CH 185

“Sorry, I can’t do that.”

I said so clearly.

“I don’t care if I’m second or third, I want you to love me.”

She confessed that to me, but of course I couldn’t accept it. If I accepted such a thing, I would become a harem protagonist, which I hate.

“I’m sorry.”

Again, I apologize.

I couldn’t look directly at Kurumizawa-san, so I averted my gaze.

I felt sorry, but I still can’t tolerate this much.

“……I see.”

In contrast, Kurumizawa-san was very casual about it.

When she finally sat up, she slowly smiled at me.

“If that’s the way it’s going to be, it can’t be helped.”

It was like she had done what she had to do, and she was smiling brightly to imply it.

“Thank you for listening to my feelings.”

“…No, I’m kind of sorry.”

I apologized, but inwardly, I nodded my head.

If it had been so painful earlier, now there was no sign of it.

I thought she would hang on to me.

I thought she would cry, get angry, or be sad.

But she laughed.

And it wasn’t an absentminded smile. It was not a forced smile.

It was an expression that said, “I guess it didn’t work after all.” as if she had just lost the lottery.

I was really caught up in it.

This was not the way to switch from the girl who had such a sad expression on her face just a few minutes ago.

But there was no point in doubting her. It would have been better for me if she had just given up like this.

“I’ve told you what I wanted to tell you. I feel better now. … Well then, good night.”

She left the room without any further ado.

I followed her until I couldn’t see her anymore, but her steps were light until the end, and she did not look like she was straining at all.

“……Good night.”

I muttered to myself and collapsed into bed.

The faint warmth of Kurumizawa-san’s body remained, and I shifted my body position so as not to touch that part of the bed.

(Is this the end of it…?)

I felt a strong sense of discomfort. I felt an inexpressible unease.

I would have thought she was too quick to give up or too understanding of things for that strong confession.

(… Well, it doesn’t matter how much I think about it.)

After all, there are no answers.

There is no point in asking ourselves endless questions.

(It’s a little early, but I think I’ll go to bed…)

It was 11:00 p.m. Normally I would stay up a little longer, but since there is nothing to do now, I quickly turn off the light in the room.

I put on the futon and closed my eyes.

The bedding must be luxurious, after all, because it seemed very comfortable and my consciousness soon faded away.

Almost there.

I would wake up in the morning, be treated to breakfast, go to school, and then tutor again, and the term of my agreement would be over.

I feared what would happen when I decided to stay the night, but things didn’t happen any stranger than I expected.

There will be no more occurrences.

So, I would be fine. Believing that, I slowly went to sleep.

–But Kururi Kurumizawa was reluctant to give up after all.

She wasn’t that understanding.

She was the kind of determined girl who would do anything to make her love come true.

I was a fool to think that she would back down after confessing and being rejected.

“…………Mmm?”

It was while I was sleeping.

I suddenly felt a sense of discomfort and opened my eyes. At first it was pitch black and I could not see anything, but little by little my eyes became accustomed and I could see my surroundings.

Yes, I was in Kurumozawa-san’s home. I was sleeping on a soft bed, and …!?

Suddenly, I realized.　

I was not the only one in bed.

Someone was standing very close to me.

“I’m sorry, … Nakayama.”

That girl was unmistakably Kururi Kurumizawa.

She was lying down next to me as if she had been sleeping with me.

Then, I wondered what she was going to do, but she suddenly leaned in close to me and … put her lips on my cheek.

“…”

It was a kiss.

I held my breath as the action came out of the blue.

What I felt was a sense of guilt.

I was filled with a sense of guilt toward Shiho.

Oh, I was beaten.

I had been so careful about this, but I had fallen right into the trap.

This is what I have to think when someone does something like this to me.

(Shiho …… sorry.)

I’m trapped in a guilty conscience.

The scars left by Kurumizawa-san were deeply gouging my heart.

Now, the story takes a turn here.

The long, long preamble had finally come to an end—