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 38: Yuna’s Sleepover

Chapter 38: Yuna’s Sleepover

“Congratulations on winning the first game!”

“Thank you, everyone.”

I safely got through my first pitching appearance. After that, I faced no major challenges and held the remaining innings. The team won 7-0. The second round is three days later, and our opponent is the winner of the third match held afterward.

After the game, I met up with all my girlfriends at my house. They celebrated my first appearance and first victory.

We only won the first game, so we decided against having a party. But gathering and having fun together like this feels acceptable.

“But hitting a home run right away…”

“Really, I was so shocked when you came up and hit it. I couldn’t even speak.”

“That was unexpected… or rather, just a lucky guess…”

“Even so, to play so boldly in that moment isn’t something everyone can do.”

Everyone praised me like that.

It was my first official high school game, so I felt mentally drained. But talking with everyone healed my frayed heart.

“Oh, it’s already this late! Kanade, let’s head home!”

“Yeah, Ryu must be tired, and we’re pretty worn out from being in the sun.”

“Right. Let’s call it a day.”

With that, the two started preparing to leave.

…Something feels off. Aren’t they acting a bit cold?

“See you tomorrow!”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

“…Yeah, see you tomorrow… Yuna?”

“What!?”

As the two slung their bags over their shoulders to leave, one girl stood behind me, watching them go.

“No way, Yuna.”

“…But they both stayed over with you, Ryu… That’s not fair.”

“…Huh. Was Makoto the mastermind?”

“I came up with it yesterday.”

“It’s not fair if only we get the good stuff. Plus, it’s like a reward for Yuna if we win the tournament.”

“…Yuna, are you okay with this?”

“…I want to stay over.”

“…Fine. Just one night.”

“Got it…! Of course!”

With that, she pulled out a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and a full sleepover kit from her bag. I thought her bag looked unusually big, and now I know why…

She even brought a spare uniform. She’s fully planning to go to school from here…

“Well, we’re leaving for real now!”

“Looking forward to going to school with Yuna tomorrow.”

“Yeah! Thanks, both of you.”

With that, the two left briskly.

Those two… such pranksters or something…

“So, want to shower first?”

“Sh…!? You…! Shameless!”

“Why!? Don’t you want to wash off the sweat!?”

“Oh, right… Okay? …Don’t you dare peek!”

“No way I’d peek! Just go already!”

Yuna cautiously glanced at me before heading to the bathroom.

Unlike Makoto or Kanade, she’s not used to this kind of thing, so it probably won’t get weird. Probably.

…It’ll be fine, right?

“I’m done!”

“W-Welcome back!”

“…Your voice cracked.”

Seeing me in light clothes after my bath, Yuna’s face turned bright red, and she got flustered.

Compared to the bold Makoto and Kanade, this calmness is nice…

Drawn to her cuteness, I couldn’t help but pat her head.

“Eek! Stop it…! Ngh… Fweh…”

As I kept patting, her face softened more and more.

In the end, when I tried to pull my hand away, she rubbed her head against it herself.

It’s kind of…

Maybe a bit rude to her, but it’s like the cuteness of a pet dog.

The gap between her usual cool self and this makes me sink deeper into an inescapable swamp. Not that I’m resisting.

“…Hah! What am I doing!?”

“Tch… Back to your senses, huh…”

As I kept patting, Yuna’s awareness returned.

The petting fever time ended.

“What do you take me for! Honestly… No next time…!”

“Sorry, sorry… You were just too cute, Yuna.”

“C-Cute…!? Don’t think you can sway me with flattery!”

“It’s not flattery.”

“…Hmph! I’m just a tomboy anyway!”

“Who said that? I’ll have to personally convince them otherwise.”

“No one said it! No one! Calm down! Don’t get all serious suddenly!”

“Yuna, you’re genuinely cute. Where? Like how your face turns red when I compliment you, or how you blurt out what’s on your mind, or how you charge forward once you’re set on something…”

“Ugh… Okay, okay, stop already…”

Oops, I might’ve gone too far.

Well, for Yuna, who lacks a bit of self-awareness, this level of teasing is just right.

After that, I rubbed her back to calm her down while she let off steam.

As Yuna got used to being at my house, we relaxed, watched baseball games, and talked about school life, enjoying our time together. Soon, bedtime approached.

“Yuna, is the bed okay for you?”

“No problem. I sleep in a bed at home.”

“Okay. Use my bed. I’ll take the sofa or something…”

“Hm? You’re not sleeping in the bed, Ryu?”

“There’s only one bed. You use it.”

“But you just finished a game and need rest. I’m fine with the sofa.”

“No way. Letting you sleep on the sofa wouldn’t sit right with your dad.”

“But still.”

“No buts.”

“…”

“…”

This is one of those no-compromise situations.

As a man, letting my beloved girlfriend sleep on the sofa goes against my principles.

…Never thought I’d suggest this myself…

“Fine. I’ve got a compromise.”

“A compromise?”

“…We both sleep in the bed.”

“…Huh?”

“Both of us, together, in the bed. Okay?”

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

“If we keep arguing, neither of us will sleep. Of course, I won’t do anything weird and don’t plan to.”

“Obviously, you idiot! …B-But, a guy and girl our age sharing a bed…”

“…Here’s the thing.”

“What?”

“Makoto and Kanade both slept with me.”

“Fine then! If there’s only one bed, we’ll just have to sleep together! It’s unavoidable! Yup!”

Like a power drill in her palm?

And so, I ended up sleeping with all my girlfriends…

I know the world’s guys would stab me for this.

It’s all because my girlfriends are too cute.

“…W-Well, time to sleep!”

“If you’re that hyped up, you won’t sleep.”

“Guh…! B-But, I’m so nervous…”

Sleeping next to a beauty like Yuna, I thought I’d be nervous too. But when someone’s more nervous than you, you stay calm.

“You’ve been out and used up energy. If you don’t sleep well, it’ll hit you tomorrow.”

“I-I know…!”

…This isn’t working. I suggested it, but we won’t sleep like this.

Maybe I should move to the sofa. Just then—

“…Ryu, can I ask one thing…?”

“A favor? What?”

“Well… when you patted my head earlier, I felt really calm…”

“…Got it. Should I pat your head until you fall asleep?”

“No… Um…”

…Yuna’s being unusually hesitant.

If it’s a request from her, I’d do pretty much anything, so she doesn’t need to hold back.

“What’s up? Tell me anything.”

“Anything… you said…? Really anything…!?”

“Y-Yeah…?”

She’s got some intense energy, but what kind of request is this…?

“Alright… I’ll say it…! H-H-H-Hold me…!”

“Uh…?”

“When you patted me, I felt your warmth… It calmed me down… So, could you… please?”

With those pleading eyes, what guy could refuse? I feel like I’ve been using that rhetorical question daily.

“…Okay. You’re sure?”

“Y-Yes! A girl’s got guts! Bring it on!”

I slowly hugged Yuna in front of me.

Her slightly higher body temperature warmed me.

“…How’s that? Calmer?”

“…My heart’s pounding too much to tell.”

“That’s no good.”

“N-No! It’s not like before when I felt helpless!”

“…Really? If not, I’ll take the sofa.”

“I-It’s fine…! …Can you hold me a bit tighter?”

“…This is really just to help you sleep, right? Not just indulging yourself, right?”

“O-Obviously…! …Hehe…”

Her expression does seem less tense than before.

This might help her fall asleep faster than just lying side by side.

“…Since we’re here… it’s okay, right?”

“Yuna? Did you say something?”

“R-Ryu!”

“W-What’s up?”

“Um…!”

“Yeah…?”

“Before bed… I want to do that before-bed kiss thing!”

“What are you saying?”

“I-I’ve always dreamed of it! Kissing the person I love before bed! Ever since I thought about dating you, I wanted to… Never mind! Forget it!”

“No way I can forget that.”

“Ugh…”

Yuna, you’ve been thinking of me that long…?

With such a cute face making that request, as her boyfriend, I can’t not respond.

“Yuna, have sweet dreams. Goodnight.”

I gently kissed her lips, just a touch.

“Ah… Hehe… Thanks, Ryu… Goodnight.”

As if in reply, she gave me a similar feather-light kiss.

Soon after, Yuna fell asleep in my arms with a completely relaxed expression.

I admired her sleeping face for a while before drifting off to dreamland myself.