Chapter 23: The girls are happy

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Translator: Soafp

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“………”

“Wh-what's wrong?”

While I was eating breakfast, Mom asked me that with a confused look.

She was probably worried because I had gone silent right after saying my morning greeting. But right now, I was drowning in guilt — or rather, feeling weirdly apologetic after having an incredibly inappropriate dream.

(No… I guess it wasn't exactly the worst dream, but still…)

The dream itself was simple enough — lately, I've been getting along well with Runa and Rira… and even Reina-san.

And in that dream, all three of them were… coming on to me.

“Mom… I'm the worst kind of person.”

“Wait, what? What's going on with you!?”

I didn't answer her and just quietly finished my breakfast.

“It's… nothing. I'm fine.”

“…If you say so.”

I said that just to put her at ease for now.

After packing my things and leaving the house, I shut out all outside noise and sank deep into thought.

“…Haa.”

The dream I saw this morning was far too vivid.

Normally, dreams fade into a hazy blur — you might remember bits of them, but they rarely feel real.

And yet, this one did. I remembered everything as if I'd actually experienced it — even the warmth of their skin when I touched them.

[Hehehe, I'm gonna do whatever I want!]

[Go ahead.]

[Come here.]

[Come closer.]

Just remembering it felt way too real…!

The reason I felt so guilty wasn't just because Runa and Rira were people I got along with, but also because I knew Reina-san through Runa.

Even if it was only a dream… having that kind of dream about people I actually knew felt horribly sinful.

(I mean, sure, there are probably people out there who fantasize about classmates they like, but still… that's just not right for me.)

Well… I guess imagining stuff is free, so maybe I shouldn't talk.

“…Still, I wonder if Reina-san is doing okay.”

Then I remembered what happened last night — when I saved her.

“Right… I went through that and still dreamed something like this.”

Feeling disgusted with myself, I tried to shake it off.

After I got home yesterday, I exchanged some messages with Runa, and she told me that Reina-san had fallen asleep peacefully.

I wasn't sure how she was doing this morning, but… I really hoped she hadn't been traumatized.

“Masato-kun.”

“…Huh?”

“Good morning.”

Lost in thought, I suddenly saw Runa standing in front of me.

Before I could even wonder what she was doing here, flashes of the dream replayed in my mind, and my face instantly grew hot. I quickly looked away.

“…Can I ask, are you a hallucination?”

“Huh? No, it's really me.”

“Right… of course it is. Good morning, Runa.”

“Good morning♪”

Runa smiled brightly — she really did have a beautiful smile.

“Um… why are you here?”

“I thought if I waited here, I might see you— well, that's a joke. I just happened to run into you.”

“Oh, I see.”

Though, this wasn't near the usual place we coincidentally meet on the way to school… but whatever. No point overthinking it.

“How's Reina-san doing… after what happened?”

“That's what I wanted to tell you! I could've just texted, but it was early, so I figured I'd tell you in person.”

And so, Runa told me how Reina-san was that morning.

Despite everything that had happened, she apparently wasn't gloomy at all. In fact, she seemed brighter than usual.

It wasn't the kind of forced cheerfulness people use to hide pain, either — she truly looked cheerful, almost radiant.

“I don't mean to say she wasn't happy before,” Runa added, “but it's like… the smile she used to have when Dad was still alive.”

“Really…”

“When I asked her about it, she just said it was a secret.”

“I see… that's kind of mysterious.”

Anyway, if Reina-san was okay, that was all that mattered.

I felt relieved hearing that — though it seemed Runa had more to say.

“Hey, Masato-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you… some kind of god?”

“What?”

Her sudden question made me blink in confusion.

I mean, who wouldn't, after being asked out of nowhere if they were a god?

“Because you didn't just help me — you helped Rira, and yesterday you saved my mom too.”

“That's just—”

“You'll say it's a coincidence, right? But if those coincidences hadn't happened because of you, what would've become of us? When I think about that… I don't think I'm wrong to feel the way I do.”

“I… guess when you put it like that.”

So in their eyes, I was like some kind of savior, huh…

Part of me wanted to laugh it off, but if I were in their shoes, maybe I'd feel the same way — that someone who saved me must be something special.

“I don't mean to make things awkward,” she added with a smile, “but that's honestly how I feel.”

“…Got it.”

Runa smiled brightly again, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

“Oh, and there's one more thing — about Hibari-kun.”

“…Yeah?”

“Apparently, he confessed to Mom. Said he fell for her kindness while dating me.”

“……………”

So that's what happened during that confession — that's when the stalker showed up, and Hibari ran away… right before I ran into him.

“I can't even keep up anymore.”

“Same here… but honestly, I've decided not to care. To be honest, I don't really care about Hibari-kun anymore.”

Runa really did seem unbothered.

I was surprised that my earlier guess had been right, and even more surprised by how easily she could move on.

“So anyway, Mom and I both agreed we want to invite you over to properly thank you.”

“You don't need to—”

“Please?”

She looked up at me from close range, hands together as if in prayer.

With her doing that, saying no wasn't an option.

“…Alright.”

“Thank you, Masato-kun! Is Saturday okay?”

“That's fine. I'll come by then.”

“Yay!”

And so, I ended up being invited to the Aizawa house again this Saturday.

This time, it would be a proper visit… though I couldn't help feeling a little nervous.

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[Runa PoV]

“Fufu, Mom was so happy when I told her, wasn't she?”

That evening, I told Mom that Masato-kun would be coming over.

She was overjoyed at finally getting to thank him properly, and once again I realized just how much I loved seeing her smile from the heart.

“And also…”

To be honest, using Mom as an excuse wasn't entirely untrue.

I really just wanted to invite Masato-kun over myself — to get to know him better, this time in a proper way.

“I can't wait… huh?”

On my way back from getting a glass of water, I tilted my head as I passed by Mom's room.

The door was slightly open, and the light was still on.

It was unusual — Mom was usually an early sleeper.

“………”

Thinking she might've fallen asleep with the lights still on, I peeked inside quietly.

“Ah… it's been so long since I've felt this… ahh…”

Mom was on her bed, doing that.

The woman before me looked completely different from the mother I knew — lost in pleasure, face flushed, as if rediscovering a long-forgotten feeling.

“…!”

I bit my lip to keep from making a sound, somehow managing to calm my shock enough to quietly leave the spot.

“W-well… I mean, Mom is still young, after all.”

Though age had nothing to do with it, seeing that didn't change how I felt about her. Still, I couldn't deny I was a little shaken.

Back in my room, I turned off the lights and stared at the ceiling, waiting for sleep.

But my mind was caught between the excitement of Masato-kun coming over… and the image of my mom from earlier.

I couldn't fall asleep for a long time.