Chapter 246 — It's Fine Right? [2 Chapter in One]

Kei stayed silent for a while, the faint hum of the heater in the lounge the only sound filling the air.

He didn’t know what to say.

Maybe there wasn’t anything he could say.

Hiratsuka’s words lingered in his mind.

Each one sharp, yet strangely comforting.

He’d always told himself that moving forward alone was easier, that it was better not to drag anyone down.

But maybe… that was just an excuse to keep people at a distance.

To protect himself from being hurt—or from hurting others.

“Being cared for doesn’t make you a burden, huh…” he murmured softly.

It sounded simple.

But to him, it felt like something he’d been too scared to believe in.

“Well, I’ll think about it, sensei,” Kei said at last, glancing down at the now-empty can of coffee in his hand.

“Think about it? Don’t just think! Are you deaf? Act on it!” Hiratsuka’s voice barked through the phone. “You’re still young—you should enjoy the bitterness of youth! When I was your age—”

And there it was, the inevitable floodgate of Hiratsuka painful youth.

Kei could only give an awkward smile, nodding along as she launched into another long, overly nostalgic rant about her so-called “golden days.”

“Kids these days have it easy,” she declared proudly. “Back then, we had to work twice as hard for half as much!”

After ten long minutes of listening to her war stories, Kei finally sighed in relief as her voice began to fade out.

“If your youth was that great, how come you’re still single…” he muttered without thinking.

“...Aoki. What did you just say?” Her voice dropped several degrees in temperature.

The entire lounge suddenly felt like a freezer.

Kei’s heart skipped.

“N-No! Nothing! I didn’t say anything!” He flailed his hands in the empty lounge, as if that would somehow erase the words from existence.

“Aoki, you little brat, I swear I—”

“Kei-senpai!”

Hiratsuka’s threat was cut off by a familiar cheerful voice.

Kei turned and saw Kita waving from the end of the corridor, her hair still damp and glowing softly under the warm lights.
Behind her, Nijika and Ryou followed, all three wrapped in yukata, chatting and smiling as they made their way toward him.

From where he stood, Kei could see Bocchi clinging sleepily to Nijika’s back, being carried like a child.

“Kita-chan, he’s clearly still on a call. Maybe it’s not a good time—” Ryou started, but Kita had already called out.

“Ah, sensei, my group’s here now! If you need anything else, I’ll let you know later. Bye!”

Kei, spotting his salvation, hurriedly cut in and ended the call before Hiratsuka could respond.

“Oi, Aoki, don—”

‘Beep.’

Before she could even finish, Kei hung up, turned off his phone, and slipped it into his pocket.
By the time the group reached him, he was already on his feet, brushing off his yukata and composing himself.

“Are you guys done?” he asked, trying to sound casual, though a faint hint of relief flickered in his eyes.

“Yes, thank you for waiting, senpai!” Nijika replied cheerfully.

Kei noticed the faint scent of soap in the air and the thin wisps of steam still curling from their damp hair. Each of them had their yukata loosely tied, their freshly washed hair clinging slightly to their necks and shoulders—a clear sign they’d come straight from the bath in a rush.

And then there was Bocchi, her face red as a steamed squid.

“What’s wrong with her?” Kei asked, clearly confused.

“Ahahaha…” Nijika let out an awkward laugh, adjusting Bocchi’s position on her back. “Bocchi-chan just… stayed in the onsen a little too long.”

“Hm.” Ryou nodded from the side, her tone as calm as ever. “It was really hard to get her out.”

“What are you talking about? You didn’t do anything, Ryou!” Nijika shot her a glare.

While Nijika and Kita had panicked over Bocchi, who nearly passed out in the onsen, Ryou had apparently taken her time finishing her own bath.

“I did help,” Ryou replied flatly. “By praying.”

Kei sighed softly, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smile. “Well, I guess we should get Bocchi to her room first.”

He crouched down, turning his back toward Nijika. “Looks like you’re having a hard time, Nijika. Let me carry her.”

“Eh?” Both Nijika and Kita blinked, wide-eyed. Nijika quickly shook her head. “N-No, it’s fine! I can carry her myself!”

“Don’t force yourself,” Kei said evenly. “I can carry her for you.”

Both Nijika and Kita froze for a moment, then glanced away at the same time.

For a brief second, neither of them spoke.

Kita’s fingers tightened around Bocchi’s shoulder, while Nijika adjusted her stance, pretending to get a better grip.

They both knew Kei was just being considerate but somehow, the idea of him carrying another girl, even if it was Bocchi, made their hearts feel oddly heavy.

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust him—it was just… uncomfortable.

The image popped too easily into their minds: Kei’s arms around someone else, holding her close, her head resting against his chest.

That quiet, simple act felt too intimate.

Neither of them could admit it, but seeing the guy they liked carry another girl—especially one in a loose yukata, half-asleep and still warm from the bath, made their chests tighten with a quiet, unspoken jealousy.

Nijika and Kita exchanged a quick glance, both forcing smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes.

“I-It’s fine, really! I can help her, senpai!” Kita said quickly, slipping behind Bocchi to support her waist.

Nijika, refusing to back down, tightened her hold on Bocchi’s legs despite her arms trembling from the effort.

“Y-Yeah! Bocchi-chan isn’t that heavy!” Kita added, her voice strained. “We can handle it, right, Nijika-senpai?”

“Y-Yes, of course—aaah!” Nijika tried to adjust her grip, but her elbow bumped into Kita’s arm.

Bocchi’s head drooped, bumping softly into Kita’s face before all three stumbled forward in a tangle of limbs.

“Buegeh…” Bocchi groaned faintly, half-conscious as she flopped against Kita’s shoulder and Nijika fell on top of her.

Kei sighed quietly, “This is exactly why you shouldn’t push yourselves.”

Before either of them can said anything, Kei stepped forward and effortlessly lifted Bocchi into his arms.

He lifted her effortlessly, Bocchi’s soft, freshly washed hair brushing lightly against his yukata.

‘She’s way too light,’ Kei thought with a faint frown. ‘Is she even eating properly?’

Out of everyone on this trip, Bocchi was the one he worried about most.

Not for any strange reason, but simply because an environment like this wasn’t exactly easy for someone like her.

She had tried her best talking to the production staff, interacting with others but Kei could tell how much energy it drained from her.

Every word, every smile, seemed to chip away at her stamina little by little.

‘Maybe we should get her to eat more later,’ he thought, glancing down at her sleeping face. ‘She’ll end up getting sick at this rate.’

“Alright, let’s put Bocchi in your room first,” he said, adjusting his hold on her slightly before turning to the others.

“We can just bring her dinner later if she wakes up.”

Kita and Nijika both opened their mouths as if to protest, but in the end, they reluctantly nodded.

He was right, after all. Bocchi clearly needed rest.

‘Well… it’s just Bocchi, so it’s fine, right?’ they both thought, trying to convince themselves that it wasn’t a big deal.

It wasn’t like Bocchi was their rival or anything.

Still, seeing Kei holding another girl so naturally made something twist faintly in their chests.

Before Kei could take another step, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped lazily around his waist, stopping him mid-motion.

He turned his head and found Ryou clinging to him from behind, her eyes half-lidded with sleep.

“What are you doing Ryou?”

“Suki-san,” she murmured drowsily, “carry me on your back too.”

Both Nijika and Kita froze for a moment before their eyes twitched in perfect sync.

“What are you even saying, Ryou!” Nijika scolded as she bonked her lightly on the head. “Y-yes! You can walk on your own, senpai! Don’t trouble Kei-senpai any more than this!” Kita added, puffing her cheeks as she grabbed Ryou by the arm.

“Ehh… no, my lift…” Ryou muttered, looking genuinely disappointed as the two dragged her away like a sleepy prisoner.

‘If it’s Bocchi, it’s fine, both girls thought, but Ryou’s a whole different story.’

That sly cat always knew how to make a move when no one was watching.