Dangerous Feelings

At Minato's high school, a ball game was held between the end of the term exams and the last day of school.

Despite being a preparatory school, it seemed strange to have a sports event other than the sports festival, but there was no way to avoid participating.

However, just like the sports festival, Minato, whose athletic ability was neither good nor bad, didn't have a chance to stand on the court for volleyball, the event he was participating in, and was just a bench player.

And since Minato's class lost early on, he had no more opportunities to play.

As he was sitting idly on the second floor of the gymnasium, the room became noisier and noisier.

Looking around, he saw the silver hair that had become so familiar to Minato, and understood everything.

"Ninomiya-san is as popular as ever."

"Yeah, I guess so."

Kazuma next to him looked at Airi with a wry smile and a look of dismay in his eyes. Apparently, she was about to play a game.

She was conversing with her teammates with an outgoing smile on her face, and seemed to be just a little bit at ease with Momose who was with her.

The girls around her were looking at them enviously, and Minato suddenly felt worried.

"Speaking of which, Kazuma, is Momose going to be okay? She's the only one who can be alone with Ninomiya, so I'm sure there'll be a lot of people jealous of her."

"Don't worry. Shiori isn't weak enough to be defeated by something like that, and you know that."

"…So there were some."

"Well, yeah."

He looked sideways at Kazuma, who had a bright smile on his face as if he was not worried about anything.

He had expected for her to be harrassed, but he let out a sigh of relief that she hadn't been treated too badly.

"Look after Momose. I can't do it myself."

"You don't have to tell me. I know."

Even though they were childhood friends, there was probably not much Minato could do about it.

He should leave the important parts to her boyfriend. He knew that he could trust Kazuma because he never made Momose cry.

As they continued to watch the court, the game began.

The beautiful silver hair, which seemed to shine brightly, moved around and fascinated the audience. Minato thought it was very picturesque to watch.

"Hey Minato, how's it going living with Ninomiya-san?"

"What do you mean, 'How's it going…?'"

He looked at the person next to him, unsure of the intent of the question. Kazuma was looking at the court with an emotionless smile on his face.

Minato thought he was going to be cheering for Momose, but apparently not.

"You told Shiori that Ninomiya-san was important to you. What do you mean by that?"

"Well, what I mean is she's important. Isn't that all there is to it?"

"No. What do you mean, 'important'?"

Kazuma was not looking at him. His voice, which only Minato could hear, sounded like his usual jokeful tone, but it was somehow serious.

Since he couldn't seem to fake it, Minato tried to sort out in his own mind why Airi was so important to him.

"I thought I have to take care of her, like I have to protect her."

"Is that because of something you know about Ninomiya-san?"

"Yeah, I know she probably hasn't told me everything, but that's what I thought when I heard it."

"What about as the opposite sex?"

"I think she's attractive. But no matter how hard I try, I can't stand next to her. That's why I'll have to do what I can by taking care of her."

As a member of the opposite sex, he did find her attractive as a woman as she was, of course, Minato's preference.

But when she told him about her story after the sports festival, he felt more protective than loving. He wanted to do something to help her.

However, to begin with, Airi and Minato lived in different worlds. By some mistake, they ended up living together, but it was still not possible.

He was sure that Airi would find someone wonderful. Unlike Minato, who had nothing of value to offer, she would find someone who could support her and who would be worthy of standing next to her.

For some reason, his heart ached. The thought of Airi showing another person the various expressions she showed Minato at home made him feel suffocated.

"You're such an idiot, you know that?"

As he desperately tried to distract himself from the pain in his chest, Kazuma shook his head in annoyance.

The fact that Kazuma was acting like Minato's idea was a petty one made Minato just a little angry.

"What? That's a fact."

"Can't stand next to her? You must be thinking Ninomiya-san would pick someone who looks good."

"A beautiful girl should be accompanied by a handsome man."

"…It's not about the face. You really don't notice?"

"What?"

"I have only been with Ninomiya-san for a short while, so I don't know everything about her. But–"

Kazuma stopped speaking, took a breath, and stared straight at Minato as if to say, "Don't look away from what I'm about to tell you."

"Next to you, and talking to you, Ninomiya-san looked the happiest."

"..."

He felt as if his heart had been grabbed, and he choked up. It was true that Airi was very lively when she talked with Minato at home.

But wasn't that because Minato was her roommate?

Perhaps sensing Minato's inner thoughts, Kazuma spoke up as if to cut him off from his own thoughts.

"Since it's you, you're probably thinking of something stupid like, 'She's just looking out for her roommate,' right?"

"That's–"

"Think about it. Would such a cautious girl look so happy just living with you? Would she accept you like that?"

"But–"

"Look, you have to think about it. What if you're not protecting her? You don't look worthy of her? Just forget about those superficial words, and think, what are your real feelings?"

Kazuma told him in a serious voice, showing that he was thinking of Minato.

It was true that Minato felt he had to protect Airi, and there was no mistaking the fact that his looks were out of proportion. Still, he must not lie in his heart, so he must think about it properly.

When he was unable to say anything to Kazuma because he didn't know what he was feeling, Kazuma's voice suddenly became tense-free and light as usual.

"I mean, you've been living together for almost three months and nothing's happened, are you really a man?"

"…Where's the seriousness you had earlier?"

"I threw that stuff away. Did nothing really happen to you? Something more like a high school boy that is going through puberty?"

"You're really ruining the atmosphere!"

The serious air was broken in an instant, and Kazuma next to him already had his usual grin on his face.

The thought of trying to hang up Airi's underwear and sleeping on the futon with her came to mind, but if he told him, Kazuma would definitely make fun of him.

Minato's lips twitched as he felt like he was being completely played by Kazuma.

"Nothing like that."

"Why? What a shame."

"If anything, I'd be killed with a glance the day there was an accident that would make high school boys happy."

"Really? I mean, if it was any other guy, then yeah. But she'd probably treat you differently, right?"

"I wonder if that's the case. I just think that she trusts me a little."

"I don't think her expression is just a little trusting, though."

"…Hey Kazuma, how do you see me and Ninomiya?"

When Minato said this, Kazuma pulled back his grin and looked just a little sad.

"She looks so happy. To be honest, we childhood friends are so jealous of you two. But I feel like you're using your protectiveness as a shield to put up a wall. And I think Ninomiya-san is not aware of that."

"…I see."

If he put forward his protectiveness, he would not hurt Airi. Kazuma knew that Minato had been thinking this way.

But recently, Minato had been getting a little strange.

"Hey, Kazuma. I've been feeling strange lately. I've been thinking that if I touch her, I might hurt her, but then I find myself getting closer to her. I wonder what this is."

He ended up stroking her head, and touching her cheek. He felt comfortable with the distance between him and Airi as they touched each other in that way. But if Minato, a man, were to approach her, he might hurt her.

This feeling was dangerous, and irreversible, and his instinct told him to put the lid on it immediately.

Minato thought as he was seriously asking for some other solution, but when Kazuma heard Minato's words, he rolled his eyes and froze.

As he twisted his head to see if he had said something strange, Kazuma suddenly started laughing.

"Hahaha! I never thought you'd say that! What? Turns out I didn't have to worry about it!"

"O-Oi, Kazuma, what's going on?"

"Don't tell anyone. I'll have to talk to Shiori about this."

"What are you going to talk about!?"

"It's okay, Minato. Don't you think it's okay to be honest about your desires once in a while?"

"What are you talking about!?"

"Don't worry about it. Come on, let's cheer for Shiori and the others before the game is over!"

Kazuma started cheering for Momose, not listening to Minato. He probably wouldn't be able to hear anything more.

As Minato let out a sigh and cheered in a quiet voice with Kazuma, his gaze met Airi's even though Minato's voice couldn't possibly reach her.

For a moment, she gave him the same soft smile she always gave him when she was at home, and Minato's heart tingled.

"I'm home."

When he came home after his part-time job, the lights were on, but there was no answer.

He went to the living room thinking that she was probably sleeping just like she did after the sports festival, and he was right.

The only difference was that now, she was sleeping while hugging the cushion that Minato usually used as a pillow.

He suddenly remembered Kazuma's words, 'It's okay to be honest about your desires.'

If he touched her now, would Airi hate it?

Minato's emotional lid opened and he reached for Airi's head.

Her bright silver hair was smooth and free of any clumps, and he could not stop touching it.

With the other hand, he bound a tuft of mysterious hair that spread out on the floor.

Thinking it must smell good, he tried to smell it–

What am I trying to do!?

Shocked at the fact that he had unconsciously tried to do something so outrageous, he took his hands off Airi and headed for the bathroom, thinking that waking her up would be better after taking a shower.

Lately, he had been so self-conscious that he constantly covered himself with water to cool down, but this was the quickest way to calm himself.

He doused himself with cold water and drove the evil thoughts out of his head, wondering, "Will the water bill be okay?"

After firmly cooling his head, he woke Airi up, but she was acting strange.

It was usual for her to be in a daze until she woke up, but she was fidgety and restless, and her eyes seemed to have a proper light in them. To top it all off, her normally expressionless face was slightly rose-tinted.

It had always been Minato's job to wake Airi up, so he would know immediately if something was out of the ordinary. Judging from her condition–

She must have been awake earlier…

Minato stroked Airi's head and tried to smell her hair, which was completely exposed to her. Although she didn't seem to be angry, he didn't know what to do about this.

As he gazed fearfully at Airi, his eyes met hers exactly.

""...""

They stared at each other in silence, and suspicion turned to certainty. Airi was definitely awake a moment ago.

Her blue eyes, lit with the light of her volition, seemed to be telling Minato, "Let's pretend that what just happened didn't happen."

Minato gave a small nod, and Airi turned away and began to prepare dinner. Apparently, his premonition was right.

Minato let out a sigh and hung his head, knowing he had to keep a tight lid on his emotions.