Volume 1 - CH 4.2

Chapter 4 - It’s Too Early for Cohabitation (Final Part)

Then the second day of awkward and exciting cohabitation began.

I woke up early because I couldn't sleep well, cleaned up in the bathroom and went to the living room to calm down. A day had passed, but I still found it strange that Miran was sleeping in this house. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs as I drifted into a daydream, thinking about what I was going to do today.

Just as I thought Miran was peeking into the living room, she greeted me with a surprised look when she saw that I was awake.

"Good morning! Shuuji, you woke up so early!"

"Oh, good morning, I just happened to wake up early."

It is so embarrassing to say that I am so restless to be able to sleep well. I scratched my head and stared at Miran. Her hair is slightly fluffy and her home clothes are also loose. I always see her looking so neat, so it's new for me to see her a little messy when she wakes up.

"Hey, don't look at me like that, I just woke up!"

"S-Sorry...!"

Miran covered her face and hid from the living room in embarrassment, then ran to the bathroom. When she came back a little later, Miran looked as elegant as ever.

"I'll make breakfast, okay..." Miran said.

Then she quickly made breakfast. The breakfast she made looked good and very tasty, but the person who made it didn't eat much like yesterday, so I got a little worried.

"Miran, are you okay?"

"Yup, I'm fine! I'm just on a diet!"

Miran waved her hand happily and asked me, "By the way, what are you going to do today?".

"What do you want to do, huh? Do you have any plans?"

"Well, maybe I want to watch the continuation of yesterday's anime."

"Um, yeah, that sounds good." I nodded my head, but at the same time I didn't expect it, because I imagined Miran as a person who likes to do outdoor activities.

However, as an otaku, I was very interested in the content of her plan, and we started watching the continuation of the anime as we did yesterday.

We finished watching all the anime after lunch, and then we discussed our impressions and listened to the stories of Miran's gyaru friends.

At that time, I went with Miran to a nearby supermarket to buy food.

"It feels like a real married couple, huh?"

Miran giggled as we walked home, carrying the grocery bags in one of her hands. Is it Miran's face that is flushed from embarrassment or from being exposed to the setting sun?

The words are very outrageous, but considering my current state of confusion, I can only nod my head.

"Yes, that's right..."

I thought that Gyaru, the extroverted otaku, and I, the introverted otaku, would never meet. However, in the name of "fiancée", we end up together in a confusing way. But before I knew it, there was a part of me that felt comfortable with Miran.

"............"

Do I like Miran? I've never really fallen in love with a three-dimensional being before, and I don't really understand what I'm feeling. However, I have a strong desire to get to know her better.

"----"

Miran's empty hands caught my eye.

Will I find out something if I take her hand?

"What is it?"

"No, nothing!"

I don't have the courage to take her hand! If I had the courage, I wouldn't have always been a loner. After confirming my current feelings for Miran and realizing my weakness, I began to think of another thing—Miran seemed to have no appetite. It has been like that since yesterday, and she only ate a little rice.

We've already gone shopping, so there's a sumptuous meal on the table. But the person who cooked it only ate a little.

"Miran, you didn't eat properly, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes. I was so full." Miran smiled at me.

Her face was red, but I didn't notice because she was acting like she always did when she is outside.

***

The next morning....

"Miran?" I knocked on the door.

I was worried because Miran hadn't woken up at all, so I came to check.

"Miran, are you awake? I'll open the door—?"

On the contrary, there was no answer to my call. Then I cautiously opened the door and looked into the room and was surprised to see Miran lying on the bed.

"Miran—?"

"Huh, huh..." Miran gasped as if she was in pain.

She let out a soft apologetic voice as I hurried over to her.

"Huh, huh... Shuuji... I'm sorry..."

"Miran, I'm going to touch you a little." Miran's face flushed and I touched her forehead.

"So hot! You have a fever!"

The fever is so high that I don't even need a thermometer.

W-What should I do?

I almost panicked when I saw my fiancée in pain—but I forcefully slapped both of my cheeks to keep calm.

Calm down, me! Now there's no parents around, which means I have to do something. Thinking calmly. Then I called a taxi right away and took Miran to the hospital.

The diagnosis was a cold. After getting the medicine, I took Miran home, put her to bed, and immediately called her parents.

"I don't know what to do. I'm so freaked out right now."

There was a feeling of wanting to blame myself for my insensitivity. Because there are so many ways to notice that Miran is not feeling well. Obviously she had no appetite, seemed less active than usual, and her face was flushed. In the end, I didn't notice it until it happened. I can't take care of her.

"............"

There is a feeling of not being worthy of being her fiancée. I'm desperate, but I can't stay like this. I have to take care of Miran. I—

"Miran, I made you some porridge, here. Let's eat a little and then we'll take the medicine."

I went to Miran's room with the porridge I made from the recipe I found on the Internet. She, who was lying down with a tired look on her face, said again apologetically.

"Sorry, Shuuji."

"You don't have to apologize, okay? On the contrary, I am the one who should apologize for not catching it."

"Although... I'm already looking forward to staying with Shuuji... but it became like this instead." Miran, who had a fever, felt sad.

Then, I sat on the edge of the bed next to Miran with all kinds of emotions overflowing, there was a feeling of happiness as well as guilt when I heard her words.

"Miran, here. Can you eat it? Ahn~."

I didn't want to do this and even now I was filled with shame. But then I blew the porridge and put it into Miran's mouth.

"S-Shuuji?" Miran was surprised, but when I continued to offer it, she ate it shyly, "Ah, ahn," she said.

After feeding her the porridge, I said with determination.

"It seems that our parents can't go home yet, so I'll take good care of Miran until they do. Don't worry."

"Shuuji...”

I smiled and said to Miran, who had a guilty look on her face, "Don't worry. I should do something like a fiancee.".

Although I said such firm words, I still felt embarrassed and couldn't look at Miran's face. Then I continued to feed Miran, give her medicine, and change her fever patch. I'll do everything I can.

"I want to wipe my sweat..." Miran said in a whisper.

Seeing her sweating so much, I hurried to get her a towel, "I brought you a towel," I said.

"T-Thank you..."

I gave it to Miran, but she seemed to have trouble getting up and wiping herself. So I said,

"Let me—"

Let me wipe it? The sentence was almost spoken, but I quickly stopped myself. Miran's pajamas were soaked with sweat and stuck to her skin, revealing her curves. My eyes, realizing this, began to sparkle. I realized it was inappropriate to look like that at a helpless person. But I couldn't look away from Miran's sweat-soaked body. Although I have no malice, only a desire to wipe his sweat, I hesitate to offer help. Wiping her sweat is beyond my capabilities.

I came to such a conclusion—but looking at the helpless Miran, I subconsciously said, "Well, let me wipe it for you".

"Sorry... But thanks, really."

Later Miran gave me a towel. Since she has decided, I have to do it seriously. Ignoring my thoughts, I wiped her forehead first, then her face. When it turned to her neck, my heart began to pound as it touched her soft rosy skin, but I tried hard to ignore it. My body clearly felt the sensation, so I withdrew my hand in doubt—then Miran said,

"My front is okay now, so please wipe my back as well, okay?"

"Y-Your back?" I'm surprised.

Miran, who looked dazed, turned her back to me and then slowly began to remove her pajamas.

"----!?"

Miran's bare back almost made my face burn. There are voluptuous shoulders and waist that I usually can't see. There is also an elongated back, and her sweaty white skin is so seductive—

A-Am I going to wipe this back now? As my gaze wandered, the course of my mind was chaotic, and I fell silent standing there, then I heard—

"Hatsyi!" It dawned on me as Miran sneezed.

I had to wipe her quickly so she wouldn't get cold. Dazed, I wiped her back with a towel. The back of the girl who was my fiancée turned out to be hotter and also slimmer than I had imagined. I could feel it from the touch of the towel. Although my heart was pounding, on the other hand, I felt anxious knowing that Miran was still weak due to the heat of the towel.

"T-Then I'll leave a change of clothes for you. Just call me if you need anything."

"Thank you, Shuuji..."

After I finished wiping her back, I looked away and handed Miran a towel. I felt like my common sense would lose control if I stayed here any longer in a situation like this and that's why I left the room immediately.

Then I spent the rest of the day taking care of Miran, and without realizing it, night had fallen.

"I'm going back to my room now."

"Wait, Shuuji." When I was about to go back to my room, Miran stopped me.

"W-What's wrong?" I asked.

When I turned my head, Miran said like a complaining child, "I'm lonely... and I want you to stay with me until I fall asleep".

"All right."

She was so cute, even though it wasn't a proper thing to do, and I sat on the edge of her bed with a smile.

"............"

However, should I do something for her until she falls asleep? As I thought about it, Miran asked me for help.

"Hey, do you want to tell me about your favorite anime, Shuuji?"

"B-But it's not fun to listen to that, right?"

"I like it, you know... seeing Shuuji talking about what he likes."

"Eh, r-really? Um, then..."

Well, then I started telling stories about anime, as well as my impressions of them, slowly so as not to disturb Miran's sleep.

"That's why I think the world is spinning... Miran? Are you asleep?"

I was so passionate that I kept talking without noticing that Miran had fallen asleep.

"Ha... ha..."

Still, Miran's breathing was ragged as she fell asleep. Seeing her suffering, I said, "Get well soon, okay..." and gently held her hand. My fiancée's hands, which were so hot, turned out to be smaller than I had imagined. As I continued to hold her hand, I hoped that she would get better soon.

***

"—Haa!"

Oh God, I'm asleep!

Instantly realizing that I had fallen asleep, I raised my face only to see the morning light shining into my eyes.

"Shuuji, good morning."

I blinked and saw Miran smiling as she sat down.

Thankfully... She looks much better now!

"Good morning—eh!"

Relieved, I noticed the sensation in my hand too late. It felt a little hot because I'd been holding something slender all the time—and I saw that it was my fiancée's hand. Remembering what happened before I fell asleep, I panicked.

"S-S-Sorry!" I quickly tried to pull my hand away, but she squeezed it tightly instead.

"It's fine to stay like this, okay."

Miran, who was holding my hand, mumbled with emotion. "Shuuji's hand... softer and bigger than I imagined, anyway".

My heart was beating faster with excitement. Because Miran squeezed my hand tightly, making the feeling of her hand spread to my palm again. I'm curious if my hands are sweating!

This is my bad habit of thinking too much.

"Miran's hands are soft and slender" I replied, but said it embarrassed as I lowered my head.

Afterwards, Miran thanked me with a happy look on her face, "Thank you for taking care of me yesterday" she said.

"I'm glad you're okay now..."

Happy that Miran was feeling better, I took her hands again.

"Can we keep holding hands like this for a while?" Miran asked happily, while I shyly agreed.

After that, we continued holding hands for a while.

***

When Miran caught the fever, our parents had to cut their trip short and return home. It was the end of our life together. When Miran heard the news, she looked unhappy.

"I want to go out with you before this thing is over." Miran said to me on the bed, to which I replied with a gasp, "You can't, you're still sick".

"I want to go with you... Just a minute." Miran whines like a child.

She was a popular gyaru in school, but now she's very different from her usual impression, which makes me laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked.

"No, nothing."

"Hey, it's okay, right, Shuuji?" Miran looked at me seriously.

I couldn't help but let out a small sigh as those round, beautiful eyes stared at me, "Well, we can if we just walk around here".

"Yatta!" Miran immediately got up from the bed, but I quickly supported her because her body was unsteady and she almost fell over.

"Obviously you are still weak now. That means, next time." I said.

"Then give me a piggyback, okay?"

I panicked as a whisper reached my ear.

"P-Piggyback!? You really want to go out, huh?"

It was an unthinkable idea for someone like me, who was often indoors.

"Sorry, I'm just kidding, really. Then I'll be patient." Miran returned to bed feeling sad.

In fact, she had never gone out before, except for shopping and going to the hospital. So I, who wanted to fulfill Miran's wish before this was over, suppressed my embarrassment and said, "I'll give you a piggyback".

I walked around the house holding Miran who was dressed in thick clothes to keep her warm on my back. It had been a question of how people would look at us, but I don't have time to think about that now. With Miran's soft object pressing against my back and the feeling of her thighs hitting my hands and arms, I am actually more focused on calculating the phi value in my heart.

"Actually, Shuuji is tall, right?"

"That's because I usually look down a lot."

The feeling of being tickled by Miran's voice that sounded close to me, I continued walking in the bright sun. I don't know what could have been the cause, because I was carrying Miran, I felt that going outside was not a bad thing. In fact, I am the king of indoors. After walking around the house, I asked Miran who was on my back.

"How? Are you satisfied now?"

"Yup, I'm satisfied!"

Even though it was only a short trip, Miran was happy when we returned home.

"Thanks... Shuuji was always nice, right."

"Always?" I was curious, but Miran just went to change her clothes, so I didn't have time to ask her.

Does she mean since the first year of high school? I decided that I didn't have to bother to ask her and went to the kitchen to make some snacks so that Miran could take her medicine.

That night, our parents came home from vacation, which became the end of our short life together for me and Miran.

***

Miran's health seems to have recovered during the holidays, and she spends time with her gyaru friends at school as usual. Looking at it that way, I felt as if the event where we lived together at home was just a dream. However, I still remember how full my heart was when I held her hand.

"----"

Suddenly, my eyes met Miran in class. The smile she gave me made me feel good. I saw it more often when I was at school. Although living with her was too stimulating and difficult, the aftermath made me feel like I was getting to know Miran better than ever.