This Senpai Needs to Leave My Room

“F-F-Fujioka-san!!??”

“Hm? Oh, welcome home Makoto-kun. What took you so lon— Oh, Akimoto Kaoru, right?”

Fujioka shifted her attention to Akimoto, pretending as though she had only just noticed her. But it was an obvious lie—the smug grin on her face gave her away completely.

“Y-yes…” Akimoto was blushing a little. “Fujioka-senpai… why—”

“Why am I in the Kiyotaka's apartment in my underwear? Allow me to answer that for you.”

As the blonde-haired girl frowned, her counterpart casually strolled over to the bath towel she had left in my room earlier.

Her hair was still soaked and her white skin glistening. Hey, Fujioka… I know you like to tease people younger than you, but this is beyond too far!

Instead of covering her body with the towel she opted to dry her hair.

“You see, my parents are gone for the weekend and our water went out. It takes forever for the repairman to come so naturally, I just popped over here.”

“You're lying.” Akimoto protested. “Why would you come all the way here just for a shower? It makes no sense.”

“Oh my~ Are you jealous perhaps? Am I interrupting your date?”

“No, of course not. I just don’t like it when promiscuous women harass lonely nerds.”

Woah woah woah! Why am I catching strays!?

“Kaoru-chan, please be reasonable. I live next door.” She gestured to the open windows connecting our rooms.

“Whatever… T-that still isn’t a reason to loiter around Kiyotaka-kun’s apartment dressed like a stripper.”

“Hmpf. Maybe it’s jealousy directed towards my body?”

“A-alright!” I interrupted.

Both of the girls ceased their bickering and turned their focus to me. Wait, seriously? That worked? I didn’t actually expect to get their attention.

“Uh… How do… you two know each other anyways?”

“What kind of question is that? Everyone knows Fujioka-senpai.”

Akimoto wasn’t exaggerating. Everyone knew the beautiful, successful teenage illustrator. Whether it was her height, figure, or achievements, she was impossible to overlook.

Hold on, did I ever talk about this? I probably mentioned she draws, but not who she is.

Fujioka Chihiro, my neighbor and high school third year, is known online as “Fuchi”. A fairly successful light novel illustrator—one of the youngest in the industry in fact.

Her biggest role was in “The Soft Spoken Girl Next Door,” a classic one-on-one wholesome romance light novel. Her work is truly inspiring… that novel along with the characters she brought to life were one of the reasons I really wanted to write myself.

While nowhere near the upper-echelon of illustrators, she was in the process of getting herself there.

Also, I don’t know for sure, but I’m pretty certain she has an agent and some long standing deals with publishing houses.

And there she stood, the famous Fuchi, in her underwear, arguing with a high school student most wouldn’t give a second thought to.

“Makoto-kun, I understand you’re a boy going through puberty and all, but do you mind not making such a weird expression while staring at my butt?”

“W-what!? I wasn’t staring! What’re you talking about!?”

I was accidentally staring.

“He always does that—goes quiet and stares at people,” Akimoto commented.

“Yes… I have noticed that whenever I talk to him.”

“Do you think he’s monologuing?”

“For someone like him? I don’t doubt it.”

“Ew.”

I want to cry… I guess the silver lining is they aren’t fighting anymore”

“Teasing aside, Kaoru-chan., I didn’t know you and Makoto-kun were so close. Are you two dating?”

“Nah, he’s just a friend.”

“M-more so clubmate.” I interjected.

“Oh~? And your bedroom is the clubroom? What’re the activities then~?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything.”

I glanced at Akimoto hoping she’d sense it’s her turn to take over—and thankfully, she did just that.

“I’m here to work on my required piece for the school magazine as well. As it happens, my parents are out of town for the weekend too. So Kiyotaka-kun invited me to stay for the next few days.”

Something I never thought I’d see happened. Fujioka blushed.

There’s no way, right? She probably suddenly got really warm or something… Wait! No! She’s still in her underwear! Put some damn clothes on!

“H-he invited you… to stay… for the weekend?”

Akimoto smirked. “Yeah, what about it? We’re just friends.”

“Ahem—- I-it really means nothing to me. I’m just worried for you… Worried Makoto-kun might try something.”

“Thanks for your concern, but that’s honestly a non-issue.”

“W-whatever.” Fujioka took a moment to compose herself. “If something happens, I will be saying, “I told you so.””

“I’m more likely to become president than have Kiyotaka-kun make a move on me.”

Alright. This conversation has long overstayed its welcome. “Fujioka-san, I think it’s time you find some clothes and return home… Akimoto-san and I have dinner and writing to do.”

“Aww~ I don’t get to join you two?”

How do I say no!? I’ve never been able to say no to her!

“I’m kidding, Makoto-kun—no need to look so terrified.” She patted me on the shoulder. “I’ll be leaving now, don’t worry.”

With one last sauntery smile, she turned and strode to the window. In one smooth motion, she slipped through feet first and shut it behind her.

Just like that, gone with the wind.