The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App - Chapter 32

◆ “Shinonome Mio”

Somehow, I ended up exchanging LINE with a person who feels like a bottomless swamp.

“I haven’t properly introduced myself yet. I’m Kirisaka Shino. I’m in this club, and I’m also the student council president. If you want to know anything… oh, Mio-chan, your profile background is cute! Is it some kind of drawing?”

This is a senpai named Kirisaka Shino who came up while we were checking out the club with Honami. She’s super pushy and always full of energy for some reason.

“…Um, that’s a drawing Honami made when he was little.”

“Honami-kun drew this? It’s red. Is that blood?”

“It’s a strawberry.”

(There’s no way that’s blood.)

I remembered seeing this person before when I eavesdropped with headphones. Back then, I thought she was unpredictable, but now… I have no idea what she’s thinking, and it’s scary. She feels like I could get sucked in if I tried to figure her out.

Honami was sitting next to me as he frowned shyly.

“Change your background… That’s pretty embarrassing from back then.”

“Why? You gave it to me, so it’s fine.”

“It’s from when I was a kid… you know, that thing where you draw something your friend likes.”

“—I see. Mio-san likes strawberries.”

She slipped smoothly into our conversation.

“…Yes, I like them.”

“Got it. Well, if more girls join the literature club, we could have a girls’ hangout. There’s a place with really good strawberry tarts. Are you interested?”

“…Um.”

What is it with this person? She’s really closing the distance fast.

“Since I made a new friend, I wanted to go with some girls. She’s in your class too, I think —Her name is Momose Nanaka-chan.”

“Eh?”

I widened my eyes, and Honami looked up at the same time.

“Kirisaka-senpai, are you close with Momose-san?”

“Yeah. We just became friends a little while ago. She seems really nice.”

She was smiling.

Behind her, the club president muttered, “Is she tricking some poor junior girl again…?” But I doubt that’s what’s going on.

(―What’s her goal?)

Bringing up Momose-san’s name in front of Honami feels like some kind of warning. She smiled calmly and tapped the back of her phone.

“If Mio wants, you should come along too. I’ll contact you.”

“…”

I see. That’s why she wanted to exchange contact info. Once I understood, I was sure of one thing. This person is also an opponent.

(I don’t know what she’s planning, but I won’t let her do anything weird with Honami while I’m watching.)

Next to me, Honami was listening to senpai’s talk without a care.

“…A girls’ hangout sounds fun. President, should we have a guys’ hangout too?”

“You and I would be the only ones showing up. The club room is fine.”

The club president flat-out refused.

…It’s kind of helpful that he’s slow on stuff like this.

◆

After that, it got late, so I went home with Honami.

And for the first time in a while, I got to visit his room.

“―Wow! It hasn’t changed much, but it’s a little different!”

“Which is it?”

Honami’s house is a two-story house like mine. His room is upstairs, and I used to visit a lot when we were younger.

It looked mostly the same as last time I came, but some things had moved a little. There was more storage now. I wondered what was inside and decided to open it.

“Oh, it’s the ‘Seven Wonders Cards’ I made.”

“Hey. Don’t just open someone else’s drawer.”

“You’ve opened things in my room before, haven’t you?”

“That’s because you never brought your own clothes!”

I teased him to hide my embarrassment and let it slide. I almost smiled, but I covered it with a joke.

Seeing my own things in Honami’s room made me a little happy.

(Even if he says it’s silly, he still keeps them. He always has.)

I looked around the room and pointed at what I noticed.

“Only your bed and pillow are different.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ve been trying them out because I have trouble sleeping.”

“Oh… then I should check it for you!”

“Hey, wait!”

I jumped onto the bed, just saying whatever. I was immediately wrapped in Honami’s scent.

“You… at least take off your uniform.”

“Hmm… that’s too much trouble… Can you take it off for me?”

I held out my hands, and he looked at me.

“You’ve always stopped moving as soon as you get in bed.”

“…Really, maybe…”

I looked away. I knew exactly why. I was being spoiled.

If I act sleepy like this, he’ll take care of me. Even now, he sighs and reaches out his hand for me.

“Here, I’ve got your sleeves and let go of your hands.”

“…Thank you.”

“Now the other side.”

He helped me take off my blazer, checking for wrinkles and hanging it on a hanger in the room.

I felt warm. Honami was always so kind.

And that’s why it hurts.

When I go home, I have to sleep alone in that cold room.

“Can I stay over tonight?”

“…”

I thought he’d say no right away, but he hesitated a little. He was probably worried about me.

Just knowing he cares like that was enough.

“Never mind. You’d have to sleep on the floor.”

“…Are you almost lost in my bed?”

Seeing him like that, a little unsure, it made a naughty thought creep in. Maybe he’d let me if I pushed a little… Maybe he’d agree to something more if I asked…

But if I went that far, would he start to dislike me?

My courage shrank.

“Mio.”

While I was riding the rollercoaster of my own emotions, Honami suddenly crouched down in front of the bed and looked me in the eyes.

Then, he lightly tapped my forehead with his fingertip.

I sat up while pressing my hand against my forehead.

“Eh… What?”

“You’ve been looking worried all day.”

It felt like he had read my mind all of a sudden, and I couldn’t find the words to answer.

Worried.

Has it shown on my face? It was true that I was worried. Even being here with Honami, there was this constant unease in my chest.

Worried that he might be taken away by those other two.

Worried that the hypnosis stuff would really work properly.

“I’ll cover you with a blanket.”

Before I could think more, Honami suddenly draped the blanket over my face.

“H-hey! My hair’s going to get messed up!”

“For now, just stay there and sleep a bit. I’ll make food, and we can eat here. It’s been a while since you came over, so we’ll hang out until it’s not too late.”

When he pulled back the blanket, I saw him grinning like a little troublemaker.

No.

That smile is bad for my heart.

“…Yeah.”

“Then, I’ll make the food, so wait a bit… Mom probably won’t be back for a while either.”

Honami left the room after muttering to himself.

I pressed my hand to my chest under the blanket he had tucked me in while quietly letting out a sigh.

(I’m hopeless.)

Even though Honami was being so kind, I couldn’t feel satisfied.

I just wanted him all to myself. And there were those two, always flickering at the edge of my vision.

(Why him? Both of them are just “normal.”)

I didn’t want anyone else to take Honami from me.

In the quiet room, I took out my phone and stared at it.

The icons were lined up. The hypnosis app was still there. Messages had come in.

“Good evening. Are you free the day after tomorrow?”

“If you want, we could go to a place with really good strawberry tarts.”

So the invitation was real.

I remembered what senpai had said.

―“Since I made a new friend, I wanted to go with some girls. She’s in your class too, I think —Her name is Momose Nanaka-chan.”

(…So Momose-san will be there too.)

This was a perfect chance.

I’d never really talked properly with the other two. It was important to get to know them.

If it’s just the three of us, nothing will happen to Honami.

Alright, I typed back.