Weak Airi in the Morning

An electronic sound echoed in my sleepy head. I wandered my hands to stop it, and when I finally found what I was looking for, I stopped it and sat up.

For a moment, I didn't know why I was sleeping on the floor, but then I remembered that I had started living together with a beautiful girl.

I was not complaining, since it was me who insisted on sleeping on the floor, but I was aching all over. I switched my thoughts to the fact that I would be sleeping on the floor from now on, and my body would get used to it.

Airi had told me yesterday that she wanted to wake up early, so I checked the time and it was much earlier than usual.

At any rate, I went to the futon and froze when I saw her still sleeping.

(She's beautiful.)

I couldn't help but think that.

Her beautiful long silver hair spread out on the futon, her innocent sleeping face was different from when she was awake. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she was an angel.

I felt as if I had seen something I shouldn't have, and my heart started to beat faster on its own.

I tried not to be conscious of my heated face as I called out to her.

"Ninomiya, wake up."

There was no response at all, no matter how many times I called out to her, it was the same.

I had no choice but to take strong measures.

"Hey, wake up."

I grabbed her by the shoulders and started shaking, hoping that she wasn't the type of person who would be in a bad mood after waking up, and finally her ice blue eyes opened.

"Good morning, Ninomiya."

"..."

"Ninomiya?"

"..."

There was no response at all when I called out to her, and her eyes were as clear as glass beads, reflecting nothing.

I left her alone for now and finished getting ready myself, but she stayed in a daze the whole time.

As I continued to observe her while preparing breakfast, she finally started to move slowly and headed for the bathroom.

Apparently, she was quite slow paced in the morning.

(I guess even a beautiful, good cook, and a perfect girl has her weaknesses.)

I smiled at the fact that I had found something she wasn't good at.

Airi came out of the bathroom and was trying to take off her pajamas to change in the middle of the living room.

I hurriedly walked over to her from the kitchen and restrained her hands as she tried to take them off. She tilted her head with a childish expression as if to say, 'Why are you interrupting me?'

"If you're going to change, do it in the corner of the room. I can see you."

"What…? Ehh… I'm so sorry."

I guessed my words finally brought her out of her reverie. When I returned to the kitchen, a red-faced Airi began to change her clothes in the corner of the room.

After a short while, breakfast was ready, but I wasn't sure if she had finished getting ready as she was out of my sight. Being careful, I called out to her.

"Can I bring breakfast over there?"

"Yes, that's fine."

After receiving permission, I put the food for the two of us on the table.

When she was ready, we sat down together, but Airi squirmed around, looking embarrased.

"What's wrong?"

"Its ….. Good morning, Kujo-senpai."

"Good morning, Ninomiya."

Apparently she was worried that she hadn't said her morning greetings in her slumber.

When I chuckled at her strange behavior, she turned away with a slight blush of embarrassment.

It seemed that laughing any longer would put her in a bad mood, so I cleared my throat and ate breakfast.

"Itadakimasu."

"Itadakimasu."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make a scene."

As I was eating breakfast, Airi bowed to me.

There were plenty of people who were slightly dazed in the morning. It was not something to be apologizing for. As if to say not to worry about it, in a cheerful voice, I said,

"No, I don't mind that. You are quite dazed in the morning, aren't you?"

"I feel kind of foggy and can't really react."

"By the looks of it, I don't think you're going to be able to make breakfast in the morning. Do you want me to do it?"

"No, I will make it."

She assured me with a very serious face.

It would take a lot of time for Airi to wake up properly, get ready for school, and then make breakfast.

If that was the case, I should wake up early to be the one who made breakfast since I get ready quicker.

"Why are you being so stubborn there? It takes a long time for a girl to get ready, just leave the breakfast to me."

"... Sorry it took me that long."

She apologized in a dark voice, with her face downcast. She seemed to have misunderstood that I was angry with her for taking so long.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it the way I said it. I don't mind that it takes you a while."

As I bowed my head, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible, Airi looked at me and asked me timidly.

"Thank you… Then excuse me, but may I ask you to prepare breakfast?"

All I did for breakfast today was fry some eggs and sausage. If something like this was good enough for her, then I could make it.

"Leave it to me, though I can't make much."

"It's enough, thank you very much."

The faint smile of the beautiful girl I saw that morning was very pleasing to my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'll pretend to be a stranger when I'm outside."

"Yeah, I'd rather have that than get in trouble."

After breakfast, Airi and I discussed how we wanted to deal with each other outside.

It would be quite a topic of conversation if she was getting along with a male senior one day after the entrance ceremony. I would much appreciate it as well, since there was no way I could say that I was living with her.

"Just the fact that I'm going to school with a guy is enough to get people talking."

"... Must be struggling."

" I'm really sick of it."

She raised her eyebrows in disgust and said in a spiteful voice. She seemed to think that being beautiful was not always a good thing.

As if she wanted to change the subject, Airi returned to her normal voice and brought up another topic.

"As I told you yesterday, I'm going to cook dinner, so I'll go grocery shopping after school."

"All right. I guess I should not go with you and carry your luggage…"

"Of course, you said you would pretend to be a stranger. In the first place, Kujo-senpai must have part-time work on some days. So, is there anything you want to eat today?"

"I know Ninomiya's cooking is good, but to what extent can you cook?"

I didn't want to make absurd demands, but I didn't know what she could and couldn't make.

When I answered with another question, Airi tilted her head and seemed troubled.

"….. It's difficult to say when you put it that way. Try and tell me what you want to eat."

"Well… I'd like some fish."

"How would you like it cooked?"

"I'll leave it to the chef."

I thought all of Airi's food would be delicious, so I left it to her. Her face then broke into a funny smile,

"I understand, I'll put my best effort into making it."