CH 18

It’s unlikely that any otaku who loves a heroine hasn’t imagined what it would be like if she appeared in their own home. 

Even if it’s just a fleeting thought, they may have considered the possibility.

“…Fuhe.”

While I was cleaning the bathroom, all I could think about was Shirayuki.

Even though this place is Arashi’s house and not mine, it doesn’t make any difference to me now that Shirayuki is in this house. I never thought such a miracle would happen and even now as I’m experiencing it, I still can’t believe it.

“… phew.”

Stop with the creepy laugh and calm down, I told myself.

After taking a few deep breaths, I was able to concentrate on cleaning while accepting the fact that Shirayuki was in my house, which I couldn’t forget. 

I want to return to her as soon as possible, but I also want to calm down a little more… I was caught between these two feelings, but I finished cleaning and prepared the bath.

“All right, let’s go back.”

I don’t think I kept her waiting for too long… but wait, was there anything embarrassing in my room that she could see? 

I was a little scared, but my worries were unfounded. 

In fact, there was a sight before my eyes that made me forget all about that worry.

“Shirayuki?”

She was sleeping with her back against the wall. 

Even though she was just quietly breathing and sleeping with her eyes closed, she looked incredibly mystical to me. 

It was proof of how beautiful she is… I swallowed hard.

(…Shirayuki is sleeping… Shirayuki is sleeping.)

Wait, isn’t something strange here?

It’s a weird feeling to analyze it myself, but something seems off since I came back to the room… like the air is incredibly sweet.

The fact that Shirayuki is in the room, the sweet fragrance coming from her, everything adds up to something that captivates me… Like a bee swarming around a beautiful flower, I bend down in front of Shirayuki, and reach out to touch her body, then stop, and reach out again.

“… Ah.”

Before I realized it, my hand was touching her breast. 

The sensation of something soft through her clothes was enough to tell me that it was incredibly elastic, and I felt the sensation of the underwear she was wearing under her clothes, but it was still incredibly soft.

“Hn…”

“!?”

Shirayuki let out a troubled sigh, and I quickly withdrew my hand, looking at it and falling into self-disgust. 

I kept questioning myself, “Why did I touch her? Why did I do that?” even though I knew it was my fault, and it continued until she woke up.

“Is something wrong?”

“… No.”

I couldn’t possibly tell her that I touched her b*****s while she was sleeping. 

We went out for dinner and I couldn’t stop thinking about my worst perverted act until I dropped her off near her house.

(Touching a defenseless girl’s body is a serious crime. Especially the b*****s…no, everything is off-limits! What kind of person am I?)

I felt guilty being with Shirayuki, who believed in me who was trying to change, not Arashi from before.

But only I knew about this, and as long as I didn’t say anything, she wouldn’t find out. That’s why I tried my best not to show it on my face, but Shirayuki still seemed to notice.

“Oh, it’s okay around here?”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s just a little further ahead.”

There was a big mansion a little way off. 

I had never been to her house before, and her address was vague, but that gate was undoubtedly her mansion, known as the Mansion of Obsession.

“Thank you very much, Arashi-kun. I had a lot of fun today.”

“Me too. Not only did we go to the gym, but… well, even though you came to my place, I couldn’t offer you anything.”

“Don’t worry about it. I really did have a great time. Not just mentally, but physically too.”

“What do you mean?”

When I asked her, Shirayuki put her hand on her mouth and chuckled.

Then she looked up at the sky, and her eyes reflected a whole sky full of stars… even when she was asleep, she looked beautiful doing these simple things, and I was simply captivated by her.

“Arashi-kun.”

“… Hmm?”

She stared at me intently and continued to speak.

“Have you ever felt like you’re the only one in the world?”

“…Huh?”

“Have you ever felt like you’ve been thrown into a world you didn’t know?”

“That’s…”

When I heard those words, the first thing that came to mind was my current self.

Well, even though I say that, I’m actually enjoying it more than I thought I would. After all, this world is a world that I already knew, and the fact that Shirayuki and Hisui, who live here, are my favorite characters.

(Even though it’s something that would never happen in reality, and I should be in a state of extreme confusion, the fact that Arashi, who is likely to be kicked out of the story as a villain, is involved is kind of funny.)

Does that mean I have already accepted it, since I haven’t become like that? 

As I was convinced by myself, Shirayuki took my hand and kept staring into my eyes, continuing her words.

“I have felt that before. I wondered why I am here, and why… I have been walking down this path.”

“…”

“Unchanging paths, repeating hours, hearing my beloved’s voice but the one in front of me being an ugly existence… I wonder what I am doing.”

After saying all that, Shirayuki laughed. 

The atmosphere from earlier had subsided, and she apologized for saying something incomprehensible while bowing her head.

“I’m sorry for suddenly saying something weird.”

“….No, it’s okay.”

Honestly, I don’t know what she intended with her words. 

Nonetheless, I understood from the atmosphere that she was carrying something… Although I wonder if I should ask her about it, as a friend who had become close to her, and as a man who has always loved her, there must be something I can say.

“Shirayuki.”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad I could meet you and Hisui-san, seriously.”

“W-what’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“Let me say it. Well, I have my own circumstances, but I really feel that way. So, it’s like, even if I’m a fat piece of s**t, and even if I don’t know what I can do, but if anything happens to you guys, I want to help.”

“… Arashi-kun.”

“I want to support you if anything happens… I mean, my body is so big, so it won’t break easily with a little something —so if anything happens, please rely on me.”

“…”

Maybe I was also swayed by this atmosphere I don’t quite understand.

That’s why I ended up saying these words to her… Well, if Shirayuki and the others were to ask for help, I would definitely act on it. 

That’s not just Arashi Gundo, but my own will.

“….Um, there really isn’t that kind of problem.”

“… Huh?”

“So there’s no need for you to worry anymore… I’m really sorry, Arashi-kun. The atmosphere became serious because of me.”

Umm, Shirayuki-san? Did you just make fun of me?

Well, I didn’t feel any malice so it’s not really a shock, but it’s a bit embarrassing… However, it seems that she had some kind of intention behind her words

“It’s kind of a revenge, you know? After all, Arashi-kun, you touched my b*****s, right?”

“…”

I forgot to even breathe. 

When she pointed it out to me, my mind went blank, and just as I was about to lower my head to apologize, she stopped me.

“You don’t need to apologize. I understand the feeling of wanting to play a prank on a defenseless girl who’s sleeping, and if the roles were reversed, I would probably do the same thing.”

“Um… Shirayuki-san?”

“Yes, that’s right. If Arashi-kun touches my b*****s, then I will touch your peni—.”

“Woooooooooooo— That’s enough!! I’m sorry, so let me stop you there!!”

Something’s not right… it was supposed to be me apologizing, so why am I the one filled with embarrassment…? 

Shirayuki looked at me in a fluster and laughed as if it was fun, seeming not to care at all about me touching her chest.

“Shall we consider this as a sign that we have become comfortable enough with each other to talk about some degree of dirty jokes? Of course, there is a limit to it, but having a good relationship with each other should not be a bad thing.”

“Yeah… I guess.”

“That’s right. Oh, by the way, my mother is also good at dirty jokes, so why don’t you try her out?”

“…Uh.”

I know! I know, but I won’t do it, absolutely!

After that, we broke up, and Shirayuki left me with these words:

“Arashi-kun, if you ever feel lonely, please rely on me. You’re not alone, you don’t have to bear everything alone… So please, don’t feel excluded.”

“Shira…yuki…”

“If I were to relate this to our earlier conversation…  Maybe I can say this. I’m also happy to have met you now. Thank you for coming to meet me in this world.”

“!?”

“Thank you for coming to see me in this world…” Those words stayed in my mind for a long time.

With a smile on her face, she waved her hand and turned her back, disappearing into the gate while I continued to gaze at her until she was out of sight.

“Words are like sharp knives that easily penetrate the heart… But I didn’t say it with any ulterior motive. It was all from the bottom of my heart, I just want everything about you… So first, let’s get rid of your sense of belonging to the original world.”