The Villain Who Got Pinned Down Until He Ran Out Of Stamina ~ This Time I Raised The Protagonist's Affection Too Much And Everyone Fell For Me~ - Chapter 83: The Maid Learns To Be Honest (Selfish)

I cut the conversation short appropriately, parted ways with Riina, and once again waited for Hibari.

“Hibari’s late. Could it be that she got picked up again—”

“You’re finally alone, aren’t you?”

A familiar, beautiful voice reached my ears.

When I turned around, there stood Hibari holding an elegant black shopping bag with the accessory store’s logo in one hand.

However, her expressionless face looked… somewhat displeased.

That’s when I suddenly realized.

“C-could it be… you saw me talking with Riina?”

“…”

“Um, Hibari…?”

“I didn’t see anything.”

Even as she said this, Hibari turned her face away from me.

“That reaction means you did see it! S-sorry! It wasn’t that I was waiting, but that I made you wait, Hibari!”

If the sofa area could be seen from the accessory store, then this side could also be seen from the accessory store.

When Hibari spotted me talking with Riina, it seemed she hadn considerately chosen to wait… but I still felt bad for making her do that.

Besides, even if I had run into Riina, it was wrong to leave Hibari, who had been by my side all day, and chatter away like that!

And today’s outing was something I had invited her to!

I was such an idiot!

“I’m really sorry!”

I clapped my hands together in front of my face and bowed my head.

“Please don’t apologize so much. I think Yuuji-sama is free to talk with anyone, anywhere, at any time. However, I was a bit annoyed that you left me alone while having such a fun conversation.”

“Which one is your real feeling?!”

From Hibari’s serious expression, I could still sense some dissatisfaction, so the latter was probably her true thoughts.

Then Hibari came around from behind me and… stood in front of me.

Since I was sitting, I had to look up at Hibari…

Hibari opened her mouth.

“This will be over quickly. Please follow what I’m about to say.”

“Eh?”

“Is that alright?”

“Y-yes… As you command…”

She was probably going to give me some kind of punishment for making her wait.

I was completely in the wrong, so whatever she did to me would be justified.

“But I’d prefer if it doesn’t hurt! Like whips or butt-slapping!”

“Do you have the wrong idea that I’m a sadist, Yuji-sama?”

“Eh, you’re not?”

“…”

“…?”

“First, give me your hand.”

This command following the silence was the most frightening thing of all!

I stared silently at Hibari’s outstretched hand.

Wait, could this be…!

In an instant, a certain scene flashed through my mind.

It was shortly after I had started living with Hibari.

I had tried it because I’d wanted to see some expression other than Hibari’s serious face, even just a little—

‘First, give me your hand.’

‘I wondered what this is about… Here.’

‘Other hand.’

‘Here.’

‘Sit up and beg.’

‘…’

This was definitely… the “hand, other hand, sit up and beg” sequence!

I never thought the day would come when Hibari would get me back!

“Yuji-sama, please place your hand on mine quickly.”

“…Yes.”

I nodded slightly.

Well, I was in the wrong, so I’d comply.

Even if this was a shopping mall full of people of all ages, men and women, and couples, I would see it through to the end!

And so, I slowly placed my hand on Hibari’s outstretched hand.

As I waited tensely for the next command…

“…”

Hibari silently… grasped my hand.

“Hibari?”

“Yuji-sama is often misunderstood based on appearances.”

“O-oh? Well, that’s true. With such a scary-looking face, my first impression is definitely bad. Just being in sight gets weird rumors spread about me, just furrowing my brow makes people cower, and when I try to talk, most people run away.”

I let out a small laugh at the terrible first impression I was used to receiving from those around me.

Seeing me like this, Hibari… took on a serious expression.

“However, from my perspective, Yuji-sama is… attractive both in appearance and personality. So much so that I think you’re a bad person who unconsciously stirs people’s hearts.”

As if trying to convince me, Hibari spoke clearly while pausing between words.

I… widened my eyes at those words.

I could only remain silent and stare at Hibari.

As for Hibari, she quietly closed her eyes… and slowly opened her eyelids while opening her mouth.

“Yuji-sama has a scary-looking face, but actually your expressions change constantly with your emotions, and I never get tired of watching. Yuji-sama himself is bright, friendly, and has a good sense of humor. With your pleasant personality, you could become friends with anyone regardless of appearance.”

Hibari took a breath… and continued.

“And Yuji-sama… when someone is in trouble, you go to help without showing any displeasure, without regard for yourself. Even though you know about painful pasts, you try to face people as equals. You’re such a hopeless do-gooder.”

“…”

I remained silent.

I was just listening to Hibari’s words.

Was I… being praised by Hibari right now?

I was happy, but… why now?

Even as such questions arose, I listened to every single word she said without missing anything.

“Many people will be drawn to Yuji-sama’s attractive personality from now on. And… I think there will be more times when it won’t be me who’s with Yuji-sama.”

I felt a somewhat lonely atmosphere from Hibari’s serious expression as she said this.

“I-is that so? I think I’ll still be with Hibari from now on though?”

We lived in the same house, and if Hibari was okay with it, I planned to continue going out like this.

“You’re still oblivious as always. I think it’s fine for Yuji-sama to stay that way. But because you’re like that, I… have decided to learn to be honestly selfish.”

“Huh?”

I furrowed my brow and let out a confused sound, feeling like Hibari had said something she wouldn’t normally say in her cool tone.

“Yuji-sama.”

Hibari’s beautiful eyes peered into my face.

I was also drawn in as if mesmerized, and my eyes met hers directly.

Then Hibari opened her mouth.

“While we’re in this shopping mall, could you keep holding hands with me?”

Her voice was clear but somehow mixed with anxiety.

And Hibari’s eyes, which had been looking straight at me until just before, were slightly wavering.

The hand holding mine… was also squeezing tightly.

This way I couldn’t let go, and I had no intention of refusing anyway.

After a brief pause, I smiled gently.

“I’d be happy to, if it’s with Hibari.”

I nodded firmly and stood up.

Still holding hands, I stood beside her.

“Thank you. Shall we go to the second floor next?”

“Yeah.”

With that decided, we started walking while still holding hands.

We had held hands at the aquarium too… but now it felt somehow ticklish.

Even while feeling such embarrassment, when I glanced at Hibari beside me, her glossy black short hair swayed gently with each step.

A sweet fragrance drifted from there.

So beautiful women like Hibari had not only good figures but also smelled nice…

We used the same shampoo though… wait, no good, no good!

I shook my head vigorously to dispel the thoughts that were heading in a strange direction.

Hibari, who was beside me most often, and with whom I could have enjoyable conversations from casual chat to outrageous jokes when we looked at each other.

With such a Hibari… today my heart had been racing many times.

No, Hibari was a beauty that everyone would turn around to stare at.

Of course my heart would race.

So it was natural that I was feeling nervous…

But my heartbeat was getting faster as if that alone wasn’t enough.

My cheeks felt hot.

I felt restless somehow, and my gaze couldn’t settle.

I wondered why, but couldn’t find any reason other than not knowing.

When I’d first met Hibari, my impression was of a perfect, beautiful maid.

Recently she had started speaking in a more casual tone, becoming more and more honest… and now she was even making selfish requests.

I could feel that Hibari trusted me.

But it wasn’t just trust…

As I glanced at her sideways, I wondered.

What did Hibari… think of me?

◆◆

Being alone had never been difficult for me since long ago.

I was used to it.

I had resigned myself to being that kind of person.

But recently, when I was alone, I felt loneliness.

And when Yuji-sama, who was always beside me, was with someone else… my chest ached.

Watching the cheerful and heartwarming exchange between Yuji-sama and Riina-sama, I felt both of those emotions simultaneously.

Again, it was an emotion unlike myself.

And today… it seemed to overflow so much that I spoke it aloud.

“You’re still oblivious as always. I think it’s fine for Yuji-sama to stay that way. But because you’re like that, I… have decided to learn to be honestly selfish.”

Even I was surprised at how smoothly those words came out.

I had truly become honestly selfish.

More than I thought… I liked Yuji-sama.

Once I became conscious of him as someone I liked…

“While we’re in this shopping mall, could you keep holding hands with me?”

I found myself making such a proposal, as if competing.

“I’d be happy to, if it’s with Hibari.”

Yuji-sama remained as dense as always.

Dense, unaware, smiling bashfully at everyone like that…

If you’re like that with everyone—

—then I won’t deceive myself anymore.