I’ve Always Thought My "Casual Partner" Was Oddly Attentive — Part 3

 Finally, Izumi took a sip of his own cocoa. I’ve thought this every time, but Izumi drinking cocoa is kind of adorable.

Our bodies were pressed closely together, with warmth radiating between us.

“Ahh… Riko is in my room.”

“Yup, I’m here.”

This was one of those sentimental comments he made from time to time. I didn’t really get what was so emotional about it.

Smiling, Izumi called my name, “Riko.”

“I love you.”

He leaned in for a quick, gentle kiss.

Usually, I’d respond with “I love you too,” but…

…I couldn’t help but feel he was saying it a bit too much. I had sworn I wouldn’t misunderstand our relationship, but even I had my limits.

“…Hey, listen.”

Izumi tilted his head, puzzled. “Hmm?”

I felt bad about interrupting the happy moment, but if we continued like this, Izumi would only get hurt in the end. I steeled my resolve and went on.

“You don’t have to say ‘I love you’ when we’re not in bed.”

Time seemed to freeze.

Izumi was so stunned that he completely froze.

“…What? Why?”

His eventual response was pure confusion.

“Well, it’s not necessary, is it?”

“Why?”

“…Why are you asking why?”

I thought he’d agree right away. I mean, we’re just casual partners. Izumi doesn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, either. It’s a reasonable suggestion.

This shouldn’t have been a suggestion that made him look so sad.

“I'm saying ‘I love you’ because I mean it. Do you hate it? Is it embarrassing? Does it make you uncomfortable hearing it so often?”

At that moment, something clicked in my head—everything came together.

It all connected.

“…Ah.”

A groan escaped me, a sound of realization.

Wait. What? No, wait. Hold on. This can't be true. It isn’t, right? What is this? Oh no, I spilled cocoa on my white shirt—no, that’s not important right now.

Could it be…?

…Have I been terribly misunderstanding everything?

“Riko, are you okay?! Did you burn yourself? Let’s get that washed right away—”

“I’m fine, no burns, and I don’t need to wash it.”

“But there’s a stain…”

“Forget it.”

I stopped Izumi, who had completely forgotten his earlier sadness and was now panicking over the spilled cocoa.

If it leaves a stain, I can either throw it out or use it as loungewear. That’s not what’s important right now.

Everything that clicked into place in my head was now spinning around wildly. I didn’t want to believe it, but I couldn’t deny it anymore—I had been treating Izumi terribly all this time without realizing it.

Izumi noticed the change in my expression and asked worriedly, “Are you really okay?”

…Looking at him, someone who genuinely cared for me, I started to realize just how wrong I’d been. I took a deep breath, put my mug down on the coffee table, and prepared myself.

“Can I ask you something?”

“…Sure, go ahead.”

“What exactly is our relationship?”

“Uh…what?”

Izumi’s eyes widened.

That one question was enough for him to realize. It was something so simple that, if I’d only asked earlier, all of this could’ve been avoided.

“Wait, what? Are you serious?”

His trembling voice made my chest ache.

“Let’s pretend I haven’t just realized something shocking. Let’s be honest about how we each see this relationship. Maybe—just maybe—we’re on the same page.”

“…Alright.”

We nodded to each other solemnly, and on the count of three, we spoke at the same time.

“Casual partners.”

“Lovers.”

The moment the words were out, we both looked utterly devastated.

I shakily got off the sofa, moved the coffee table slightly, and sat in a formal kneeling position, bowing my head deeply. It was basically a gesture of complete apology. Honestly, this misunderstanding was severe enough that, under different circumstances, it might warrant something like ritual seppuku. But since my death would only make Izumi sad, this was the best I could do.

“I sincerely apologize…for everything…”

“…For now, please just sit back here next to me.”

Izumi lightly patted the spot on the sofa where I’d been sitting earlier. Obediently, I returned to sit across from him. He didn’t seem angry anymore, nor did he look sad. Instead, his expression was one of confusion, as if he didn’t know how to feel.

After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke.

“I told you I loved you all the time, right? I even said I was in love with you, didn’t I?”

“You did… I kept thinking you were just oddly good at pampering your casual partner…”

“Pampering…? I’ve never said those things to a casual partner.”

“Not even during sex?”

“Not even during sex.”

“Is that…so.”

“Yes, Riko.”

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