「Kurumi, do you ever do these sort of things with your friends?」

     「What do you mean?」

     「Like, all this physical touch.」

     Her hand touched my arm. I was a little surprised by her temperature, which was different from usual, but I didn’t mind it.

     「We don’t. Yume, Mutsuki, and I… we’re not really the type to do that.」

     「Just me, then. Am I special?」

     She looked up at me. The indescribable color of her eyes were dazzling today, too. I gently touched her hair.

     「…Probably.」

     「I see. …I’m glad.」

     What did it mean to be “special”? I didn’t know, but what I did know was that the relationship we had was anything but normal.

     Well, even so…

     「I know you said that you wanted it to be me, but… Why? There’s plenty of other doting people out there, aren’t there?」

     Thinking that now was the right time, I asked something that had been on my mind for a long while. I still wasn’t comfortable with the idea that it had to be me. She had said that nobody else was suitable for the role of her master, but was that really true?

     She took her eyes off of me and faced forward.

     「You see, Kurumi. No matter how scary someone seems, you’ll call out to them if they’re in trouble.」

     「Huh. …Hmm. I guess so?」

     「You absolutely would. …It’s why that one time, when I dropped my handkerchief, you went to pick it up and give it back to me.」

     「…Did that happen?」

     「Yeah. That made me think you were quite kind, and my eyes just naturally began to start gravitating towards you. You’re so caring, and just can’t leave alone those in need, and…」

     She leaned a little more heavily into me.

     「I knew that just like me, you were bored with your routine, everyday life.」

     「…Huh?」

     I loved that normal everyday. I hoped that the days would keep on passing by forever, just like this. That’s what I thought, at least. Truthfully, though, I missed the times that I’d spent with Mizuki. I hadn’t even realized it myself, but maybe she’d seen through it all.

     「That’s why it has to be you. It’s because we’re the same, Kurumi.」

     「Well, even so, it’s a bit troubling to just ask me out of nowhere to be your owner.」

     「But you went along with it, didn’t you?」

     「Well, I mean. I thought it would have been dangerous for you to ask someone else.」

     That wasn’t the only reason I’d accepted her offer.

     「That’s why I asked you.」

     「…I see.」

     It’s not like I understood it all, but I at least understood why she chose me. The thought that I was the only one that could be her master made me feel a little satisfied. Perhaps I had been starving to be needed.

     We stayed like this in the bath for a while, but eventually, we both got out.

     I borrowed some clothes from her and we walked to the living room together. Maybe it was because I had been soaking in the bath, but I felt a different sensation on my feet than before. When I sat down on the sofa, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Yume.

     『Did you get home? Sorry for making you keep us company in the cold』

     『Yeah, I did. Don’t worry about it, I had fun』

     『I’m super sorry』

     I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. My hands stung a little, but it’s true that I had enjoyed myself. The moment that I was about to send another message, a phone call came in and I instinctively tapped the answer button. I hastily put it up to my ear.

     「What’s up, Yume?」

     『Not Yume. This is Mizuki.』

     She seemed displeased. I hadn’t expected a call from Mizuki right then, and my eyes widened.

     「Sorry, I was texting a friend. Did something happen?」

     『Not really.』

     The conversation halted. It felt like she had something to say to me. Thinking that I had an idea of what it was, I quietly spoke.

     「…Were you worried about me?」

     『I mean, the trains stopped running.』

     Somehow, I was right. I couldn’t help but smile.

     「You’re so nice, Mizuki.」

     『Don’t treat me like a kid. You seem fine. I’m hanging up.』

     「Ah, wait. Make sure you turn on the heat so you don’t catch a cold. And snow gets really slippery and dangerous when it first starts to melt, so be careful if you go out now…」    

     『I know, I know! You’re the one that should be careful. Where even are you, by the way?』

     「I’m at a classmate’s house. Just resting for a bit.」

     「You can stay the night, you know?」

     Sorahashi-san said as she put a teacup in front of me.

     「We don’t know when the trains will start running again, so it’ll be a bit dangerous, right? Why don’t you stay the night?」

     「…Sure.」

     I gave her a slight nod. This could be the first time I’d be staying over at someone else’s place.

     『…Is that the blonde girl you invited over the other day?』

     A lowered voice came out from my phone.

     My eyes widened in surprise. How did she know that I had invited Sorahashi-san over the other day? She hadn’t stayed the night, and I didn’t think she left anything behind. And how did Mizuki even know the color of her hair?

     『What’s your relationship with her? The last time you invited anybody over was in elementary school.』

     「What do you mean, what sort of relationship…」

     Friends. Acquaintances. Classmates. …Pet.

     None of them really quite fit, so I didn’t know what to say. When I remained silent, Mizuki sighed.

     『Are you not friends? …Is she someone dangerous?』

     「No, that’s not it. Friends. We’re friends.」

     『Hmm… As long as she’s not dangerous. If anything happens, I guess it’s fine if you let me know. …I’m an adult now. Much more so than you.』

     「Ahaha… Then if something happens, I’ll leave it to you.」

     『…Yeah.』

     「I’ll see you later.」

     『You have to come back safely tomorrow. Mom and Dad are worried.』

     「Got it.」

     The call ended, and I let out a small sigh.

     I had always thought of her as a crybaby, but she was all grown up now. Well, I supposed she was already taller than me, and maybe she was better at sports than I was. Even so, I didn’t think I could be relying on my younger sister too much.

     But…

     I’d be lying if I said that my relationship with Sorahashi-san didn’t carry some dangers with it. If I told Mizuki the truth, she’d certainly be worried, at the very least. The thought alone made my heart heavy. Was it okay to keep things like this? Such worries flashed through my head.

     「Sorahashi-san.」

     「What is it?」

     「Thank you for finding me earlier. And for letting me use your bath. …There were a lot of things that made me happy today.」

     「Eh, ah, sure. I’m glad?」

     Her reaction was strange, as if I had said something weird.

     「Did I say something weird?」

     「No, that’s not the case…」

     She leaned against me. I could feel the softness of her hair and the scent of her shampoo.

     I felt my heart beating a little faster.

     「Yeah, this is nice. …It was pretty cold today.」

     「…Yeah.」

     It was warm. Partially because the heating was on, but more than anything, it was because of her body heat.

     The steam rising from the teacup she had brought me somehow seemed so far away. Right now, I was focused on her more than anything else. I put my phone down, and silence fell. I leaned my weight into her, feeling that warmth even more.

     I had told Mizuki we were friends, but…

     I didn’t think that was actually the case. I had thought we’d be able to become good friends, but I was sure I had been mistaken.

     I touched her hair. Seeming to notice the feeling of my fingers, she stared into my eyes. Her eyes looked moist, and she seemed a bit sleepy.

     「Kurumi.」

     My heart leaped when she called my name.

     I’ve had to collar her, scold her, praise her, and pamper her. When I did that, my heart raced, I felt shivers, and it felt good. Now, though, my heart felt a different sort of sensation. It was comfortable, like the feeling of drinking hot cocoa on a cold day. It was strange that even though I felt like that, I was also excited.

     「It’s nothing.」

     Saying that, she smiled.

     I wordlessly returned her smile.

     Even if we couldn’t be friends or simply just acquaintances, maybe our relationship could take the form of something even greater.

     For just a moment, that was the thought that crossed my mind.

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