Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

Sometimes, I vaguely thought, it’s good to shed some tears.

Thanks to the tears, Oota and Ito, who were unwilling before, showed some motivation. We were able to hear kind words from Akari as well.

Finally finding our motivation, we began wracking our brains over the representative speech for our friend.

However, just because we found our motivation, it didn’t mean everything would turn out well.

Rather, because we found our motivation… due to our fear of not doing a half-hearted job, we couldn’t solidify our approach.

“So, really, thank you both for staying up so late today.”

“No, I’m sorry we couldn’t be more helpful.”

“Yeah, I’ll consult you again.”

“Thank you.”

Around late night, we ended our long phone call.

After hanging up, I let out a big sigh. Despite getting help from Oota and Ito, there was no significant result.

“It’s pretty tough, isn’t it?”

Akari says.

“Yeah… it’s really difficult.”

While whining, I collapsed onto the floor.

My back hurts. Even though I’m not even an adult yet, it’s an old man-like situation.

“Are you staying over tonight?”

“I’m okay. I don’t want to impose.”

“But there’s no last train.”

When I checked the clock, it was already well past midnight.

“If a cute girl like Megumi walks alone at night, she might get attacked.”

“I don’t think that would happen.”

“It might. So, no.”

Akari was unusually assertive.

But, her words were merely out of concern for me.

It would be absurd to not only complain, but also become emotional.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll stay over.”

“Shall we sleep together then?”

“Together?”

“We only have one bed.”

“I’m okay with a sleeping bag or something?”

“We don’t have that.”

“…Oh.”

Sleeping in the same futon as a girl, well… it’s Akari after all. No problem, right?

But is it really no problem?

I borrowed the shower from Akari, brushed my teeth, and lay down on the bed first.

After a while, Akari came back to the living room after taking a shower.

“Sorry for using the shower first.”

“No, not at all.”

“Let me dry your hair.”

“Thank you.”

Smiling, Akari handed me the dryer, and I dried her bobbed hair.

Since I started living with Yamamoto, he often dries my hair. He’s meticulous about everything, which feels pretty good.

But it’s been a while since I’ve dried someone else’s hair.

“Thank you, Meg.”

“No problem. I’ll put this back.”

As I returned from the washroom, Akari was lying down at the edge of the single bed.

“Here we go.”

I lay down next to Akari.

A moment of silence.

Oh, I forgot to turn off the light.

“Oh, it’s okay.”

Trying to get up to turn off the light, Akari stopped me and started manipulating her smartphone.

With a swish, swish, as Akari operated her smartphone, the light suddenly went out.

“Wow.”

“It’s called smart home appliances. With just a smartphone, you can turn on or off the air conditioner, even start the washing machine, it’s really convenient.”

“Wow, that’s cool.”

“…Doesn’t Yamamoto-kun have this set up? You don’t know because you’re a technophobe?”

“No, Yamamoto isn’t really good with such devices. He tends to follow his own manual habits. You know, he’s old-fashioned. Despite that, he’s been into VR games lately.”

“Huh, is that so?”

“Yeah, he said it’s interesting. That the moment he took off the VR goggles, he was hooked quickly. However, he nitpicks in reviews on shopping sites and never gives a five-star rating. He makes vague statements about expectations for the future.”

“That’s very specific.”

Akari laughs.

Well, it’s based on my experience living with him for two months.

“In the end, we didn’t decide on anything today.”

After a moment of laughter, Akari says.

Reminding me of something unpleasant before bed.

There’s still time until Itchan’s wedding, but I don’t know how long it will take… I can’t help feeling anxious.

“Akari, are you okay with tomorrow?”

“I’m okay… but, it’s probably impossible.”

“Huh?”

“We spent the whole day thinking about it and got nowhere. So, it’s probably impossible. At least, with me.”

It seems that Akari has given up, feeling that the day was wasted in vain.

…It can’t be helped.

It’s only me who is asking unilaterally, I shouldn’t get angry if she can’t accommodate my whims anymore, I should be grateful.

“It’s not like that, Meg.”

It seems Akari has sensed my silent mood.

She seems intent on explaining herself.

“I just thought there was someone more suitable than me.”

“…Suitable?”

“Spending the day together made me realize. Responsibility is heavy.”

“…Yes, it is.”

“Your speech time, Meg, is just a few minutes from the whole wedding. Not even a tenth of the time. Yet we all thought the same thing. What if we ruin Itchan’s wedding in that short time?”

Yes, that’s it.

Those past few hours.

It was always in the back of my mind.

What kind of speech does Itchan want from me? What kind of speech will make Itchan happy?

I want to make him happy.

I don’t want to fail.

Thinking this way, I couldn’t come up with a good answer.

“…I’m sorry. It was a hassle, wasn’t it?”

I said.

This time, Itchan asked me for the speech. Not Ito, not Oota, not Akari, but me.

From their point of view, helping me… must have been a complete hassle.

“That’s not true. We were happy,”

Akari whispers.

“To be relied upon by Meg.”

“…Akari.”

“When you were in high school, you were always running off on your own. So, we were glad you turned to us. We were glad to be relied upon for the first time.”

“I always relied on you guys, didn’t I?”

“No. We were the ones relying on you.”

In the pitch-black room, I tried to look at Akari’s face lying next to me.

But I couldn’t see anything.

I wonder what expression Akari is making now.

What is she thinking?

“…I’m sorry. We couldn’t help you, even though you relied on us.”

“That’s not true.”

There’s absolutely none of that.

Not a trace of it.

Today, Akari and the others gave me and Itchan many constructive suggestions.

Thanks to them, I could see the big picture.

There’s absolutely no truth to them not being able to help.

…But, Akari must have hated that.

She probably wanted to shape it together.

But after these few hours, she understood.

She can’t create what I’m hoping for.

“Meg… once you wake up tomorrow, you should leave.”

Akari said with a hint of loneliness.

“Then, try consulting Yamamoto-kun.”

Akari said.

She probably had conviction.

She can’t shape it.

But, if it’s him… if it’s Yamamoto.

Surely, he’ll respond to my feelings.

…Yamamoto, you’re lucky.

It seems you’re still the most trusted man in the world by Akari.