Chapter 106: Don’t Move

"There's still porridge in the pot. If you're hungry later, just heat it up before eating."

"I put the leftover fruit in the fridge. Let it cool for a while after taking it out, then wash it."

"Oh, and I stored away that bottle of plum wine. You just recovered, so absolutely no sneaking sips!"

"The clothes on the balcony need to be brought in too. Stop waiting until the last minute when you need something to wear…"

"And one more thing—"

Kanade Natsukawa rattled off instructions endlessly.

It wasn't that he enjoyed nagging; it was because he was genuinely concerned about Utaha Kasumigaoka. Self-care had never been her strong suit, and now, as a patient recovering from illness, her usual laziness seemed to multiply. Earlier, she'd even tried to trick him—a minor—into drinking with her.

That was a criminal offense!

Luckily, the weekend was just around the corner, giving Utaha a couple more days to recuperate. However, Kanade couldn't shake the suspicion that she would use her illness as an excuse to skip more school, perhaps indefinitely.

It was grossly unfair, really. Someone like her, who avoided hard work at every turn, still managed to rank among the top students. Meanwhile, countless diligent peers struggled to make incremental improvements.

"Got it, got it. Kouhai-kun, you're nagging like a mother," Utaha said lazily, tapping the edge of her bowl with a spoon. "If you're so worried, why don't you just move in? You can sleep anywhere—even my room is fine."

Her tone was lighthearted, but her gaze lingered on Kanade for a moment. The thought of him leaving after their long-awaited reunion was genuinely frustrating. She almost wanted to just keep him here, forever within reach.

But of course, that would be too much trouble. Her parents would never allow it.

"Stop daydreaming, Senpai. You're not a kid anymore, so take care of your own stuff." Kanade slung his bag over his shoulder and gave the apartment a final glance to ensure he hadn't missed anything.

"Well, I'll be going now. Make sure to lock the door after me."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Utaha replied with mock impatience, dragging herself off the couch.

Only when he saw her moving did Kanade feel assured. Just as he reached for the door, her voice stopped him.

"Kouhai-kun, wait a moment…"

"What is it—" He turned, words halting mid-sentence as he froze in place.

"Don't talk," she said, her tone firm, "and don't move!"

Her sudden seriousness caught Kanade off guard. Before he could react, her hands cupped his cheeks, holding his face steady.

His first instinct was to push her hands away, but instead, he lightly placed his own over hers, noticing how cool they felt against his skin.

And then—

Pop.

Even with his eyes shut, he couldn't ignore the soft, damp sensation on his forehead.

"This…"

"It's a reward," Utaha said with a playful smile, her face so close it filled his entire vision.

As if her little "prank" wasn't enough, she licked her lips provocatively, as though considering an encore.

"Ugh…" Kanade panicked. Staring at her seemed inappropriate, but closing his eyes made him feel even more vulnerable.

"Senpai, you… you should really keep some distance! Even if we're good friends, this is a bit much…"

"Oh, it's just a token of appreciation for all your hard work," she replied breezily. "Unless… one isn't enough?"

His heart, already pounding in his chest, seemed ready to burst. But seeing Kanade's flustered reaction was so irresistibly cute that Utaha couldn't help but tease him further.

"In that case, where would you like the next one?"

Her hands, which had been holding his cheeks, began to wander. They glided down his arms, over his chest, and briefly rested there before traveling upward again.

Finally, her delicate fingers stopped at his lips, lingering suggestively.

"I…"

"Kouhai-kun…"

"I-I'm going home!"

Kanade bolted.

Utaha's bold teasing had finally pushed him over the edge, and he couldn't handle the embarrassment any longer.

The intimate atmosphere, coupled with her audacious actions, had been too much for his inexperience. The softness of her lips, even though they'd only grazed his forehead, lingered vividly in his mind.

But what unnerved him most wasn't the act itself—it was the sincerity he thought he'd seen in her eyes. For a fleeting moment, her expression had seemed so genuine, as if she truly meant—

No, Kanade told himself firmly. Senpai just enjoys creating ambiguous situations for fun. She's probably laughing at me right now.

The realization stung.

He'd already learned this lesson once—when he misinterpreted her kindness as affection and confessed his feelings, only to be rejected.

Back then, he'd resolved to move on, to view Utaha as just a friend. Yet now, those memories clawed their way back, dragging him into a spiral of conflicting emotions.

The guilt hit him hard. How could he call himself a friend while entertaining such inappropriate thoughts about her?

Of course, Utaha was at fault too. She shouldn't have blurred the boundaries of their relationship like this. But maybe he was the one who'd failed to set them clearly. Perhaps his mixed signals had given her the wrong idea—that he was okay with this level of closeness.

Should he confront her? Be firm, like he had been that weekend in Saitama?

But even back then, his resolve had crumbled. Despite his best efforts to create distance, she'd effortlessly closed the gap again.

"..."

Kanade sighed.

Utaha Kasumigaoka…

He really didn't know what to do with this woman.