The Beautiful Girl I Accidentally Helped Who Has Somehow Become Attached To Me. - Chapter 44: Tempted by Auditory Hallucinations.

Tempted by Auditory Hallucinations.

I finished drying Mikami-san’s hair… but found myself unable to move.

She was still in full relaxation mode, leaning against me as if I were her personal backrest.

Well, I didn’t exactly have any urgent reason to get up, so I decided to let it slide. Though I couldn’t help but notice again just how close she was.

“I’ll ask just in case, but… do you have any intention of moving?”

“Not at all.”

Her reply came almost instantaneously.

The pressure of her back against my chest made it clear she had absolutely no plans of standing up anytime soon.

Despite any relief she might feel from that massage earlier, leaning in this way was bound to cause some stiffness again if she pushed herself too hard… I had to admire her persistence.

Mikami-san was light enough that I could easily shift her if I really wanted to, but… well, might as well indulge her a little longer.

“Tests are being returned next week, aren’t they?”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to getting my spare key.”

“You sound awfully confident.”

“Kirishima-san, did you already forget? When there’s something on the line… I’m incredibly strong.”

“… I hate to admit it, but that’s pretty convincing.”

I’d casually brought up the topic of our recent exams.

Now that we’d finished the tests, we’d all felt a sense of freedom and even went out to celebrate. But the next big thing looming was the results, where students would either celebrate or sulk over their scores.

Personally, I didn’t have parents who’d nag me about my grades, so there was no pressure. Some classmates did mention they’d lose allowance over poor test scores. Different homes, different stakes, I guess.

Though I wasn’t particularly invested in my own scores, I did have a bet with Mikami-san riding on these results.

Mikami-san, as usual, radiated confidence. Her reason for it was so convincing that it left me without much to say.

I couldn’t help but recall the penalty game we’d had after our recent three-round sports match. I’d been fully committed, intent on making her face a penalty instead of me.

Yet, despite our difference in size and strength, she’d beaten me soundly. Now, as a result of that defeat, I was serving as her “butler” and fulfilling her whims.

Remembering that, I realized this might turn out the same way.

This time, the stakes were my house’s spare key, and we’d agreed to decide it based on test scores. The setup was eerily similar.

But what I couldn’t shake off was my curiosity about what strange methods—or “doping,” as I called it—she might be using to give herself an edge this time.

“But didn’t that ‘doping’ leave you with serious muscle soreness? Is there some kind of rebound effect with the tests too?”

“It’s not really ‘doping,’ but… as far as I know, there shouldn’t be any rebound. I don’t think so, anyway.”

“Well… Mikami-san, you’re naturally smart, after all.”

Even before she’d shown her mysterious powers, I’d known Mikami-san was pretty capable. Her confidence in this test likely stemmed from her actual abilities.

The test results hadn’t been handed out yet, but just looking at her confidence made me feel like I didn’t stand much of a chance. Not that I was overly concerned with winning or losing.

“So, what were you planning to say to me if you won, Kirishima-san?”

“…That’s still a secret. I’ll tell you if I win, and if I don’t, I won’t say a word.”

“So, that means I’ll never get to hear it? That’s a shame.”

At this point, her victory declaration was almost refreshing.

I didn’t feel like I’d bombed the test or anything, so it wasn’t like this was a completely one-sided match.

After I fell silent, a comfortable stillness settled between us. Even this silence felt natural when it was with Mikami-san.

“…I’ve just realized something.”

The silence, punctuated only by our breathing and the ticking of the clock, was broken by her soft voice. She fidgeted a little, as if about to say something.

If she was about to make some weird suggestion, I’d have to stop her… but what was she thinking?

“If we wrapped ourselves up in a blanket and took a nap like this, it would feel amazing, don’t you think?”

“…That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

“Actually, I didn’t sleep very well last night because of the soreness… so I’d really like a little nap.”

“Are you listening?”

“Yes, of course. And you’re going to kindly offer to be my pillow, right, Kirishima-san?”

“Did I say anything like that just now?”

“Yes, very loudly and clearly.”

“Liar. I didn’t say that even once.”

Where was she hearing these imaginary words?

Sure, I could understand her struggling to sleep with all the stiffness she must have felt, but if she really wanted a nap, she should go find a proper bed with a decent pillow, not try to turn me into one. I’m not exactly soft or stable, and it wouldn’t be comfortable.

“Sitting up like this would be difficult. I’ll get up so you can nap on the sofa.”

“No, please stay.”

“Stay? It’d be too uncomfortable to sleep like this, wouldn’t it?”

“No need to worry.”

“…Even if you say that…”

Sleeping while seated was no easy feat. With me acting as a backrest, it’d be unstable, and if she shifted, it’d be even harder to keep balanced. I wasn’t thrilled about it and honestly wanted to refuse.

“If it’s about stability… then let’s fix it like this.”

“…Hey?”

“You can hold me tighter, if you’d like. Go ahead, squeeze.”

“…Mikami-san, are you really okay with this?”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Mikami-san moved her hands around, almost as if she were feeling around for something. And what she found… was my hand. Before I could question her intentions, she pulled my hand and crossed it in front of her.

Basically, she wanted me to support her as if I were holding her in an embrace.

It was kind of like a seatbelt, if we were in a car.

Not that it should surprise me at this point, but… was she really okay with this?

Then again, it probably wasn’t worth asking someone as relaxed about things like shame, personal space, or boundaries as Mikami-san.

“It’s so warm… Borrowing your shampoo, wearing your clothes, wrapped in your arms… At this moment, I’m practically you, Kirishima-san.”

“Uh, that’s a bit of a stretch.”

“Ahh… This is the most relaxed I’ve ever felt… Is it okay if I just drift off?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Thank you so much. I’ll take a little nap, then. Goodnight.”

Seriously…

She never listens to a word I say, bending everything to suit herself. She does whatever she pleases, honestly. If she complains later that she couldn’t sleep well like this, I’ll make sure she pays for it.