I’m a Loner, Gloomy Guy Who Accidentally Witnessed the Moment the Top Girl in the Class Got Dumped. I Didn’t Know What to Say to Comfort Her, So I Just Gave Her a Cola and Somehow We Started Having Lunch Together~ - 33-34

Chapter 33: The Answer to the Question

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Takashiro-san’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly pulled away from me. She got off the bed and, as if fleeing, left the room. That left three people behind. Me, sitting on the bed with my face stiff and strained, and Amamiya-san and Hina, standing side by side at the entrance to the room.

Sharp glares flew at me from the two girls. It was unbearably awkward, and I wanted to leave this place too, but that was probably impossible. There was no way the two of them would allow it. I could tell just from the atmosphere.

For now, I had to say something.

“…Why are the two of you here?”

I asked timidly. Because I was so scared, the voice that came out of my mouth automatically switched into polite speech. On top of that, it was quiet and hoarse, so weak that even I felt pathetic listening to it.

“Okay, okaaaay! I’ll answer!”

However, the one who answered wasn’t either of the two girls. The lively, energetic voice coming from the hallway belonged to my little sister, Mai. Slipping through the gap between the two girls at the entrance, Mai came into the room. When she reached the bed, she plopped down neatly beside me.

“I was having tea with Noa-san, and we decided to come over to the house afterward. Then, on the way back, we happened to run into Hina-oneechan. So I invited her, saying, ‘Would you like to come with us?’”

“Now I get it.”

I had thought it was strange that the two of them, who were like oil and water, would come together, but if that was the case, it made sense. Even Hina probably couldn’t refuse when it was Mai who invited her.

“Um… I’m sorry, Onii-chan. I totally ruined the nice atmosphere you had going with Karin-san…”

“…You don’t need to apologize, and you’re making a big misunderstanding. I wasn’t doing anything with Takashiro-san—”

“Hey!!”

From the direction of the doorway, Hina’s sharp, piercing voice shot out. That short word was packed with so much anger it was almost overwhelming.

“Who cares about us right now?! More importantly, answer my question!!”

Hina glared at me like a ferocious beast about to devour its prey. She looked like she might bite me at any second. Faced with that overwhelming presence, I was completely terrified.

Once again, I was reminded just how scary she really was. Amamiya-san remained silent the whole time, but she gave off an air of agreement with Hina. It seemed like she was waiting for my answer as well.

I didn’t really understand. The answer to Hina’s question of “What is going on here?” was exactly that. There was nothing else I could say. She had suddenly done something like that, and I was just as confused as anyone. I honestly wanted to calm down and think it over carefully for at least half a day.

But still…

She didn’t look like she would accept that. Especially Hina. Even if I told her the truth exactly as it was, I couldn’t imagine a future— not even a one-in-ten-thousand chance—where she’d say, “I see, that’s what happened.” If anything, it would have the opposite effect. It felt like it would only provoke even more anger. If that was the case, then there was only one path left.

“M-My contact lens fell out! So I had Takashiro-san put it back in for me!”

I lied to gloss things over and somehow get through this situation. That was the only option available to me. I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t afford to choose my methods.

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Chapter 34: A Lie to Overcome a Crisis

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“Huh? But Onii-chan, didn’t you always say, ‘You want to hear my strengths? I don’t have any—no, wait, I guess I have one. My eyesight. My eyes have always been good’?—mmph!?”

Using both hands, I hurriedly covered Mai’s mouth. That was undeniably the truth, but having her say it out loud at this moment was extremely inconvenient.

“Please, just go along with it!”

I begged her desperately in a low voice that only Mai could hear.

“Well then… If you’ll grant any one request I ask for later, I’ll do it!”

“Deal!”

I accepted Mai’s proposal without hesitation. To get through this situation, there was no other option. There was no need to think or hesitate, nowhere to hesitate at all. When I quickly pulled my hands away from her mouth…

“…That was when he was in middle school. After that, Onii-chan’s eyesight suddenly worsened, and lately he’s started wearing contact lenses, right?”

Mai immediately played along. That was sudden, but what a perfect follow-up! Nice one, Mai! As expected of an extrovert. Her adaptability was incredible, there was no choice but to admire it. If the situation had been different, I probably would have given her a standing ovation.

“Yeah, exactly! But I’m still not used to them yet, so I can’t put them in properly by myself. That’s why Takashiro-san was helping me.”

“Ohhh, so that’s what it was! Geez, you really surprised me!”

When I fully leaned into Mai’s excellent follow-up, Amamiya-san broke into a smile. It seemed she believed my explanation. However…

“…Is that really true?”

Hina was different. Her raised eyes were still filled with anger and suspicion. She clearly didn’t believe it at all.

“It’s true!”

“…Fine. Let’s assume for the moment that what you just said is true. But then why was Karin in your room? Explain that.”

“I think she was probably asking for love advice.”

“Love advice? …And more importantly, why are you answering, Amamiya-san? I’m asking Masaki.”

Hina’s voice was thick with irritation, but Amamiya-san completely ignored it. She continued without missing a beat.

“Karin-chan likes Touma. So she was talking to Murase-kun about her feelings.”

“T-That’s right! My room was just the most convenient place for it, you know… For various reasons!”

It was lucky that Amamiya-san was on my side. I seized the opportunity and pressed on desperately.

“…Fine. I’ll let it be that way.”

Sounding exasperated, Hina turned her back on me. Her heavy footsteps echoed as she left the room. We somehow managed to cover it up…

She didn’t look like she fully believed us, but still, we’d gotten through the dangerous situation. For now, that was good enough. As I was feeling relieved, Amamiya-san began to move. But unlike Hina, she headed in the opposite direction. She walked straight toward the inside of the room, step by step.

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