Chapter 27: It was reported

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“Back then, Masato-kun was really cool… come to think of it, I've been talking about Masato-kun nonstop ever since that moment.”

“Yes… we were both saved by Masato-kun, weren't we? Fufu, I'm really glad I met you.”

“……………”

Um… it's not exactly awkward, but ever since arriving at the Aizawa house, I've been showered with praise, and it's left me with this strange, indescribable feeling.

(Sitting next to Runa is one thing… but is it correct to say that I can't focus on the conversation because Reina-san sitting across from me is too stimulating?)

I thought this when I arrived at the house, too. Runa's outfit was fine.

But Reina-san's outfit… was truly something else. My previous impression of her was that she was refined… if I were to use an old-fashioned word, she embodied the elegance of a Yamato Nadeshiko.

Seeing someone like her, someone with such refinement, wearing a top that revealed cleavage even fuller than Runa's… it was shocking, and it completely disrupted my composure.

“Ara, your face is red, isn't it?”

“Huh…?”

Reina-san leaned over toward me.

Although there was a table between me, Runa, and Reina-san, it wasn't large, and by leaning forward, she could easily reach me.

Her outstretched hand touched my cheek.

“You're really warm…”

She probably thought my flushed face meant I had a fever.

But in a way, it was kind of like a fever, and her posture made her already impressive chest even more visible.

“…!”

“Mom, that's improper!”

Runa's words saved me.

Hearing that, Reina-san's face turned red, as if she instantly realized how I had been looking at her.

“I-I'm sorry… maybe I got a little carried away.”

“……………”

What is this person… isn't she too cute?

I've thought it before — Reina-san is indeed Runa's mother, similar to my own mom… but her appearance could easily be mistaken for a university student. In short, she's extremely youthful.

In other words… she's cute. Her smile is so charming that it makes me forget she's much older than me.

“It's just that she is happy Masato-kun came over… well, I am too.”

“I-I see…”

Being looked at by both Runa and Reina-san wrapped me in a strange, indescribable feeling.

(…I should probably go to the bathroom.)

Surrounded by two beautiful women…?

Stupid me, it's just that I really needed to go.

“Um… may I use the bathroom…?”

“Huh? Sure. I'll show you.”

“Come to think of it, I didn't need to use it last time.”

Runa guided me, and first, I took a moment in the bathroom.

“……………”

Honestly, looking at their expressions, I could kind of tell… or at least suspect something.

“Reina-san is impossible… but Runa and Rira… could they possibly… like me?”

It's embarrassing to say it out loud, but recently… rather, after interacting with Rira, I'm almost certain.

The reason I'd been pretending not to notice was disbelief that they could feel that way about me… and then.

“…By helping them, maybe they developed feelings for me.”

I had saved them in moments of absolute crisis.

Whether that's enough to make someone fall for you, I don't know, but there's something called the “suspension bridge effect” in the world… and regarding this, Rira's behavior was a clear sign.

Could she invite a mere classmate into her home, press her body against him like that…? No, even if she felt grateful for being helped, I could say with certainty she wouldn't do that.

“Well, unless some sadistic jerk forced her to do it as payment for saving her, I wouldn't know.”

Of course, that wouldn't happen…

But regarding Rira, including what happened at her house and in the message that night, it was obvious… which is why I really don't know what to do.

“Seriously… I have no idea.”

Even if I'm overthinking, that's fine.

But if it's true and they really do like me, that's amazing… yet I don't know how I should act.

“In the end, I'm indecisive… a coward who can't take action.”

I want to date someone, to love someone.

I have those desires, of course… but when faced with a situation where I could actually obtain that, I freeze, afraid things will change, unable to move forward.

Regardless of dating or not, I enjoy spending time with Runa and Rira, and whatever they say or do, I'm a cowardly fool who feels joy even while confused.

“…I guess I'm being too hard on myself.”

I decided not to dwell on those thoughts and returned to the living room.

Since I came early in the morning, they apparently prepared lunch as well. Once back in the living room, Runa immediately grabbed my hand.

“Let's go to my room.”

“Your room?”

“I'll call you when it's lunchtime.”

Escorted by smiling Reina-san, I followed Runa to her room.

“……………”

“This is the second time. Last time, I wasn't awake.”

As she said, this was my second visit.

But unlike last time, Runa was properly there, and there was a completely different sense of tension.

“Here, sit?”

“Y-yeah…”

Prompted by Runa, I sat on the cushion.

She sat close enough for our shoulders to touch and hugged my arm tightly.

“!?”

Not just the fullness pressing against my arm, but also the nice scent.

(T-this… no normal person would ever do this…!!)

That's right… so I realized.

A person who would chime in with “What the hell are you doing?” at this point is basically just someone pretending to be unnaturally oblivious.

“Rira… sent this to me.”

“…Huh?”

“After school yesterday… you went to Rira's house, right?”

“……………”

“The message said she let you experience your first time going to a girl's house, being close to her, and everything else… all of it.”

Rira…!?

Without knowing how confused I was, Runa continued.

“I wasn't angry… because she, like me, was saved by you, and that's how it happened. So if our positions were reversed, I'd have done the same.”

“Runa…”

“You wouldn't do this with a normal person… someone you don't care about.”

Runa said it… words that confirmed what I had suspected.

“I… like you, Masato-kun.”

There's no path left to pretend not to notice or to run away.