A Little Closer
I was so happy that I lost track of time. There was so much food, and since I hadn't eaten anything since morning, I ended up devouring nearly everything on the table. Each time, Reina would give her subordinates that cold, boss-like stare and order them to bring out more dishes immediately.
"I-It's fine! I really only need this much! I think I'm full now!"
For some reason, I felt guilty toward them. After all, they were going through all this trouble because of me. The moment she heard me, Reina immediately told them to leave again.
Then I hesitated, wanting to say something but lacking the courage. She tilted her head, noticing my hesitation.
"You can speak freely. I don't want to hide anything from you."
"Ah... well... Noona... it's about what you said earlier... Do I really have to live here with you for the rest of my life?"
More precisely, she had said several times that we had to stay together forever. When my expression darkened, Reina's face also turned sorrowful before she nodded reluctantly.
"Mm... That's right. You'll never be able to leave my side... It's not just because you're an orphan. Somehow, I feel like if you left me, you wouldn't find happiness—only misfortune."
What did that even mean? It felt like she was deciding someone else's fate on a whim. Still, it didn't feel entirely unpleasant. Thinking about it now, even if I went back to university, would I really be able to make friends? Until I graduated high school, I was treated like air—worse, I was even bullied. The only person who taught me kendo and comforted me during those times was gone. Even if I returned, I'd be alone in my studio apartment until the entrance ceremony. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. Despite how terrifying and strange the situation was, it felt less lonely than being by myself.
But there was still one problem.
"Th-Then... does that mean I can't be apart from you even for a little while? Do I have to stay by your side no matter what?"
She must have misunderstood again. Her expression grew anxious and sad as she looked at me pitifully. When she reached for her wine glass to take a sip, her hand trembled slightly. She looked like someone terrified of being abandoned.
"I'm sorry, but even a short while is impossible. You have to stay with me. Being apart... I absolutely hate it..."
Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes as she sniffled. Panicking, I hurried to clarify.
"W-Wait a second! I think you're misunderstanding! What I meant was... things like going to the bathroom! Bathing and sleeping too!"
"Huh?"
Realizing her mistake, Reina's face flushed bright red as she grew flustered. She stammered, struggling to find the right words, before clearing her throat to calm the atmosphere.
"O-Of course we should! Those things should be done together too!"
She was trying to act cool, but her voice was shaking and her face had turned tomato-red.
"Haa... Noona... going to the bathroom together is a bit much, don't you think? Think about it! How could I do that right in front of you?!"
"You did it in my mouth though!"
"Hiiik! Th-That was... You said it didn't count! And you were the one who started it first..."
I felt a bit wronged. It wasn't like I had wanted to do it. She had been the one to pounce on me first. Trying to dodge the topic, I turned the question back on her.
"Then... could you pee in front of me, Noona?!"
"!?"
Reina's face grew even redder. She looked visibly flustered, and after a moment of thought, her lips trembled as she spoke.
"I-I can! If it's in front of you, it's fine! W-We... we're going to become husband and wife anyway... and... it might not be so bad? No, I mean... um... well..."
She avoided my gaze and spoke unnaturally, her words not quite matching up. I pressed on.
"Sorry to bring this up during the meal, but... could you do number two in front of me too?"
"Huh!? Th-That... um... well... I-I'd have to see the situation first... um..."
Her red eyes avoided mine. Still, Reina stubbornly insisted.
"Ah! Now that I think about it, it is embarrassing! But it can't be helped! I can do it! It's fine! I'm the boss of the Kurotsuki Syndicate, after all! Something like that would be a piece of cake~!"
"......"
Despite her words, sweat beaded on her forehead and her expression wasn't exactly confident.
"I don't think I could ever do that... Please, at least let me use the bathroom freely."
"Huh? Um... Ah, okay... I'll make an exception for that..."
I let out a sigh of relief the moment I heard that. But Reina wasn't finished.
"Bathing and sleeping, though—you have to do those with me! Got it!? That's my limit!"
"......"
I had been hoping to push for more, but she cut me off firmly, as if anticipating it. Even when I gave her a sad look, she deliberately turned her head away.
"Um... Noona..."
"No! I can't give you anything more!"
"No, that's not it! It's just... Do you wear clothes when you sleep, Noona?"
I usually slept in a T-shirt and shorts. People were different, but if she slept naked, that could be a problem. Caught off guard by the sudden question, Reina's face flushed again. She cleared her throat, trying to stay composed, but still stammered.
"Y-Yeah! It depends on the day!"
As she spoke, she seemed to get greedy again.
"Now that I think about it, sleeping naked in front of Yujin might actually be for Yujin's sake! B-But still, being naked is embarrassing... Though if Yujin sleeps naked, then I... might like it..."
I was momentarily speechless at the nonsense. Her red eyes had taken on a slightly sinister glint, and I got the feeling that sharing a bed with her would be dangerous.
"Please wear clothes..."
"Huh? Ah, okay... If you're asking, then... I'll sleep with clothes on..."
She looked slightly disappointed, her expression darkening. No, who was the one who got embarrassed first?! Besides, it was already strange enough that we were sleeping together on the day we met. The fact that she was thinking beyond that made bedtime feel terrifying. She even muttered to herself.
"If we sleep naked... maybe we'd get closer? What a shame..."
My ears were sharp enough to catch it clearly. I raised my voice, insisting it was absolutely not happening, and she drooped like a scolded puppy, saying she understood.
'If she gets excited like before...'
I had a feeling she'd try something more, so I asked her once again to keep her clothes on. The atmosphere grew awkward again. I fiddled with my water glass and avoided her gaze. Then Reina said something completely out of left field.
"Then... does this mean we're married now? If we're bathing and sleeping together..."
"What? Wh-What are you talking about?! Just because we bathe and sleep together doesn't mean we're like that!"
Real siblings usually didn't get along, but some were close. I wondered if it was similar to how in manga or anime, sisters and brothers sometimes bathed and slept together. We finished our meal and ate dessert in that embarrassing atmosphere.
'Haa... This is bad... If I eat this, then...'
After dinner, we'd have to bathe, and after that, we'd have to sleep. I'd given up resisting, but now that it was actually happening, my heart raced and pounded. I tried to stall by talking, but Reina yawned cutely.
"Haaam, Yujin. Shall we go bathe now?"
"Huh? B-Bathe?"
"Mm. I cried so much earlier... My body feels tired..."
She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand like a cat. I panicked at her words.
"W-Wait! Can't I bathe alone?! Doing it together... should wait until we know each other better!"
"No! I already told you! Everything except the bathroom has to be done together! You already agreed to it!"
She puffed out her cheeks in a pout, glaring at me with a sulky look instead of her usual cold stare. I was at a loss for what to do.
"Ugh... Fine..."
No matter how much I racked my brain, there was no way out of this situation. I quietly nodded. Even when I tried to look pitiful, her mind was clearly filled with fantasies of bathing with me. She grinned and stood up, taking my hand as if to prevent me from running away, leading me out of the dining room. Then I had an idea.
"N-Noona! You said earlier that you'd wear clothes when you sleep, right?!"
"Huh? Yeah. Why?"
"Then... bathing should be the same, shouldn't it?! After all, we're not even dating yet! At the very least, we should wear swimsuits!"
I wanted to avoid bathing naked at all costs. Suggesting swimsuits was embarrassing, but it was still better than being completely naked. Reina looked surprised for a moment before nodding in understanding.
"Okay! But I get to pick Yujin's swimsuit!"
"Wh-What?! Why do you get to choose?!"
"I'll wear whatever swimsuit Yujin picks for me! That works, right?!"
"How does that work?! I don't want that! We'll just pick our own swimsuits and come out! Otherwise, I'm not compromising anymore!"
In the hallway leading to the bathroom, I plopped down on the floor in protest. Reina puffed out both cheeks and called me petty, but I refused to get up. In the end, we reached a compromise. Though her suggestion might actually work in my favor.
The moment I entered the room to change into a swimsuit, I wondered why I hadn't thought of this earlier. It was too late for regrets now. As the door to the room we entered together closed, an ominous feeling washed over me.