Chapter 31

In a room covered by curtains, wrapped in soft darkness.  

On the bed shrouded in dim light, Miki began to explain her so-called “reason.”

“I… at school, they call me a princess, but the truth is, I’m a cowardly, spineless otaku. I just put on a good face on the surface, hiding my true self, unable to even properly say what I want to say…”  

This part I’d heard before. I stayed silent, urging her to continue.  

“You said it too, Hoshi-kun, that I don’t seem that way… but that’s because I’m trying really hard. There’s this version of me that acts weirdly, just to meet everyone’s expectations. I force myself to behave a certain way, almost like I’m hypnotizing myself. But it’s really hard…”  

Miki lowered her gaze, clutching her hands tightly on her lap.  

“I especially have trouble talking to boys… I’m scared of them. It wasn’t like this before, but ever since I saw Yuki being slapped by Dad…”  

Miki trailed off. Her voice trembled slightly.  

I figured pressing her to say more wasn’t the right call, so I cut in instead.  

“Well, I get that much. So, how does that connect to what you’re asking from me?”  

I understood her struggles up to this point, but the logic from here on out baffled me.  

I expected her to falter trying to explain further, but Miki looked utterly calm as she continued.  

“Well, you see, I read something online. It said that once this awkward introverted guy lost his virginity, he suddenly became super confident. He turned into this cool, outgoing person.”  

“…What?”  

“So, I thought that if I experience it too, maybe I can change myself.”  

…What the heck. Is this something I’m supposed to comment on?  

This wasn’t some sort of elaborate princess joke. Miki’s expression was completely serious. She even seemed a little proud of herself, as if she was truly, honestly, earnestly making her case.  

Sure, I couldn’t say there’d be no psychological effects from something like that, but using that as a reason? Seriously?  

But stopping here and just outright saying, “Huh? That’s ridiculous,” wasn’t the way to go either. Maybe she had some other explanation that would make more sense.  

“So… why me?”  

“Well… it’s partly because I thought you were kind of nice. But also… um, because Yuki approved of you. If Yuki thinks you’re okay, then I figured you must be someone I can trust.”  

A Yuki brand guaranteed seal of approval. Is that really a good product?

In the room veiled by curtains, enveloped in soft shadows, Miki began speaking.  

“I might get a bit carried away here… When I finally worked up the courage to hand you my contact information, you gave me such a cold response. And yet, you’re all lovey-dovey with Yuki. It’s unbearable losing to someone who does whatever they please. I mean, if you can still get what you want by behaving like that, then what’s the point of me always holding back?”  

Her words sped up as her emotions flared.  

“But… I know Yuki isn’t at fault. It’s more like… I’m holding a grudge for no reason. Maybe I’m even jealous of her. Being able to express herself so honestly like that must be fun… and I thought maybe, just maybe, I could sort out all those feelings by doing this.”  

Her tone gradually softened, slowing down.  

“We weren’t always like this, you know. We used to be close, always together, and everyone kept mixing us up because they couldn’t tell us apart… But then Yuki got slapped by Dad, and I didn’t. I think that moment was the turning point.”  

Somehow, it felt like we had drifted into a heartfelt story. It almost justified why I had come all the way here.  

As the conversation found a pause, Miki turned her gaze back to me.  

“Um… what happens today stays just between us, okay?”  

This girl sure loves secrets. Me, not so much. As I remained hesitant to confirm, Miki stretched her arms out in front of her and let out a sigh.  

“Hah, that felt good to say out loud. So then… let’s get started.”  

The shadows moved as she turned to face me fully.  

It didn’t seem like she intended to leave it at just the conversation.  

Miki fidgeted with her hands, clasped over her lap, glancing up at me with big, anxious eyes. My vision had adjusted to the dim room by now, and her expression seemed almost pleading. It was as if she were silently surrendering control to me, letting me take the lead.  

“Senpai, I’m a total newbie here and don’t know what I’m doing, okay?”  

I decided to be upfront. We weren’t about to jump-cut straight to “and then it was all over.”  

Miki, embarrassed, averted her eyes and fumbled with her words.  

“Well… uh, you need to, like, loosen things up first and… you know, get everything… ready.”  

“How do I get it ready?”  

“Um… I think maybe… if we kiss, then…”  

“Ah, right, a kiss.”  

I scooted closer and leaned toward her, unhesitatingly bringing my face near hers.  

Miki flinched and stiffened her back before tightly squeezing her eyes shut. I stopped just a breath away from her lips.  

It wasn’t something entirely unfamiliar. I’d encountered something very similar before, several times.  

Her lips, however, were unnaturally moist, probably from some preparation she had done, anticipating this.  

“Wow, super prepared, aren’t you? You’re really going all out here.”  

Miki’s cheeks twitched slightly at my remark.  

I inched closer, my hand lightly brushing against her upper arm. Her body jolted subtly once again. As my lips approached her tightly closed ones, I felt her hesitate and then slowly crack open her eyelids, sensing my presence.  

“Uh, so, about that… Mickey over there staring intently at us is kind of distracting.”  

Miki quickly reached over, flipping the plushie’s face down onto the bed. She returned to her spot, her gaze shifting nervously in the shadows.  

Her lips parted slightly, ready to accept an outside presence.  

I drew closer, and her lips did the same.  

But just as they were about to meet, I pinched Miki’s cheek.  

[TL: aww, Miki didn’t get to kiss.]