After Capturing and Confining a Beautiful Yandere Stalker Girl, I Somehow Started a Sweet Life With Her - 23

Chapter 23: Shared Feelings and Warmth

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The bus departing from the university’s bus stop reached Sannomiya in about thirty minutes. However, the bus mostly went through a dedicated roadway or cars, so there was no pleasant change of scenery to be found through the windows during our journey to the city center. Gray barriers blocked the view on either side, concealing any glimpse of nature or buildings. I never went to prison, but this lack of view made me feel uncomfortable. I felt like a prisoner. This journey would have been unbearably dull alone; I had nothing to do but wait, and since I tended to get carsick, even looking at my phone was highly risky for me. If I had someone with me on board, I could pass the time chatting to take my mind off this dull moment. Until recently, I didn’t have a single acquaintance to go on a bus with. Not until a short while ago… 

“A-kun? A-kun…?”

Neiko-san leaned in and whispered into my ear, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“I already had a feeling the bus was going to be crowded judging from the number of people at the bus stop, but wow. The bus is more crowded than I thought.”

I glanced around and replied in a hushed voice, covering my mouth with my hand.

“…People are returning home from either club activities or after they finished the fifth period, so the bus tends to be packed around this time of the day. There were quite a few people lined up behind us and not all of them could get on the bus because the bus was already full…”

“Must be rough, huh… And also… Don’t you think the bus feels a bit hot…?”

“It’s a bit hot because there are so many people here. Are you alright, Neiko-san? Do you want to take off your jacket a bit…?”

“No… I don’t mind it… In fact, I’m actually really happy…”

“Hm?”

“Being wrapped in something that belongs to A-kun… Even if it’s a bit hot on the bus, but I will fully savor this sensation…”

“…I insist. Please take it off.”

“Ahh… Noo…♡ Don’t be so forceful, A-kun…♡”

“…You’re still the same even at a time like this… You’re really something else…”

Letting out a small sigh, I closed my eyes before facing forward.

“…A-kun? What were you thinking about earlier?”

“…Thinking about…? Why do you think I was thinking about something?”

I responded with my eyes still closed, not wanting to look at Neiko-san’s face. 

“You were looking toward the aisle with a somewhat nostalgic expression… At first, I thought you might be staring at another woman. I was thinking of filling the bus with the scent of her blood… But it turned out you weren’t staring at another woman.”

“Please, Neiko-san. Don’t joke about things like that. I mean, when you’re the one saying it, I’m worried that you might actually resort to violence…”

“Okay. But still, I realized you were simply gazing out the window. So I assumed you must be thinking about something.”

“Ah, I see…”

She didn’t even try to say she was joking. It seemed she was really serious about that… 

“What were you thinking about…? Is it something hard to say? If so then, I apologize for prying… Or…. You could scold me right here and there. You can call me a shameless mutt  who dares to ask too many questions even though I’m still under A-kun’s confinement… Haah…Haa…♡”

“…You shameless mutt… How dare you ask too many questions when you’re under confinement?”

“Kyaun…♡ Th-thank you so much…♡”

No, no. Shouldn’t you say “I’m sorry,” instead? Saying “Thank you,” made it seem like a reward…

“Anyway… Joke aside…”

“Haah… Haah… C-Can I please have one more…Rewar- I mean, punishment…?”

Neiko-san just admitted it was a reward herself. I could only hope the people around didn’t hear our conversation, even though we were whispering to each other.

“A-Anyway, it’s not something that’s hard to say… And yes, I was actually lost in thought.”

“Ehehehe…♡ So… Were you thinking about what kind of things you’re going to do to me when we get back home tonight, A-kun…?♡”

“No, that’s not it. Buuu. Wrong answer. Also, please don’t look that excited.”

“Then… Were you thinking about using the toys we’re going to buy from Donki to turn me into a melty mess down to—”

“It’s not that either. Good gracious. Here, wipe your drool.”

“Nyhehe… Hehehee…♡ Thank you so much…♡”

I handed her a handkerchief and Neiko-san sniffed it exaggeratedly. It seemed she was more focused on inhaling the scent than actually wiping her drool. She was pressing the handkerchief to her mouth instead of her nose…

Sighing, I continued although I was feeling a bit exasperated.

“It just dawned on me that even though it’s been about half a year since I entered university, but I’ve been spending all my time alone.”

“Hihihihi… Huh?”

Even though she was busy covering her mouth with a handkerchief while mumbling something incomprehensible, but she managed to hear what I was talking about and nodded in understanding. Despite her unique quirks, Neiko-san was really beautiful. Just the sight of her holding the handkerchief to her lips was picturesque enough to be put on display in a museum. The way her slender fingers gripped the handkerchief and the way her gem-like eyes blinked in curiosity were really captivating. Neiko-san would be the perfect woman if it weren’t for her stalker tendencies and perverseness. That being said, those ‘flaw’s of her could be a bit too much sometimes…

“That’s right. If I were alone, I would be feeling bored during this bus ride. I would feel reluctant to do anything at all and I realized that must be why I hadn’t done anything typical of a university student. That’s… What I was thinking about.”

“…But….”

“Yes. But now, I have Neiko-san here with me.”

“…!”

“I’m no longer alone because I have you by my side and I can ride the bus together with you… Well, it feels a bit embarrassing, but I don’t feel bored with you.”

“…”

“And somehow… I don’t feel lonely anymore. I thought that I might be able to do various things that I’ve always wanted to do with you… That’s… What I was thinking.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for getting lost in my own thoughts. I should be talking about something more exciting than this… Hahaha…”

I scratched my head while laughing awkwardly. Neiko-san was still looking a bit downcast. She then leaned her head against my shoulder.

“Neiko-san…?”

A question mark floated on top of my head. Neiko-san then murmured something under her breath after a brief pause. 

“That’s… I’m… The same…”

“Hm?”

“Since I was young… I always found it difficult to make friends… I’m not good at talking and people have said I looked gloomy for as long as I could remember…”

“…You, Neiko-san…?”

Neiko-san nodded before she continued.

“Yeah….But my father and mother… My family has always been my emotional support. They were always on my side no matter what happened. They always encouraged me whenever I was feeling lonely or struggling.”

“….”

“I… I love my family a lot, but… I thought to myself that I mustn’t let myself be spoiled by their love.”

“…”

“I thought I had to learn how to live alone and become independent as I started college… Hence why, I ended up here.”

I listened in silence while giving an understanding nod and Neiko-san gave me a self-deprecating smile. 

“But in reality… I struggled a lot… Of course no one can grow overnight. I ended up living a solitary life… I couldn’t make any friends… June came and I was still feeling hopelessly lonely…”

“…I see.”

“And then, during that time… I met you, A-kun… It was my first time meeting you.”

“Huh?”

I stared at her blankly and she stared at me in return before chuckling. 

“I told you, didn’t I? We met at that coin laundry. That place is full of memories of A-kun.”

“A-Ah… Ri-Right…”

“At that place, A-kun encouraged me… You really encouraged me… I was able to pull myself together… I really thought I could give this life a go again…”

“…Ah, I remember. I remember talking with someone at the coin laundry… That person must be you, Neiko-san.”

But at that time… The girl I talked to…

“…Yes. My hair was shorter than before. I’ve been growing out my hair since then.”

Right. That was why I didn’t recognize Neiko-san right away. 

“And… A-kun, you still can’t remember the words that you told me… Right?”

“I-I mean, I can sort of remember? Back then, I….”

I glanced at Neiko-san who only gave me a simple smile. She was waiting for me to remember it myself. Well, of course. It was an important moment for her after all. 

“…I’ve… Decided…”

“Decided…?”

“Yes. I’ve decided. I won’t leave A-kun’s side for the rest of my life.”

“…Huh…?”

“I want you to keep me confined forever, A-kun…”

“N-Neiko-san… that…”

“I like you… I love you… I really love you… A-kun…”

“…”

Neiko-san whispered those words softly. Her ears turned bright red. I looked at her from the side, and in my embarrassment, I closed my eyes again.

I absolutely have to remember what I said at the coin laundry.

With that thought in mind, I focused my mind hard on the memory of that day.

• • • • 〇●〇●〇●

Upon arriving in Sannomiya, we stood in front of a large station, surrounded by office buildings and other buildings. There were various shops lined up on the street. We could go on an endless shopping spree if we had the money. However, being broke university students, we couldn’t afford to go on a shopping spree. We had to be mindful of our spending. Shopping at the nearby Donki was all we could manage for now. 

“We finally made it to Sannomiya. Should we grab something to eat before heading to Donki?”

“Yes! A-kun, what do you want to eat…?”

“I…”

I pondered for a moment. In situations like this, it was best to choose a place that both I and Neiko-san would enjoy. 

“What about Saizeriya? I heard it’s relatively cheap—”

But before I could finish my sentence, I suddenly realized. I had read about it somewhere on the internet. 

Guys who take girls to cheap places are the worst. 

Did I just make a mistake…? Fearing I had made a mistake, I turned to look at Neiko-san.  My movement was so awkward due to how nervous I was. However, she didn’t look disgusted at me. In fact, she was nodding at my recommendation. 

“Saizeriya sounds great! I’ve heard about that place so many times, but we don’t have it back in my hometown! I really want to go there…!”

Ah, what a relief… It seems like everything is okay… 

Feeling relieved, we started walking toward Saize.

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T/N: Saizeriya or Saize, is basically a Japanese version of Olive Garden.