「So, what happened?」

         Maika asked the moment I stepped into the room.

         Normally she’d ask if I wanted something to drink before getting to the point, but today she didn’t even think about that.

         「Can I put my bag down somewhere before I start talking?」

         「Sure, but don’t forget you promised you’d tell me everything.」

         「Yeah.」

         I set my bag down next to the table and sat on the edge of the soft rug. I’d come over to Maika’s place many times since university started, but I felt nervous about the question I had to answer.

         「Okay, now tell me the reason. Is it really because you guys got into a fight?」

         She wanted to know why I’d brought such a big bag to campus and why I was staying over at her place. When I’d asked earlier in the lecture hall if I could crash at her place, I’d said I’d fought with my roommate, but Maika didn’t seem convinced.

         There was no way I could tell Maika I’d run away from Sendai-san because of what had happened yesterday. I’d told her I was living with a relative, so bringing up Sendai-san’s name would only complicate things.

         「Well, a lot of things happened, so I guess you could call it a fight.」

         To my surprise, my heart ached at how poorly I’d told that lie. I didn’t want to hide things from Maika, but I wasn’t confident I could explain how Sendai-san and I became roommates while keeping everything we’d done secret. And I didn’t have the courage to tell her the whole story either.

         I was always like this—lacking the courage to even look Sendai-san in the face in the morning and the courage to eat dinner together at night. So I left the house before Sendai-san woke up. I knew running away wouldn’t solve anything, and it wasn’t that I didn’t want to see her, but I didn’t know what face to make or what to say anymore.

         「That’s what I’m asking you about. What do you mean when you say “a lot of things happened”?」

         Maika forced a smile and added, “Remember, I’m letting you stay over even though my room is so cramped.”

         Just like she’d said, her place wasn’t big. It was a single-room apartment, but it was always kept neat and organized, so it never felt too cramped. It didn’t seem like a big deal to have me over, but as the person staying, I couldn’t talk back, and I definitely owed her an explanation. Still, I couldn’t find the courage to tell her about yesterday, let alone that Sendai-san was my roommate.

         「We really did just have a fight.」

         I decided to stick to the lie.

         「You’re not the sort to get into fights with other people, though, Shiori.」

         「Well, they’re family, so I kind of went too far.」

         「So you were at fault then?」

         「Hmm, I don’t think anyone’s really at fault. I just wanted to cool my head a bit.」

         “Hm, I see,” Maika said as she studied me. I wasn’t sure if she was convinced.

         「How long do you think you’ll need to cool off?」

         「Just a little while.」

         「If you’re going to stay here, tell me exactly how long you’ll need.」

Maika’s tone turned serious.

         「… Two, maybe three weeks?」

         「Don’t you think that’s a bit long?」

         「What about one week? Or three days—I’m fine with either. Please, just let me stay.」

         「It’s not about that. Two or three weeks, it doesn’t matter, but the longer this drags on, the harder it’ll be for you guys to make up, you know? The sooner you go back, the better.」

         Her voice was firm but soft; she wasn’t refusing me, she was worried for my sake. The little prick in my chest felt like a stake being driven in.

         「… I understand.」

         Given what had happened yesterday, I thought Sendai-san might understand if I stayed away for a day, but the sooner I went back the easier it would be. Still, I kept thinking about her.

         What had she thought when she’d found I wasn’t there this morning?

         Was she thinking of me at school?

         Was she hoping something like that might happen again?

         All those questions ran through my head, and my emotions wavered, so I stayed over at Maika’s instead of going home.

         「Well, think it over. For now I’ll bring us something to drink, so just stay put.」

         Maika stood and opened the fridge.

         As she opened the refrigerator, I was tempted to ask what one should do if they had a physical relationship with their roommate. But I knew that if I did, I’d have to first explain who my roommate really was and how it happened before getting any advice, so I set the thought aside and lay down on the rug.

         「Do you want plum or orange juice? Apparently the plum’s a new product.」

         Maika came back with two cups as I was still laying around.

         「I’ll take the orange juice.」

         I said, sitting up when I heard the cups being placed on the table.

         「… Shiori.」

         「What is it?」

         「The person you fought with—or the person you live with—are they actually your boyfriend?」

         Maika sat down with an unusually serious look on her face.

         「Why would you think that?」

         「You’re not denying it.」

         「No, I am denying it.」

         「Yeah, now you are. How suspicious.」

         「There’s nothing suspicious about it.」

         After taking a sip of orange juice, I added, “I’m not living with a boyfriend,” and she responded with a flat, “Hmm.”

         It didn’t seem like she believed me at all.

         「What, so you didn’t get these piercings for your boyfriend?」

         Maika said jokingly as she reached out and gently touched my earlobe.

         It tickled, so I pulled away and replied, “No, I didn’t,” and she let go.

         I glanced at Maika’s fingertips, still curled as she chuckled to herself.

         Sendai-san had touched my ear before too, but it felt completely different from when Maika did.

         I brushed my hand against my own ear.

         It went without saying, but it was also different from when Sendai-san touched me.

         Her hands were unlike anyone else’s.

         On Sunday, Sendai-san’s hands were―

         As I began recalling yesterday, I quickly took another sip of my orange juice, swallowing it down along with the memories welling up.

         Sendai-san had invaded me more than the piercings ever did, and if I let my guard down, she’d keep appearing in my mind.

         「This tastes really good. Want some, Shiori?」

         Maika put her cup in front of me, and the pale, see-through liquid inside swirled gently. Since she’d said it was plum flavored, I noticed a light, tart fragrance wafting up from it.

         「I’m okay.」

         It wasn’t that I disliked plums, but I handed the cup back to Maika anyway.

         「I see.」

         Just as Maika finished speaking, my phone rang. I reached into my bag, and on the screen was yet another message from Sendai-san.

         『Did something happen this morning?』

         It was the same question she’d already asked countless times today.

         I didn’t want to see Sendai-san so soon, but at the same time, I really wanted to see her right away.

         Unable to sort out my feelings, I shoved my phone back into my bag without replying.

         「Is that from the person you had a fight with?」

         「Yeah.」

         「Are you sure you don’t want to go home today?」

         「Please let me stay for tonight.」

         「You can stay as long as you want, but you guys really should make up soon.」

         I wasn’t sure if Maika believed me, but her voice was gentle and kind as always.

         「Okay.」

         I hesitated, then pulled my phone out again.

         『Sorry, I’m not going home today.』

         I didn’t want Sendai-san to worry, so I sent the bare minimum and put my phone away again.

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