In the end, I didn’t climb into bed alone this time either.
I didn’t know how long I’d stay here, but So-hee’s bed, which she would be using for quite a while, had already arrived.
Since there was a desk and a table next to my bed, fortunately, I couldn’t place it right next to mine, but instead, it was placed diagonally to the left at the foot of my bed, not too far away.
It was right next to the door, but since there weren’t many people who would be coming in and out of this room in the first place, it didn’t seem to be a big problem.
And it was quite a fitting spot for So-hee, one of the people who would be coming in and out of that door.
Not that I gave the orders, though.
It was probably Yang Hye-in’s idea for the layout.
“This is unfair.”
However, So-hee, who was sitting cross-legged on that bed, didn’t seem to think the same way.
So-hee’s claim that she only wore a top to sleep was half true and half false.
She was wearing a rather baggy-sized T-shirt.
The neckline of the shirt, much larger than So-hee’s head, sagged to the side as if it had stretched, giving the impression of someone who might appear on the cover of a certain magazine that shared the name with a popular coffee mix I often saw in the military.
However, the part about ‘wearing nothing underneath’ was only an illusion.
In reality, she was wearing short dolphin shorts underneath.
When standing, it looked as if she was wearing the oversized T-shirt like a dress, but it wasn’t the case that she was only wearing the shirt.
Still, I was glad she wasn’t actually going around without anything on below.
If she had, the maid who was supposed to make me comfortable would end up making me uncomfortable.
“Unfair, you say?”
“Why are only the two of you sleeping together?”
She was right.
So-hee had a bed, but, of course, there was no bed for Soo-ah.
The interior wasn’t designed with the expectation of having guests, and no one seemed to have considered that someone would be sleeping over.
Judging by how wide the bed was, the Chairwoman might have had some lewd thoughts in mind, though.
I glanced slightly at Soo-ah, who was sitting next to me with her knees drawn up.
Yang Hye-in, being competent as always, had bought not only underwear but also clothes for Soo-ah to wear.
They weren’t anything fancy—just a T-shirt and pajama pants—but considering she bought clothes that roughly fit Soo-ah just by eyeing her size, it seemed she had a good sense of judgment.
At least it was much less embarrassing than last time.
“…Well, there’s no space, right? No matter what, I can’t have a guest sleep on the floor.”
The sleeping bag that So-hee had brought was still in the closet.
Though it wouldn’t happen, if this room were to become overcrowded with too many visitors, I might have to pull it out… but that was unlikely, right?
“Kuh…”
She had brought the sleeping bag with the intention of sleeping on the floor herself, but the thought of making Soo-ah sleep on the floor seemed to prick at her conscience, preventing her from refuting my words.
“I’m fine with it.”
Then, Soo-ah joined the conversation.
“If it’s uncomfortable, I can sleep downstairs. After all, I’m the one who barged in without permission.”
When Soo-ah said that, So-hee fidgeted uncomfortably.
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
She trailed off.
“As long as you’re here, you don’t need to worry too much. You can stay until you make up with your family.”
At my words, Soo-ah gave me a bright smile.
With her hair down, Soo-ah looked completely different from usual.
Though she already had a more demure image than in the game, with her hair down, the remaining lively image disappeared entirely, leaving her looking pure and serene.
She really did resemble a visual novel heroine.
“…”
So-hee pursed her lips as if at a loss for words.
Yeah, even I wouldn’t be able to speak recklessly to someone who gave off such an atmosphere.
“Then why don’t you sleep in this bed?”
“Isn’t that bed a bit too small for two people?”
The bed So-hee used was a standard single bed, unlike my abnormally large one.
If two people lay on it, there would barely be any space, unlike when all four of us had squeezed into my bed before.
It would definitely be uncomfortable.
“No, no.”
So-hee shook her head.
“I mean, the guest should sleep here, and I’ll sleep there. Isn’t it the maid’s duty to give up a bed for the guest?”
Was there such a duty?
Well, I wasn’t a maid, and if there really was a shortage of space, the maid could give up her spot, but was there any need for that when we had enough room?
Besides, by that logic, making me, the maid’s master, uncomfortable was a contradiction.
In fact, sleeping two in this bed would give us more space than sleeping alone in that bed, since my bed was so large.
“Do we really need to think about it that much? It’s not like anyone here is above or below anyone else. Just sleep wherever there’s room.”
When I said that again, So-hee pursed her lips.
Despite being taller than me, So-hee made such a pouty expression that I found it a little cute.
Perhaps it’s because she’s a visual novel heroine, after all.
In the end, the three of us slept as we were that night.
It was too tiring to change places or debate over it.
It was getting late anyway.
If there was a debate to be had, we could save it for school tomorrow.
So-hee would be attending the same school as us starting tomorrow.
…And when I woke up, for some reason, I found myself with So-hee and Soo-ah nestled on either side of me.
Seriously, what is this?
*
“So, you’re saying you got confused and crawled into my bed because you mistook it for yours after going to the bathroom?”
In the car on the way to school, I asked So-hee, who explained the situation.
“Yes, that’s right… I got confused in the dark and thought it was my bed. I’m really sorry.”
“…”
So-hee had almost responded casually, but after glancing at the chauffeur driving in the front seat and Yang Hye-in sitting next to him, she quickly switched to polite speech.
“If it was rude in any way, I’ll be careful not to let it happen again.”
Still, it seemed she had the intention of using what Yang Hye-in taught her, as So-hee added that in a polite tone.
“…”
I squinted at So-hee, but she lifted her head and smiled brightly at me.
…What could I say?
Well, other than being slightly uncomfortable when I woke up, there was no major issue.
If they were guys, I would’ve freaked out and run out immediately, but… since they were girls sleeping on either side, well.
When I turned my head to the other side, I met Soo-ah’s eyes.
She smiled at me, and…
I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled back.
Of course, it was a very awkward, unnatural smile.
As we exchanged such pointless conversation, the car came to a stop.
Before Yang Hye-in could open the door, So-hee quickly opened it and jumped out.
It was a wonder she didn’t trip.
“Young lady, we’ve arrived.”
Holding the door she had just come out of, she said that to me.
“…”
I glanced at Yang Hye-in, who was looking at me.
She gave me a slight nod before stepping out of the car.
Without a word, I exited through the door So-hee held open.
“If you open the door to the left, a car might come and hit you. Although this is private property and the sidewalk and roadway aren’t clearly separated, be careful next time.”
Yang Hye-in, observing the scene, spoke to So-hee.
“Oh, yes, understood.”
So-hee quickly responded.
Though we had only spent a day together, a sort of senior-junior dynamic had formed between them.
Well, it wasn’t bad for them to get along.
After getting out of the car, I glanced toward the school gate and made eye contact with Ha-neul.
As usual, she was waiting for me by the gate.
“…”
Oh, right.
I forgot to tell her.
I stiffly turned around.
Behind me were So-hee, wearing Hwayoung High School’s uniform, and Soo-ah, who had hastily patched up her torn uniform.
When I looked back again, Ha-neul had a stiff expression.
Uh…
What should I say?
I felt the temperature around me drop a few degrees.
*
“So…”
When I explained what had happened yesterday in the classroom, Ha-neul ran a hand down her face.
“So-hee’s now your maid, fine. But Soo-ah has completely run away from home…?”
I could see the kids around us pricking up their ears toward our conversation.
But it wasn’t something we needed to care about.
Everyone had already seen us getting out of the same car this morning.
Once could be overlooked, but this was the second time.
To others, it probably looked like I was periodically visiting their homes to sleep over.
On top of that, one of the people I was sleeping with had become my maid, and the other had run away from home to live with me.
It was prime gossip material.
Yeah, if I wanted to stay in the spotlight, rumors like this were bound to circulate.
That way, people wouldn’t be able to take their eyes off me.
But…
I glanced out the window.
The blue strands of hair were poking up like antennae.
…It was the Disciplinary Committee member’s hair.
The last time we met, I hadn’t noticed because of the intense impression she gave off, but now, with only her hair visible, I couldn’t ignore it.
Wasn’t there something called ‘idiot hair’ for this?
If this were a game, she would probably be a somewhat dumb but cute character.
It was one thing to hide, but… with all the students passing by glancing in the direction of the crouching Disciplinary Committee member, her presence was even more amplified.
“…That’s how it is.”
Turning my gaze back to Ha-neul, I spoke.
Ha-neul pressed her finger against the bridge of her nose.
“…If a runaway shows up, you should send them back with some good advice.”
That’s the right thing to do.
But you had to have seen Soo-ah’s face.
Even when a cat sneaks into your house, you know you should shoo it out, but you can’t bring yourself to do it, right?
It was like that.
Of course, Soo-ah wasn’t a cat, but a person.
Maybe that’s why I felt even more that way.
When I averted my gaze slightly, Ha-neul let out a deep sigh.