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 - 40

Chapter 40: She’s Acting Way Too Much Like My Girlfriend Since Morning…

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I didn’t feel like I had slept at all. No, to be precise, I had only “opened my eyes,” while my mind and body still desperately wanted more sleep.

“…I’m so sleepy I could die…”

Remembering last night’s hellish level of sweetness made me want to punch a pillow in my head. Sleeping while pressed together, her sleep-talking “I like you,” all kinds of softness… There was no way I could’ve slept through that. Before I realized it, the bed no longer held any presence besides mine.

“…Huh? Hiiragi-san?”

On top of the blanket, that jersey had been neatly folded and placed in order.

“…She’s too polite…”

I staggered up and headed toward the living room. And the sight I saw there completely woke me up.

“~♪ Nfufun~♪”

Kaede, wearing her uniform with an apron, was humming to herself as she cooked breakfast. Sunlight streamed into the kitchen, steam rose from the miso soup, and the scent of eggs cooking drifted in the air. Right in the middle of all that, she turned around and smiled at me. 

“Good morning, Yuuta-kun!”

Her smile was downright blinding.

“—!”

My heart leapt like it was trying to kill me. No, seriously, that smile just now was foul play.

“…G-good morning…”

“What’s wrong? Your face is red.”

“No, it’s… It’s nothing…”

My voice sounded strange because I was unbelievably shaken. Kaede tilted her head and stepped closer with a light movement.

“Is your cold all better? …Excuse me for a second.”

“Eh, wa—”

Kaede’s hand touched my forehead. Her hand was cool. Her face leaned in close to mine. Her perfectly round eyes were right at zero distance.

“Mm, looks fine. I’m glad.”

“…”

My heart had been hovering just above the lethal limit this whole time. Kaede didn’t seem to notice at all as she smiled in satisfaction.

“Okay, take a seat. Breakfast is ready!”

“…O-okay…”

When I sat at the table, the breakfast placed in front of me was tamagoyaki, miso soup, slightly overcooked salmon, and vegetables. The very definition of a Japanese meal.

“Did you make all this…?”

“Yeah. Since I stayed over, it’s only right that I make you breakfast, isn’t it?”

“…No, that’s basically a girlfriend move, though…?”

“Eh? Did you say something?”

“N-nope! Didn’t say anything!”

No, but wait. No matter how you look at this…She’s basically acting like my girlfriend, right?

An apron, humming, worrying about my cold, homemade breakfast, zero-distance touch. This combo was already…

“Yuuta-kun?”

“Yeah?”

“…Are you actually eating?”

“I am.”

“Really?”

She leaned in and stared at me intensely. She was too close. Way too close, and remembering last night’s closeness made my heart hurt like crazy.

With all of this… The sleep-talking “I like you,” the hugging… Can I even handle this?

Just as that question floated in the corner of my mind—

“Hey, Yuuta-kun.”

“W-what?”

“…Let’s have another good day today, okay?”

The words she said, as if they were just any ordinary greeting, sent my heart crashing all over again.

Ah, seriously… If she keeps doing this… I really will fall for her.

The breakfast tasted unbelievably gentle, yet the restlessness in my chest didn’t calm down at all. After finishing breakfast, I changed into my uniform and put on my shoes at the entrance. And the moment I opened the door—

“Yuuta-kun, let’s go.”

Kaede was already standing there.

Eh? Why is she waiting for me?

I thought she would’ve gone ahead of me. Just as that thought hit me—

“Here.”

She took my hand.

“-!?”

And she did it with fingers completely intertwined. It was the so-called “lover’s hold.”

“H-Hiiragi-san!?”

“What?”

“What, not what! We’re— we’re holding hands!”

“Yeah, we’re holding hands.”

“That’s not the point!”

I tried to pull away, but—

“Nope.”

She squeezed my hand firmly. And her grip was surprisingly strong. It was like her warmth itself said, “I’m not letting you go.”

…No seriously, what is she thinking!?

“Hey, Yuuta-kun.”

“W-what?”

“…Do you not like it?”

She looked up at me again with those upturned eyes. The same look she showed last night in the bed. Nope. That look was super effective on me!

“…It’s not like I hate it! I don’t hate it at all!! But this is bad!”

“What is?”

“If someone sees… You know… They’ll start rumors!”

“Fufun, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine!”

While we were talking, we got closer to school. As expected, the students on the way turned to look. When our eyes met, they started whispering.

“…Isn’t that Hiiragi-san?”

“Wait, are they holding hands?”

“Isn’t that Fujiwara? Why do they look that close?”

“Bro, he’s totally her boyfriend, right?”

Everything I heard was full-on commentary.

…This was the end. My peaceful mob-life in school just ended right here.

“Hey, Hiiragi-san, seriously, we should let go—”

“No.”

A direct hit.

“…If Shouma finds out, we’re going to get in trouble.”

The moment I said that, Kaede’s reaction changed.

“Shouma… He doesn’t matter anymore.”

So easily. So plainly. Like she had truly cut him off for real.

“…Huh?”

“I said he doesn’t matter. Did you not hear me?”

“No, I heard you just fine, but…”

There wasn’t a hint of gloom in her expression. If anything, she looked refreshed, like a clear sky.

…Did something happen? Considering how she had been since last night, something definitely happened then. Well, whatever it was, I had no way of knowing. In the end, I entered the school gates with her still holding my hand. We were completely like a brand-new couple.

…Well, I mean… It’s not like it’s a bad thing or anything…

Surrounded by whispers and with her gripping my hand tightly, I turned my face slightly away and looked forward as if to hide my expression.

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