Chapter 24: It’s not the first time anymore

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Translator: Soafp

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On Saturday, I was going to the Aizawa household… and ever since that was decided, my nervousness apparently showed on my face for everyone to notice.

“Hey, your expression looks stiff.”

“Did your facial muscles die or something?”

My friends said that, and

“Did something happen?”

“Something wrong?”

My parents worried unnecessarily,

“Suspicious… did something happen?”

Rira, who I ran into in the hallway, asked that,

“If you have something bothering you, I can listen, you know?”

The beautiful student council vice president, who had a boyfriend, seemed concerned, and then

“You look way too serious… what happened?”

I even got wall-donged by the ridiculously handsome student council president in that same flow. Apparently, my nervousness was that obvious.

“…Haa.”

Anyway, today was already Friday.

I let out a breath on the rooftop to calm myself — alone, but this solitude was somehow comforting.

“Man… I really am overthinking this, huh.”

Unlike the time Runa collapsed before, this time I had been properly invited.

Of course, I was nervous back then too… but why was I this insanely nervous now?

“…No, no, I'm just going to a house normally.”

This made me feel like I was expecting something, which I wasn't.

But considering that not only Runa, who was considered the most beautiful girl in class, would be there, but also Reina-san — who seemed like an adult version of Runa — it made sense that I was this nervous.

“…Haa.”

“Wh-what are you sighing for?”

“Huh?”

A sudden voice made my shoulders jump, and I tried to turn around — but I couldn't.

Because at the same time as the voice, everything in front of me went pitch black.

“Ah!?”

My heart skipped a beat.

I knew someone was covering my eyes with their hand, but even more than that, my attention was drawn to the overwhelming press of something against my back.

(This is like in anime or manga — a girl with big boobs blindfolds the guy from behind, and her chest presses against his back!)

Putting that aside, I also knew exactly who it was.

“…Did I hear me sigh?”

“Yeah, I heard it.”

“…Could you maybe take your hands off my eyes?”

“What should I do… hey, Masato?”

“What?”

“If we fell all the way down together like this… do you think we'd be reborn into another world together?”

She finally removed her hands, but whispered that in my ear while stretching slightly, sending a shiver through me.

“W-what are you…”

“Or… maybe only one of us survives? That'd be lonely… and if you died, I'd follow you right away.”

“……………”

……

“Just kidding! Uh… you froze there, were you really thinking I meant it!?”

“…You're not really going to do that?”

“Of course not! What do you think I am!?”

But I seriously thought she might do it!

Her tone was so dark, and it sounded exactly like the yandere voice I had been curious about and bought recently!

When I turned around, Rira had puffed up her cheeks and was glaring at me… ridiculously cute, the perfect idol.

“Masato, you're terrible.”

“Sorry.”

“…It's fine, I forgive you… fufu.”

“What?”

“Nothing, I just like having a guy I can joke like this with♪”

She said that while standing beside me, leaning on the railing like I had, looking out into the distance.

“Don't lean too hard, okay? I don't think it'll give way, but I don't want any accidents.”

“Okay.”

Still… being alone on the rooftop with a beautiful idol-like girl.

It was romantic, or at least made me excited — though the more I thought about it, the more nervous I got…

“Hey.”

“Mm?”

“You're going to Runa's house on Saturday, right?”

“!?!”

I was startled that Rira brought it up.

“Of course I know because we're best friends. Because of that, her… look at Tokunaga changed quite a bit.”

“I see…”

Well, that makes sense… since they're close friends, Runa would tell her.

Apparently, Rira had also heard everything that happened to Reina-san… and she knew I had helped.

“Wow, you're amazing… how many people do you save?”

“It was just a coincidence… but when I saw it, I couldn't just leave it alone. This time it was Runa's mom too, but I know her, so…”

“I see.”

“Yeah… well, I'm just glad I was able to fend him off properly.”

I wondered what she'd think if I bragged that it was thanks to me.

Even though I did help, it wasn't really pure — it was just the app doing its thing.

“Aren't you too humble, Masato?”

“Better to be humble within limits, right? I don't want to have a god take away my luck thinking I'm full of myself.”

“That's one way to look at it… but I like that about you.”

She smiled again and then got back to the main point.

“So, why were you sighing?”

“…Ah~”

I decided it was fine to tell her.

“Well… it's my first time going to a girl's house my age.”

“Huh? Didn't you escort Runa when she was sick?”

“Back then, Runa wasn't really there… so this time I was properly invited, which makes me more nervous than before.”

“Ah… so it's just that you're not used to it.”

“Exactly.”

If I were used to going to girls' houses, that'd be something else entirely.

I thought she might call me lame or a virgin, but of course, Rira wouldn't say that — and even imagining that would've been disrespectful.

After thinking for a moment, Rira clapped her hands.

“I might be able to help with that.”

“Huh?”

“Are you free after school today?”

“Yeah… I am, but…”

“Okay! Then let's go out together for a bit!”

“……………”

Go out… a date!?

(Stop it, stop it… if I think like that, I'll just get carried away.)

Rira didn't tell me her purpose, but since I had agreed, our plans for after school were set.

I didn't know what we'd do… but feeling a little excited seemed healthy for a high school boy.

“See you at lunch!”

“O-okay…”

I wondered what Rira had in mind.

Honestly, after that, I didn't care about Tokunaga at all.

We kept in touch on our phones after leaving school, met up with Rira, and headed to an insanely expensive-looking apartment.

“……………”
“Come on, let's go♪”

She grabbed my wrist and led me inside.

We arrived at a door, and Rira unlocked it and went straight in.

“Home~”

“…Home?”

“Yeah. This is my house.”

“……………”

…??

“Fufu, if you thought your first time visiting Runa's house was going to be new, too bad. Your first time was at my place, right?”

Rira grinned mischievously as she said that.