Sad News, It Seems I'll Die from a Curse If I Don't Steal the Heroine - Chapter 09: Why do I feel relieved?

Chapter 09: Why do I feel relieved?

“Would you… have sex with me?”

“…”

What are you saying…?

That’s what left me dumbfounded, and it’s no wonder I started doubting if this girl is even really Manaka.

“What… are you saying?”

“I… I don’t know… I don’t really know, but those words just came out of my mouth somehow…”

“You, really…”

Though she had boldly posed the provocative question just a moment ago, her body was now trembling.

It wasn’t from the cold… but probably from fear. 

I thought that if I embraced her, the heroine, my life would be saved… 

So I was a little excited or thought I had a chance, but…

“…Don’t joke about something like that.”

“Yeah… I’m sorry, Ozaki-kun.”

If you were going to apologize from the start… 

I took on a posture like pressing Manaka against a wall, with a grin on my face. I wanted to play a little prank, that’s all.

“This is punishment for making me surprised by those words..”

“…”

What am I doing…? Well, it’ll be fine since I’ll back off right away.

I definitely don’t want to make Manaka sad… 

That’s why I won’t take it any further, even if I’m tempted to do so.

(…?)

But still… as I pressed Manaka against the wall like this, I couldn’t shake this strange sensation. 

It felt like I had done something like this before… like déjà vu. 

I distinctly felt that I had interacted with Manaka like this before…?

“…Hey, Himemoto.”

“W-What?”

“Did we… do something like this before?”

“Ah… Yeah. Actually, I thought the same—I feel like we did something like this in a dream.”

Is this just a coincidence? Or am I overthinking?

But… as Manaka and I stare at each other from such a close distance, it feels a bit creepy, as if something inside me is urging me to devour her quickly, here and now.

Moreover, when I recall the blood characters… If I were to do the same thing with this girl as I did with Ouka—

“…Eh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Just now, for a moment, it felt like Manaka had a terribly wicked smile on her face.

As if someone other than her had possessed her… 

No, I shake my head. It must have been a simple mistake.

“Well then, Ozaki-kun. I’ll be going back now.”

“Yeah…”

“…But how did you know where I live?”

“…Ah~”

While talking with Manaka, I brought her to her house without hesitation, but even I don’t understand how I knew.

“Could it be… you were stalking me!? You found out where I live and were always waiting to attack!?”

“Of course, it’s a joke, right?”

“Yeah, it’s a joke. Oh, but I’m sorry… I said it without thinking. It was a bit impulsive. I apologize for even joking about stalking… I’m really sorry.”

“Hey, it’s okay, don’t be so down.”

I’m going to repeat myself, but if that’s the case, then don’t say it… Damn it.

No matter what Manaka says, it’s like I’m inclined to forgive her, or rather, she just truly has the aura of a heroine.

Well then, with this, the mysterious encounter of this night has truly come to an end.

But as if pulling in one last glimmer of hope, I asked Manaka this question.

“Hey, Himemoto, do you have a boyfriend?”

“No, I don’t. Well, until recently, there was my childhood friend… uh, you know Yuki-kun, right?”

“Huh? Yeah, I do.”

“We were teased about having a good relationship, but Yuki-kun seems to have a thing for his step-sister, so it’s impossible… It was really tough being denied like that. Well, that’s what happened, but anyway, I don’t have a boyfriend right now, I guess.“

“H-Heh…”

Eh… Huh, Wait?

So, does this mean that the protagonist Yuki is heading towards the step-sister route…?

Well, I have no idea about the details, and it’s also possible that this is simply Manaka’s misunderstanding and the protagonist himself actually likes Manaka…

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling a bit better?”

“Do I? Well, maybe I gained a bit of hope… Well then, it’s about time you head home, Himemoto.”

“Yeah, okay. See you later, Ozaki-kun!”

“Yeah.”

And so, we parted ways. By the time I returned to my apartment, I was in a very cheerful mood.

It’s already 1 a.m… I should probably get some sleep soon, or it might affect me tomorrow.

“Well, it is a day off, but… Kuku. Anyway, I never expected to meet Manaka in such a way.”

…The only thing that worries me is whether there have really been such incidents before, not just now. 

If someone like her is alone late at night, she’ll definitely be attacked… 

Maybe I have no right to worry about that, but still, I can’t help but be concerned.

“Phew… Time to sleep.”

I lie down on the futon, ready to sleep, with the lights turned off. 

However, before lying down on the futon, as if guided by something, I head towards the window and open the curtains. 

And there, in front of the apartment where we had just parted ways, stood Manaka.

“Hii!?”

It was completely unexpected, almost like a horror scene.

Manaka sneering, forming a silhouette resembling a crescent moon… But then, with a blink, she disappeared.

She vanished from the middle of the road where there was nothing to hide behind… No, perhaps the whole scene itself was just an illusion.

“What’s going on?”

Well, maybe I’m just tired from everything… I should go to sleep now and properly rest.

“…But seriously, for Manaka to suggest doing it… I’m genuinely surprised.”

But… I feel like I missed out on a huge opportunity. 

It’s as if I let a sudden chance slip away… 

Damn it, I regret not having the courage to take the plunge without hesitation. 

However… when I saw Manaka, not knowing if she was a hallucination or real, I definitely had this thought:

“…I’m glad I didn’t do it with Manaka… but why?”

If I don’t do that, I’ll end up dead…?

But what is this feeling…? Even though I don’t really understand it, I was relieved that I didn’t do anything with Manaka.

If I were to violate her… it would be the end. It’s like I’d be entangled with something, like being captured by that ominously smirking Manaka… Ugh, I don’t get it!

“…I guess she really isn’t here, huh?”

I looked outside again, but there was no sign of anyone resembling Manaka. 

Afterward, I fell asleep as if a thread had been cut.