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 30: Traveling With Makoto

Chapter 30: Traveling With Makoto

Author’s Note:
After much deliberation, I decided that Phoenix High School’s location was Fukuoka.

The reason was simply because it was my hometown, so I knew the area well.

If someone asked, “You hadn’t decided on a location until now?!” I would have to admit they were absolutely right.

Now, please enjoy the main story!

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“Well then, as I told you before, tomorrow and the day after are completely off. Everyone, make sure you rest your bodies well. Dismissed!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

With this holiday, the final break before the tournament officially ended.

That meant Yuna’s tournament was currently in full swing today.

After finishing practice, I showered lightly and changed at home before meeting up with Makoto. Then, we headed to…

“Ryu-kun! Hurry, hurry!”

“You don’t need to rush so much; the train won’t leave without us.”

“What are you talking about! We need to buy station bento!”

Right now, we were at Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

We were about to board the Shinkansen to head to Tokyo, where the tournament venue was.

“Still, it’s surprising your parents allowed you to travel alone with a guy.”

“Obviously! Ryu-kun is my lifesaver, so they trust you more than some random girl friend!”

When she said that, I felt the weight of their expectations a bit…

Well, being trusted by her parents wasn’t a bad thing, and I had to make sure not to betray that trust.

“Come on, let’s hold hands so we don’t get separated.”

“…! Okay!”

Makoto grabbed the hand I offered, intertwining her fingers with mine. It was the so-called lovers’ handhold.

“…Hehe. I rarely get to have Ryu-kun all to myself like this, so I’m going to enjoy today to the fullest!”

Even though Makoto enjoyed her time with Kanade, of course, I wondered if we should make more time for just the two of us.

I would think about things with Kanade and Yuna later.

For now, I decided to enjoy my time with Makoto to the max.

“Should we buy bento at one of the stops, or get it here?”

“Hmm. I want to try something new, but I’m nervous about getting off the Shinkansen at an unfamiliar stop, so let’s buy it here!”

“Got it. Let’s buy it at that shop over there.”

So, we headed to a shop in the station to buy station bento.

I decided on…

“I’ll go with this [Uni Meshi].”

“Then I’ll take the [Local Chicken Bento]!”

“I’ll buy them together.”

“Oh, thanks! I’ll wait outside then~”

So, I lined up at the register to buy our bento, but I realized I should grab drinks too, which took longer than I expected.

In that short time…

“Hey, you’re cute! Want to hang out with us?”

“No, I have plans.”

“What plans? Maybe we can join you~”

“Please stop. You’re bothering me.”

I couldn’t believe she got hit on so easily.

I had to rescue her before those guys got pushy.

I stood in front of Makoto, blocking the guys’ view.

“Do you have some business with her?”

“Huh? Who the hell are you? We’re just talking, so don’t interrupt.”

“Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can act tough.”

They tried to intimidate me.

But I was taller, and these guys looked pretty scrawny. I’d been through enough rough situations that they didn’t scare me at all.

“Interrupt? I’m her boyfriend, so if anything, you’re the ones in the way.”

“Huh?”

The two guys glared at me, but that level of intimidation didn’t faze me.

Honestly, their persistence was starting to piss me off.

“…Tch! Let’s go.”

“Damn, a girl with a boyfriend is no fun.”

With that, the guys backed off.

Huh, I was ready to give them a piece of my mind.

“Sorry, I took a while… Makoto?”

“…Oh!? Sorry! I zoned out!”

Makoto’s face was red, and her mouth was wide open.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

“No! I’m totally fine! Let’s get to the platform!”

She made a flexing motion, then grabbed my arm.

Unlike before, she linked arms with me, and I could feel her soft touch clearly.

No way. I couldn’t let my worldly desires take over here…!

Because I was thinking such silly things…

“…Maybe I like those serious eyes the most… They made my heart race…”

I didn’t notice Makoto muttering that.

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“Well then, let’s eat!”

“Let’s eat.”

We successfully boarded the Shinkansen and settled in for a four-hour journey.

Since we left in the evening, we would arrive around nine.

It was a bit of a tough trip for high schoolers, but that was part of the travel experience.

“Mmm! As expected, Fukuoka’s all about local chicken!”

“The uni is great too. Super delicious.”

We sat in our seats, relaxed, and enjoyed our station bento.

“I don’t usually think of uni as tasty…”

“Want to try a bite?”

“…Maybe I’ll give it a shot.”

“Here, say ‘ahh.'”

“…Huh?”

I picked up some uni rice with my chopsticks and held it to her mouth.

She looked stunned, staring at me.

What was wrong, Makoto?

“Come on, it’ll spill if you don’t hurry.”

“Uh… no, but… okay, courage, Makoto…! Chomp!”

She shoved the uni rice into her mouth with force. Her face was, as expected, bright red.

Oh, so this was the famous “ahh” thing. No one was watching, so it was fine, right?

“Ugh… I can’t even taste it…”

“Want another bite?”

“You know what you’re doing! Fine, my turn! Here, ahh!”

Makoto held out some chicken rice toward me.

…Yeah, this was a bit embarrassing.

Since I started it, I had to accept it.

“…Mmm. Wow, this is pretty good.”

“…Hmph. Eating it so casually makes me feel like I lost…”

“Sorry, sorry. Forgive me.”

As an apology, I gently patted her head.

“Grr… Getting forgiven like this… ugh… okay… hehe… I guess I’ll forgive you…”

She was truly an adorable girlfriend.

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Maybe because we went straight from school to the station, Makoto was exhausted. Soon after finishing her meal, she fell asleep.

I sat next to her, leisurely reading a book.

“Oops…”

The train jolted slightly.

The shake caused Makoto’s head to tilt toward the window.

If it shook more, she might hit her head on the corner of the wall.

I supported her head gently, so as not to wake her, and leaned it against my shoulder.

“…Fmm… Zzz… Zzz…”

It seemed I didn’t wake her. Good.

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

It was a LIIIN notification.

Probably from Yuna, given the timing.

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Yuna Yamamura: I won!

Ryu: Nice job. We’re heading your way now.

Ryu: (Sent a photo of Makoto’s sleeping face)

Kanade: Ohh, saved it.

Yuna Yamamura: Me too. Looking at it before tomorrow’s match will get me pumped. Maybe I’ll make it my wallpaper.

Ryu: How’s Kanade doing?

Kanade: I perfectly captured Yuna’s heroic moments. I’ll show you tomorrow.

Ryu: Looking forward to it.

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Great. It seemed Yuna advanced to the second day.

I believed in her, but seeing the result was a relief.

Now, we could properly watch Yuna’s match tomorrow.

“Ouch!”

A sharp pain hit my side…!?

Was I stabbed again!?

But it was just Makoto, who was sleeping next to me, pinching my side.

“…You took a photo of my sleeping face, didn’t you…?”

“…Well, not exactly a sneak photo, but…”

“As punishment, be my photo subject.”

“…As you wish…”

After that, she took hundreds of photos at an insane speed.

Well, I brought it on myself, so I’d quietly play the model.

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“Nn~! We’re here!”

“This is Tokyo… So many people.”

“Let’s go to the hotel!”

…No hidden meaning, but it sounded a bit suggestive.

Not that I meant anything by it.

“…Yeah, let’s go.”

We naturally held hands and headed to the hotel.

I didn’t know yet.

A crazy incident awaited us at the hotel.

“Tokyo’s so lively~ It’s past nine, and it’s still like this…”

“Isn’t Hakata similar?”

“No way, Tokyo’s definitely busier!”

Unintentionally, walking together like this felt like a date, naturally.

Especially in a new city, it was inevitable that our excitement rose. We walked slowly, enjoying Tokyo’s scenery.

The hotel was a business hotel, about a ten-minute walk from the station.

The rooms weren’t spacious, and the beds were only singles, but it would do for one night.

Or so I thought…

“We’re so sorry! Due to our mistake, we only reserved one room…!”

“…Huh?”

“Truly, we’re so sorry… It’s entirely our fault…! But all other rooms are fully booked, and we only have one room available…”

“What…?”

This was bad.

I couldn’t let Makoto sleep on the streets in an unfamiliar city…

“Then, Makoto, you take the room.”

“What!? What about you, Ryu-kun?”

“I’ll find a nearby internet café or something. There’s bound to be one open.”

“No way that’s okay!”

“But…”

“Then, then, we can just share the room!”

“What are you saying?”

No one could blame me for giving her a serious look.