Chapter 53
It was near the end of October.
The temperature had dropped, and winter’s footsteps were beginning to make themselves heard.
"...Huh? Are we out of cotton swabs?"
Feeling a slight discomfort in my ear, I went to grab one as usual—only to find none left. I immediately checked the closet for replacements, but there weren’t any there either.
"Yuu, we’re out of cotton swabs. Didn’t we have new ones somewhere?"
"Cotton swabs? If they’re not there, then we probably don’t have any..."
That was Yuu’s reply when I asked. If even Yuu—who handled most of the household cleaning—didn’t know, then there really were none left. Apparently, I’d used them all without realizing.
...What should I do?
I could just let it go, but the discomfort in my ear was bothering me.
Once I notice something like this, I can’t ignore it until the cause is resolved—so this was mildly agonizing. I even considered making a quick run to the nearby drugstore.
"...Oh, wait—hold on a sec."
"Yuu?"
As I stood there hesitating, Yuu clapped her hands together and said that before heading into her room.
"...Found it. Here we go."
When Yuu returned, she was holding a slender stick with a fluffy tuft of fibers at the tip.
...Was that an earpick?
The last time I’d seen one was probably at my grandfather’s house. It felt nostalgic, seeing it again after so long.
"What’s that for?"
"You don’t remember? We bought it during our summer trip."
...Had we?
We’d picked up so many things back then that it must’ve gotten mixed in with the rest.
Well, beggars couldn’t be choosers. Right now, I’d take anything that could get rid of this discomfort.
"Guess I’ll gratefully borrow it, then. Mind handing it over?"
I reached out as I spoke. But Yuu paused, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Mmm... no."
"Huh?"
I hadn’t expected to be refused, leaving me bewildered. Ignoring my stunned expression, Yuu walked over to the sofa and sat down.
"Hehehe... I’ll do it for you. Come here?"
"...What?"
Lightly patting her thigh with one hand, she waited.
...Was she seriously telling me to rest my head there?
She must’ve meant for me to lie in her lap while she cleaned my ears. I had vague memories of my mother doing the same for me when I was little.
"Uh, that’s kinda..."
"Eh? You don’t want to?"
The moment I hesitated, Yuu’s face fell. It wasn’t that I minded—it was just embarrassing.
"N-no, it’s not that, but..."
"Then come here?"
Just like that, her playful smirk returned. Had she been faking that sad look?
...But was she really going through with this?
Glancing over, I caught sight of Yuu’s legs, clad in a skirt that ended just below her knees.
It wasn’t particularly thick—if anything, the fabric seemed light, probably because it was loungewear.
...Was I really supposed to rest my head there? Was that... okay?
"Shin, hurry up!"
"Ah, uh... yeah."
Before I could overthink it, Yuu urged me forward until I stood in front of the sofa. Then, as if guided by her pull, I lay down and placed my head on her thighs.
Yuu’s hands gently cradled my neck and head.
"..."
The sensation of her thighs against my skull and cheek was firmer than I’d expected. But through the skirt, her body heat reached me, making my heartbeat thunder in my ears.
The faint scent of Yuu—etched into my memory just moments ago—lingered in the air.
"Hehehe... okay, here we go...?"
"...!"
Her whisper brushed against me, so close I could feel her breath on my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
Then the earpick slipped inside.
And just like that, it began.
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