Chapter 11: Th~is one’s sensor is throbbing!

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Translator: Soafp

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“Um…”

“Fufu, no need to be so nervous, okay?”

“…Yeah.”

“You’re so cute♪”

How… did it end up like this?

Right now, I'm at Aizawa's house, sitting across from her mother — Reina Aizawa.

She looks like an adult version of Aizawa herself, but honestly, she doesn't even look that old — more like a university student, with a youthful glow and a kind of effortless mature allure that fills the room just by her being there.

(…I hope Aizawa's okay.)

Of course, what I'm really worried about is Aizawa.

The reason she collapsed earlier was because of a fever. I helped her into Reina-san's car, and somehow, that led to me being invited into their home like this.

(Still… I did end up seeing her room, huh…)

It was the first time I'd ever been in a girl's room before, and it was exactly what you'd expect — very tidy, with lots of plush toys on the bed, but not a single thing lying around on the floor. It was… really clean.

“But I was surprised, you know. I thought the boy always with Runa was Hibari-kun.”

“Ah— well, um, I think they were on their way home from a date.”

Hibari — that's Tokunaga.

When I put together everything Aizawa had told me, it seemed like she got upset during their date and left midway.

I wasn't sure if I should mention it, but Reina-san already seemed to know a bit about the situation.

“Recently, Runa's been a little frustrated with Hibari-kun. She talks to me about it sometimes. He's not a bad boy, and he really does care about her… but whenever I've talked with him, I've thought he could stand to be a little more considerate toward her.”

“…I see.”

Since she already knew, I went ahead and told her what Aizawa said earlier.

“I see…”

“I don't think Aizawa was in the wrong. I mean, it's not really my place to say much as an outsider, but still, Tokunaga's reaction felt way too cold.”

“I agree. Just like you, I wanted to yell at him — ‘Show Runa some affection!' When he first came here, he even said he'd protect her with his life.”

“Oh… that's actually kind of admirable.”

To think someone that passionate could change so much… I wonder what happened?

It's hard to imagine anyone getting tired of a girl like Aizawa, but then again, that's just my own perspective — I can't really say what Tokunaga's thinking.

“There was one time I caught Aizawa when she almost fell in front of Tokunaga, and he got pretty mad about it, so I think he does care about her.”

“Oh, that story… Wait, I've been talking nonstop, haven't I? I never even asked your name properly. What was it again?”

“Ah.”

Right — I hadn't introduced myself yet.

“I'm Kamiki. Masato Kamiki.”

“Masato Kamiki-kun, huh! So you're that Kamiki-kun.”

“Um…?”

“Runa talks about you sometimes during dinner, you know. About how you helped her, or how you and Rira-chan chat together in class.”

“Really?”

“I've wanted to meet you for a while. You've been kind to her — and thank you, Kamiki-kun, for helping my daughter when she was in danger.”

She bowed deeply to me.

I didn't feel like I'd done anything worth bowing for. Helping a classmate in trouble is just the right thing to do — even without that NTR Sensor app, I would've stepped in.

“Please, you don't need to bow. The fact that Aizawa's safe is what matters most to me.”

“Kamiki-kun…”

“Still, I guess I did manage to look a bit cool in front of the class's most admired girl, huh?”

“…Fufu.”

Feeling embarrassed by her gratitude and the heavy air, I tried joking a bit.

Reina-san chuckled softly behind her hand, her smile refined and elegant.

…Though I still found it weird calling Aizawa by her surname while calling her mom by her first name.

“Would you keep being friends with my daughter — with Runa?”

“Of course. I've been talking with her more lately, and it's honestly fun.”

“…Thank you.”

It really does feel like youth, huh.

Still, even though I was now sitting in her house, talking with her mom, nothing strange or “eventful” was going to happen — which was just fine by me.

“That's wonderful.”

“Huh?”

“The way you smiled when you said you wanted to look cool for her was adorably youthful. And when you said you were glad nothing bad happened to her — that look in your eyes was so sincere. If I were your age, I might've fallen for you right there.”

“Uh— please stop, you'll make me overconfident!”

Seriously, please don't tease me like that.

“Hibari-kun's honest too, you know… just not in front of Runa. If only he'd show that side to her.”

“…?”

That moment — a jolt ran through my head.

Wait… could it be that Tokunaga's feelings have shifted from Aizawa to… her mom!?

(No, no, that can't be it. The app reacted when Aizawa was in danger, which means Tokunaga still cares about her. There's no way he'd—)

Still, if he somehow started valuing both of them and his heart leaned more toward Reina-san… nah, no way, right?

“Anyway, it's getting late.”

“Oh, you're right.”

I'd met Aizawa around four, so I'd been here for about an hour and a half already.

“Reina-san, please tell Aizawa not to worry about any of this. I don't know how much she remembers, but still.”

“I will. Though knowing her, if she does remember, she'll think she owes you for all this.”

“…Ah, yeah.”

She probably would. Guess I'd better take care of that myself.

“Excuse me, could I borrow some paper and a pen?”

---

[Aizawa PoV]

“…?”

Feeling a little groggy, I slowly opened my eyes.

“…Where am I—”

Why am I in bed?

I stared at the ceiling for a while, thinking, until suddenly the fog in my head cleared and everything came rushing back.

“Right… Kamiki-kun…”

That's right.

After the date with Hibari-kun, I ran into Kamiki-kun… and judging by this, I must've collapsed from a fever.

“I really caused trouble for him again, didn't I…”

If only I had his contact info, I could at least apologize…

I'll have to talk to him at school instead. I grabbed my phone, still feeling a bit weak.

“Hibari-kun…”

There was a message from him.

Hibari: Did I say something that upset you? Sorry if I did.

Runa: It's okay, don't worry about it.

Hibari: I'm glad to hear that.

Runa: I think I caught a cold. It's not your fault.

Hibari: I see. That's good then.

Runa: Yeah.

“…So that's it, huh.”

I wished he'd said something — anything — more.

But maybe that's just selfish of me.

Ignoring the feeling of something quietly cooling inside my chest, I stood up and walked out to the living room.

“…Mom.”

“Oh, you're awake? Feeling better?”

“Yeah… but I don't remember much.”

My mom explained everything.

That I collapsed against Kamiki-kun, that she happened to be there and helped get me into the car, that Kamiki-kun carried me and even talked with her for a while afterward.

“So now I owe him again…”

“I knew you'd say that. Here, this is for you.”

“What's this?”

“A letter. From Kamiki-kun.”

“…”

I took the letter and opened it right there.

The handwriting — I recognized it from when we did class duty together. Definitely his.

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To Aizawa,

I was seriously shocked when you suddenly collapsed, but make sure you rest up and get better soon!

Also, sorry — I ended up seeing a bit of your room while carrying you. Please forgive me for that! I mean it!

Your mom said it was fine, but still, I kind of entered without permission, so I wanted to apologize properly.

And, if possible, could you let that count as even? Don't think of this as a debt or anything. Even without the whole “saving” thing, I'd have done the same.

Knowing you, you're probably saying “I owe him again…” so I'm saying it right here — don't worry about it! Let's just call it even, okay?

See you at school!

Oh, and once more — rest well, and come back full of energy!

P.S. Your mom looks really young… honestly, at first I thought she was your sister. I'll probably get scolded for saying this, but — wow, she's nothing like my mom!

---

“Oh come on, don't write that at the end!?”

I couldn't help shouting at the letter.

Sure, I have my thoughts about him seeing my room and everything, but the warmth I felt from his words… it made my chest feel lighter.

Carefully, I pressed the letter to my chest so it wouldn't wrinkle.

“What did he write?”

“That's a secret.”

…Looks like I'll have to get better soon.