I let out a heavy sigh. Some of you might be wondering—how could a guy like me stay calm while being on top of a girl, our faces mere inches apart? The answer is simple. I know Yuka. The real Yuka wouldn't act like this on her own. Someone must have put this idea in her head. And I already have a good guess who.
But right now, the priority is getting out of this situation and making Yuka understand that she can't just do this to a guy without thinking. If it were anyone else, they might not hesitate to take advantage of her. She's still as innocent as I remember.
"Yuka, you can't do something like this without considering the consequences. And stop listening to Misaki's advice," I said, my voice calm but firm.
But what she said next caught me completely off guard. She locked eyes with me for a moment, still gripping my collar as if refusing to let me go, then gave me a small smirk.
"Oh? Is that how it looks to you?"
I blinked in confusion. If that wasn't the case, then what was?
"It's true that when we went to that yakiniku restaurant, Misaki told me she'd help me win your heart, and at the time, I accepted her offer." She then pulled me closer, her lips just beside my ear as she whispered, "But I soon changed my mind. That's not like me. I don't want to just follow what someone else says—I'll do things my own way, including winning your love. That's why I only asked her to help create opportunities for me to be alone with you."
As she revealed this, the pieces slowly started falling into place. So Misaki bragging about my collection was just a setup to get Yuka to visit my house? But then, why was Misaki here too? Wouldn't it have been more advantageous for Yuka to come alone? Was she trying to catch me off guard?
And then there was something else—something I had noticed for a while now but was only becoming certain of. This Yuka… she wasn't exactly the same as I remembered. Many things about her had changed. Was it because of my influence?
Noticing me lost in thought, Yuka suddenly blew a warm breath into my ear. A sharp shiver ran down my spine, and goosebumps spread across my skin.
"You know," she murmured, her voice shy and hesitant, "I don't have any experience with men, so I did my fair share of research… and I got to know that guys like this kind of thing."
My previous calm demeanor was nowhere to be seen—replaced by a wave of panic and nervousness. My only concern now was escaping this situation without hurting Yuka.
I could tell from her voice that she had mustered a lot of courage for this. It wasn't easy for her, and rejecting her would be both cowardly and unmanly. But listen—I refuse to be driven by lust, to act on impulse in the heat of the moment, only to regret it later.
There's also the undeniable truth that I don't know how long I'll be in this world. I arrived here without warning, so what's stopping me from suddenly being sent back? There's even a chance that none of this is real—that I'll wake up one day and forget everything.
As long as those possibilities exist, I can't afford to act recklessly.
I'm an adult (Mentally), That means it's my responsibility to stay level-headed and guide these girls toward a better, safer future. So that if the time ever comes when I have to leave this world, I can do so with a peaceful mind… and a smile.
"W-What kind of thing are you referring to?" I asked, feigning ignorance as my chosen escape tactic.
Yuka didn't break eye contact. Instead, she took my hand and slowly guided it to her chest.
"T-This kind of thing," she murmured, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Why is she so determined?!
On the other hand, I couldn't pull my hand away. Partly because she was holding onto it tightly—but mostly because it felt as if my own hand refused to let go.
And as much as I am ashamed to say it… her chest was unbelievably soft. The sensation was so overwhelming that, for a brief moment, my mind went completely blank.
Before I even realized it, my fingers instinctively gave a soft squeeze. Yuka's body trembled slightly, a quiet gasp escaping her lips.
I snapped out of my trance and immediately pulled my hand back.
"W-Wait, Yuka, w-we can't do this," I stammered, trying to gently put some distance between us.
But before I could move away, she tightened her hold—wrapping her arms around my neck and locking her legs around my waist, refusing to let go.
"W-Why…?" Her voice trembled, a mix of fear and uncertainty. "Do you still not find me attractive… even a little bit?" Her vulnerability was laid bare before me.
I panicked. "That's not the case!"
She shot back instantly, her voice trembling. "T-Then what is it?"
I took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling softly to calm myself. "We're still young, Yuka. We have a long life ahead of us. Don't do something rash that you might regret later."
She stared into my eyes, her expression hardening slightly. I could feel her grip on me tighten. "You're just making excuses, aren't you?"
I didn't avert my gaze, meeting hers with unwavering sincerity. "I'm not."
She remained silent for a moment, deep in thought, before asking the question I am not prepared for yet.
"What do you think of me now? Do you still not have any romantic feelings for me?"
I responded without hesitation. "You're a great girl… far more than I deserve."
Of course, I intentionally avoided answering the second part.
A moment passed before she slowly loosened her hold on me, and we both sat on the bed, now facing each other. Her face was burning red, her eyes darting away yet occasionally sneaking glances at… something, "I-I have got my answer, T-This is enough for me for now."
Confused, I followed her gaze—only for my own face to heat up in embarrassment.
My "brother" had woken from his slumber.
I hurriedly grabbed a pillow and covered it, looking away in shame. "T-This is normal, you know! O-Or else I wouldn't be a man!"
Seeing me panic so much, a mischievous smile bloomed on Yuka's face. She leaned in slightly, her eyes glinting with amusement, and gently poked my nose with her finger.
"Next time," she playfully declared, "you'll be the one to push me down on your own accord."
Her words sent a jolt through me, and I could only stare at her, speechless. Was she teasing me, or was she completely serious? Either way, I had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time I'd find myself in a situation like this.
(Author's Note: Yuka has a particular preference when it comes to romance—she enjoys the thrill of being pinned down or pressed against a wall by the one she loves. It's not just the act itself, but the rough intimate action and closeness that excites her, much like what happened on the train. However, if she's the one who forced her love interest to takes action—then the excitement isn't quite the same. That's exactly what happened just now. In conclusion, for Yuka to truly experience that rush, it has to be entirely of her love interest's own volition. The more assertive they are, the greater the thrill.)
We sat there in silence for a while, waiting for "me" to calm down, both of us too embarrassed to speak. Neither of us dared to break the awkward atmosphere, so we simply sat there, avoiding each other's gaze.
Eventually, as if coming to a mutual, unspoken agreement, we decided to head downstairs.
However, just as I reached the door, I caught the extremely faint sound of distant hurried footsteps, but when I stepped out into the hallway—there was no one there.
Glancing at Yuka, I noticed she hadn't reacted at all. She didn't seem to hear it. Was it just my imagination? Or… was someone really outside my room?
"Something happened between you two, didn't it?"
The moment we returned, Misaki's eyes gleamed with suspicion and mischief as she watched us fumble through our awkwardness. Her smirk only grew as she took in our hesitant glances and stiff movements.
I sighed inwardly, relieved that at least she wasn't sulking anymore.
But there was no way I could talk about that to anyone—not even a fraction of it. It was beyond embarrassing! And knowing Misaki, she'd just use it to get to me anyway.
Yuka seemed to share the same sentiment, or maybe she chose to stay silent for my sake. Either way, our synchronized silence only fueled Misaki's curiosity.
Growing more persistent, she pestered us relentlessly, demanding we spill the beans.
In response, we made a silent agreement—ignoring her was the best course of action for now.
As noon approached, we decided to have lunch together. Of course, I had already informed them over the phone to eat at my place before coming over.
Upon hearing that, Yuka insisted on cooking, saying she'd feel bad if she didn't. Misaki, despite not knowing how to cook, also felt bad and wanted to contribute, so she decided to help Yuka with the ingredient prep.
Right now, both of them are busy in the kitchen while I sit back, relaxing in a chair at the dining table. They originally told me to wait in the living room, but for some reason, I wanted to stay here—with them.
Watching them work together from a distance—Yuka moving with the skill of a pro while Misaki fumbled clumsily beside her—I couldn't help but smile.
Moments like this… make everything worthwhile.
Looking at the table now set with food, I couldn't help but be impressed. I didn't have many ingredients left in my fridge—it was the end of the month, after all, and time to restock—but Yuka still managed to turn what little I had into a feast.
Sesame rice, crispy chicken karaage, an assortment of tempura, and a steaming bowl of shiro miso soup topped with tofu—it was all laid out beautifully.
And for dessert? I had already planned ahead. On my way home from jogging this morning, I picked up their favorite flavors of ice cream and stored them in the fridge.
For more details, Misaki loves chocolate-flavored ice cream, while Yuka prefers milk. So, to cater to both, I picked up a chocolate and milk chocolate flavor for both.
There's also a little fun fact about Yuka—something no one aside from her family knows. Every morning, she drinks milk religiously, hoping to grow taller. She's a bit self-conscious about her height, though she'd never openly admit it.
I stole a glance at her and chuckled inwardly. It was honestly cute—such a childish yet endearing habit.
Of course, neither of them ever mentioned their favorite flavors to me. But I already knew their likes and dislikes. After all… I'm an anomaly in this world.
As we sat at the dining table, Yuka beside me, we clapped our hands together in a brief prayer before digging into the food.
The moment I took my first bite—starting with the chicken karaage—Yuka nervously asked, "H-How is it?"
I took my time chewing, savoring the flavors before flashing her a bright smile. "Great! It seems you're improving day by day."
She quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush as she held her cheeks with both hands. But within seconds, she picked up a shrimp tempura and held it out for me. "T-Try this next."
This kind of thing was becoming pretty common between us, so I wasn't as flustered as I used to be about being fed. Without hesitation, I took a bite.
"How is it?" she asked again, her eyes full of anticipation.
I smiled. "Amazing. I expect nothing less from you."
And believe me, I wasn't just saying that to make her happy. I'd said it many times before, but Yuka's cooking really was exceptional. And the best part? She was still improving, day by day.
She once again grabbed her flushed cheeks with both hands and turned away, though she continued to steal glances at me. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper yet still loud enough for us to hear, she admitted,
"I-I'm practicing every day to become a better cook."
That piqued my curiosity. In the anime, she had never shown an interest in cooking as a career, so what had changed? Without thinking, I asked,
"Oh? Are you planning to inherit your family's restaurant or maybe open your own?"
She still didn't face me directly, but she cast a sidelong glance before answering, her voice even quieter than before,
"N-No… I just want to cook for you every day and hear you praise my cooking."
Ghh! That was a lethal hit to my heart.
For a moment, I was completely at a loss for words. My mind blanked, my heart skipped a beat, and heat rushed to my face. Internally, I couldn't help but complain,
'Don't say stuff like that… It's not good for my heart!'
Both of us averted our gazes awkwardly, the lingering tension from the previous incident making it even harder to meet each other's eyes. The atmosphere between us felt oddly fragile, charged with emotions neither of us knew how to handle properly.
Then, out of nowhere— "Tch!"
A loud click of the tongue echoed from the other side of the table.
"Geez, just get married already."
Misaki's voice was dripping with irritation, her expression twisted in exaggerated exasperation. She looked at us like she had just sat through the cringiest romance drama of her life.
Hey there, girl! Hold that thought right there!
Marriage?! I'm not even prepared for romance, and you're already jumping that far ahead?! I wanted to scream this at Misaki, but I held my tongue.
On top of that, "we're" still just freshers in high school! Even as a joke, wasn't that a bit too exaggerated?
I glanced at Yuka, expecting her to react just as flustered as me—only to be met with a completely different sight.
She was sitting there, silent, her eyes slightly unfocused. Her expression was dazed, as if she had suddenly fallen deep into thought.
H-Hold your horses too, girl!
What the hell is she imagining now?!