try watching Volume 2 in this position.”

“Yeah. We should try it.”

I hope Hiori can watch it comfortably.

Although we are snuggling close to each other, we still watch Volume 2 while talking about our impressions, just like we did when we were watching Volume 1. I feel not only Hiori's warmth, but also her sweet smell and her softness, so I end up more focused on Hiori than I did while watching Volume 1. But, this is fun in its own way.

Eventually, we finish watching Volume 2.

Hiori says she doesn't feel tired at all. Because she was snuggling up to me, it was comfortable instead, it seems. So, from Volume 3 onwards too, we basically snuggle up to each other while watching the Blu-ray.

On this day, I am feeling more of Hiori's warmth than on our previous at-home dates.

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