Vol. 2 Chapter 59 – KISS IS (2)

The battle had begun, and it was Hikaru who first sensed something was amiss.

“Hey, can I… come over there…?” (Reiya)

Come over there…? At those unexpected words from Reiya’s mouth, her personal sense of time stopped. Usually, even when they were alone, being the affectionate one was always her role. For him to make the first move like this, even she couldn’t hide her surprise.

“Hm? Sure, but… isn’t it rare for you to say something like that, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

However, today she had imposed a vow of abstinence upon herself. If she got excited and jumped at the bait here, everything would be ruined. She had to control herself.

“R-Really…?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, being the clingy one is usually my role.” (Hikaru)

“I-It’s not like I want to be clingy or anything… I just thought it might be easier to see the screen from over there…” (Reiya)

Feigning calmness, as if it were her own room, she patted the bed with a ‘come here’ gesture.

“Alright then, as you wish, allow me to show you my super play!” (Hikaru)

“Does this game even have ‘super plays’…?” (Reiya)

As he said that, he sat down next to her, leaving about twenty centimeters of space between them. The person she loved most in the world was right beside her. That happiness never got old; it always felt fresh.

“Hmm… What should I do here…?” (Hikaru)

Fighting back the urge to get clingy if she let her guard down, she focused on the screen.

“Okay, um… first, change WALL to KEY…” (Hikaru)

On the screen, the stylized quadrupedal creature ‘DADA’ was carrying strings of text.

“Then next, remove PUSH…” (Hikaru)

Perhaps because she had chosen a high-difficulty title, the amount of her attention dedicated to the game gradually increased.

“Alright, solved it! Okay, let’s keep clearing these stages!” (Hikaru)

Just as she broke through a difficult stage and became completely engrossed in the game—

Sh-She’s not coming…!?

This time, a little later, it was Reiya who sensed something was wrong. His girlfriend, who would normally be all over him affectionately as soon as he sat next to her, showed absolutely no sign of it today. On the contrary, he even felt like she was keeping more distance than usual. A great anxiety crossed his mind: Could it be that she’s really gotten tired of me now that her video went viral and she’s become famous?

“Next up is… hmm, this looks like a tough one!” (Hikaru)

What was the cause of this change? Even if he tried to find out, the game she was playing was a puzzle game. Interfering from the side would be bad manners. Therefore, all he could do was reduce the usual two-fist distance by half.

“I-Is something wrong…?” (Hikaru)

“Wrong…? I just shifted my position a little…” (Reiya)

Hikaru was once again bewildered by Reiya’s sudden approach. Wh-Why is he being so assertive today of all days…? Her boyfriend’s unusual behavior made her heart pound like a drum.

“Oh-Oh, right… Um, uh… This WALL IS STOP, I wonder if I have to break it somehow~…” (Hikaru)

Still, she had to stick to her original intention. Today is an endurance day. Today is an endurance day. Today is an endurance day. …Hikaru repeated it in her head like a mantra, but—

“…Hah.” (Reiya)

Beside her, Reiya let out a melancholic sigh. Thump-THUMP!! The moment Hikaru witnessed that, her heart leaped as if it would explode. Eh? Eh? What? Why is he acting so seductive today!? His alluring atmosphere, so different from his usual self, nearly shattered Hikaru’s composure.

“B-But this… How am I supposed to move WALL IS PUSH when it’s lined up against the wall…?” (Hikaru)

To somehow maintain her composure, she verbally processed game-related thoughts, but her mind was elsewhere entirely. The current situation, so to speak, was ‘REIYA IS PUSH.’ Right now, she could push him, push him, push him to her heart’s content. In such a situation, a doubt began to surface: Do I really need to keep enduring this?

Meanwhile, Reiya had no way of knowing that she was desperately suppressing such an impulse. From his perspective, the situation was simply that his usually very affectionate girlfriend was showing no such signs today. As time passed, his anxiety grew, and his expression became even more melancholic.

“Th-That stage… it’s difficult, isn’t it…?” (Reiya)

“Y-Yeah… I have no idea what to do…” (Hikaru)

Saying that, Hikaru moved her character aimlessly around the stage. To clear the stage, she needed to break the WALL IS STOP rule and bring the WIN text from outside the wall. However, she wasn’t focused on the puzzle on the screen, but rather on dedicating all her mental resources to resolving the situation she found herself in. The problem of my boyfriend being too cute. As time went on, Reiya’s expression grew increasingly alluring, and her composure was on the verge of collapsing. But, having sworn so strongly, she couldn’t be the one to ask. The HIKARU IS STOP rule was fixed at the edge of the screen, unmovable. However, if he asked, that would be a different story. If he asked, it wouldn’t mean she was breaking her own vow.

“R-Reiya-kun…!” (Hikaru)

Before her rationality crumbled, she had to create a ‘REIYA IS MOVE’ situation and complete ‘KISS IS WIN.’

“Could it be that… you have something you want to say to me…?” (Hikaru)

Having figured out the solution to the most difficult stage, Hikaru moved to break the stalemate.

“S-Something I want to say…?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, you do, don’t you…? You’ve been acting strange all day…” (Hikaru)

Placing the controller on her lap, Hikaru asked again in a solemn tone.

“Well, it’s not that I have something to say, but… it’s just, how do I put it…” (Reiya)

Reiya hesitated, his gaze dropping.

“If it’s something I can do… I’ll do anything for you!” (Hikaru)

“A-Anything…?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, anything! Because usually, I’m the one on the receiving end!” (Hikaru)

Since I’m not asking for anything myself, it’s fine, she thought, spinning words that bordered on a foul. Just a little more… Just a little more and the clear condition would be met. Come on, Reiya-kun!! I’ll accept everything!! Hikaru spread her arms wide, fully prepared to receive him.

“Well then… if you promise you won’t be put off by what I was thinking…” (Reiya)

“I won’t, I won’t! Of course I wouldn’t be put off! If anything, I’m always the one saying things that might put you off!” (Hikaru)

Desperate to get him to say it, she still didn’t know.

“In that case… um… Hikaru’s… insi…de…” (Reiya)

“Inside…?” (Hikaru)

That his gaze, lowered due to anxiety, had been fixed on a certain point for some time now.

“I want to touch Hikaru’s stomach…” (Reiya)

And that in puzzle games, the solution is often found in a way the player never anticipated.