I’m an Introvert, but After Taking Care of the School’s Most Beautiful Girl Who Lives in an Apartment When She Was Sick, She Became Attached to Me and Started Inviting Me Over to Her Place! - Chapter 75

Chapter 75

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“Hey, Sora-kun? Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

“I do… believe me, I am painfully aware…”

“Then, you understand that you shouldn’t do things at school that make me jealous, right? Since we decided to keep our relationship a secret for now?”

In a deserted emergency stairwell, Sorato was pinned against the wall by Kaon, succumbing to her fierce pursuit without any way to make an excuse. In truth, even if it was unintentional, Sorato was entirely at fault this time for allowing a two-shot photo with another girl.

Slowly, Kaon intensified the pressure of the aura she was exuding. Since they had agreed not to go public with their relationship yet, Kaon couldn’t scold him openly when she encountered such scenes. She had to forcibly swallow the true feelings of jealousy burning inside her heart.

“I mean, you know, right? If I were talking to another boy, Sora-kun, you’d be jeal—”

“I would be unbelievably jealous of him. I’d probably resent him to the point of hating him for the rest of my life.”

When he replayed the scenario Kaon offered as an example in his head, wanting her to know the state of his own heartbeat, a level of jealousy sprouted in Sorato’s heart that was far more than he could process.

“Right? —Haah. I was so lonely… I want you to hug me and comfort me, you know?”

While peeking at Sorato out of the corner of her eye, Kaon spread her arms and made a needy expression.

…Alright. No sign of anyone.

To grant her adorable request, Sorato checked the surroundings three times. Since using these emergency stairs was generally prohibited, there was no sign of anyone coming up.

“Nngh…”

As Sorato hugged her with all his might, while still trying to be gentle, Kaon let out a sweet, thin whimper and dove into his chest. The way she rubbed the top of her head against him made her look like a kitten clinging to its mother. Naturally, Sorato’s right hand began stroking her head. Her hair felt silky and pleasant to the touch. It was the kind of hair he wanted to touch forever.

“—Sniff, sniff… Sniff, sniff.”

“Kaon? Are you sniffing my scent?”

“It’s a return gift♪”

Kaon had finally cheered up. 

This person really loves sniffing scents…

Sorato muttered in his heart, though it was a total case of “the pot calling the kettle black.” While she spent some time enjoying his presence, he began to blankly think about the future.

I see. Talking at school is fine in itself, but we can only interact with a sense of distance as if we’re not dating yet, or as if we’re practically meeting for the first time…

Just as Kaon said earlier, acting as “strangers” at school was the absolute premise, so avoiding basic contact was a given. Furthermore, as Sorato watched her squirming in his arms, he noticed something.

“Wait a second…? If contact at school is basically forbidden, does that mean I have to just stand by and watch while other guys hit on Kaon…?”

“Hmm. That’s right? Thinking about it that way, isn’t it harder for you than it is for me?”

Kaon, who had been held with a look of wonder, tilted her head and said so with a brilliant smile. Naturally, not making the fact that they were dating public meant he had to silently overlook the sight of other boys hitting on Kaon just as they always had.

He felt a heavy jealousy take root in his heart, the kind that made him feel irritated just by imagining it. Since Sorato wasn’t the type to be hit on by girls in the first place, Kaon could manage with just a little patience, but in Kaon’s case, she was popular enough to be called the “most beautiful girl in school,” so everything depended on how much Sorato could trust her.

“I’ll stay quiet because it’s Kaon’s request… But if those bastards try anything funny, I’m gonna deck ’em…!”

“Fufu, Sora-kun is quite the jealous type, isn’t he?♪”

He intended to respect Kaon’s opinion to the end, but Sorato was prepared to do whatever it took if anyone crossed the line. Seeing the heat burning in his heart, Kaon murmured happily.

“You’re one to talk, Kaon.”

“But I can’t let my guard down with Sora-kun anymore either, can I? Even though your hair used to be long and girls weren’t very interested in you… I really wanted to be the only one who knew what your real face looked like… Wha—”

The moment he realized that Kaon’s slightly lonely murmur came from a jealousy she hadn’t quite let go of yet, Sorato’s affection finally reached its limit. Taking advantage of the fact that there were no eyes around, Sorato fully enjoyed the sensation of hugging her back with all his might.

“Kaon belongs only to me… So I’m going to make sure my scent is all over you.”

Gently wrapping his arms around her back, he pulled her into another forceful embrace. From here on, she would return to being the “most beautiful girl in school” who was loved by many boys. Even if it was only temporary, he felt an endless sense of loneliness at the thought of her leaving his side.

“Fuhehe, I got marked. …Well then, me too♪”

Intuitively picking up on the loneliness in Sorato’s heart, Kaon looked up at him and brought her face very close. Stretching up adorably, the distance between the two closed until they could feel each other’s breath. Sorato, who felt like he was about to be sucked into the emerald-green jewels spread before his eyes, noticed for the first time that there was something burning in her trembling pupils. And in that split second, while Sorato was completely off guard, Kaon closed the distance even further and her soft lips gently touched his cheek.

“Eh…?”

“Well then, I’ll head back to the classroom first so no one gets suspicious! Don’t be late!”

Amidst his confusion, Kaon slipped through his loosened grip and left with a skip in her step after leaving those final words. His heart throbbed wildly. His body flushed with heat. Her expression, the sweet voice that had leaked by his ear, the soft sensation… It was all burned vividly into his mind. Even if he wanted to forget, he couldn’t. Everything had been taken from him in a single moment of bewilderment.

“Aaaahhh! That was unfair…!”

She was usually so shy, yet she had that habit of putting on a little-devilish face. Those teary eyes that looked like they were about to overflow, that expression, that action… All of it had utterly destroyed Sorato’s reason.

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