Vol. 2 Chapter 7 – Match and Punishment Game (3)

“R-Right… Of course, putting makeup on a guy… If your important tools got something weird on them—” (Reiya)
“Nn-nn, that’s not it… It’s more like… I don’t want to make you any more handsome…” (Hikaru)
“…Huh? W-What do you mean…?” (Reiya)

Her unexpected words made a strange sound escape my lips.

“Because, some other girl might take you away…” (Hikaru)

She said this, grabbing the hem of my shirt, her voice sounding like she might cry.

“Take me away… No, no, no, no… You don’t need to worry, I don’t think that’s possible…” (Reiya)

I was still just dust drifting at the bottom of the school hierarchy.

There was no way other girls would fall for me, even if the heavens turned upside down, so she didn’t need to worry.

…Though I couldn’t quite say that to someone who liked me.

“You don’t know that… Even Ayaka said you were a good person, Reiya-kun…” (Hikaru)
“That was probably just social pleasantries, not in a romantic sense, right…?” (Reiya)

Besides, there’s a world of difference between a ‘good person’ and ‘someone you like.’

In fact, I’ve heard that once you’re classified as a ‘good person,’ you’re conversely excluded from being a romantic target.

“Besides, right now, I don’t have the slightest capacity to think about anyone other than Asa… Hikaru…” (Reiya)
“Really…?” (Hikaru)
“If I were skillful enough to handle multiple girls at once, I’d be navigating school much better in the first place.” (Reiya)

I said it with a wry smile, and she giggled too.

Seeing her like this reminded me of how Taiju-san had previously described her as ‘moody and troublesome.’

Indeed, some people might see her that way.

But I found even this new side she showed me endearing.

“More importantly, isn’t it about time you headed home?” (Reiya)

The time was approaching 7 PM.

Three hours had passed in the blink of an eye since she arrived.

When we played together, time truly flew like an arrow.

“Mm… Maybe…” (Hikaru)

…She said, but she didn’t try to move away, burying her face in my chest.

“But, just two more minutes…” (Hikaru)

The hand gripping my hem moved around to my back, resulting in a full embrace.

This was clearly not the action of someone intending to finish in just two minutes.

“…Two minutes are up.”
“Then, five more minutes.” (Hikaru)

As expected, there was more than double the overtime.

“…Five minutes. Come on, time to let go.”
“Nooo~…” (Hikaru)

When I tried to pull her away, she resisted, holding onto my back tightly.

Whether she didn’t care at all, or perhaps it was intentional, her chest was pressed firmly against my abdomen.

Even through our clothes and underwear, I could vividly sense their size, which was likely quite large compared to the average.

“Come on, ‘nooo~’…”
“Extension. One more hour.” (Hikaru)

I started to feel like I was babysitting a child.

If this continued dragging on, she might end up suggesting she stay over again today.

But we had school tomorrow, and she didn’t have a change of clothes or anything, so I couldn’t agree to that.

“An hour… Stop joking around, seriously, it’s bad if you don’t let go soon…” (Reiya)

The manly part of me, which I had somehow managed to keep under control, was nearing its limit.

“Nooo…” (Hikaru)

Steeling my heart, I tried to seriously pull her away, but she resisted again.

“You can come again on the weekend…” (Reiya)
“I can’t wait four more days.” (Hikaru)
“You’ll have to manage somehow…” (Reiya)
“Ugh… Then, give me one last squeeze…?” (Hikaru)
“…Does that mean you’re using your final remaining right?” (Reiya)
“Nn-nn… It’s just a request to the person I like.” (Hikaru)

Saying that, she shifted her face slightly from my chest and looked up at me pleadingly.

“Ugh…” (Reiya)

That maximum firepower attack reduced my barely remaining HP gauge to zero.

“Okay, if I do, you’ll really let go…?” (Reiya)
“Yep.” (Hikaru)

Her short reply felt slightly insincere.

But there was no way I could refuse. Steeling myself, I placed both hands on her back.

Then, I gently pulled her closer.

The moment of closest proximity to her in history was being updated multiple times within a single day.

I felt a pleasant softness throughout my body, as if she were a different species altogether.

“Ehehe… I can hear your heartbeat, Reiya-kun…” (Hikaru)

Her happy voice echoed from my chest, and the hands around my back tightened their grip further.

“If possible, I’d rather you didn’t listen too closely…” (Reiya)

It was probably pounding like crazy, conveying my emotions directly.

Honestly, I was so happy I could die… no, maybe I was already dead…

The feeling of happiness gained in just a few seconds was so immense that I started not wanting to let go either.

“…Okay, that’s enough.” (Reiya)

But obviously, I couldn’t keep going like that. I grasped her shoulders and pulled our bodies apart.

“Muu… Wasn’t that short…? It wasn’t nearly enough~…” (Hikaru)
“No, really… Please spare me…” (Reiya)

She looked dissatisfied, but any more contact was a bit too stimulating for a healthy high school boy.

If she didn’t back off while I still had control, there was no telling what might happen.

“Fine~… Then, we’ll continue this on Saturday.” (Hikaru)

Perhaps realizing herself that she couldn’t push it further, Hikaru stood up and started preparing to leave.

I also stood up, took a deep breath to calm my emotions, and got ready to see her off.

As we left the room one by one, it was as if a switch flipped, and her clingy mode ended.

We walked side-by-side to the station, made plans for the next time, and parted ways.

Turning my back to the ticket gate, I started walking home when a message arrived on my phone.

‘Today was fun! See you Saturday! I love you!’

Seeing it brought a smile to my face, but only for a moment… as I realized something.

Those words she had told me again and again today… I hadn’t said them back even once…