A Late Bloomer's Powerful Restart ~My Second Life Starts at a Prestigious School Where the Gender Ratio Is Totally Off, and for Some Reason, All These Talented Girls Get Attached to Me...!?~

Chapter 18: One Night’s Mistake

After moving my body as much as I wanted, even I had built up quite a bit of fatigue.

It had been hard to find the chance, but today I finally tried using the large public bath for the first time.

Thanks to everything that happened today, I managed to get closer with the other guys, which was great.

Well, there was still one person I hadn’t talked to yet… but I hoped I could become friends with him soon too.

I got out of the bath feeling refreshed, and right away I ran into Aoyagi, who challenged me to see who could stay in the hot water longer… but I ignored him and left before I got too dizzy.

So today, all I wanted was to take it easy and rest…………yes, I just wanted to rest.

“Good work today!”

“…Good work… I feel like someone already said that to me earlier… so why are you coming all the way to my room again?”

I didn’t even need to check the doorbell anymore—I knew right away it was Sasa.

It seemed she really liked the home game console in my room, because whenever she had free time, she came here.

The thing had just been sent over from my parents’ house on its own, and since I didn’t really play it myself, maybe I should have sent it back to them.

“I already praised you a lot earlier. Now it’s your turn to listen to my complaints.”

But it looked like she had other reasons for coming today too.

Still, coming right before bedtime—how was that okay?

Sasa herself had already finished her bath and was in pajamas. Just that much would make her stand out, yet somehow she had made it here without anyone noticing.

Were all the guys really such shut-ins? I couldn’t believe it.

Also, Sasa seemed to trust me way too much.

I wished she would understand a little better the danger of a guy and a girl being alone together in a room… but even if I said it now, I had a feeling she wouldn’t listen.

“If it’s complaints, you could just say them in the classroom…”

“Huh? You told me not to tell everyone, Taiki… so I kept quiet, didn’t I?”

“…? What are you talking about?”

“That thing from before… when we fought because you wouldn’t carry me to the cafeteria.”

Oh… that. Well, if it was about that, then yeah, it was probably better she didn’t say it in the classroom.

But “fight”… I had thought it was just a little squabble, but for a sheltered young lady, that was how she saw it?

Maybe she was still holding a grudge?

“Hehe, I… I’ve never fought with a classmate friend before. But… that’s how bonds are made, right! Look, now we’re best buddies, aren’t we?”

“…I won’t deny it… but usually when people fight, the relationship ends more often than not!?”

Sasa might have said it with pure, innocent feelings, but to some people it could sound like teasing.

I had meant it as gentle advice, but Sasa smiled very happily.

“If you’re not denying it, then you have to treasure your best buddy… right?”

“So… you want me to carry you again?”

“You’re so fast, so just one time… is that no good?”

So that was what her “complaints” were about.

Well… when I turned her down the first time, I handled it pretty badly.

And then when she found out I actually had the best physical ability in the class, of course she would feel some kind of way about it.

When she looked up at me with those pleading eyes, the guilt I already felt made it impossible to refuse.

But… with this much fatigue, could I even carry her? Wait, wait… this was hardcore mode compared to usual?

Since she made it here without being seen, maybe going back would be fine too…………no, sending her back alone at this hour would actually be dangerous, so at the very least I should walk her back.

Seriously, since when did I become her personal servant?

“Of course, since you look tired today, we can skip it if you want…?”

“…Just one time, next time, okay?”

“Yay!! Oh come on~ If you refused, I was seriously thinking of asking Ousei instead.”

I almost told her to go ask Ousei… but then I remembered how he ran earlier today and dropped the idea.

If she asked him, his hips would probably give out before they even reached the cafeteria. He’s surprisingly tough, so he probably wouldn’t say no either since he’s a good guy.

It looked like… without meaning to, I had saved one guy’s life.

“Now that the complaints are done, let’s play some games!”

Sasa picked up the controller with sparkling eyes.

I couldn’t help but suspect that was the real reason she came.

Maybe the rumor that I was leading Sasa astray wasn’t actually that far off――――no no, all I did was let her into the room.

The fastest way to get Sasa to leave was to satisfy her.

It wasn’t like I found playing games with her refreshing or enjoyable or anything.

So even if I picked up the controller now, it wasn’t my fault.

“I’m not letting you sleep tonight!”

“You should really choose your words more carefully.”

“…………?”

You could catch a glimpse of how the sheltered young lady was a bit out of touch with normal common sense.

To clear up the misunderstanding, it looked like I would have to take action myself.

“Fine then… bring it on, Sasa. I’ll show you what’s what!”

“Oh? But isn’t this a co-op game…?”

I was going crazy and just wanted to sleep already.

Anyway, today I had to get Sasa out of here quickly and go to bed… that was the only thing on my mind anymore.

――Two hours later. In less than an hour, the date would change.

“…Sasa. Shouldn’t you head back soon?”

I said the same line for what felt like the hundredth time.

I couldn’t concentrate on the game at all, and my eyelids felt heavy. I really needed her to leave soon.

“N-not yet! There might still be students walking in the hallway, right? Or are you saying it’s fine if everyone finds out I’m in the boys’ dorm!? That’s so mean~!”

The guys are probably already asleep by now…

“…………Just one more game, okay?”

At this rate, it would take at least three more games to finish.

Somehow I just felt it… so I lay down on the sofa too.

Maybe because the fatigue had really built up, my body felt hot and all the strength drained out.

It was already getting late at night, but Sasa was happily fiddling with the controller.

There was school tomorrow too, so from now on if we were going to play, it had to be on the weekend――――

……………………

Hm…?

My body felt heavy… it looked like I had fallen asleep for a bit.

I really needed to get Sasa back to the girls’ dorm soon…………but why was it so bright?

The sunlight coming through the gap in the curtains made my thoughts freeze.