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

The sudden rain began to fall after I had eaten the dinner that Hayashi had prepared. It was a so-called guerrilla downpour. The rain hitting the window was large, and the sound of rain echoed throughout the room.

“I’m home-”

Hayashi seemed to have run home in such a downpour.

“That was some rain.”

“Yeah. I’m all wet.”

“…You should take a bath.”

“I will.”

The hallway was noisy with footsteps.

While watching TV, I hung my head a bit, having missed another chance to talk to Hayashi about going back to her parents’ house.

Amid the sound of the rain, I could faintly hear the shower running.

With the noise of the TV and the sound of the rain, the sound was extremely faint. But it was inevitable that my attention would be drawn to it more than usual.

…Up until now, I had been thinking about how to persuade Hayashi to go back to her parents’ house.

It’s a well-known fact that she is a stubborn woman. And she can clearly say no to things she doesn’t like and can be really scary when provoked. That kind of person.

I will have to persuade such a person to go home…

If it was just a visit, it would be easy.

But she has been disowned by her parents, it’s quite a problem.

…Huh.

But don’t underestimate me.

I’m not stupid. I had already anticipated that Hayashi would refuse to discuss going home. And of course, I’ve planned ways to persuade her again.

…Let me announce it before I tell her. The three strategies I came up with after racking my brain for a little over an hour.

One. Lure her with bait.

Two. Threaten her.

Three. Propose a comfort trip.

Everyone must have thought about it.

Wait, there’s no good plan.

You’re naive. As naive as Chupa Chups.

…I get it.

I couldn’t come up with a good plan!

What does it mean to lure her with bait? She’s a woman with weak desires, and I know very well that she’s not particularly greedy!

What does it mean to threaten her? That’s no different from what her ex-boyfriend did!

And then… a comfort trip!

Honestly, this is the least likely.

Hayashi would never want to go on a trip with me!

Know your place, fool!

…Huh.

I’m stuck.

Totally stuck.

At this rate… I can’t come up with a way to get her to go home.

If I go straight, I’ll be scolded.

If I resort to tricks, I’ll be yelled at.

If I threaten her, I’ll be socially annihilated.

If I propose a trip, she’ll be put off.

All… I can’t see a future with a good result.

…Sorry, Kasahara. I couldn’t do it…

“Whew, that was refreshing.”

As Hayashi wiped her hair with a towel, she returned to the living room in her usual pajamas of a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts.

I jumped a bit in surprise.

Hayashi, in response… became silent as soon as she returned to the room. Maybe it was because she had just taken a bath. She blushed, bit her lip, turned her back on me, and sat facing the bed.

…By the way, I’ve been thinking lately.

No, it might just be a misunderstanding.

Just in case, well, I don’t think that’s the case.

…Am I being avoided by Hayashi lately?

She doesn’t even look at me.

She only shows me her back.

When she’s in front of others, she obviously talks less.

…Did I do something to be hated?

…Ah.

After all, I was disliked by her.

…Maybe, I just can’t take Hayashi back to her parents’ house.

…But.

If I give up now, I’ll be less of a man.

“Hayashi, can we talk?”

Hayashi, who had been sitting with her back to me, shivered as she dried her hair with a towel.

“…Wh, what?”

Hayashi’s voice was a bit high-pitched. Maybe she has a fever? Well, whatever.

“…I have a favor to ask.”

“What… do you want?”

“…How about you go back to your parents’ house?”

With resolve, I said it.

Hayashi stayed silent.

Waiting for her response, I too remained silent.

Only the sound of the rain and the noise of the television echoed throughout the room.

…After a while, Hayashi turned towards me. She’d been troubled for a decent amount of time. Probably, she’d finally come up with an answer.

Not that she’d been considering my request, I’m sure.

…Would she fume at my idiotic proposition? Would she snap? Would she hit me? Kick me? She was probably considering these responses. But, she’s the last person who would resort to violence.

…In other words.

Would she fume?

I swallowed nervously.

“It’s okay.”

And then, Hayashi glared at me.

…Huh?

“Sorry?”

“It’s okay.”

…She didn’t glare?

“If it’s your request, it’s okay.”

“…Ah. Yeah. I see. Yeah. …Thank you.”

“…On one condition.”

“Hm?”

“Will Yamamoto accompany me?”

“…What?”

Why would she want to drag me into such a battlefield? I really didn’t want to go.

“…I’m sorry. But please.”

Hayashi seemed to sense my feelings.

Even so, she pleaded.

“I’m scared. Scared of getting yelled at.”

Then, for the first time in a long while, Hayashi looked at me.

Her face… was filled with fear. It was the same face she had when we reunited at the convenience store long ago. She showed it to me.

“…Understood.”

Well, if me being yelled at by her parents is all it takes for her to go back home, then it’s a small price to pay.

“Thank you.”

It felt like it had been a very long time since I saw Hayashi’s smile.

“I really can’t thank you enough.”