The Case of My Unknown Childhood Friend Who Became My Girlfriend Without Me Even Knowing It - Chapter 18 - You Need to Take Your Medicine

Chapter 18 – You Need to Take Your Medicine

I like books, and I’m aware that I’ve read quite a lot, from literary books to novels and manga.

I read various genres. In the end, I guess I like reading books.

So I’ve read a lot of romantic comedies, and I knew that there were so-called “yanderes” like Sakatoki, and I knew how they would go crazy.

That’s why I’m afraid she’s going to lock me up someday.

I’ve always worried about that.

But I never thought that would happen in an inn…

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“Hmm? I mean it just the way it is?”

“I can’t get out? You’re going to lock me up?”

“Haha, you’re wrong. This is still house arrest, you know?”

“……”

“Ah, Kanata-kun still doesn’t understand the situation. Hey, why have you been so flustered since a while ago?”

Sakatoki stood up quickly and looked for something in her luggage.

She turned around with it in her hand, saying “Here it is, here it is.”

“T-That’s…”

“It’s medicine! Kanata-kun, I’m sure you’re not well yet, that’s why you’re so cold. I’ll give it to you, don’t worry.”

“I-I can’t take such a mysterious medicine!”

“But you can’t leave here unless you take your medicine, right? Or do you want to live here forever? Haha, that’s a good idea too. Oh my god, Kanata-kun, you thought that way… I’m so happy♥”

She approached slowly, her eyes completely unfocussed, rattling a bottle of pills.

It’s no good if it stays like this.

I’ll be killed.

I’m definitely gonna die.

“U-Uwaa!”

Shaking off her, I reached out to open the door to the room.

But it didn’t open.

The inner lock is open, but the door is stuck.

“W-What the hell is going on?”

“Haha, I told you, you can’t get out.”

“W-Wait, Sakatoki! Wait!”

“It’s ‘Aya’, remember? How could you have made that mistake? Oh, is it possible that you have a girl you like at this inn? The female clerk? If so, I’ll have to get rid of her after this.”

“No, you got it wrong! Listen to me!”

“No. I’ll put the medicine in your mouth.”

She put the tablet on her tongue.

She then put her mouth on me, and tucked her tongue in.

The tablet rolled into my mouth with a clunk and tasted a little bitter…

“Nnn…nn… Chuu~…”

“…Nnn.”

Again, I lost the power to resist because of a kiss.

Then, Sakatoki gently moved away and at a distance where our nose was touching each other’s, she said…

“If you take your medicine, you’ll feel better, okay?”

For some reason, she looked seriously worried and had tears in her eyes.

…Is she serious?

“Um… Is this…?”

“It’s cold medicine, okay? Why? Did you think it was sleeping pills or something?”

“W-Well…”

“Kanata-kun, I don’t want you to be cold to me. I just want to get along with Kanata-kun, so why are you being so cold?”

“T-That’s…”

That’s because you’re my stalker, not my childhood friend, not my girlfriend. You’re just some crazy obsessed girl.

I wanted to say it, but the words couldn’t come out.

My throat is choking. That is the one thing I mustn’t say, so I instinctively restrain myself.

“…Kanata-kun, do you hate me?”

“Well, that’s…”

“If you hate me, why did you kiss me? You just want that, after all?”

“……”

“If that’s the case, then I…must kill you.”

“…What?”

It was at that moment.

Her hands grabbed my neck, and put some force into it.

“Gugh…”

“It was my first time, you know? Kissing, being touched… But Kanata-kun likes me, that’s why I gave my body and soul to you, but if not, I’ll kill you and stay here with you all the time, even though you’re cold. I’m fine with that, you know?”

“Agh… Gagh…!”

That’s a lot of power.

Even though I keep trying to shake her off, she keeps on tightening her grip on my neck with more force.

It’s hard to believe it’s such a petite girl’s strength.

I-If this continues, I’ll really die…

“Hey, do you like me?”

“Gagh…”

“Huh? You do?”

“……”

I nodded a lot because I couldn’t speak.

Then her hand quickly moved away.

“Really?”

“Gugh… Argh…”

“Kanata-kun, really?”

“Hah…hah…”

I crawled back to life from the verge of losing consciousness, breathing hard to secure oxygen, but she didn’t seem to care about that.

For some reason, her eyes are moist.

What kind of a tear gland does she have…?

“Kanata-kun, tell me you like me?”

“I li-…”

“Tell me?”

“I…I like…you.”

I said I was told to.

This is a complete sham.

She threatened to lock me up, gave me strange drugs, and finally strangled me and almost killed me.

It doesn’t matter how I feel.

She just made me say that.

She just wants me to say it.

Even so…

“I’m glad… I’m so happy… I love you, Kanata-kun.”

The sun was setting, and beside me, cowering in a darkened corner of the room, gasping for breath, she covered her face and cried.

In tears, she crumbled down.

“You finally said it…”

“No, that’s…”

“I thought Kanata-kun was going to die… Are you okay, Kanata-kun?”

“Eh… Well…”

“I see. The medicine’s working. That’s good.”

She grinned, and then started laughing.

Sakatoki then slowly stood up and gently reached out her hand to me.

“Can you stand?”

“Ah, yeah.”

I grabbed her hand and stood up.

As she looks up at me, petite as she is, she said,

“Hey, I’m hungry.”

“…Ah…”

“Well, let’s have dinner. I read that crab is on the menu today, so I’m looking forward to it.”

“…Yeah.”

I don’t think it’s possible to have a normal dialogue anymore.

When I realized that, I stopped denying what she was saying.

No matter how much I resist, no matter how much I point it out, I can’t reach her.

Instead, the situation has only worsened.

I just nodded at her words, clearly convinced that I have no choice but to comply.

Eventually, when the slightly late dinner arrived, my stomach growled.

◇

“That was delicious.”

“Yeah, I think this is the first time I’ve had crab.”

“Is that so? I’ve eaten quite a lot of crabs.”

The sumptuous meal helped to ease my narrowed throat a little.

It must have been good, but for some reason I can’t remember what it tasted like.

I don’t have the time or the energy to enjoy it or its aftermath.

“…I’m getting sleepy.”

“Right. I think I should go to bed, too.”

“By the way, though, what about the bedding?”

“There’s only one, right? Let’s sleep together?”

“……”

Together…

Of course, I expected this, but is it safe to do that? To sleep together?

No, no matter how much I think about it, there is no way we can sleep separately.

…Let’s leave the rest to my reasoning, shall we?

“Then, let’s prepare the futon. Let’s sleep.”

“…What?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Mhmm, Kanata-kun is so honest.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well…”

As if she hadn’t heard my question, she quickly stood up and closed the window curtains.

Seeing her like that, my consciousness was vague.

My vision was distorted.

“E-Eh…?”

“If you were so obedient, you wouldn’t have needed medication.”

“……”

Sakatoki looked back at me and said something.

But I could only hear it vaguely.

Just like that, my head was shaking.

My vision became darker.

Then she said something else, but I couldn’t hear her.

“Let’s have fun tonight, Kanata-kun.”