Chapter 339: Arc 5, - 33: Someone Tell Me Already!
Kineko and Asobi sat at opposite sides of the dining table, both with papers in front of them. In between, in front of the stack of reference books, was Hotaru who read some other book of her own.
’Here we are; sitting still in one spot again.’ Jotou stared at them all as she sat with her legs curled up on the sofa. ’Hopefully once Fumeko’s graduation’s done and Asobi’s enrolled, we can go do stuff.
Maybe I should go paint something. This city does have a lot of inspiration to draw from. If I were to study in a place like this... Nah, studying’s the same anywhere you do it. Studying abroad is much more about the abroad and all the experiences other than studying.
Great, now I’m going on tangents.’ The blonde sighed and narrowed her sights on the redhead. A small grin crept up. ’It’d be nice to cuddle her from behind while she read a book.
Probably not the best to bother them for now though. ...’ Jotou’s lips lowered. ’In Asobi’s room that day... I have no doubt Hotaru wasn’t feeling well that day. Then after talking to Sobi, she seemed fine...
I’m glad she felt better, but was it really something she couldn’t tell me? Am I doing something wrong?’ Jotou shook her head—and with it, the unwarranted anxiety. ’Stop overthinking.’
Jotou gazed to her again... ’I still haven’t told her about it.’ The blonde’s eyes darted to Asobi. ’It doesn’t matter, does it? Then why haven’t I said it yet? Am I scared that Hotaru might not understand? Why would I need to think that?’
As usual, her thoughts spiralled the more she sat still doing nothing. With a subtle whine under her breath, Jotou stretched her legs out and got off the couch.
The morning light barely made it past the window as Jotou carried herself up the stairs. Hotaru’s ears pricked and she turned to catch a glimpse of Jotou’s ankles up the steps—the heels of her feet never touching the stairs.
How did she sneak away upstairs so silently? It was nothing new of course. "Housecat," Hotaru mumbled to herself with a smirk and glanced back to her book.
Jotou opened the door to her room and fell face first into the bed. She rolled around and picked up her plush puppy. "Hm..." she pouted to one side as she held it in the air above her. "I miss Orion. Hope he’s doing okay."
Jotou sat up in one motion and weaved her fingers through her ponytail. She brought the few strands that fell out in front of her eyes—pitch black; a couple of red strands probably from the bed.