Airi’s Request

(So exhausting…)

Minato finished his part-time job after the sports festival and left the store.

Even though he hadn't done much exercise, it had been a long time since he had exerted his body to this extent, which included his part-time job.

Minato went home, whilst looking forward to the meat dish he had ordered for dinner tonight.

"I'm home."

He arrived home and greeted Airi, who was supposed to already be inside. However, she didn't answer even though the lights were on.

This also happened sometime ago when she had just started playing the game.

Since then, Airi hadn't been so absorbed in the game that she hadn't noticed Minato's return, so Minato thought something might have happened.

When Minato went to the living room, he found Airi asleep. He thought that she was probably tired from the sports festival. Unlike him, she participated in many events, so she should be even more exhausted.

(She's really beautiful.)

Even though Minato always wakes her up in the morning, he could never get tired, nor could he get used to staring at Airi's beautiful sleeping face.

Her beautiful silver hair spreading carelessly on the floor looked so mysterious.

Minato got tempted and touched Airi's head.

It would be the second time he touched her head. The first time, Minato only touched her to calm her down, but this time, there was nothing special about it.

If he were to come up with a reason, it would be to praise Airi for all her hard work.

At school, she was constantly paying attention to her surroundings and living under the spotlight of many people, and at home, she was always doing the housework.

(I'm really grateful for everything.)

Although Minato's stroking of Airi's hair was questionable, he couldn't stop himself from touching it.

He knew that she took care of her hair on a regular basis, but he didn't expect it to be like this.

The hair never got stuck, and he could continue to touch it forever as it flowed smoothly over his fingers.

As he continued to stroke her hair for a while, Airi's eyes opened and Minato's hand stopped in surprise.

(Eh…?)

Normally, she would just stay in a daze until she woke up, but this time she closed her eyes immediately.

Minato wondered if she was sleepwalking and didn't know that he had been petting her head.

Thinking that now was his chance, he gently removed his hand from her head, and her eyes immediately opened.

Airi continued to gaze at Minato. Minato could see that there were no emotions in her sleepy eyes, but he felt as if he was being urged to do something.

(No way, she wants me to keep petting her head?)

For now, Minato decided to pet her head once more. If it was just his imagination, he could just stop.

Minato continued to pet Airi's head and Airi closed her eyes.

She looked somewhat comfortable, so apparently, Minato wasn't wrong.

Minato was happy that Airi would allow herself to be pampered by Minato as he kept petting her head. Gradually, her cheeks became red as if her consciousness had awakened.

"Ninomiya, are you awake?"

"..."

Her cheeks were clearly redder than when she was asleep, and yet, she was unresponsive with her body more fidgety than before.

Minato could see that she was awake, but she was still attempting to sleep.

Just like that, Minato took his hand away while he still could.

"Ah…"

When he tried to remove his hand from her head, Airi, who was pretending to be asleep, made a small sound of disappointment as she could sense it.

Minato was now completely exposed, but Airi seemed to continue pretending to be asleep and didn't open her eyes.

Her attitude of wanting to be petted so badly was very cute.

As Minato continued to pet her, he pretended to talk to himself and thanked her for her kindness.

Since Airi couldn't even see his heated face, he convinced himself that it was okay to be a little embarrassed.

"Thank you so much for everything. I'm so tired from being so careful at school, but at home, you do almost all the chores for me. I know this is the only way I can express my gratitude, but I really appreciate everything you do for me."

"…No, that's not true. I'm the one who should be thanking you."

"Oi…"

Airi responded in a small voice, and Minato couldn't help but react.

The atmosphere became indescribable, so he stopped petting her head.

He thought this would wake her up, but she opened her woozy eyes, stared at him, then closed her eyes again. Apparently, she still wanted Minato to keep petting her.

At any rate, he resumed petting her head.

"I haven't done anything to be thanked by Ninomiya."

"Even if Kujo-senpai thinks so, I'm grateful. I have a warm house, I have someone who sincerely cares about me, and that's all I need to be happy."

"I'm just doing what I think is right."

"That may be true for senpai, but not for me. Also, thank you so much for the after-school matter."

Minato heard what Airi had just said, but that's exactly something he didn't do. Minato couldn't solve anything.

"I just gave you my opinion, it didn't change anything."

"But it did. I said I felt a little better at the time, but the truth is that I felt a lot better. It was the first time someone told me to be selfish."

"You're too kind."

Airi smiled a little as she closed her eyes, perhaps remembering that moment.

"That's not true. I don't like boys who stare at me, and I don't like girls who take notice of my appearance and approach me to elevate their status."

"That's a given."

"But I accept Kujo-senpai, you know. I trust you."

"Is that so… Thank you."

Minato guessed she was referring to the mindset 'I only accept people I approve of.'

He was glad that Airi had accepted him this much.

"I'm not alone, am I?"

"No."

"Senpai is watching over me, right?"

"Yeah."

"…I'm so happy."

Her voice sounded sincerely happy, and it was the most beautiful voice Minato had ever heard.

The beating of his heart quickened, and he was so glad that she couldn't see his blushing face.

"Hey, senpai, can you pat my head some more?"

"Yeah, as much as you want."

"Fufu, thank you very much."

Minato didn't have any power to help her, but he felt he had to take care of this girl who was working so hard.

According to Airi, she felt at ease at Minato's house. It was different from her previous home, and school life must've felt tiring for her. At the very least, Minato felt that he should be able to heal her.

However, since Airi was doing the housework for him, the only thing Minato could do was to listen to her request.

So for now, he continued to pet her head as Airi wished.

As he continued to pet her head in silence for a while, Airi's stomach rumbled. It was already late, so she must have gotten hungry.

When Airi started to squirm, Minato took his hand away from her head, expecting her to get up.

When she opened her eyes, she had a slight look of disappointment in her eyes, but she didn't mention the fact that Minato had stopped petting her head.

"I'm hungry. Let's have dinner… Speaking of which, I had fallen asleep and haven't prepared dinner or a bath yet. I'm sorry senpai, I'll get ready right away!"

"Calm down. For now, just like before, you prepare the dinner and I'll prepare the bath, okay?"

"…Yes."

Minato petted Airi's head again to calm her down, and then, they both got on with their chores.