She Became Distressed After I Stopped Being Restrained and Started Interacting with Others - Chapter 27

I picked up a bath towel and gently wrapped it around Honoka’s wet hair.

The soft scent of shampoo drifted faintly through the steam.

Honoka said nothing, simply entrusting herself to me.

Even after leaving the bathroom, she stayed clinging to my arm, unwilling to let go.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“…I’m fine.”

But I could tell her shoulders were trembling slightly.

I spread out the towel and gently draped it over Honoka’s shoulders.

I wanted to dry myself too, but since she was clinging to me like this, I had no choice but to dry Honoka first.

With every stroke of the towel, I could feel her warmth gradually seeping through.

At the same time, I felt her leaning against me more heavily than usual.

“Let me dry your hair a bit more.”

“…Okay.”

She closed her eyes and surrendered herself completely to my care.

Normally, I’m the one who clings to her like this, entrusting myself to her.

But today, it was Honoka who remained silent, quietly placing herself in my hands.

Though slightly bewildered, I embraced Honoka, wrapping my arms around her as I gently pressed the towel against her hair.

As I carefully patted the moisture away several times, Honoka’s breathing gradually slowed and steadied.

“…Alright, time to get dressed.”

“…Okay.”

But she didn’t loosen her grip on my arm.

I smiled wryly and gently pulled Honoka close once more.

I didn’t mind her clinging to me like this at all.

In fact, it made me somewhat happy.

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Standing before the mirror, I turned on the hair dryer.

Whooosh… a low hum sounded as warm air began to blow out.

“Honoka, sit down.”

When I prompted her, Honoka obediently sat on the chair.

Still gripping the hem of my clothes tightly.

I smiled slightly at the sight and gently positioned the hair dryer to begin drying her hair.

The hot air from the dryer traced through her wet hair.

As I slowly ran my fingers through to dry it, Honoka’s long hair slipped smoothly between my fingers.

“Does it feel good?”

“…Yeah.”

Honoka quietly closed her eyes.

But her hand still clung tightly to the hem of my clothes.

Occasionally, I lifted sections of her hair, adjusting the direction of the airflow to ensure even heating.

Somehow, drying her hair like this felt comforting.

…Perhaps because I could feel that Honoka was entrusting everything to me.

“Honoka, you’re being quite the clingy one today.”

I said it lightly, as if teasing her.

Then, her shoulders twitched.

“…Do you hate it?”

A muffled voice came from within her hair.

“I don’t hate it. In fact, I’m happy about it.”

I chuckled softly while stroking Honoka’s head.

She flinched momentarily, then immediately bowed her head.

“…Yu-na, I—”

Amid the sound of the hair dryer, Honoka murmured something quietly.

But her voice was drowned out by the noise, and I couldn’t make out what she said.

“Hmm? Did you say something?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Honoka said softly, then closed her eyes and quietly surrendered herself to my hands once more.