I'm in a Messed Up Situation that I Couldn't Care More. - Chapter 36: Telling Aoi Everything

Chapter 36: Telling Aoi Everything

“Aoi-chan, I brought you some warm water. Drink up.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Aoi-chan tried to sit up in bed.

I supported her back to help her get into a comfortable position.

“Here, drink.”

She held the mug with her small hands, almost cradling it. 

She was slowly drinking the hot water.

I sat quietly on a pipe chair, watching her.

Aoi-chan was covered in wounds, and her eyes were swollen.

It pained me to see her like this.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital? 

Is that Matsui guy a doctor?”

I took the mug from Aoi-chan after she finished drinking and placed it on the desk.

Aoi-chan remained silent.

“I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

Aoi-chan said quietly.

“Huh?”

“You’re not a Worm.

In fact, you’re a Portal Manager, aren’t you?”

“……Yeah. To be honest, I don’t fully understand it myself. 

When I throw this thing called a portal at a wall, it opens up, and a naked person comes out.”

Aoi-chan let out a soft laugh after hearing my explanation.

There was a moment of silence between us.

“I wonder if Yuuka is alright. I hope she’s not killed or harmed by those men.”

I recalled the image of Yuuka being carried away by the large man. 

Aoi-chan was safe, but Yuuka was still in danger at this very moment.

“It’s impossible for them to kill her.”

Aoi-chan stated this with certainty.

“If they kill Yuuka, they’ll lose the key to the dark divergence.”

“I don’t really understand what that means, but I’m relieved to know she won’t be killed.

I’ll be going to the university dojo at 2 a.m. sharp, one week from now. I’ll bring the portal with me. 

I plan to become the fake Aoi-chan’s subordinate so Yuuka can be freed.”

“Before that, I’ll find out where the fake Aoi and Yamaguchi-senpai are hiding. 

I won’t hand you over to the fake Aoi, so don’t worry.”

Aoi glanced at me and said this with determination.

“Aoi-chan, you tried risking your life to protect Yuuka, didn’t you?”

“You heard that from Matsui, didn’t you?”

“Please, don’t ever do something like that again.”

“You don’t have the right to say that to me. 

I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Yamaguchi-senpai…”

I instinctively grabbed her hands with both of mine.

“I do have the right to say it! I like you, Aoi-chan. 

I don’t want you to die. Never.”

“……Stop… Let go of me!”

Aoi-chan tried to pull her hands away.

“……Sorry.”

“Anyway! I have to protect Yamaguchi-senpai. 

Yet, I failed to do so, and she was taken from me. It’s a huge failure on my part.”

“Aoi-chan… Why do you have to be the one to protect her? 

Can’t you leave it to someone else?”

“It’s my destiny.”

Aoi-chan’s gaze drifted to the distance, and she furrowed her brow slightly.

“Weakling… No, Portal Manager Kashitani Koichi. 

I want you to tell me everything that has happened to you so far.

Everything that has happened to you.”

“Everything that has happened?”

“Yes, tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out.”

I proceeded to explain to Aoi about the events that had transpired. 

How I was asked by the Hannya to confess to her.

How I mistakenly confessed to Yuuka instead. 

My father’s disappearance.

About Hiruma-san.

About my part-time job at the training gym.

I also told her about Yuuka.

“There are a lot of mysteries here……

Your father’s disappearance and the true identity of Hannya, for example.”

Aoi-chan was deep in thought.

“Aoi-chan, it’s time to lie down. 

You need to rest and let your wounds heal. 

I’ll stay here and take care of you all night, so please relax and get some sleep.

…… Or would you like me to sleep beside you?”

Aoi-chan’s face turned bright red, and she started scolding me.

“You weakling! Don’t get carried away! If it were the usual me, I would’ve punched you by now!”