I became the boyfriend of the school's madonna, who had turned down numerous confessions, but somehow, without realizing it, I wasn't just playing a role anymore - Chapter 78

Episode 78: Take Responsibility

I still think this girl is quite sly.

She just tells me there’s a place available, making it so I have to be the one to invite her.

“Misa―”

“～～～～～! No, as expected, forget it! Forget what I just said…!”

When I tried to call her name, Misaki quickly pulled away from me. She covered her face with both hands and shook her head vigorously.

Though it wasn’t like her, it seemed she had been forcing herself.

“You don’t have to push yourself just because we started dating.”

Serious Misaki might have felt like she needed to do something that seemed appropriate. But really, it’s fine to go at our own pace.

Sure, there are couples who do it on the day they start dating, but I don’t think that’s very common, especially if it’s their first time.

“I’m not… pushing myself. I really don’t want to be apart from you, Raito-kun…”

Misaki, her face flushed, fidgeted with her index fingers pressed together.

Hmm…? This reaction is…

“Are you saying you want to stay together a little longer at your big sister’s place?”

“Eh, yes…?”

Misaki tilted her head in confusion at my question.

This girl is such a natural…! Anyone would misunderstand when she says it like that…!

The urge to complain welled up inside me, but since she genuinely didn’t understand, I held back. The fact that this is her natural state makes it even worse.

“So, why were you writhing around?”

If it wasn’t a seductive invitation, there shouldn’t have been any reason to be embarrassed.

“B-because it was embarrassing to beg like that…! It’s not in my character…!”

Misaki clasped her hands in front of her chest, earnestly trying to make her point.

What is she talking about? She’s been clinging to me all this time, so this is nothing new…

“Rest assured, being clingy is very much in your character.”

“Ah!?”

When faced with this reality, Misaki let out a pained sound. It seemed she was aware of it. She was probably just trying to cover it up out of embarrassment.

Even so, I’m still curious why she was so flustered when she retracted her words earlier. If she’s aware of being clingy, then she’s already being clingy anyway…

Could it be that she’s only embarrassed because she was consciously clingy earlier, while before it was more subconscious? She’ll probably fully realize her clingy nature when she reflects on it later.

“It’s strange, you know…? I wasn’t like this before…”

Misaki started resisting needlessly. Indeed, the Misaki I knew at school never showed this clingy side. She was rather dignified, kind, and had a graceful aura that attracted people.

But ever since we became a fake couple, she’s been pretty clingy from the start, hasn’t she…?

“Raito-kun made me this clingy. It’s definitely your fault…”

“And?”

“Take responsibility…”

Misaki looked up at me shyly, pleading with her eyes.

Hmm…?

“I am taking responsibility by being your boyfriend, aren’t I?”

At least, I think I’m in the position to indulge clingy Misaki. Leaving aside the fact that she was always like this.

“Please understand my desire not to be apart from you…”

It seems that just pampering her won’t suffice now. She wants us to stay together as long as possible.

“Then you shouldn’t have retracted your words.”

At least, if Misaki had wished, we could have stayed together at her big sister’s place for a bit. But she was the one who retracted it.

“Please don’t use such sound logic against me…!”

Misaki grumbled in a flustered manner. It seemed I hit the mark.

“So, you just want to stay together for a while longer?”

Trying to hold back a smile, I tilted my head and looked at Misaki. Despite her roundabout way of talking about responsibility, this is what she wants.

“I already said that…”

Misaki fidgeted and averted her gaze downward. It seemed she didn’t want to be made to say it again.

“Shall we go to Sasagawa-sensei’s apartment then?”

So, I asked differently.

“If Raito-kun is okay with it…”

Misaki tightly pinched my sleeve with her fingers. Though her words prioritized my will, her body language said she didn’t want to let go.

She’s really a troublesome girl. But that’s what makes her cute.

“I’ll let my mom know.”

I won’t tell her everything, but I’ll inform her that I’m going over to Misaki’s place. At this hour, her parents should be home, so there shouldn’t be any misunderstandings.

“I’ll let my parents know too, that I’m staying at my big sister’s place.”

“……”