April's a hectic month.
New leather shoes trampling over scattered cherry blossoms.
New students and workers alike looking forward to a new season's start.
Sunlight shines through the curtains, filling the room with light.
It slips through my shut eyelids, signifying a new day's start.
Except it wasn't 7:00 AM.
When it's this early, I normally lay in bed and wait for the alarm clock to go off.
Well, that's how it typically is, at least.
For better or worse,  something different happened this morning.
Today, something beat my alarm clock to the punch. Something-
-- A loud scream.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!]
[Wha?!]
What?! What's going on!?
[...Gah!!]
My head... it's like someone hit it with glass or something. It really hurts.
Focus. That was a woman screaming, wasn't it? It sounded awfully close too.
[Where am I?! Who are you?! Why am I here?!]
[...]
She's rather pretty... wait. Why's a-
[Y-You touched it!]
[Huh....? What are you talking about?]
[J-Just now, you touched it! You d-definitely touched my chest!]
[I don't think I'd do that.]
[Well, you did.]
[I-I did?]
[Apologize!!!]
Hold up. This isn't making any sense.
Let's settle down first.
... ... ... ...
[So... your...]
[Hmmph!]
She held up her hands in an awkward attempt at protecting her chest.
[Are you accusing me of touching your chest?]
[That's what I've been telling you from the start!!]
So she's angry. Extremely angry from the looks of it.
Well, that much is expected...
[ ―― Haa!?]
[Lecher! Pervert!]
[I-I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! I was only half-awake!]
[Trying to grope me while half-awake makes you even more of a pervert!]
[I'm not a pervert!! But I really am sorry, so please stop yelling!]
Because I live in an apartment with thin walls, my neighbors are probably going to file a complaint if this continues.
This headache isn't helping much either.
[I'm damaged goods now... Uu, Gusu.]
[Come on now, don't think that... In any case, please at least calm down for now.]
This headache is really, really awful...
[From what I can gather.. it appears that I really did touch your chest. However, I assure you I did not do it on purpose!]
[That doesn't make it any less embarrassing!]
[Please, Shhー!  Shhー]
I've already got this headache to worry about. I don't want to add neighborly complaints to that.
But since she's suspicious of me, I can't quite just cover her mouth with my hand.
... For now, I'll continue with these childish techniques.
[Please, I'm begging you, shh, just for a second.]
[If you're that insistent about it...]
Alright, step one is done. I thank 'shh' for its great power.
But now that step one's done... What's step two...
[Before moving on any further, I'd like to go over everything. Does that sound reasonable?]
[... Okay.]
[... After drinking last night, you couldn't handle yourself.]
[... That's right. Sorry.]
[Then, you went on to state that you were sleepy, nauseous, and that you couldn't walk. If I recall correctly, didn't you ask for a piggyback ride back?]
[... That's true too. Sorry.]
[Well... I can't really blame you for not remembering. From how you looked yesterday, you really cannot handle alcohol.]
[Uuー]
Her face becomes bright red when she blushes. It actually makes her look really cute.
... In any case, you're safe. Don't you think giving thanks would be appropriate?]
[Did you choose to take my chest as your reward?!]
[As I've been trying to say, you're jumping to conclusions. You've gotta ――]
[It's Kouzaki. My name is Kouzaki Umi.]
[Oh... Right... Kouzaki-san. I'd appreciate it if you could be a little more understanding of the situation.]
[E-Even if I wanted to, I'm not really in the state of mind to do so right now.]
[Fine then. But let me repeat myself. I didn't mean to do it.]
[... Still playing dumb, aren't you?]
[I wouldn't cop a feel without your consent.]
[Without my consent... do people still think like that?]
[Of course. Isn't that the normal?]
[Well... You know, when a freshman tries to befriend everybody, using the excuse of a deeper friendship, things start ――]
[I'm positive most people don't have ill intentions like that, Kouzaki.]
[... If you insist. But what were your intentions at the gathering?]
[Of course there are people who go to those get-togethers for the sake of romance. They might happen to enjoy spending time with each other.]
[If that happens, then they will eventually begin to grow closer to one another... That happens too, of course.]
[... So, why were you there, senpai?]
[They wanted to have the same number of each gender. That's typical isn't it?
[So you're not a pervert after all...]
[I don't know where you got that impression. I'm the type that would consistently remain a reliable friend.
[... I don't believe you.]
[Even if you don't, can you at least stop glaring at me?]
[... I'm grateful that you looked out for me, but you definitely touched my chest.]
[...]
It's understandable that she's still stuck on that matter. I think she's treating me unfairly though.
After all, treating me like a pervert would be...
Despite that, she does seem genuinely grateful.
[... Alright, I admit it. I'll take full responsibility.]
[... What?]
[I can't say that I'm thrilled about being seen as a pervert, but I can't deny that I touched you there.]
[I've already made my case, so it's ultimately up to you to decide how to treat me, Kouzaki.]
[So I'll apologize and give you anything you want from me. All I ask in return is you not to bring the police into this.]
[Did you say... anything?]
[As long as you'll look past this, and as long as you don't bring the police into this.]
[... You're asking me to look past it with a simple request after touching me there. I think that's a bit unfair.]
[... But since you're willing to go that far, I'll go along with it, senpai.]
I've been thinking this for a while now, but she uses polite rhetoric, despite the fact that she twists my words.
But let's not worry about that right now. We've already come this far.
[... Though I'm willing to do whatever it'd take, due to my situation I can't offer much.]
[Look around you. My room is small and is sparse with furniture. My rent is approximately 38000 yen a month, and that's only for this run-down room.]
[I don't receive an allowance either, so I depend on my part-time job and my scholarship. With the state my life is in right now, I can't offer you much money.]
[U-Um...]
[Yes?]
[I've been wondering about this for a while now, but why do you berate your room so much?]
[I don't have an air conditioner, not to mention a boiler or a sink. While I do have a bath and toilet, they're in the same room.]
[But the floors are clean, aren't they? And everything in here looks brand new.]
[I lucked out on that; I was able to move in just after the renovation.]
[However, the floors look great because I constantly clean them.]
[This way when I move out, I'll be able to regain my entire security deposit.]
[While you may be a pervert, you seem to be serious...]
[Hey now, don't say something that cruel so easily.]
[But, it's what I really think...]
While she's giving me her fair share of insults, her facial expression reveals that she's distressed.
She involved herself with my matters, within my worthless room.
How do you react to a girl on the verge of crying? She's acting kind of like a grade-schooler on a class field trip, seeing the world for the first time.
She's curiously looking around the room, even though there's nothing worth seeing.
Is a room like this such an interesting sight for her?
[... Anyways, because of my part-time job and my studying, I don't have much free time during the week.]
[That's why there's a limit on what I can do. Even though I don't have a lot of time, are you still willing to accept my offer?]
[I don't really think I can refuse with you being so serious about it.]
[I'll take responsibility for it until you believe me, I swear.]
I look her straight in the eyes. They've started to turn red, but I continue staring, resolute.
I've shown my sincerity
[... I understand.]
[I'm glad. I'll give you this for now, it's the business card for my part-time job.]
[You have a business card for your part-time job? Could it be that you're ―― !?
[That I'm... what? Unfortunately, I'm nothing but a mere tutor. Should I have let you dream of my grandeur?]
[I still can't bring myself to believe anything you say, senpai.]
[Well, I can't help that, so I'll just have to accept it for now.]
... On the surface, she seems like the popular type. At the drinking party she was sociable enough, I got a good vibe from her.
For now, I'll believe it's just her good will and that she doesn't have any ulterior motives. But really, how did it end up like this?
Maybe in the end, I really just shouldn't try new things.
[Hey...]
[Yeah?]
[I want to go back home. Will you let me go?]
[Of course, but what shoes are you going to wear? If I remember correctly, you threw them into the river last night.]
[... My shoes?]
[Do you really not remember after all? "It'll be fine, I've got this" -- remember?]
[I was drunk, of course I don't.]
[I'd hope so, it'd be very strange if you just threw your shoes away like that sober.]
[Muー... W-Why do you have a comeback for everything!]
[Anyways, just wait here for a minute. I'll run down to the convenience store and pick you up a pair of sandals.]
[Wait, senpai ―― ]
After saying that, I ran out of the room with one great spurt.
But why did I do that exactly? I'm not quite sure myself.
I just know that I'll be able to talk to her again when I hand her the sandals.
If only just for a while longer  ――  I had thought.