My Girlfriend Who Is Older Than Me Teases Me When I’m Working At A Bar, But Maybe Because Of Alcohol

Gossip.

“Hey, hey. What do you like about your girlfriend? Is it her face, her face? She’s like a doll! I bet you’re so proud to have her!”

“…”

One day, Toma, who had successfully undergone surgery and was steadily going through rehabilitation, was resting on the bed in his private room. He was being toyed with… by a young nurse.

“Um… do you have time to bother me like this? I heard that nurses have an enormous amount of work.”

“Well, I managed to finish my packed schedule. So, I have a bit of free time now! Oh, by the way, you can say, ‘You did a great job at work!’ if you want to give me a compliment.”

With a smile on her face, the young nurse who was Toma’s assigned caregiver sat down on a visitor chair.

“Also, part of my job is to communicate with patients.”

“Well, it sounds like an excuse to hear some love talk…”

“Well, that’s one way to put it… Hey, hey, it won’t hurt to tell me! Talking about love gives you energy. Come on, give me something sweet!”

“Please drink an energy drink.”

“But that doesn’t have an immediate effect like talking about love, does it? Besides, it’s a two-for-one deal since it’s free and has an effect. Love talk is better!”

She was pushing him, but at the same time, this nurse had an approachable and inviting aura that made Toma want to talk to her. Due to the nature of her work, she must spend a lot of time communicating with patients, and her communication skills were extraordinary.

“What do you like about your girlfriend? Come on, tell me!”

“Well, there are various things.”

“Various things?! I want to know about those various things!”

With her eyes sparkling like diamonds, the nurse leaned forward.

If the hospital director were to see this scene, they would definitely be angry.

“That’s… um, well, there are so many things that I can’t explain with words…”

Toma gave in to the nurse’s persistence.

Yet, it was only this nurse who asked him these questions. That’s why he felt comfortable being honest with her.

If… if I can be discharged, I’ll definitely brag to my friends…”

Avoiding eye contact with the nurse, Toma muttered softly.

“Haha! ‘If I can be discharged, I’ll definitely brag to my friends!’ How innocent! What kind of innocence is that?”

“Please don’t repeat that! Um… you’re not drinking alcohol, right?”

It’s evident that her energy level is off. It’s not often you come across a nurse with this kind of demeanor. Most nurses maintain composure.

“Oh, I’m so full! That was sweet!”

“You’re not drinking alcohol, right?”

She wasn’t even listening to Toma anymore. The question was being completely ignored.

“Okay, just one more thing! Do you… like your girlfriend?”

She suddenly changed the subject, grinning.

Ignoring everything and being self-centered.

“I wouldn’t be dating her if I didn’t love her.”

“Did you purposely answer with ‘love’? You’re teasing me!”

Poke!

The nurse lightly tapped his operated area.

“Hey, that’s where I had the surgery!”

Well, that’s more like a nurse’s response. She knew how to handle it properly, releasing her grip when touching the area.

“Well, I should get back to work soon, Kai-kun. I don’t want to get scolded by the director.”

“Yes, please do your best.”

“Of course! Oh, and…”

“Hmm?”

“Have lots of fun!”

“Huh?”

Leaving behind ambiguous words, the nurse opened the door of the private room and left.

“She… she didn’t close it. That’s so reckless…”

Considering her personality, it’s not strange. And yet, it doesn’t make one angry.

Toma thought that there must be many people who were saved by her lively personality. He himself was one of them.

“Well, I wish she had closed the door…”

Passing patients and nurses in the corridor would see him. Just lying in bed, reading manga or novels he received as get-well gifts, or looking at his smartphone. But still, it’s embarrassing to have your private space seen.

“Oops.”

Just as he stood up, wearing his slippers, it happened. A slender, white hand reached out from the hallway, and someone popped their head out.

…In that instant, Toma realized what that nurse had plotted.

“Uh, h-hello… Toma-kun.”

“M-Mio-san!?”

She was the central figure in the conversation with the nurse, Mio, who had been waiting in the corridor… She had undoubtedly heard their conversation. Blushing intensely, she entered the hospital room.

“Um, y-you heard… right? Absolutely. T-the conversation earlier…”

“I-I love you. Toma-kun, you…”

“Y-yes, but? Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, I’m happy.”

In response to Toma’s resigned tone, Mio shook her head, looking embarrassed, and answered with a beaming smile.

This was also an expression she often showed him.

Recently, a rumor had been circulating in this hospital. There’s an incredibly beautiful woman… And of course, it was about Mio. The woman of the rumor came to visit him, talked to him alone, and made time for him. Toma’s ability to endure the challenging rehabilitation was partly thanks to Mio.

“But, I can’t help feeling jealous of that nurse.”

“Jealous?”

“Toma-kun, you’re only honest with that nurse, right? You hardly say ‘I love you’ to me.”

“W-Well… it’s embarrassing, you know. And besides, Mio-san, you don’t say it either.”

“W-Well, it’s fine for me. Right now, we’re talking about Toma-kun.”

“This is ridiculous…”

One week had passed since Toma started dating Mio. His polite speech had gradually disappeared. It was partly due to the reduced distance between them and partly because Mio had become his girlfriend.

“There was a comedy trio that won the King of Conte, and one of them said during their act, ‘It’s not enough to just have feelings. You have to express your love in words.'”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Why are you all silent…? Don’t be like that… It’s embarrassing, you know…”

Mio coolly delivered the joke that the comedian had said, but slowly a sense of embarrassment crept up on her, making her behave strangely and wander her gaze.

Noticing Mio’s desperation, Toma scratched his cheek and firmly responded to her thoughts.

“…I love you.”

“More. Demand… more.”

“I-I love you so much.”

“More.”

“Huh?!”

With each “more” word, Toma became increasingly flustered.

“H-Hey, more… I mean, it’s… uh…”

“You said it yesterday, didn’t you? Calling me ‘Mio.’ So… say that too.”

“W-Well, that was… more like being forced to say it.”

It was about what happened yesterday… Mio had teased Toma. If he called her by her first name, she would “stay in the hospital room a little longer.” In the end, he called her that. His desire to be with his lover had overwhelmed him. It was only natural.

Toma always falls for Mio’s tricks. If their relationship continues to go well, this will likely continue in the future.

“D-Did you force me? Maybe I should go home.”

“Hey, using that trick so soon after yesterday is unfair.”

“Then will you say it?”

“I-I understand…”

“Yeah, let’s say it in 10 seconds, okay?”

“You’re so considerate, giving me time to prepare emotionally.”

“Be grateful to your generous girlfriend.”

1, 2…

The situation has reached a point where I have to say it. Even if Mio doesn’t hear it, I have a feeling as her boyfriend that I want to fulfill.

…5, 6, 7…

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with oxygen.

…8, 9…

In the midst of gathering my resolve, I was struck.

“Toma-kun, I love you…”

“M-Mio-san?!”

One hiragana character. When I uttered Mio’s “mi,” she preempted me with an overlapping voice.

“Hehe, what a strange voice.”

“W-Well, uh…”

Mio’s voice reached me. And because it did, I became so flustered.

“Sometimes… I’ll be the one to say it first… So, next, Toma-kun… say it.”

I’ve only been called by my name a few times, and she used a casual tone. It had the destructive force of being hit with a 100kg hammer…

“I can’t do it anymore…”

“T-That’s not fair!”

What a sweet exchange… The young nurse, nodding from behind the door, was listening to it all.