The Perfect Explanation

Kushida did not soak for long. She still remembered Hoshino saying he would be back soon. She did not want him to return and see her in the bath.

But Hoshino returned even faster than she had expected. Just as she had dried herself off, she heard the sound of a keycard unlocking the door. Kushida froze, only managing to hurriedly shut the bathroom door.

Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, footsteps approached, followed by Hoshino's voice. "Kushida, I'm coming in."

Fortunately, Kushida reacted quickly. The instant she saw the bathroom doorknob turn, she threw herself against the door and shouted, "Don't come in! I-I'm not wearing anything!"

"Oh."

"Why are you so naturally trying to open the bathroom door when a girl is bathing?"

"I was worried you might accidentally fall asleep in the tub. That would be dangerous."

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern!"

Kushida leaned against the door. Hearing no movement outside for the moment, she relaxed slightly. But then she began to worry again. Her mind had been foggy before, and Hoshino had rushed her, so she had entered the bathroom without bringing a change of clothes.

What was she supposed to do now? She could not exactly walk out naked.

After hesitating for a while, Kushida made up her mind and wrapped herself in a bath towel.

The lower edge of the towel reached the middle of her thighs. Any higher than that would have been unacceptable. But that meant its upper edge barely covered half her chest, leaving large areas of skin exposed.

"Ugh, at this point, what does it matter if he sees me?"

Kushida sighed inwardly. Then she steadied herself and called out, "Hey!"

"Do you need help, Kushida?"

Hoshino answered immediately, turning the doorknob again at the same time.

"I don't need help!" Kushida cried in panic. "And why are you so naturally trying to open a girl's bathroom door?"

"Then what do you need me to do?" Hoshino asked.

"...Go stand by the entrance, facing the door. Don't turn around without my permission!"

"Okay." Hoshino agreed readily.

Kushida waited a little longer before cautiously opening the door. She poked her head out first and saw that Hoshino really was standing by the entrance with his back to her. Only then did she step out in relief.

"Oh, right. I already found some clothes for you to change into. They're on your bed," Hoshino suddenly said.

"What?" Kushida thought she had misheard. She hurried to the bed and saw a neatly arranged set of aqua-green underwear, a pair of white ankle socks, her casual blouse and skirt, and finally a set of pajamas.

Kushida stood there blankly for a while, feeling her already muddled mind grow even more confused.

"Kushida Kikyo, calm down. You need to calm down..."

Kushida repeated it to herself several times. Gritting her teeth, she checked once more that Hoshino was not peeking in her direction before undoing the towel. She put on her panties first, but ran into trouble when she tried to put on her bra. She had no strength left, and after several failed attempts to fasten it behind her back, she reluctantly gave up.

After putting on her pajamas, she folded the bra and put it into a drawer, then hung her casual clothes in the wardrobe. Only then did she say, "All right, you can turn around now."

"That took forever." Hoshino turned around and looked her over. "Sure enough, this cute beautiful-girl look is the real Kushida."

"Hmph, don't change the subject. Tell me, who gave you permission to go through my wardrobe? And you even—you even went through a girl's underwear! I can't believe this! You—perverted creep! Do you have no common sense at all?"

Kushida shouted furiously. But her anger did not affect Hoshino in the slightest. He remained as calm and unruffled as ever.

"Kushida, you look much more energetic. It seems taking a bath really does help your body release heat. Do you feel a little better?"

Kushida stared at Hoshino with a frosty expression for a while before finally giving up with a sigh. "What exactly did you come here for today? If you came to make me angry, then you've accomplished your goal. Go home already."

"You didn't come to class all day today, so I was a little worried about your condition. That's why I came to check on you." Hoshino smiled as he gave the "standard answer." After a brief pause, he added, "Oh, and I asked Teacher Chabashira for leave on your behalf in advance, so the class won't lose points because of your unexcused absence. You don't need to worry about that."

"I'm not worried about class points." Kushida frowned. "I'm worried you said something ridiculous to the teacher."

"How could I? I made it very clear to the teacher. I said Kushida caught a chill and came down with a cold, so she couldn't attend class today."

"The reason? The details? Most importantly, why were you the one asking for leave on my behalf? Teacher Chabashira would obviously be suspicious!"

"Oh, that..." Hoshino said lightly. "Don't worry. If you're going to put on an act, you might as well do it properly. Naturally, I prepared a perfect explanation."

"What explanation?" Kushida asked suspiciously.

"I said we were secretly dating, but you accidentally found out I was seeing two girls at once. We had a huge fight, and in your anger, you fell into the artificial lake..."

"Uh..." Kushida pressed a hand to her forehead. "There are so many things wrong with that, I don't even know where to start."

"None of that matters." Hoshino's voice softened. "You're still sick. What you should do now is take your medicine and rest. Oh, right, I also brought you some porridge from the cafeteria to settle your stomach. If you have an appetite, drink a little."

After saying that, he started moving on his own. He filled the girl's cup on the table with warm water, then took out the appropriate dose of the cold medicine he had just bought. Carrying the cup and medicine, he came over to Kushida.

"Be good. Take your medicine first."

Kushida was not used to the boy's doting tone. After a slight pause, she accepted the cup and medicine. Once she obediently swallowed it, Hoshino took the cup back from her and returned it to its place. Then he went to the entrance, pulled a thermal lunch box from the bag he had brought, and opened it on the table. The pleasant fragrance of rice porridge drifted through the room.

"Have some porridge. Do you need me to feed you?" Hoshino sat down beside her naturally and lifted the lunch box for her.

"No, I can do it myself."

"Then I'll dry your hair for you."

Without even waiting for Kushida's agreement, Hoshino walked to the sink and took out a hair dryer.

Kushida watched his back, a flicker of struggle passing through her eyes.

If... if what had happened last night had never happened, if this were only an ordinary visit to check on a sick person...

Kushida let out an almost imperceptible sigh. What had happened had happened. What was the point of thinking about it now?

"Hoshino."

When Hoshino switched on the hair dryer and its pleasantly warm air blew through her hair, Kushida spoke.

"I don't want to say anything like 'at this point' anymore. I only want to ask you one thing: the Hoshino Akira of today and the Hoshino Akira of yesterday—which one is the real you?"