I tried to confess my feelings to the girl I like, but I got too excited and ended up proposing. Was her response OK?! ~ - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“Sorry to keep you waiting~. I took too long relaxing.”

“No, it’s okay. I came out earlier than planned, that’s all.”

“I appreciate you saying that, but I still made you wait, so let me treat you to some coffee milk.”

I’m pretty sure there’s a vending machine right nearby.

Here with Mana… no, I should take her along.

“There should be a vending machine nearby selling milk or something. Let’s buy from there and head back to the room.”

“Yes!”

Now that we’re back in the room, there’s nothing much to do.

“Mana? Um, that yukata suits you so well.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I complimented her on a whim, but it’s quite embarrassing.

How do extroverts manage to do this so easily?

“Um! Do you want to play a game? I brought it with me, and there’s also a TV here.”

“Sure, let’s play a game.”

Saying so, we took out the game console from our bags and connected the wires.

“What do you want to play?”

“Well… since it’s my first time, I’d prefer something simple.”

“In that case, how about this one! It’s a simple racing game.”

“A race, huh? I won’t lose to you, Sora-kun.”

“Oh! If you say so! How about we make a bet?”

I’m just joking, of course.
I’m not rotten enough to do something like that to a beginner.

“Let’s do it.”

“Huh?”

“What are the stakes?”

“Well… let’s see… how about this, the loser has to do whatever the winner says, just once.”

“Okay. No holding back, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

And so, we started the game.

As expected, I easily won.

Mana got beaten badly by the computer and ended up in last place.

“So, what now?”

“A bet’s a bet. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Well, let’s see…, how about dropping the formal language? Let’s stop using honorifics.”

“Huh?”

“Honorifics create a sense of distance, even if you don’t mean it, Mana. So, no honorifics!”

“I see. Um… that’s going to be difficult.”

“Well, you’ll get used to it little by little. It’s just a little challenge.”

And so, I brought Mana even closer.

We continued playing the game, but halfway through, dinner was brought in.

“This looks delicious, doesn’t it? Mana? What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing. I mean, nothing. I just… got frustrated because I couldn’t beat you even once.”

She’s still cute when she’s sulking.

Why does her frustrated expression alone make for such a picturesque scene?

“You’re a beginner, Mana. It can’t be helped. Let’s eat, shall we?”

“…Okay.”

Saying that, Mana snuggled up close to me.

Even when she’s pouting like this, it feels somehow heartwarming.

“Mana?”

“What?”

“You’re cute.”

“ー!! Mou! What’s going on! Stop teasing me like that!”

Saying so, she lightly hit my thigh, but even that’s adorable.

“You’re using honorifics again?”

“Ah, um, th-that’s… stop teasing me! I’m the one who’s supposed to tease you, Sora-kun!”

“Oh? What does that mean?”

“Oh, that’s… forget it!”

“Can’t do that. Are you going to tease me now? Well, in that case, I’m going to tease you even more!”

I placed Mana on my lap, patting her head and whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

Whispering sweet nothings… how embarrassing!!

But it’s fun, so it’s okay.

After about five minutes of this, Mana gave up.

“If you’ve learned your lesson from this, promise not to tease me anymore.”
“Mmm, that’s unfair, Sora-kun.”

“I’m not teasing you intentionally. It’s just that my true feelings slip out, and you end up getting embarrassed.”

I took Mana off my lap and patted her head again.

“Are you trying to win forgiveness by patting my head?”

“Is it working?”

“Well, I’ll forgive you…”

Saying that, Mana started eating her meal.

Should I eat too?

“Hey, Mana. When we go back, I’d like to meet the people who raised Mana.”

Saying so, Mana visibly showed her unease.

“Why?”

“Well, I think it’s important to greet them properly. Plus, I want to thank them for raising you.”

And also, about Mana’s parents…

“Understood. I’ll try contacting them soon.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

At that time, I still didn’t realize.

The gravity of Mana’s family situation was more significant than I had imagined.