Chapter 16

“What are you doing?”  

“I told you I like you, right? Since I confessed, it’s okay to kiss, right?”  

[TL: when she said ‘sukidayo’ in the earlier chapter, it could refer to either him or the patting]

“No, I don’t get it. What kind of logic is that? Why would you…?”  

“Why? The reason? Well, I was helped, we talked while walking home, talked again today, and I ended up liking you. It’s simple, right?”  

“Ah, so you’re saying you’re a simple-minded idiot?”  

“Yep.”  

When she turned it around like that, I didn’t have a response. Yuki maintained a serious expression, not backing down in the slightest.  

“You know, I was thinking about everything last night and couldn’t sleep. Then, when I woke up this morning, your face was on my mind. I just wanted to talk to you more…”  

Yuki’s gaze dropped. A hint of anxiety crossed her face.  

“Today… even now, my heart’s racing. I’m pretending to be strong, but I’m really not strong at all. I thought you might be put off by me if I showed how unstable I am.”  

[TL: she says ‘menhera’]

Saying that, Yuki took my hand, guiding it to her wrist, making my palm touch her skin.  

“See? My heart’s racing, right?”  

“Uhh…”  

She probably wants me to feel her pulse, but honestly, I couldn’t  really tell.  

When I hesitated, Yuki lifted my hand higher, pulling it toward her chest.  

“Can you feel it?”  

My hand touched her left breast.  

From the outside, it looked like a girl was willingly making someone touch her chest. It’s sudden, and I’m at a loss for how to react. Yuki is completely serious, though. It’s not the kind of situation where I could make a joke like, “Wow, it’s pretty big.”  

“Ah, yeah, I get it, I get it.”  

“Do you really understand?”  

She pressed my hand harder against her breast, making me feel the warmth and the sensation.  

This isn’t a time for me to feel lucky or excited. My body stiffened, and my face tightened.  

“Yeah, your heart’s racing, yeah.”  

I exaggeratedly nod a few times. Even I feel my pulse start to race.  

When I pulled my hand away, Yuki snapped back to herself, her face flushing red as she looked down.  

“…Sorry. What am I doing?”  

“Don’t go doing dangerous stuff like that yourself. I’m a gentleman, so it’s fine, but most guys wouldn’t be…”  

“Well, I knew those guys only saw me in a dirty way… But even so, I just wanted someone to listen to me.”  

I finally understand why she had those gatherings.  

It’s been explained a few times, but this time, it felt like the most honest explanation. I think it’s the real, genuine reason. I had a hard time understanding it before, but now, I think I might finally understand her a little better.

“Well, I can’t say I don’t understand. There were times when I didn’t have school or a part-time job, and I’d mumble to myself at home.”

Everyone wants to talk about themselves. They want to be listened to, to have someone empathize with them, and to be praised.

Earlier, when I talked to Yuki… even I, someone like me, thought, “Yeah, that’s true.”

But listening to someone’s story without any return, without saying anything, is tough. After all, everyone is focused on themselves. No matter what you say, the truth is that people generally don’t care about others.

The only ones who listen unconditionally are probably your parents.

Even if it’s someone you call a lover, it’s questionable. One side might be talking all the time, and the balance is off. Or they might be pretending to listen, but actually not hearing anything.

Even adults pay money just to have someone listen to them. There are people who do it as a job. It’s not fair to blame her for everything.

“After all, it’s tough being alone.”

After wondering what to do with my hand as she pulled it out, she placed it on her head.　

Upon further thought, it’s not like anything is being lost. In fact, the soft feel of her hair is quite pleasant.

“Not everything can be like that… but, if it’s okay with you, I can listen to you a little… hey!”

Her face flew into my chest. The force of the blow nearly knocked me backwards, but I thrusted my elbow between myself and the floor to support myself.

I raised my head and found Yuki’s lips right in front of me.

“Hey, that was close…”

Her lips pressed against mine.

At the same time, a soft weight pushed crawled upon me. My center of gravity became unstable and I felt like I’m going to fall to the side.

I quickly put my arms around her back and held her in place. Our lips, which had almost parted, pressed together again. This time her tongue invaded my mouth. The tip of her tongue discreetly traced the outline of my tongue.

“Hmm… hmm…”

Yuki exhaled through her nose.

The pleasant sensation of mucous membranes rubbing against each other gradually made my head become fuzzy.

Even though I was trying to resist, my body was responding. As I took her in my arms, a sense of fulfillment I’d never felt before welled up inside me.

Her tongue parted from my lips.

With nothing covering my mouth, I realized I had forgotten how to breathe. I inhaled her breath, along with her scent, as it exhaled from her lips. My head felt dizzy, as if poison had been pumped into it.

“One more time”

Yuki spoke as if talking to herself, her expression obscured from view. More than anything, I couldn’t take my eyes off her wet lips.

My vision darkened and a gentle warmth seeped in.

If I wanted to reject her I could have easily done so. Her body was thin. If I tried to push her away with all my might, it would be no problem. But I ended up accepting her.

Apparently I was just a simple-minded idiot too.

[TL: ohhhh, goo~ yuki-chan]