Chapter 20: The second change

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Translator: Soafp

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“Oh, perfect timing!”

“Eh?”

It was lunch break. Just after I'd finished in the bathroom, someone called out to me.

The one who called me was Tokugawa-sensei, who teaches history. He gestured for me to come over.

“What's up?”

“Actually…”

Judging from the situation, this was probably another request for help.

Honestly, I find this kind of thing a bit troublesome, but as long as it's nothing dangerous, I never say no… well, mostly because I'd feel bad refusing.

“I need a hand carrying some boxes.”

“Sure. But in return, please remember this for my report card.”

“Oh, is that so? You little rascal!”

“Come on, that's fair enough, right?”

I was only joking about the grades, but either way, I agreed to help.

“What are we carrying?”

“First, come with me to the staff room.”

“Got it.”

“Helping with something?”

“Yeah… huh?”

“…Wait, what?”

Hold on a second. Who am I talking to?

Both Tokugawa-sensei and I turned around at the same time, startled.

There she was — Aizawa, standing right behind us before we even noticed.

“Aizawa?”

“That's not right. Call me Runa, okay?”

“Ah…”

“Go on.”

“…Runa.”

“Fufu, that's better, Masato-kun♪”

The way this beautiful girl smiled just from being called by her name would normally make me happy — yet for some reason, I couldn't quite relax.

“You two seem pretty close, huh?”

“That's right! We've gotten really close lately.”

“Oh! Well, it's always good to see students getting along. Keep it up, you two!”

“Yes!”

“…………”

Why do I feel like I've been left out of my own conversation?

In the end, Runa joined us, and the three of us carried some boxes from the staff room.

“So heavy.”

“Told you, didn't I? Sorry, but take it to the AV room, please.”

“Roger that.”

I had no idea what was in the boxes, but they were heavy as hell. Probably full of documents or something.
It made sense — this would've been tough for Tokugawa-sensei to carry alone.

“Aizawa? Don't push yourself too hard…”

“This much is fine.”

Runa's box was smaller than ours, but her help meant we didn't need to make a second trip, so I was actually grateful she'd come along.

After we delivered everything, Tokugawa-sensei thanked us again and again before leaving.

“Good work, Runa.”

“No, it's fine… hehe♪”

“What is it?”

On our way back to class, Runa suddenly smiled to herself. Having a beautiful girl smile right beside me made my heart skip a beat, but I couldn't help asking why.

“I just thought it's kind of strange. Until recently, you never called me by my name. Now hearing you say ‘Runa’—from your own mouth, in your voice—makes me really happy.”

“Uh… I-I see.”

Wait a sec… am I seriously living out a youth romance right now?

I mean, that look and that tone… is she actually into me? No, no, I shouldn't get ahead of myself… that's how you get called delusional.

“Masato-kun.”

“Y-yeah…!?”

Even though we were already close, Runa moved in even closer. She took my hand in hers and continued softly.

“I'm really grateful to you. That's why I wanted to repay you somehow. But you'd just say it's fine, that you only helped me by coincidence, right?”

“Well… yeah, pretty much.”

“Right? So I decided—if that's the case, then I want to make sure you never have to feel sad again.”

“That's…”

“Two nights ago… you cried, didn't you?”

She was talking about that night — the night I saved my mom.

Even though I managed to stop everything before it happened, I couldn't help but think about what might've happened if I hadn't had the NetoraSensor… and that thought made me cry.

Just remembering it now was embarrassing. Still, I couldn't lie or dodge the question.

“The person who saved us looked so sad that night… I can't stand to see that. So that's what I decided.”

“But that was—”

“Masato-kun.”

“…!?”

She gently placed her hand on my cheek and pulled me forward.

Before I knew it, my face was resting against her chest — soft and warm, the kind of thing that only happens in dreams.

(Am I… dreaming right now?)

The feeling was so surreal I forgot where we were or what we'd even been talking about.

“If you ever start feeling like that again, I want you to rely on me. No matter how small the problem, no matter how hard it is to talk about… please, depend on me.”

As she said that, she stroked my head gently before letting me go.

“…………”

I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in the glass — my face was completely red.
There was no mistaking it: I was blushing and flustered as hell.

“Hey.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Promise me, okay? Rely on me, Masato-kun.”

“…Okay.”

Satisfied with my answer, she nodded, then said she was going to the bathroom before heading off.

There was still time left in the lunch break, so I tried to calm myself down.

I took a deep breath and stared out at the distant view through the window. Gradually, the heat in my face began to fade.

“That… wasn't just ‘youthful romance’ anymore.”

Being held like that — who wouldn't start getting the wrong idea!?

“Still, I guess it shows how much she's come to trust me lately.”

Saving Runa thanks to the NetoraSensor and that weird power must've left a strong impression on her… but that power wasn't really mine to begin with.

“Haa…”

“Ara, ara~ Why the long sigh?”

“Huh? Wait, that voice—?”

Hold on. Déjà vu. Didn't this exact thing just happen earlier?

“Who—”

Even though I recognized the voice, asking who it was was only natural.

But before I could finish, my arm was grabbed and I was yanked into an empty classroom.

“Wh—what are you—”

“Fufu… I kinda saw something interesting.”

Standing in front of me was Nakazato.

Her blue eyes, different from her idol persona, pierced straight through me — sharp enough to make my back tense up.

“You and Runa sure look close. I figured, but still.”

“Huh? Oh, well… yeah, kind of.”

“Hmmm…”

Okay, way too close! She's way too close! Could she back up a little, please!?

“So, hey.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Call me by my name too. Rira.”

“R-Rira…?”

“Wow, you're more honest than before. Fufu, that's better, Masato♪”

I mean, I didn't exactly want to refuse… but still.

(What's going on here…?)

I've gotten closer with both of them recently, sure — but this… this feels like something else.
Maybe it's because I changed their fates — saved them from despair?

I've never had a girl get this close before. And to be honest, it doesn't feel bad at all.

(She smells nice… she's soft… my heart's pounding like crazy… this is amazing, but why do I feel like I'm in danger!?)

“Being called by my name really does feel nice♪”

“…………”

My back was against the wall, nowhere to escape.

Her body pressed against mine, and the way her H-cup chest squished out of shape against me was just too much for my heart to handle.

I felt the heat rise to my face… and then—

“Ah…”

“…Ah!”

Pressed up against a beautiful classmate's chest, I ended up with a nosebleed.

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Masato Kamiki ♡←←←←←← Rira Nakazato….

Masato Kamiki ♡←←← Rira ← ←Naka ←zato ← ….error

Masato Kamiki ←♡♡♡←←←←← Rira Nakazato …connect