Chapter 40

“…Let’s see. If you’d actually done something like that, I probably would’ve been surprised and flustered.”

“For real? So even you can be caught off guard if the situation’s right, huh?”

“Of course. Though, the way you said that kind of gives me a glimpse into what you usually think of me. But hey, I’m still a normal girl, you know? When it comes to someone I love, I can be deeply affected too.”

“I-I see…”

“But you know…”

Still held in Satoru’s embrace, Reika gently stretched out her arm and softly stroked his head as she continued speaking.

“You were thinking, ‘Maybe I could surprise her?’ But you were too concerned about how others might react to actually go through with it, right? That’s why you tried it now, when it’s just the two of us.”

“Guh…”

It was as if she’d peered straight into his brain. She had perfectly seen through not only his thoughts, but even the reasoning behind his actions.

All he could do was sigh at himself, for even daring to think he might finally outsmart Reika.

“Fufu, hit the nail on the head, did I?”

“Down to the reasoning… Everything is spot on.”

“Don’t look so down. I’m actually really happy about it.”

As she said that, Satoru slightly loosened his embrace in disappointment—so this time, Reika pulled him close instead.

“I’m just really glad that you came to me of your own accord. Even if your thought process was within my expectations, it’s still just like you, and I love that. And if it had been something unexpected, that would simply mean our relationship has taken another step forward.”

“…But doesn’t it sound like you’d obviously prefer the latter? The former just feels like we’re stuck in the same old pattern.”

Thinking about it like that made Satoru once again feel like Reika was always leading the way in their relationship.

She always said, “I like you just the way you are,” but he couldn’t help but wonder if she ever got tired of this seemingly stagnant situation.

That thought crossed his mind as they talked.

“That’s not true at all, okay? Sure, it might be little by little, but our relationship is progressing while still preserving your innocence. It’s great to take big leaps too, but we should never force things to the point that we lose who we are.”

“Is that really how it works?”

“I think that’s exactly how it works—for us, at least. I don’t know about others, but there’s no need for us to follow their lead.”

“That might be true, but still, don’t you sometimes want to be led by your boyfriend like most girls?”

“Of course, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. But even more than that, the feeling of wanting to make you mine with my own efforts is way stronger right now.”

“You’re definitely not a normal girl, are you?”

“Ara, how rude of you. But really, wasn’t the way we met and got into this relationship already far from normal?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“And on top of that, while our outward relationship might look like we’re just taking baby steps, the real bond we share as high schoolers is already way too deep, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, definitely. We’re kinda weird in all sorts of ways.”

He’d known this for a while, but thinking it through again made the differences from a normal high school couple really stand out.

“…You know, when I think of it that way, my timidness almost feels like just another part of this unusual dynamic. It kinda clicks.”

“And yet, that’s why our relationship works so well, don’t you think? Besides, little by little, you’ve been the one coming to me more and more. I think it’s a good thing.”

“That’s unusual… You’re actually praising me instead of teasing.”

“Fufu, well, that’s because your disappointed face earlier—when I saw through your plan—was even more pitiful than I expected.”

“Well, for me, it was a pretty big deal to try something like that, y’know.”

“You really are so pure. Though honestly, your disappointed expression looked more like a kid whose surprise failed than that of a boyfriend.”

“…Am I really that childish?”

“Indeed. I still don’t get how you can act so innocent even after everything we’ve done together.”

“Man, I wish I could be more grown-up…”

“Oh no, I’ll have to disagree with that. My ideal scenario is you staying just as innocent as you are now—while getting more addicted to me.”

“…Wait. Doesn’t that mean I’ll never be the one initiating anything with you?”

“You’re not wrong. But still, I want you to slowly get to a point where you can start taking the lead too.”

“Do that… as I am now? That’s way too unreasonable…”

“But I believe you can do it. And since it’s a request from your cute girlfriend, won’t you try your best?”

“Damn it… just because you’re my girlfriend doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want…!”

Even though it was clearly an unreasonable demand, she made it sound like something he could pull off—and made him want to try.

He was being skillfully manipulated again, but Satoru couldn’t help feeling like he had no choice but to give it his all.

“Well, don’t be so grumpy. Since you worked up the courage to take a step forward today, I’ll give you a little push.”

“A push? What do you mean by that?”

Satoru asked, and Reika whispered softly in his ear.

“…No one’s home at my place later, and I’ve got plenty of time.”

“…Sorry, but that’s not a push—that’s straight-up bait. I feel like that’s completely different.”

“Oh? Not at all. I’m just calmly telling you the facts, nothing more.”

In other words, rather than being dragged along like usual, she was now saying: “From here on, you make the move.”

“…It’s just the two of us here right now. So, try a little harder, okay?”

“…”

What started out as a spur-of-the-moment action had now somehow led him into a full-blown corner.

“T-Then, um… I think I’d like to… go to your room later…”

He squeezed the words out, saying what he assumed Reika wanted to hear.

“Fufu, well done. Isn’t this the first time you’ve actually invited me somewhere yourself?”

“‘Invited’? You mean you pressured me into it with that intense lead-in!”

“Oh my, what are you talking about? Right now, I’m just a girl with her heart pounding after a lovely invitation from her boyfriend.”

“You’re just making stuff up now…! If our roles were reversed, this would be a disaster!”

“Yes, if they were reversed.”

Satoru flushed with embarrassment at putting it into words, while Reika looked thoroughly pleased.

Though only a slight change on the surface, it felt like their public-facing relationship might shift just a little from here on out—as the two of them continued to sink deeper into the bond they already shared.