Minato’s Blunder

"Minato-san, I want to try this."

One day during the summer vacation, before Minato went to work, Airi showed him a game that was an FPS for a console.

He hadn't recommended it because he wasn't sure if gunfights would suit her, and he honestly didn't think she'd be interested in something like this.

It was also possible that she didn't even know what genre the game was to begin with.

"Do you know what that game is anyway?"

"No. If I look at the back of the package, I can see that it says 'EF-PI-ES'? But I don't really know what it is."

"You've got a lot of nerve wanting to play that… Well, whatever. There's a lot of blood in there, are you okay with that?"

"I'll probably be fine."

Minato's voice was full of admiration for Airi's interest in something she didn't understand.

She also said that she was okay with the depiction of blood, so maybe she was quite the curious person. Even though they had been together for a rather long time, Minato only thought of this for the first time.

Nevertheless, she said she would be fine, but there was the possibility that it might not turn out well, so Minato had better be careful.

"Okay, I'll give you a quick run down of the controls. Let me know if you get sick."

"Yes."

He gave Airi a quick lesson on how to operate the game, but he would have to leave the house soon.

There didn't seem to be enough time to teach her any tricks, so he started up the computer, which he kept next to the game console.

Seeing Minato suddenly do something that had nothing to do with the game, Airi tilted her head in confusion.

"Minato-san, what are you doing?"

"Sorry, I would love to teach you, but I have to go to work soon, so I won't be able to teach you everything."

"…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to impose."

Minato's words made Airi sullen and depressed.

Perhaps the way he said it wasn't right, so he shook his head and showed Airi that she didn't need to apologize. As if she could understand Minato's thoughts, she became cheerful.

"No, don't worry about it. I'm glad you're interested. And I thought I'd ask Airi to do some research on her own instead."

"Is it okay for me to touch the computer?"

"Yeah, you can handle it, right?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Then I'll open a video site and some other necessary sites for now. You can watch the videos or look up tips on how to operate it. But please don't touch anything else. I don't want you to catch a virus. And I'll also give you the password."

"I-I understand."

"I'll teach you when I get back, so don't be so scared."

"…Yes."

He knew it wouldn't be a problem since they studied computers a little at school, but when he told her about the virus, Airi started to get frightened.

He gave her a pat on the head to reassure her, but it was really time for him to leave.

"Sorry for the ruckus."

"No, it's fine. Thank you very much."

"I'll see you later."

"Have a good day."

"I'm back… Wait, this pattern again, huh."

When he came home after his part-time job, there was no answer from Airi, as he had expected.

The game sounds were playing, so she was probably too absorbed in the game to hear him.

He went to the living room, making as little noise as possible, and found Airi playing the game with serious eyes and a blank expression on her face.

Can someone get this good in just a few hours? This is too much.

Feeling bad about interfering, he watched Airi's movements from a position out of her sight, but he couldn't believe that she was only a beginner a few hours ago.

Rather, she was better than Minato in general, and she had the current top score in the game.

"You're good."

In admiration, he let out an exclamation, which was a mistake.

"Minato-san, can you please be a little quieter for a bit?"

Airi told Minato in a frosty voice while looking at the screen. Apparently, she was aware of Minato's return.

He had heard this kind of voice on the day of the fireworks display, but it was not directed at Minato. When she said it to him, his body trembled with fear.

He watched Airi's movements in silence, knowing that replying wouldn't do any good while thinking about how scary it is when someone plays FPS seriously.

"Fuh~ I'm sorry, Minato-san, I was concentrating a bit. Welcome back."

They remained still for a while, not making a single motion, but after the game was over, Airi turned to Minato.

Her face was alive with accomplishment, and she didn't look as cold as she had earlier.

He thought it was a tremendous gap, but she probably wasn't aware of it, so it would be best not to mention it to her.

"…I'm back. But you're really amazing. I didn't think you'd be this good in just a few hours."

"I wasn't very good at all at first, but then I started studying other people's moves and tips, and before I knew it, I could do it.

"It's weird that you can do that, though."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah."

Airi tilted her head as if to say, "Isn't this something everyone can do?" But Minato thought only a handful of geniuses could do that.

Minato replied, partly in respect, partly in dismay, and Airi began to put the game away, seemingly satisfied.

To be honest, he was grateful because there was a possibility that he might hear her chilling voice at some point.

"Are you done?"

"Yes, it was very fun. Can I play it again?"

"…Yeah, that's fine."

"Thank you very much."

If someone asked him with such a sparkling smile, he couldn't refuse.

Minato replied with a slightly twitchy smile, but the smiling Airi, who was probably happy to have his permission, didn't notice.

"Anyway, I'll teach you how to use the computer. It's pretty much the same as the one at school, but I'll explain it to you."

"Please do."

Then he briefly taught her how to use the computer. By the way, Minato would normally use the computer only when he had to. To begin with, simple searches could be done on a smartphone.

But this time, Minato decided to use the computer because he thought it would be better to check out the site.

"So pretty much like this. Do you get that?"

"Yes, thank you. But are you sure you want me to know the password and how to use it?"

"It's fine. I don't think Airi is going to do anything bad."

They had been living together for over four months now. He didn't expect Airi to do anything, not after all this time.

When Minato said so clearly, Airi's cheeks became slightly tinted in vermilion.

"…I certainly won't, but that's not the point. Isn't there something you don't want people to see?"

"Not really."

"Like ecchi things."

"…None."

There were no such books in Minato's room. Although there really were some, and it was all on the computer.

Minato knew it was wrong, but he was an adolescent high school boy. He would like to know if there were really any people who were pure white and innocent.

And while he had tried to avoid them when teaching Airi how to use the computer, it seemed that she had noticed.

However, he couldn't say, "It's on the computer, so don't look at it," so he had no choice but to lie about it.

The fact that he was so startled by Airi's words that he delayed his response was not overlooked by her, so she questioned him further.

"I looked at the bookshelf when I was cleaning. You don't have any books like that, do you, Minato-san?"

"No, I don't."

"So I thought it must be on the computer, but you never let me touch it."

"I would have told you how to use it if you'd just asked. I just didn't tell you because you could get by without a computer."

"I see. So you really don't have any?"

"Yeah."

"…Well, let's just leave it at that."

It seemed to be completely obvious, so it would be helpful to Minato if Airi could be convinced.

However, a question came to his mind as to why she would ask him such a thing, and he couldn't help but slip up.

"…Do you want to see it?"

As soon as he said it, he knew he had made a mistake, but there was no way he could retract the words that had come out.

When Airi heard Minato's words, her face instantly turned so red that it looked like steam was coming out of it.

"Th-That's not true. What are you talking about!"

Airi's eyes moistened and she denied it out loud.

Her eyes were shifting from place to place, and her body was twitching so fast that she seemed to be completely flustered.

As she tried to calm herself down somehow, more and more words came out of her mouth.

"It's really not like that! It's not that I want to see it, it's just that I was wondering if Minato-san really has that kind of desire!"

"…What are you being foolish about? I'm a guy too, so of course I have them."

He didn't even know how much he had become conscious of Airi just during this short summer vacation.

He was trying his best to hide it from her because he knew she would be scared if he showed that kind of desire and he didn't want to hurt her, but of course, she didn't seem to understand.

"Then why– No, it's nothing…"

Airi, who had been pressing Minato for answers, suddenly became quiet.

However, her face remained bright red, so the strange atmosphere was still very strong.

"It bothers me when you cut off there."

"It's nothing! What is it with you, mou …"

Airi raised her voice again and turned away from Minato.

Minato had no idea what was going on, but he was sure that she was in a bad mood.

When he stroked Airi's head from behind to appease her, she voiced her displeasure.

"…That's not fair. It's a blatant attempt to appease me."

"You found out?"

"You admitted it so easily… Then, please keep stroking me until I'm in a better mood, okay?"

When Airi turned to Minato with a pouting expression on her face, he knew she was really in a bad mood. And as she admitted that she wanted to be in a good mood, she stared at him and begged him to continue. Minato had no intention of stopping, so he did as he was told and stroked her.

"As you wish."

Like that, he continued to stroke Airi.