listen, actually, It's My First Time. 87 Days Until My First Time With a Loose-Ish, Innocent Girlfriend V1 - Epilogue

 Epilogue: Together, Many "Firsts"

Two weeks had passed since Hiyori-chan and I first shared intimacy.

"Finally did it, huh! Congrats on losing your virginity, Hayato-kun!"

Masahiro and Masahito, who came to my house, handed me an onigiri wrapped with red rice that they bought from a convenience store.

"...Isn't red rice for a different kind of celebration? But I'll gratefully accept it."

I hadn't told Masahiro and Masahito about my first experience. Apparently, when Hiyori-chan accidentally met Masahiro at the station, she fell for his cunning interrogation and let it slip.

Masahiro, sitting on a chair, chugged down the barley tea I offered and then asked:

"Hey, how good does it feel to do it with the girl you've always liked? Is it mind-blowing just to take off her pants?"

"...That's a secret for you. If you want to know, you should fall in love for real."

"You always say such cool things, Hayato. ...Falling in love for real, huh? I might want to try that, but I doubt it... Oh, Kagayan is like you in that way. She doesn't have an eye for guys, but once she likes someone, she only sees them."

The mention of Saki's name by Masahiro made me feel uneasy. Had the two of them gotten closer without me knowing?

...No way...!

"Masahiro, you haven't made a move on Saki, have you...?"

"We were perfectly compatible."

Seeing Masahiro smirk, I felt a cold sweat run down my back.

If Masahiro had done something rude to Saki like he does with other girls, it wouldn't just hurt her; Hiyori-chan would be devastated too.

For her sake, I had to hammer home a big warning now.

"Don't make that scary face, it was a joke. We just talked while you guys were at the love hotel. I wouldn't do something so shameless as to hit on my best friend's girlfriend's best friend. If something happened, it would make things awkward between you and Nakamu."

The tension left my body. ...Right, he's the kind of guy who always sticks to the rules he sets for himself, surprisingly clever.

"But... if you genuinely fell for Saki, don't hold back because of me."

"Don't worry about it. I like tall model-type girls. Kagayan isn't my type."

My real playboy friend stated firmly.

"So, there's absolutely no chance I'd fall for her."

...When someone says there's absolutely no chance, it makes me suspicious. Is that just me?

 

☆

 

After changing from her uniform to casual clothes, Chiharu-senpai tapped my shoulder while I waited outside the family restaurant "Rites" where we work.

"Sorry for the wait! Let's go then!"

Since our shifts ended at the same time, Senpai and I headed to a nearby yakiniku restaurant. This isn't a date or anything like that, definitely not cheating.

"Hayato-kun, Chiharu-san, thanks for your hard work! Over here!"

Hiyori-chan, who had arrived at the restaurant first, greeted us with a smile. Seeing the handsome guy who had been waiting with Hiyori-chan made my back straighten from the tension.

Sitting across from him, I bowed deeply and started.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kaburagi Hayato, currently dating Hiyori-san. I'm really happy to have dinner with you tonight."

 

Hiyori-chan's real brother, Nakamura Subaru, scrutinized me as I managed to deliver the greeting I had rehearsed.

Even in photos, he was quite a beauty, but seeing him in person, even I, as a man, could fall in love at first sight. Or rather, since he looks like Hiyori-chan, there's no doubt he's my type..

"...I'm not happy about this. I'm only here because Hiyori insisted on eating with four people, not because of you. Don't get the wrong idea."

A few days ago, when Subaru learned that Hiyori had a boyfriend, he came to "Rites" to check me out. It was then revealed that Chiharu-senpai and Subaru were friends from the same university, leading to this dinner plan for the four of us.

According to Hiyori-chan, Subaru is "quite the sister-con," but it's more like he adores his sister a lot. The matching brand bags that Hiyori-chan and Subaru had were a Christmas gift from Subaru last year, using his part-time job money. It's rare for a brother to go that far for his sister.

I wanted to get along with Hiyori-chan's family, but it seemed like it would be an uphill battle, and all I could do was give a wry smile.

Chiharu-senpai, sitting next to Subaru, grabbed the menu from him.

"Why are you acting like such a tsundere? Let's order! We'll have beer! What about you two, high schoolers?"

After ordering beer, cola, and orange juice, we toasted once all the orders were in.

"Having dinner with Hayato-kun, my brother, and Chiharu-san feels a bit strange."

Hiyori-chan leaned towards me, laughing and seeking agreement, but she quickly moved back to her original position upon catching Subaru's piercing gaze.

"Brother, let me cook the meat, so you can enjoy your drink."

I tried to speak in a bright voice to win some favor with Subaru, but he just furrowed his brows.

"You have no right to call me 'brother-in-law'."

If it weren't for Hiyori-chan holding my hand under the table, I might have cried.

"Subaru is so old-fashioned! And that wasn't 'brother-in-law,' it was just 'brother' in the context of Hiyori-chan's brother. Are you going crazy because your sister is too cute?"

Chiharu-senpai's harsh words were a surprise; she's usually so playful and indulgent with me. But to Subaru, this seemed to be her usual demeanor as he reacted with little surprise, just sipping his beer.

"It's natural for a sister to be cute. Hiyori is only sixteen, it's too early for her to date. ...Listen, Hiyori, guys only think about one thing. This guy too..."

"Enough! I'm tired of hearing that! Don't compare Hayato-kun to you! He's kind, a gentleman, and he treasures me so much! Right?"

I smiled at Hiyori-chan's clear, innocent eyes while feeling a twinge of guilt inside.

I do treasure her, but I also think about those things. I'm sorry.

"Subaru, you who lost your virginity early and played around with girls, telling your sister to stay chaste, what a hypocrite. You've made so many girls cry that you think all guys are untrustworthy, right? Hayato-kun is different from you. You'll see in time."

"Chiharu-senpai... thank you."

While I appreciated Senpai's support, I knew I had to handle this myself.

I put down my chopsticks, took a deep breath, and called out, "Subaru-san."

"I truly care for Hiyori-san, and I want to be with her for a long time. Please, watch over our relationship. I ask for your support."

Hiyori-chan straightened her back, following my lead, and looked at Subaru with a serious expression.

Subaru let out a loud sigh, audible to us both, and crossed his arms.

"If you make her cry, I'll punch you. If you don't treat her well, I'll kill you. Got it?"

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

It seemed like, for now, he had acknowledged us. Hiyori-chan and I exchanged relieved smiles.

Chiharu-senpai, who had been watching over us, gave a quiet smile.

"Why does Subaru act so high and mighty when he's not even her dad? Hayato-kun is such a nice guy, he'll definitely win over the parents, and you'll end up being the one isolated in the Nakamura family."

"That's right. This isn't some engagement meeting, so don't be so heavy..."

Hearing the word "marriage" from Hiyori-chan, Subaru visibly paled in shock, while I, in contrast, blushed like Hiyori-chan.

 

☆

 

Since Hiyori-chan went home with Subaru, I decided to walk Chiharu-senpai home as a thank you.

We talked about various things while walking under the starry sky. Senpai, slightly tipsy, was more talkative than usual, her cheeks flushed with pink. As we neared her house, her pace seemed to slow down, probably due to the alcohol.

"We're almost at my place. Hehe, I might finally get Hayato-kun to come in."

"If I took that bait, Subaru would mince me. ...Senpai, thank you so much for today. I'm glad you were there. ...No, not just today, always. I actually look forward to working shifts with you."

I wanted to express my gratitude for everything. Senpai, looking at me intently, suddenly pinched my nose.

"...Don't be too much of a natural flirt! As a guy with a girlfriend, you should be careful with what you say."

"That was just me being honest, but I understand. If Senpai says so, I'll be more mindful."

There was a brief silence between us. I listened to the sound of her sandals as she walked.

"Here's fine. It feels wrong to have you walk me home when we're not even dating."

Senpai suddenly stopped in front of a convenience store.

"It's dangerous at night, so let me walk you all the way. Besides, Hiyori-chan would want me to see you home safely."

Her usual playful comments about taking me home had suddenly stopped. Maybe I had said or done something to upset her. My concern must have shown on my face because Senpai, smiling, said, "That's not it," and then:

"I love both you and Hiyori-chan so much, I genuinely want you both to be happy. But..."

Senpai, stretching up, whispered into my ear with a hot breath:

"...If you show any weakness, I'll take my chance. So don't let your guard down."

Before I could even process the heat in my ear, I realized Senpai had embraced me.

With her face buried in my chest, I couldn't see her expression. I was just confused, feeling her lithe body against mine.

What was this situation? What did she mean by taking her chance?

...Does Senpai like me?

As I stood there frozen, Senpai looked up with a smile, showing her white teeth.

"Ah, maybe I drank too much. Sorry, forget I said that. Goodnight, Hayato-kun. See you at the next shift."

With that, she left before I could ask for clarification. ...Could I interpret this as her teasing me again? If so, I've been had.

Letting out a long breath, I touched my still warm ear.

Even losing my virginity didn't magically give me advanced skills in understanding women's hearts, and imagining a future where I could outmatch Senpai was beyond me.

So, I decided to enjoy the time with this person I respected, knowing I'd always be at the mercy of her playful hands.

Our next shift together would be on Wednesday. Maybe I'll try to tease her a bit.

Planning my strategy, I found the walk home to be quite enjoyable.

 

☆

 

It was late, but when I mentioned wanting to thank Shino for helping me study before the final exams, her wish was to go for a walk with just the two of us.

I expected her to ask to go somewhere nice or to treat her to something, so her simple request surprised me.

"Shino, you're not greedy. I was prepared to spoil you a bit."

"...You treat me like a sister, but you haven't forgotten I'm a girl, have you? Since you have a girlfriend, you shouldn't do too many date-like things with other girls, right?"

Her sigh made me feel a bit down.

"That's true... I always make you worry. I'm sorry. But I've never forgotten you're a girl."

"Sure, sure. ...Oh, they're growing sunflowers over there. They're beautiful."

Since we usually met indoors, talking with Shino under the sun felt like a rare treat. In the strong August sunlight, Shino's fair skin looked exceptionally bright.

"How are things with Nakamura-san lately?"

"Thanks to you, it's going well. Can I boast a little?"

Ever since I told Shino I had a girlfriend, she'd ask about Hiyori-chan every time we met. Maybe because she goes to an all-girls school, she's particularly interested in romance.

"No. ...Lately, you seem a bit too cheerful or something, your vibe has changed. ...Is that... kind of act with Nakamura-san that enjoyable...?"

"Wha... what are you talking about...!?"

I was completely flustered. By the time I realized I'd said too much, it was too late. Maybe because I had just lost my virginity, I ended up indirectly confirming the experience when I would've dodged the question before.

"...I see... Maybe if I did it, something would change for me too."

"St... stupid! You shouldn't do it out of curiosity! Only when you have someone you truly like, and you feel they cherish you—"

"You're the stupid one, Hayato. Did I say it could be anyone?"

Shino approached, cutting off my words, and without giving me time to guess her meaning, she continued:

"Hey, Hayato. If I said I liked you... what would you do?"

The sunflowers, blooming large in front of a house, seemed to look down on us.

It was a statement as natural as asking about dinner, but I couldn't tell if she was serious or joking.

"Uh... what do you mean...?"

If this was a confession out of affection, my answer would be the same, no matter when, where, or who it was from, even if it was from a cute childhood friend like her.

Shino took my hand, trembling with confusion, and spoke with a clear, determined voice:

"I won't lose to Nakamura-san."

Without answering my question, she smiled as if she had resolved something within herself.

"What kind of competition?"

"Hm? I mean I should strive in various ways rather than just studying. ...Nakamura-san is so attractive, isn't she, Hayato?"

Ah, I see. She meant she wanted to improve herself by aiming to be like Hiyori-chan, not that she wanted to compete.

...That was close. I nearly made an embarrassing mistake by misunderstanding.

"I've said this before, but even without comparing to Hiyori-chan, you're plenty cute, Shino."

"Thanks. That gives me motivation. Hey, Hayato, keep an eye on me, okay?"

She said that, looking up at me with innocent laughter.

It felt like the old Shino, or rather like a little sister asking for something, which made my eyes crinkle with a smile.

Shino is as important to me as family.

I hope our relationship stays like this forever, I thought while looking at her charming smile.

 

☆

 

There was only one week left of the summer vacation.

It might be a bit early to summarize, but this summer felt truly special.

The beach, birthday date, summer festival... I made so many memories with my first girlfriend. When I look back on it as an adult, I'm sure I'll say it was an extraordinary summer.

On our way back from a date, while walking Hiyori-chan home, she started speaking with a hint of tension:

"...This weekend, my parents are going on a trip just the two of them."

"Oh, really? ...So, you'll be alone?"

I could feel my heartbeat quickening. It seemed I was greatly anticipating whatever she would say next.

"Yeah. ...So... if you don't have plans, maybe... would you want to stay over at my place?"

That day would probably involve many more experiences than I could imagine.

But with her, I felt like we could handle anything.

This foolish sense of invincibility, this feeling of being untouchable, must be unique to us high schoolers.

"I'd love to. But... I might get a bit carried away that day? Is that okay?"

Even after showing my true self, I still had the habit of trying to look cool. Hiyori-chan laughed at me.

"Are you trying to act cool now?"

"I-isn't it okay to act a bit cool?! Isn't this the moment for it?!"

This baseless sense of omnipotence and silly pride might become the kind of embarrassing black history that would make me want to cover my face in a few years.

But all of that is a symbol of youth.

If that's the case, let's just focus on racing through these blue days with all our might.

"You look happy, Hayato-kun."

"Hm? ...I was just thinking it's something to look forward to."

"Looking forward to staying over? ...You pervert."

"That too, but... thinking about the future made me grin."

If we stay together, it won't all be fun.

We might fight, get angry, shed tears.

But even so, I want to be with Hiyori-chan. I'll strive to stay by her side.

I squeezed her hand, hoping she felt the same way, and she returned the squeeze with her sweaty hand, smiling.

"Let's go through all sorts of experiences together from now on. I want all my firsts to be with you."

We don't need a countdown for the many "firsts" waiting in our future.