The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 70 & 71

Chapter 70: The Balance of Heart and Body

Tick tock… tick tock…

The sound of the clock feels unusually loud in the living room, where Shoma and I sit facing each other.

(What should I even start with? Do I even have the right to talk to Shoma right now…?)

I’m spinning in my head over what Yayoi-san told me about Shoma.

How he was thinking of me.

How he asked everyone to help.

And yet, I…

(I have to apologize first… I hurt Shoma with my outburst.)

“Sho…”

“Sorry, Sofi…”

“…Huh?”

Shoma apologizes before I can.

(No! It’s not Shoma who should apologize, it’s me…)

Even so, words won’t come out of my mouth.

Seeing me like this, Shoma speaks with a guilty expression.

“I knew you were struggling with something, Sofi.

But I never figured out what it was, and the days just dragged on vaguely.”

“…”

Looking at his face as he speaks, I see a sadness I’ve never seen before.

I wonder if this is like the expression Mutsuki mentioned, the one he had when he lost his parents…

He continues.

“I’m so indecisive…

I keep thinking that’s what’s hurting you and everyone else.”

“That’s not true…”

Hearing Shoma’s thoughts, my chest feels like it’s being squeezed tight.

(I’m the indecisive one…

Inviting everyone in, getting jealous on my own, misunderstanding, getting angry, feeling envious, and still not being able to let go…)

“If this is how it’s going to be…”

(Don’t! Don’t say anything more!)

“Sor… ry…”

…

…

…

I’m clinging to Shoma.

Desperate not to hear the rest of his words, I throw myself into his arms without thinking.

“…Ugh…”

“Sofi… I’m sorry for not understanding…”

“No… I’m the one who should apologize…

You didn’t do anything wrong, not even a little.”

He hesitates for a moment but then gives in, gently wrapping his arms around my back.

In his warmth, I let the flood of tears welling up in my chest burst free.

“Ugh, ugh… waaah… I’m sorry, Shomaaa!”

…

…

…

Until I stop crying, he holds me in his warm arms.

A passion even hotter than when I had a fever fills my heart.

After I’ve let out all my emotions, he prepares a hot milk cocoa for me.

“…It’s warm.”

“Feeling better?”

“…Yeah.”

We sit side by side on the sofa.

Shoma pulls Shiratama, woken by my crying, into his arms.

“Nya…”

Handing Shiratama to me, he speaks gently.

“Sofi… will you tell me?”

What I’ve been struggling with…

Why I got so angry…

And how we can make up…

He puts his arm around my shoulder, weaving those words.

(I want to make up too… and be with you more… by your side.)

“Will you listen… to the story of a selfish stalker girl…?”

“Weren’t you a love watcher?”

“No… what I’m about to tell you is just a stalker’s story.”

“…Got it.”

Until the morning sun rises, I keep telling Shoma about all the dark feelings I’ve had.

Sometimes tears spill from my eyes, but each time, he gently wipes them with a tissue.

Taking in every one of my feelings, he smiles softly with a thoughtful expression.

Chapter 71: The Nightmare That Fades and the Fruit of Fulfillment

“You’ve disappointed me.

You invited everyone in, but in the end, you can’t stand not being the only one, can you?”

(Wait… that’s not what I…)

“You said it yourself, didn’t you?

Seeing other girls with me makes you sick, so you took it out on me, right?”

(No… I…)

“See ya…”

He turned his back on me and walked into the deep, dark abyss…

※

“! Shomaaa!”

“What’s wrong? I’m right here.”

I’m reaching toward the ceiling from my bed.

A cool hand—Shoma’s—gently envelops mine.

(Haa… haa… a dream…)

“Did you have a scary dream?”

“…Haa… haa…”

Struggling to steady my breathing, Shoma hands me a glass of cold water.

“Here.”

I sit up halfway, gulping down the water.

“Feeling better?”

“…Yeah.”

His deep voice… so different from the usual teasing tone in our group conversations.

When it’s just the two of us, Shoma looks a hundred times cooler.

But… the nightmare I just had feels like it could become reality, and I shiver with a bururi.

“Anything you need?”

After the incident in the living room, Shoma’s been by my side, staying close.

Now, he’s sitting on a chair in my room, looking worried.

Thankfully, it’s a holiday, so he can stay with me all day.

“…Hold my hand.”

“…Got it.”

He refreshes the cold sheet on my forehead, replaces the ice in my ice pillow, and gently takes my feverish hand.

“…It’s cool and feels nice.”

“You’ve probably still got a bit of a fever…

I’ll stay here, so rest easy.”

“…Okay.”

He smiles softly at my weak reply.

“…Sofi.”

“…Wha~t?”

Just before I drift into dreamland, he speaks in a low voice.

My head’s foggy, and I answer vaguely.

“When you’re better… let’s go on another date.”

“…Yeah, it’s a promise.”

With those words, I sink into a dream… a happy dream.

※

How long was I asleep?

I slowly open my lighter eyelids.

“…Zzz… zzz…”

“…”

Looking toward the sound, I see Shoma, still holding my hand, asleep.

(…He’s been taking care of me this whole time?)

The thought makes me happy, and I gently stroke his head.

“…Nn… Sofi… ha!”

“Good morning, Shoma.

I’m right here.”

He calls my name in a panic, staring at me as if unsure whether this is a dream or reality.

“…A dream…”

“What kind of dream did you have?”

“…Well, uh… one where my indecision made you fed up, and you left…”

His words make me a tiny bit happy.

We had similar dreams, and he was sad about it too.

“It’s okay, Shoma… I’m right here.”

“…Y-Yeah… that’s, uh, a relief.”

Just as he did for me, I gently hold his hand.

“What time is it?”

“Um… early Sunday morning, I think?”

“Geh! Haven’t bathed or eaten?”

“Hahahaha, you’re right!”

He starts sniffing himself, and it’s so funny I burst out laughing.

“How’s your condition?”

“Feels clear.”

“Just to be safe, let’s check your temperature…”

He stands to grab the thermometer, but I yank his hand, pulling him onto the bed.

“…Hello, Sofia-san?”

“Wha~t, Shoma-san?”

“Why am I in your bed again?”

“Just felt like it.”

“Is that so…”

I don’t want to be apart from Shoma for a second; I want to feel his warmth.

Then, impulsively, I guide his hand under my clothes.

“Sofia-san!?”

Into the shirt where my two fruits are ripening…

“…Got a fever?”

My two fruits, untouched by Shoma until now, feel like they’re ripening with heat in this moment.

“…Ahn…”

“Don’t make weird noises.”

“But… it feels… good.”

“You’ve… still… got a fever…”

Giving in, he gently harvests my fruits.

The fact fills me with joy, like I’ve taken a small step forward.

(Thank you, Yayoi-san.

We’re carnivorous girls, aren’t we?)

“Shoma… I love you so much.

I’m never letting go.

Get ready!”

“…Go easy on me.”

And he adds the words I want most.

“I’m not letting go either.”

In the end, I keep feeling the warmth of Shoma’s hand on my skin until Mutsuki and the others come to wake us.

I finally feel like I can live true to myself…

A Sunday with a heart as clear as the sky.