I Thought I Was Dead After Getting Stabbed While Protecting a Girl From a Random Attacker, but a Goddess Gave Me a Special Reward and Brought Me Back to Life in My Original Body—Now, All These Girls Are Coming on to Me!? - Chapter 25.2: Exploding Feelings

Chapter 25.2: Exploding Feelings

I checked my body first.

Bandages covered my face, and patches were under my hospital gown, but no casts, so as expected, no major injuries, which was a relief.

Then, someone knocked on the hospital room door.

“Ryu-kun, I’m coming in.”

“Ryu, are you still sleeping…?”

Kanade and Makoto entered.

“Good morning, you two!”

“Idiot! We were so worried!”

“You’re getting punished later. That’s final.”

As usual, they tackled me.

I know I worried them, and I feel bad about it.

But I’m covered in bruises, so a little gentler would be nice, ouch!

“Oh, sorry! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine… Sorry for worrying you both.”

“Honestly, we need to watch you 24/7.”

“Yeah…! We need to get permission from Mom and Dad to stay over soon…”

“Wait, stop with the ominous talk.”

I chatted with them a bit.

After such a crazy day, talking with them felt so calming.

“By the way, where’s Yuna?”

“She went to buy drinks, so she’ll be back soon.”

“…Got it. I have something to tell you two.”

“It’s okay, we know without you saying.”

“Yeah, you like Yuna, right?”

“…You could tell?”

“Of course, we’re your girlfriends!”

“I thought you’d say it even sooner.”

S-Seriously? They might have noticed my feelings before I did.

I really can’t beat them.

“If it’s Yuna, we’re okay with it. She’s kind and super cute.”

“I agree. She’d support not just you but us too. Also, she’s cute.”

I don’t get their obsession with cute, but it’s good they’re positive about Yuna.

Now, I just need to tell her my feelings.

Right at that moment.

“Makoto, Kanade, I’m back…”

“Good morning, Yuna.”

“Ryu…? The real one…?”

“Being treated like a fake hurts, you know.”

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she hugged me tightly.

Does everyone have to tackle me to feel satisfied?

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m fine.”

“I know…! I know you’d never leave me… but I was scared… if you died because of me…”

“…Sorry. I worried you.”

“No… it’s all my fault… I don’t have the right to be worried…”

“That’s not true… though it’s weird for me to say. I was happy to protect you with my own hands.”

“Ryu…”

“But knowing you, you’ll still feel responsible.”

“That’s… true. No matter how much you protected me, my careless actions put you in danger at this important time. I’m really sorry…!”

“It’s okay, I forgive you.”

“…That’s too easy.”

“If anything, just promise to talk to others if something like this happens again.”

“…I really regret that…”

“You’re like that sometimes…”

“Ugh…”

“That’s a dramatic sound.”

“Shut up! I’m being sincere, and you’re just saying whatever…!”

“Haha, I like you better when you’re this lively.”

“…! Grr…!”

“I love that Yuna.”

“So you like me… I like you too… huh?”

“So, does that mean you’ll go out with me?”

“Wait… what did you just say? No, what did I just say?”

“You said you like me.”

“No, no, no, wait, wait, wait, it was a figure of speech, it just slipped out!”

“So you don’t like me?”

“No, I like… I mean, uh… Makoto and Kanade are here, you cheater!”

“I’m aware of that. That’s why I’m ready to make everyone happy.”

“Well… I can see that from how you treat them…”

“I want to make you happy too, Yuna.”

“W-W-W-What are you saying, you idiot!”

“I love you, Yuna. I want to be with you forever.”

“Ry… Ryu…!”

As we talked, she looked straight into my eyes, her face bright red. That serious attitude was one reason I fell for her.

“It’s lame to say this all beat up, but Yuna, will you go out with me?”

At that, tears streamed from her eyes like a waterfall.

“I… I’ve always thought of you as a comrade since we were kids…”

I didn’t reply, just listened quietly to her.

I noticed Kanade and Makoto had left the room. I made them worry.

“But before I knew it, I fell in love with you…! Your earnest, sincere attitude. Your kind eyes and words toward me…!”

“But I don’t deserve your love…! I can’t forgive myself for hurting you…!”

“…Yuna, your strong sense of responsibility is a virtue and one reason I love you.”

“…!”

Her reaction to my “love” was so cute every time.

I hadn’t noticed before, but I get why Kanade and Makoto were smitten.

Seeing a new side of her made me happy.

We’ll talk about her charms later. That’s not the point now.

“But I don’t think you should bear all the responsibility.”

“But…!”

I held Yuna’s hand by the bedside.

“Yuna, do you think I’m unreliable?”

“No way! You’ve always saved me…”

“I feel the same.”

“…!”

“You’ve saved me so many times. I’d be happy if that continues.”

“I…!”

“Will you keep helping me? As my girlfriend?”

“…Is that okay? Someone like me… you already have such wonderful women.”

“That’s not true.”

My tone got a bit sharp, and Yuna’s shoulders flinched.

“Kanade and Makoto are wonderful, yes. But I don’t compare them to you. I love you because you’re Yuna, and I want you as my girlfriend because you’re Yuna.”

“…Is it really okay to love you? To stay by your side?”

“I want you by my side. I want you with me, Yuna.”

At those words, her tears, which had slowed, burst out again.

“Wah… wah… I’ll be… your girlfriend…! I love you so much…!”

I hugged the sobbing Yuna tightly.

My hospital gown got soaked with tears and snot, but I’ll apologize to the nurse later, so please forgive me for now.

With this, everything was truly settled… I think.