I Reincarnated as a Mob in a Depressing Erotic Video Game World. When I Saved the Main Heroine That Fallen Into Despair, Her Overwhelming Obsessive Love for Me Wouldn’t Stop. - Chapter 4

“Hmm. Then it’s settled, right?”

I shrugged on purpose and stood up.

Ena puffed out her cheeks in an unhappy way and said,

“…Shiruto-kun, that’s not fair. I feel like you tricked me somehow…”

“Haha. Who knows?”

I acted calm, but inside, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

I really didn’t want to send Ena to that classroom in her current state. For now, I decided to be glad that I stopped it.

“I’m getting hungry too, so let’s eat lunch nearby. That’s fine, right, Ena?”

“Ah… I’m s-sorry. I don’t really have much money…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay for everything.”

“T-that’s too much, I can’t…”

Then —Guhuu. A sound came out.

It didn’t need saying whose stomach it was.

“See. Even your stomach is telling you not to hold back, Ena.”

“Ah… I’m s-sorry…”

Ena’s shoulders started to shake.

I meant it as a joke, but maybe she thought I was angry?

“It’s okay, Ena. I wouldn’t get mad over something like that.”

“…R-really? You won’t… hit me…?”

“Yeah. I won’t, never.”

When I said that, Ena’s face relaxed a little, like she finally felt safe.

“Alright, let’s go. Ena.”

“…Y-yeah.”

As I started walking toward the door.

Tug.

Ena gently grabbed the edge of my uniform.

“…Huh? E-Ena…?”

“?”

I looked at her, but she only tilted her head.

She didn’t seem to notice that she was holding my uniform at all… Maybe she did it without thinking.

◇◇◇

The Eratel Magic Academy, where we study, is in the center of the Imperial Capital.

The cat café we were going to was close enough to reach on foot.

“I think it was around here… ah, there it is.”

A cat-shaped sign was hanging outside, with the words “Café Nyanchi.”

In the original story, this was the place the protagonist chose for his first date with Ena. That place was this café.

“Alright, Ena. Let’s go in.”

“Y-yeah.”

In the end… Ena kept holding the hem of my uniform the whole way.

She didn’t walk next to me. Instead, she stayed behind me, like she was hiding behind me. I thought she looked just like a small animal herself.

Thinking that, I pushed open the café door.

Cling-clang. The bell rang.

“Welcome! Is it just one customer?”

A lively-looking girl with short blue hair spoke to us.

…In the video game “Magiaka”, I don’t think this waitress even had a character image. She wasn’t as pretty as Ena, but she was still a cute girl.

“Huh? One customer?”

A moment later, I realized why.

I glanced behind me, and Ena was stuck right behind my back and completely hidden.

Her side ponytail bounced a little. The waitress noticed it and smiled warmly.

“Hehe, I apologize about that. Two customers, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Alright, I’ll show you to your seats. Please come this way!”

Inside the café, about ten cats were walking and running around.

It looked like we were the only customers, so the cats slowly gathered around us.

As we walked toward our table, Ena was still pressed to my back, and she said in a soft voice,

“Wow… S-so cute…”

She sounded like she spoke without thinking.

I almost said she’s cuter, but I held myself back.

“When you’re ready to order, please call me. You’re free to play with the cats inside the shop!”

Enjoy your time! …She said, then ran back behind the counter.

On the other side of the round table, Ena’s eyes sparkled as she followed the cats moving around.

“Ehe… eheh… ehehehe…”

Her cheeks went soft and loose as she smiled.

It was a dreamy, happy, and very cute look. One I wouldn’t usually expect from the kind and fragile Ena I knew.

“Ena, you really do love cats.”

When I said that, Ena’s shoulders jumped.

“Ah… I’m s-sorry…”

“Eh, why did you apologize?”

“B-because… someone like me… acting this happy… that’s not okay, right…?”

She looked up at me with scared eyes, and I.

“…I don’t really know why you think like that, Ena.”

I took a deep breath and pushed down the anger rising inside me.

Then I looked straight into her eyes and continued,

“But at least, I want you to smile, Ena.”

“Eh…, w-why…?”

“I guess… that’s just how it is. I think kind people like you should live a happy life.”

After saying that… I felt ashamed of myself.

Until yesterday, Ena and I barely even talked. And now I was saying something like this out of nowhere. It would make sense if she thought I was creepy.

But Ena.

“I s-see… eheh, is that so? You really are kind, Shiruto-kun.”

She smiled softly.

Her cheeks turned red, and she showed me a gentle smile.

“Alright then, Ena. Let’s order some drinks.”

“Yeah.”

At that moment, Ena had a bright smile.

It was so pretty and charming that it felt impossible not to stare at it.