Chapter 78
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Confession
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I stared for a moment at Haru's expression as she gazed at me with heart-shaped eyes, then let out a sigh.
All of this was a disaster I'd brought upon myself... or at least, I wasn't sure.
Anyway, now that I knew she liked me, it felt rude to just sit there quietly.
I figured I should at least talk to her about it.
Of course.
'But first, let's move somewhere else.'
Just change locations a bit.
No matter how thick-skinned I was, I couldn't say this right next to the guy she'd just rejected after his confession.
"Haru-nee, let's go to that park we went to last time."
"Sure. Let's go."
Haru smiled brightly at my words, took my hand, and we slipped out of school.
All that remained after we left was Hiro, who still hadn't snapped out of his daze after being rejected.
A short while later, we arrived at the park we often visited.
The moment we got there, I was about to get straight to the point...
"Hold on, let me get us some drinks!"
"No, wait..."
But I couldn't. Haru suddenly dragged me by the hand to the vending machine in the corner of the park and bought us drinks.
Thanks to that, I ended up drinking the soda instead of diving into the main topic.
Well, it tasted pretty good, so no complaints.
After finishing my drink, I crushed the can and said,
"Nee-san, do you like me, by any chance?"
I said it like some younger male lead in a drama, gazing at Haru. Her response to my words was...
"Ah, ahhh, no?!"
Hmm, she was obviously flustered.
No, not just flustered—she looked like she had no idea how to react and was completely at a loss.
And from that reaction, I could tell one thing.
'She really does like me...'
That Haru genuinely liked me.
Honestly, with a reaction like that, it would be weird to think otherwise.
Anyway, now I knew she liked me, so what should I do next?
While I pondered, Haru—her face flushed red—mumbled hesitantly to me.
"D-Did you... know?"
"Know what?"
"Th-That I like you..."
I nodded at her words.
The moment I looked her properly in the face, it was easy to tell she liked me.
It showed plainly on her face, and she had that distinctive aura of someone in love.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Hauuuu."
At my affirmation, Haru shyly bowed her head and let out an adorable little moan.
She kept her face down like that for a bit, and after some time passed and her heart settled, she lifted her head again.
Her face was beet red like a ripe tomato, but her eyes still held affection for me.
I met her gaze without looking away. Dodging it now would be rude.
She stared quietly at me like that for a moment, her lips twitching, then seemed to steel herself with a deep breath before speaking.
"The timing's kinda awkward, but... would you go out with me?"
With her resolve firm, she confessed.
The same kind of confession she'd just rejected earlier.
I wasn't surprised by Haru's confession. Honestly, I'd known this was coming.
So my answer was already decided.
"I don't think that would work."
My intent was rejection.
At my words, Haru looked stunned for a moment, then asked cautiously,
"C-Could I ask why...?"
Her voice was much more subdued, her self-esteem clearly shaken compared to before.
I nodded at her question and explained.
"First off, I'm not as pure as you think I am, Haru-nee."
"Not pure...?"
"I already have relations with a lot of people."
"Y-You mean..."
"I have a bunch of sex friends."
Haru's face showed pure shock at my words.
Well, if she'd seen me as a somewhat mature kid, it was a totally understandable reaction.
Hell, even I'd be shocked in her shoes.
So I got her reaction...
"Th-Then I'll be your sex friend too!"
No. What the hell is this girl saying?
I quickly clarified to Haru, who had suddenly accelerated into overdrive.
"I'm not the type who just goes after bodies."
"Th-Then those sex friends are..."
"More than friends, less than lovers? Something like that."
There were a few slaves mixed in, but anyway—most of the people I'd been with were in that kind of relationship.
Maybe because of my explanation, Haru's energy deflated as she muttered,
"Then why not me...?"
If she asked why not her, I had nothing to say.
Personal reasons, and there was a second one too.
"The second reason... is actually about your career path, Haru-nee."
"My career?"
"You told me before—your goal is to compete in the world track and field championships."
"Th-That's natural for someone in track..."
I shook my head at her words.
"Most people aim to win regional meets at best, not world championships. You're aiming higher. That means you have ambition and clear goals."
"Yeah..."
"And I don't want to be a stumbling block in your path to reaching them."
"..."
Haru fell silent at my words, and as I watched her, I thought,
'No matter how I spin it, that's just an excuse.'
Honestly, it was all just an excuse.
A stumbling block? If anything, I'd probably be more like mental support, or have a positive influence.
So yeah, pure excuse.
But what could I do?
'I'm already struggling to take care of the people around me.'
I didn't want any more people in my circle.
The ones I had now were already at my limit.
So I was trying to reject Haru's feelings.
"Then..."
But Haru didn't seem willing to let it go.
"At least... if I make the national team or place in the Japanese nationals within three years, will you go out with me? If that's too much... then sex friends at least..."
Why was she going this far?
For a moment, I couldn't understand her feelings. No matter how attractive I was, what made her push this hard to be with me?
I thought it over, but no answer came.
So instead of dwelling, I nodded to her proposal.
"If you're that determined, then sure—if you hit that goal, we'll date."
Honestly, if someone was willing to go that far just to be with me, rejecting her outright would be rude.
Haru beamed at my response, her earlier gloom vanished as she declared confidently,
"Hehe, then I'll have to work super hard from now on!"
She said that, dusted off her knees, and stood up.
Then she looked at me and proclaimed,
"Just watch! I'll place for sure and become your girlfriend with my head held high!"
I nodded and replied,
"I hope you achieve that goal."
With those words, we parted ways. She probably had her own plans.
"Sniff... sniff... My first confession... and it failed..."
I decided not to hear the sobbing of some girl passing by.
Hearing that would just remind me what a piece of trash I was.
Back home, I flopped onto my bed.
Actually, I couldn't even flop properly.
"Ugh, this is uncomfortable."
The cast on my arm was getting in the way.
Lying there, I calmed my chaotic mind and refocused.
"A confession, huh..."
The day I got one of those—never thought it'd come. It really hit me how much the world had changed.
Before the possession...
'I'd have been lucky not to get pelted with eggs.'
I was the government's attack dog, a tyrant who'd killed countless people.
Even if it was for a crumbling nation, the hatred from those who'd suffered didn't vanish.
So I'd thought confessions like this only happened in anime or games. But today, it happened to me.
My mood was all over the place because of it.
As I lay there mulling over my past life—
*knock knock.*
[Hey, I'm coming in.]
"Ah, Yuka-mom, come in."
Yuka-mom—one of my two mothers and the one who knew my true identity—knocked on my door.
*click.*
I looked at Yuka-mom as she opened the door and entered, saying,
"What's up?"
She frowned slightly at my question before replying,
"To hear why your body ended up like that."
Ah, that story.
The reason Yuka-mom came to my room was simple.
To find out why I'd come home injured a few days ago.
I nodded and answered,
"It's a long story, so let me grab something to drink."
"Do whatever."
I got us some drinks and explained everything that had happened. Oh, and I didn't forget the penalty either.
After hearing it all, Yuka-mom looked at me with surprise, then quietly said,
"...Good work."
Good work.
Her words filled me with an indescribable feeling.
Good work, huh...
'Yeah, I really earned it this time.'
Playing Cupid, fighting until my body broke, getting confessed to by a high school girl, realizing what trash I am.
Lots of hardship.
But oh well.
'If there's work to do, I have to give it my all.'
I thought that to myself and was about to say something to Yuka-mom.
But I couldn't open my mouth.
Because Yuka-mom grabbed my head and pulled me into her embrace.
"M-Mom, what's this...?"
"You worked hard. Here's your reward."
"No, I..."
I thought, 'Weren't things kinda awkward between us?'
'But whatever, it's warm...'
Being in her warm embrace made everything feel better.
I stayed like that in Yuka-mom's arms for a while... and fell asleep.