Chapter 54
Yuu moved the earpick carefully inside Shin’s ear, making sure not to hurt him.
"...Tell me if it hurts, okay?"
"Y-yeah, sure."
She’d expected this, but it was still tricky.
She’d used the earpick on herself a few times, but this was her first time doing it for someone else. She was mimicking what she faintly remembered her mother doing for her as a child, but it was hard to see inside his ear, and the angle was completely different from doing it herself.
"Hmm..."
"..."
She leaned in closer, peering into his ear as she guided the earpick with slow, deliberate strokes.
...Though, now that I think about it...
This wasn’t so bad.
Like feeding him porridge when he was sick, there was something oddly enjoyable about it.
"...That should do it? Now for the fluffy part..."
Once she’d finished cleaning, she flipped the earpick and brushed the soft tuft against his ear—just like her mother used to do.
"...Okay, one down. Now turn the other way?"
"...N-no, seriously, that’s really..."
When she tried to switch sides, Shin resisted again.
...Why?
Had she hurt him earlier without realizing?
"Um, was it too rough?"
"N-no, that’s not it..."
Apparently not.
But his flustered reaction definitely meant something.
"Then why?"
"............It’s just... if I turn over, my face’ll be facing you."
Facing me?
"...!"
The moment he said it, she understood.
A rush of heat crawled up her cheeks.
Right now, Shin’s head was turned toward her stomach—but if he flipped over, his face would be pressed against her abdomen. Or worse, her chest.
Because no matter how careful she tried to be, she always ended up leaning forward while cleaning his ears.
"...Ugh."
...That would be embarrassing.
After what happened with the futon last time, she couldn’t possibly force that kind of contact on him.
"...Right—"
She opened her mouth to agree—to say "Yeah, you’re right."
But just then—
"L-look, Yuu, we’re ‘best friends,’ right? That’d be... way too much."
His words hung in the air.
...‘Best friends,’ huh.
"..."
She knew.
Of course she knew.
She’d never confessed to Shin, and he’d never said anything like that to her either. So him saying this was only natural. She understood that.
...But for some reason, it irked her. Just a little.
"..."
"Y-Yuu?"
When Shin tried to lift his head from her lap, she pinned him down with both hands.
"Shin, turn over."
"Huh? But—"
He started to protest, but it didn’t matter.
"Okay?"
"...Yeah."
She guided his face toward her and began cleaning his other ear.
"Mmm..."
"...U-um, Yuu?"
She ignored the panic in his voice.
Right now, whether she was pressing against him or not didn’t matter.
...A small, rational part of her screamed that this was wrong.
Shin hadn’t said anything incorrect. Getting upset over this was unfair.
...But she couldn’t stop the emotions boiling inside her.
Why?
I love him so much, so why—?
The thoughts swirled violently in her head.
"..."
She finished cleaning, her grip still firm on his head, then brushed the fluffy end against his ear one last time.
"...Done."
"...Th-thanks."
She released him, and Shin sat up—his face beet red, as if he’d been steamed alive.
Seeing him like that eased her frustration. Just a little.
"I-I’m gonna go back to my room..."
Shin staggered to his feet and retreated unsteadily. The door he’d left ajar slowly swung shut behind him with a quiet click.
...Did I go too far?
Now that he was gone, clarity crept back in.
"...Ugh."
Self-disgust washed over her.
What am I even doing?
Getting mad over being called ‘best friends’? That’s all they were.
She’d let her anger take over, forced him down, and then—
...Did that to him.
The memory of the last few minutes replayed in her mind.
"...!"
Her face burned. Now that the heat of the moment had passed, the shame hit her full-force.
She’d practically shoved herself against his face.
"...Ngh."
No. No more thinking about this.
She shook her head violently, as if she could physically dislodge the thoughts.
"R-right, I’ve got chores!"
Saying it out loud helped her focus.
Clutching her still-flushed cheeks, she hurried to the kitchen to finish the housework.
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