Chapter 49: An Unexpected Proposal

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Translator: Soafp

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I doubted my ears at the bold proposal from Yuzuki's mother—Ayumi.

Was she really saying that Yuzuki should deal with Nagasawa-senpai herself?

(If that happens, it would certainly prevent the whole cheating scenario…)

But was that even possible?

Making him quit the photography club would be one thing, but forcing a student to be expelled legally isn't easy.

If it were, I would have done it already.

“Ren-kun, wouldn't you still feel uneasy even if you got a new girlfriend like this?”

“That's…”

She hit a sore spot, and I was at a loss for words.

Airi had already confessed to me—if I wanted, I could have a new girlfriend right away.

But I couldn't shake the fear that the same thing that happened with Yuzuki might happen again.

As long as we went to the same school, I couldn't guarantee I'd never run into Nagasawa-senpai.

“All you have to do is stay quiet. Just watch over Yuzuki as she handles it herself.”

“…I don't really have any reason to oppose it.”

If Yuzuki could truly get rid of Nagasawa-senpai, then the source of my anxiety would disappear.

From my perspective, that would be ideal.

And even if she failed and things played out just like in the ‘nightmare,' then at least I'd know that future was real.

In a strange way, that would bring its own kind of certainty.

Had Ayumi called me here with all of that in mind?

I'd always thought she was a deep person, but today only reinforced that.

“Still, your father used to be quite popular too. I wonder if that kind of thing runs in the family.”

“Haha… I wonder. Was my dad that famous back home?”

“Oh, he definitely was.”

After that, Ayumi cheerfully told me stories about how my father used to be surrounded by girls when he was younger.

---

The next morning.

I slowly woke up in bed.

As I stretched and started to sit up—

“Ah, awawa…!”

A strange voice came from right beside my ear.

No way.

I pulled back the blanket and looked toward the source.

“Nodoka… what are you doing here?”

“W-well, um…!”

Nodoka, her face bright red, was curled up right next to me under the covers.

Did she sneak in while I was asleep?

Airi did this sometimes, but Nodoka too?

“You know it's dangerous to crawl into a guy's bed like that, right?”

“Hmph! Even if you say it's dangerous, it's not like you could do anything serious!”

“Oh? That's how you want to play it?”

A mischievous thought crossed my mind.

Maybe I should teach her a lesson so she wouldn't do something this careless again.

I lay back down and pulled Nodoka closer.

“You know, I could just use you as a body pillow like this.”

“I-is that so? H-hmph…”

She tried to act calm, but her voice trembled slightly, and I could feel her warmth through the close contact.

Still, she didn't push me away or try to escape.

That was odd. A classic tsundere would've smacked me and yelled “pervert” by now, wouldn't she?

“I-it's not a big deal! What's with you, Ren? Trying to scare me for nothing.”

“So that's how it is? Then I'll go a bit further. Don't complain.”

“G-go ahead and try!”

I tightened my arms around her.

Our bodies pressed closer together.

Soft warmth, a faint sweet scent—

and her breath, slightly unsteady, brushing against my ear.

“Haa… haa… this is… kind of nice…”

“Eh?”

Did I just hear something dangerous?

When I looked at her in surprise, Nodoka snapped back and shook her head.

“N-no! That's not what I meant!!”

“Then what did you mean?”

“Th-that's…”

But she couldn't continue.

Just then, the door opened with a click.

Footsteps approached, and someone climbed onto the bed.

“You two look like you're having fun. Let me join.”

At the same time, something soft pressed against my back.

I immediately understood the situation.

“Airi… why are you here too?”

“I don't like being left out.”

“Well, but…”

“Why? Do you not want me here?”

“It's not that I don't want you here, but…”

What is this situation?

Being sandwiched between two girls first thing in the morning?

It almost felt too indulgent, like I'd get punished for it.

“More importantly, Nodoka, why are you even here?”

“Eh? W-well! I came to teach Senpai how to cook…”

“Isn't this earlier than usual?”

“Fufu, Nodoka really isn't honest, is she? You could just say you wanted to see Ren sooner.”

“T-that's not true! I mean, it's not completely untrue, but!!”

“Which is it?”

Nodoka buried her face into my chest and muttered.

“I-it's fine, isn't it? I don't mind being touched carelessly… if it's me…”

“I don't mind either, Ren. In fact, isn't this more like a reward for Nodoka?”

“T-that's not it! I'm not thinking things like how your chest is warmer than I expected, or that it's a bit firm and wide because you're a guy or anything!!”

No, that's exactly what you're thinking.

Now I'm getting embarrassed too.

“Hey… can you two let go now?”

“Why?”

“…Because things might get bad soon.”

“Oh? What exactly is getting ‘bad'? Let me guess—it's Ren's ‘Ren,' right?”

“R-Ren's Ren!?”

I clearly heard Nodoka swallow.

Airi whispered temptingly into my ear.

“Your first time being with two people… might not be so bad.”

“…”

I forced myself to ignore her and sat up.

For some reason, Nodoka muttered quietly:

“…Coward.”

That's just unfair.

Airi got off the bed.

“Alright, I'll make brunch with Nodoka.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

“After we eat, we'll do that right away.”

Nodoka tilted her head.

“That?”

Airi leaned in and whispered something into her ear—too quiet for me to hear.

But judging from how red Nodoka's face instantly became, I had a pretty good idea.

“So, Nodoka, will you join too?”

“M-me too!?”

“Well, if you don't want to, that's fine. I'll just do it alone.”

“Ugh…”

Nodoka fidgeted, then glanced at me.

“…I'll do it too…”

“No, are you serious? Do you even know what I’m asking for?”

“I-I don't want to be left out!”

“Even so…”

“I've decided! Whatever he does to you, Senpai, he has to do it to me too! I'll cook for you and everything!”

Airi cut in,

“Oh? I'm helping cook too, you know?”

But Nodoka shot her a cold look.

“Senpai who didn't even know what ‘medium heat' was should stay quiet.”

At least when it came to cooking, Nodoka clearly had the upper hand.

---

After enjoying their homemade brunch, we returned to my room.

For some reason, both of them were sitting neatly on the floor in seiza.

…It reminded me of the first time Nodoka came over.

“I wonder what kind of request you'll make today.”

“Th-this is making me really nervous…”

Honestly, I was hesitating too.

It was one thing with Airi, who started this whole thing—but Nodoka too?

I still didn't understand why she agreed to this at all.

“…Just so you know, it's going to be something a little… lewd.”

“L-lewd!?”

“If you want to back out, now's your chance.”

“I-I'm not backing out!”

“Then be prepared.”

“F-fine!”

I was a bit worried she might cry…

But if she was this stubborn, there was no stopping her.

I opened a cardboard delivery box in the corner of the room and took out what was inside.