When Two Wounded Hearts Find Solace In Each Other, Snow White (The School's Beauty) And I Were Mistakenly Labeled As A Silly Couple. - Chapter 6: Morning Embrace With Snow White.

Morning Embrace With Snow White.

“Ugh… Where am I?”

I slowly open my heavy eyelids, greeted by an unfamiliar scenery.

Closing my eyes again, I attempt to recall yesterday’s events, but the details escape me.

All I can muster is the memory of Himeno treating me to dinner as a gesture of gratitude; everything afterward remains a blank canvas.

“Hmm… What’s this sensation?”

A soft touch and sweet fragrance envelop me, nestled in my arms. I slowly open my eyes.

“W-Why?”

In my arms is Himeno, the one with whom I shared comfort the previous night.

Unable to remember why I’m embracing her, a wave of embarrassment washes over me.

“We didn’t cross any boundaries, did we?”

Since I have no recollection after finishing dinner, the possibility that we might have embraced lingers.

Considering Himeno was grieving and seeking comfort, it’s not implausible that she sought solace in my arms out of loneliness.

Thus, cold sweat covers me.

“Mmm…”

Whether she’s waking up or not, Himeno slowly opens her eyes.

Appearing a bit dazed from sleep, she seems unaware of being embraced.

Her long hair, even after waking up, is neatly arranged, a testament to her consistent hair care routine.

“A-Ah…”

Gradually becoming more aware, Himeno blushes deeply, realizing the situation.

Considering she lacks any experience in being embraced by a male, it’s natural for her to feel embarrassed.

“For now, calm down. I have no idea why this happened either.”

In fact, I feel like I need an explanation more than Himeno.

Trying to soothe the evidently flustered Himeno, I ponder how to handle a situation I haven’t encountered since childhood with my childhood friend.

“I’m sorry.”

“Ah…?”

With no prior experience, I resorted to a method I had seen in anime, attempting to calm down the flustered Himeno by hugging her tightly.

Considering I was already holding her, the effectiveness might not be as pronounced. Yet, with zero experience, embracing was all that came to my mind.

“Takashi-kun…”

Seemingly effective, Himeno, blushing but no longer in a panic, didn’t resist my embrace.

“Now that you seem calmer, could you please explain what happened? I have no recollection after dinner.”

Even attempting to recall is futile, as a foggy haze shrouds my mind.

“Y-Yes. But, could you please let go first? It’s still embarrassing.”

“Sure.”

Apologizing for the awkward situation, I released Himeno.

It would be hard to have a decent conversation while continuously embracing her, especially considering her embarrassment.

Though I felt a bit embarrassed myself, I also had a desire to continue holding her a little longer.

However, if she explicitly requested to be let go, forcing the embrace would be inappropriate, bordering on criminal.

“So, why was I hugging you… Shirayuki?”

Sitting on the floor, I asked Himeno, who also took a seat.

“Let me explain. Do you remember eating chocolate yesterday?”

“Chocolate…”

Nodding in recollection, I remembered having chocolate after dinner.

However, I couldn’t recall anything that happened afterward.

“That chocolate had alcohol in it, and when you ate it, you got drunk.”

“Alcohol-infused chocolate? Did I really get drunk?”

She nodded with a slight blush. The idea of getting drunk from chocolate was unexpected, especially leading to being embraced by a guy who wasn’t even her boyfriend.

“Ah, I’m really, really sorry.”

Apologizing for something I couldn’t remember but was evidently a result of the chocolate-induced state, I bowed deeply to express my sincere regret. Forehead firmly pressed against the floor, I displayed the utmost repentance.

Even though she had graciously invited me into her home, proper apologies were necessary to avoid potential awkwardness in class. If she didn’t accept my apology, I might end up needing to involve the police.

Having embraced and inadvertently slept while holding her due to the chocolate-induced intoxication, and considering it was now morning, I had likely held her for an extended period. The embarrassment was overwhelming; I wished I could disappear.

“N-No need to bow like that… it’s okay.”

When I lifted my head slightly, she flashed a smile that seemed to hold no signs of anger. Her smile, fitting for someone likened to Snow White, had a captivating charm. Even though I had just been rejected by my childhood friend the day before, I found myself enchanted.

For a moment, I wondered if I would have fallen for her if there weren’t someone else I liked. However, deep in my heart, there was a desire for her to reserve that smile for me alone—a sentiment that dominated my innermost thoughts.

“And, I didn’t mind it at all. It felt really nice, and I could sleep well.”

Whispering into my ear like she would to a boyfriend, she blushed and hurried off to the bedroom.