How to Get Rid of Anxiety

It was Sunday, exactly one week after the sports festival. And as requested by Airi a few days ago, Kazuma and Momose were going to come to Minato's house.

As the time for the guests to arrive approached, Airi started to get restless and nervous. Her expression was gloomy, so Minato guesses she was worried. Although Airi and Momose seemed to have talked a little at school, Kazuma was completely new to her.

"Are you worried?"

"…Yes, I'm sorry. Even though it was my idea…"

"Don't worry about it. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Minato could not erase the anxiety of Airi, who had not been able to get along with her friends. However, he asked Airi a question that he hoped would make her feel less anxious.

Then, she gave Minato a fleeting smile.

"I'm sorry, can you pat my head?" (T/N : Too precious… lol)

"Is that okay?"

"Yes."

There was no reason to refuse Airi's request as she was in a weakened state, so he asked her permission once again and touched her beautiful silver hair.

As he caressed her smooth, silky hair, Airi's dark expression somewhat softened.

"As I've said many times, even if they're my childhood friends, Ninomiya doesn't have to talk to them if she doesn't feel comfortable. Don't worry, it won't stop me from watching over you. Besides, it's just a confirmation that they're not going to tell everyone that we're meeting today, so don't get too worked up."

"…Thank you very much. I'm feeling much better now."

"That's good, but don't forget what I said, okay?"

"Yes."

Minato was just about to take his hand away when he heard the intercom ring.

He lightly petted Airi again, who shivered a little, and then answered the call.

[Hey, we're here.]

"Come on up."

It was the first time that four people were in Minato's six-and-a-half-mat room, and it was quite cramped. For now, Kazuma and Minato sat on the floor, while Momose and Airi sat on the cushions.

"Hey, Minato. Do you have a cushion for me too?"

"Give me a break, there's no way I have enough cushions in my house for four people… It's bad manners of you to say that knowingly."

"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry."

Minato knew it was just a casual remark in Kazuma's own way, so he only glared at him lightly. He probably said it on purpose to make the place more relaxed.

However, Airi, the one who was supposed to be relaxed, didn't even move her expression from nervousness.

She didn't say a word except to greet Kazuma and Momose when they came up to the house, and then she stayed still and didn't leave Minato's side.

Although her face was expressionless, Minato could tell she was anxious on the inside.

"For now, I'll introduce myself. I'm Kazuma Mutsura, nice to meet you."

"Me too, once again, I'm Momose Shiori. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Airi Ninomiya. It's nice to meet you."

After introducing themselves to each other, Airi immediately started to talk about the subject that she had promised Momose.

Minato didn't think there was anything wrong with it, and it was something Airi had made everyone agree to.

"I'll confirm once again. You won't tell anyone that Ninomiya and I are living together, will you?"

"Yes, of course. I promise not to tell."

"I promise, I won't tell!"

"Ninomiya, is this enough for now?"

"Yes. Thank you very much, Mutsura-senpai and Momose san."

Airi bowed deeply and expressed her thanks.

She must have been able to confirm it because she could see their faces clearly.

Perhaps because they didn't expect such a response, impatience flashed across Kazuma's and Momose's faces.

"Oh, no, don't thank me!"

"It's only natural, so don't worry about it, like Shiori said."

"…Really, thank you very much."

"Anyway, Ninomiya-san, we didn't promise to go out anywhere today, didn't we? Why are you in uniform?"

Momose asked Airi with a dubious look on her face to change the subject, probably thinking that Airi would just keep apologizing.

Normally, Airi lived in her loungewear, but since Kazuma and Momose were coming, she changed into her school uniform.

The reason why she wasn't in her casual clothes was because she didn't have many casual clothes and most of her clothes hadn't been taken out of her carry-on bag yet.

In the first place, Airi rarely went out on holidays because she didn't want to be seen outside, and she rarely used her casual clothes.

Of course, she and Minato had never been out together.

Minato asked her before if she needed some clothes or daily necessities, but she refused, saying that she would buy them on her way home from school if she really needed them.

"I don't need any clothes or anything. I don't go out."

"What?! You don't need casual clothes?! But come to think of it, I don't think there are any of Ninomiya-san's clothes in this room."

Momose said and looked around the room.

Of course, she couldn't find Airi's personal clothes because they were in her carry-on bag. And she had her underwear in a colored box in the closet, so there was no way she could find them.

The only thing she had out was probably her loungewear, which was hanging in the closet with Minato's personal clothes.

Minato thought she might not like having them together, but she didn't seem to mind as she said, "If I had to worry about that every time, I wouldn't be able to live."

"If I ever need it, I'll buy it on the way home from school."

Airi answered Momose with an outgoing smile. It had been a long time since she had given that expression in this room.

Or rather, Airi was always respectful to Minato, but her respectful tone was dropped because Momose was the same age as her.

It was understandable that she would use a casual tone with someone her own age, but for Minato, who was used to her speaking with honorifics, Airi's casual tone was extremely uncomfortable.

Momose tilted her head as if Airi's reply didn't make sense to her.

"If you buy stuff after school, what do you do on your days off then?"

"I stay home and do housework."

"…Housework? Like what?"

Momose's voice sounded lower, and Minato wondered why.

"I clean the room, prepare the bath, do laundry, and cook dinner."

"That's pretty much everything, isn't it?"

"Yeah, and the only other thing I do is study."

"…Wow."

Momose's voice became even lower. And the temperature in the room seemed to have dropped. It was supposed to be a pretty warm day, but it was strangely cold.

Also, Airi had been playing games lately, so Minato didn't think she was just studying, but for some reason his instincts told him not to mention it.

"So, has Minato-kun ever asked you to go out with him?"

"A few times in the beginning, but not recently."

"I see, I understand now. Minato-kun, can you come over here for a minute?"

Momose said and stood up. Before Minato realized it, Kazuma, who was supposed to be next to him, had fled to near the entrance.

When Kazuma disappeared, Minato was made to go to the empty space and sit on the floor, and when he looked up at Momose who was standing in front of him–

"What is the meaning of this, Minato?"

There, in the form of a high school girl, was Prajna. (T/N : Something-something, enlightenment being something… G*ogle it for better understanding.)