I Was Reincarnated as a Mob, and After I Kept Listening to the Losing Childhood-Friend Heroine’s Complaints, I Somehow Maxed Out Her Affection Rating - 34

Chapter 34: Is This the True Power of the Heroine Known as an Angel?

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When I woke up, the inside of my room had turned orange. Before I knew it, I had apparently been sleeping for quite a long time.

“Did my fever go down?”

I stuck the thermometer under my arm and waited absentmindedly. When it beeped and I checked the display, it read a little over 37 degrees. Compared to the hell of this morning, that number already felt like heaven.

“Alright… I guess I should get up…”

The moment I said that and tried to stand…

Ding-dong.

The doorbell echoed unusually loudly.

“…Who the hell rings at this timing…”

Dragging my body along, I made my way to the intercom and leaned in to check the monitor. What appeared there was…

“…Huh? Hiiragi-san?”

Kaede, in her school uniform, was staring straight at me. I hurried to unlock the door, and as soon as the latch clicked, Kaede peeked her face inside.

“Hey! Are you okay!?”

“I-I’m okay… I still have a fever, but…”

The moment I answered, Kaede’s shoulders dropped. Her expression clearly showed relief.

“Thank goodness… Really. At school, you know, like… Well…”

“Like what?”

“No, nothing!”

For some reason, she cut herself off mid-sentence as if forcing the subject away. Kaede did these weirdly theatrical gestures sometimes.

“Oh, here. The printouts. I brought them from the teacher.”

“You came all the way here to bring them? Thanks.”

“Yeah. And then…”

After handing me the papers, Kaede suddenly began taking off her shoes as if it were the most natural thing to do in this world.

“H-hey!? Why are you coming in!? You’ll catch my cold!”

“It’s fine. I bought a mask on the way here.”

“…W-well, yeah, but still…”

With that, Kaede put on the mask, walked into the kitchen, and set a bag down with a rustling sound.

“I’m going to make rice porridge. You still have rice, right?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“I also bought cooling gel sheets and some Pocari.”

“…Thanks.”

Deep inside my chest, something warmed. And it wasn’t because of the fever. It was because Kaede had come all the way here for me. But that feeling was somehow a little dangerous.

“…Hey, Hiiragi-san.”

“What?”

“I’m looking forward to the porridge.”

“Mm. Leave it to me.”

The sounds of Kaede moving around in the kitchen felt strangely comforting.

“Anyway, I’ll sit on the sofa—”

As I said that and moved toward the sofa—

“Okay, stop.”

When I turned around, Kaede was standing there with her arms crossed. It was the classic “Mom in lecture mode” pose.

“…Huh?”

“‘Huh?’ isn’t an answer. Sick people shouldn’t sit on the sofa. You need to be lying down.”

“No, no, I’m already fine.”

“No. If your cold comes back, it’ll be a problem!”

She marched over and grabbed my arm.

“Come on, this way.”

“Wait, I already stood up and walked here, doesn’t that prove I’m—”

Even as I complained, Kaede kept pulling me toward the bedroom.

“Here, get in bed.”

“No, seriously—”

“Get in.”

“…Yes.”

What was this? I was completely the “son losing to his mom’s pressure.” Kaede nodded triumphantly and pulled the blanket over me.

“Good. Sick people need to stay put like this. Okay? ‘Nursing Basic Rule #1.’ Remember it.”

She straightened the blanket and placed a hand on my forehead.

“…Still a little warm. You really do need to rest.”

“Eh!?”

She didn’t hesitate at all to touch my forehead!?

“Huh? I think you’re even hotter than before.”

“I-I’m okay…”

“Really? Well anyway, stay in bed. I’ll bring the porridge once it’s done.”

Before walking to the door, Kaede paused and looked back at me.

“…I don’t like it when Yuuta-kun looks like he’s suffering. So please… Just behave, okay?”

“…”

My heart felt strangely hot.

“…Alright. I’ll stay in bed.”

“That’s better. Good job.”

Kaede said that and lightly closed the door. Her footsteps faded as she quietly walked back to the living room.

“…What was that…”

I stared up at the ceiling and muttered.

“She’s… She’s way too kind…”

Then I realized it. I was… I was probably really happy. After relaxing in bed for a while, there was a soft knock.

“I’m coming in. I brought the porridge.”

Kaede entered with both hands balancing a tray.

“Here, sit up. I’ll put a cushion behind you.”

“O-okay…”

She adjusted the blanket’s angle as I followed her movements and sat up. Kaede sat beside me and held out the bowl of porridge—then paused.

“…Hmm?”

Her gaze shifted, landing on the small table beside the bed.

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“What’s this?”

She pointed at an energy drink.

“Ah, um… I thought it might, you know, help me get some energy…”

“…Hmm?”

It was completely the silence of “a mom finding her son’s test scores.”

“No, you see… It was just to get my spirits up…”

“You shouldn’t drink stuff like this when you’re sick!”

“S-sorry!”

She was definitely angry. But the type of anger that came from someone who cared more than anyone else, which somehow made it worse.

“Honestly… Okay! It’s time for your punishment!”

“Eh? Punishment?”

“Yup. As punishment… Here.”

Kaede picked up the spoon.

“Eh, no, I can eat by myself—”

“Nope. Drinking an energy drink while sick is a serious offense.”

Still pouting, she held the spoonful of porridge in front of my face.

“Here, ahh.”

“No, no, no, that’s a bit—”

“Come on! Ahh.”

With her cheeks puffed out in irritation, refusing her felt impossible.

“…Fine. Ahh.”

When I opened my mouth, Kaede smiled in satisfaction and gently fed me the spoonful. The porridge spread across my tongue—soft, warm, gently salty. It was warm in more than one way.

“H-how? Is it good?”

“…Yeah. It has a gentle taste to it. Really good.”

“…!”

Kaede’s face lit up like a flower blooming.

“I’m glad…! Okay, eat more. I made a lot!”

Happily, she scooped another spoonful and brought it to my mouth. I opened up again, obedient. With every bite, I felt my body relax. Kaede’s voice, the steam, her closeness—everything felt oddly soothing. After I finished the porridge, the moment I set the spoon down, Kaede announced.

“Okay, now it’s time for you to rest. Here, I’ll pull the blanket up—”

This feeling… This was the same kindness described in the original story, the reason fans called her “Angel Heroine Kaede.” They called her an actual angel, saying “girls like this don’t exist in real life.” And the “real thing” was here, tucking me into bed. Crap. This was genuinely bad for my heart.

“…Thanks, Kaede.”

“Eh? Why are you suddenly all sentimental?”

“Just… No reason in particular.”

“Hmm… Well, whatever. Anyway, rest. I’ll be in the living room.”

She shrugged and stood. Then, halfway to the door, she paused—turned once—and looked straight at me.

“Okay, sleep well. Good night.”

She said that quietly and closed the door. The room became silent at once. In that quiet, I thought only one thing. So this was the true identity of the Kaede the fans called an “angel.” Logically speaking, how could anyone not fall for her?

…N-no, I’m not falling for her! Not like that! I mean, she’s like an angel, that’s all!

Trying to justify myself, I wrapped myself in the blanket.

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