When I Helped Out At My Classy Classmate's Family Home, They Started Going All Out To Close In On Me From Every Angle. - Chapter 52: Hot Spring Trip - 6

Hot Spring Trip – 6

Since that moment, Ayame hadn’t made any further advances.

Even after we left the open-air bath, even during dinner, she didn’t try anything. Before I knew it, the night had come, and we went to sleep as usual.

I had been bracing myself, expecting her to make some sort of move. But now, I just felt deflated.

Still, there was no doubt in my mind—Ayame was trying to change our relationship. After all, she had spoken words that left no room for misunderstanding.

“Haven’t you already realized how I feel?”

Of course, I realized.

I knew that Ayame liked me. That she wanted us to move from being “just close friends” to something more—something real.

But… I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.

If I did, it would be unfair to her. Someone like me… I had no right to be with her.

No, saying “it would be unfair to Ayame” was just an excuse.

The truth was, I was afraid.

If I rejected her feelings, it might break the bond we had. And I didn’t want that. I liked things the way they were. Being by Ayame’s side like this… was comfortable.

So, I kept postponing my answer.

It was selfish. Nothing more than my own cowardly ego.

Disgusted with myself, I let out a sigh.

“I’m such a coward.”

“Tetsu-kun, are you awake?”

I froze.

Ayame’s voice cut through the silence at the exact moment I whispered my self-deprecating thought.

My heart lurched.

W-What do I do? Should I answer honestly? But… I had no idea why she was suddenly calling out to me.

I hesitated, debating whether to respond or pretend to be asleep.

But ignoring her felt wrong.

“…Y-Yeah, I’m awake.”

I held my breath, waiting for her response.

But—

Nothing.

Instead, I heard the faint rustling of fabric.

“…Ayame?”

Confused, I turned toward her—

And my breath caught.

Ayame was climbing onto my bed.

“Wha—?!”

Shock paralyzed me. My mind blanked. My body refused to move.

And in that brief moment, Ayame had already straddled my waist.

She looked down at me, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink hue. In the dimly lit room, the color reminded me of cherry blossoms under the moonlight.

Even in this situation, I couldn’t help but be captivated by her beauty.

As I lay there, speechless, Ayame finally spoke.

“I know you already understand how I feel. But… something this important—I need to say it properly. With my own words.”

Her lips trembled slightly.

Her expression was stiff, betraying her nervousness—her fear.

But even so, she took a deep breath—

And told me everything.

“I love you, Tetsu-kun. I want to be your girlfriend.”

I never imagined that being confessed to, or having someone’s feelings for me expressed, could make me this happy.

A surge of joy, excitement, and emotion rose within me, and I felt as if I might burst into tears.

The afterglow of the confession left me feeling numb, my chest full, unable to find the words. I almost forgot how to breathe.

In the midst of my shock at the unexpected confession, Ayame took yet another unexpected step.

She loosened her yukata, exposing her skin.

The shock of her action jolted me back to reality.

My thoughts and body rebooted, and I instinctively shouted.

“W-What are you doing, Ayame!?”

I questioned her, confused, but Ayame didn’t answer. She didn’t even try to stop.

She continued to loosen her yukata, eventually revealing her pure white bra.

The alluring scent of her, her divine beauty, made my heart race uncontrollably, as though it was beating out of control.

As I stood there speechless once again, Ayame began to speak quietly.

“Back in the outdoor bath, Tetsu-kun, you warned me, right? That I shouldn’t approach you unguarded. That I might hurt you.”

Her deep, reddish-brown eyes gazed directly into mine.

“I’ve told you this a few times before, but… if it’s you, Tetsu-kun, I don’t mind. No matter what you do to me. Even if it’s a wound you cause, I would cherish it if it’s from you.”

Ayame’s words were like fine wine, seeping into my mind, intoxicating me.

Ayame was offering herself to me. She was willing to accept my ugly desires. As a man, could I ever feel more fulfilled than this?

Overwhelmed with such intense excitement, Ayame gently placed her hands on both of my cheeks.

“Please, I beg you. Please accept me.”

Slowly, Ayame leaned in, bringing her lips closer to mine.

I thought I couldn’t respond to Ayame’s feelings. I had decided not to.

However, the intensity of her feelings, her deep and unwavering love, made my resolve waver.

I wanted to accept Ayame’s feelings. I wanted to be her boyfriend, without overthinking it. I wanted to let myself be swept away by the moment.

But,

It was precisely because her feelings were so straightforward,

And because her love was so deep and pure,

I couldn’t just let myself be carried away.

With every ounce of my moral judgment, I fought against my desires and grabbed Ayame by the shoulder.

Her reddish-brown eyes widened, filled with anxiety and emotion.

“Tetsu-kun…?”

I couldn’t bear to look at Ayame any longer.

Turning my face away, I forced out an answer.

“…I’m sorry.”

“――――――!”

Ayame gasped.

Her hands, placed on my cheeks, trembled violently.

The short silence felt strangely long.

Ayame whispered faintly.

“…I see.”

She adjusted her yukata, got up from my side, and returned to her bed.

Her back seemed like an empty shell. Fragile, ephemeral, as if she might disappear at any moment.

My chest ached as if it was being squeezed.

Even though I was the one who turned her down, even though I was the one who hurt her, I couldn’t help but feel like a coward, burdened by my own sorrow.

From that point on, we never spoke again for the rest of the trip.