Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: 6.11 Urging Reconciliation with Yuuki?
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Last night, I couldn't fall asleep easily.
The culprit who disturbed my sleep.
Needless to say, it was Akane.
I have the ability to read people's thoughts if someone is nearby.
Especially on quiet nights, that power becomes even more pronounced. Hearing the mind of someone on the other side of the wall is no big deal.
My sister falls asleep early anyway, so she rarely disturbs my rest.
But last night, Akane tossed and turned until late into the early hours.
The unfamiliar bed was uncomfortable, and she had a lot weighing on her mind.
It was probably also the aftereffect of briefly dozing off in that love hotel.
Whether Akane went to bed early or not was none of my concern.
The problem was that her restless thoughts kept filtering into my head, keeping me awake too.
『It hurts there. It stings. Should I ask for some medicine?』
『But somehow that hurts my pride too. Eh, I'll just endure it for a few days.』
『Yuu....』
『Will Naibusu really help me reconcile with Yuu?』
『With Naibusu's personality, he probably won't put in real effort. It'll be more like 'if it doesn't work out, whatever.'』
『Haa... To think I have to rely solely on Naibusu. There are other people I could trust.』
『Even if I reconcile with Yuu thanks to Naibusu's help, that in itself feels a bit...』
『...Ugh, now's not the time to worry about that. I have to do whatever it takes.』
『Naibusu is only helping because I set it up that way, so it's practically the same as me reconciling on my own. Yeah, let's go with that.』
『Until I reconcile with Yuu, I probably shouldn't defy Naibusu....』
『Doing this kind of thing or that....』
『Yuu....』
『Sob... Hic... sob....』
"Damn it."
I had to endure listening to those trivial thoughts all night long, one-sidedly.
And the aftereffects lingered into the next morning.
"Naibusu. Didn't sleep well last night?"
"...Not really."
Sister asks me worriedly as she sees me eating breakfast half-asleep.
"Hmph. Probably lost sleep over some weird thoughts."
Akane shoots me a glare and mutters loud enough for me to hear.
Damn it. Who kept me up because of whom?
"But if you're not eating, why sit at the table?"
"I need to check what side dishes you and the teacher like, and if the seasoning suits your taste."
"Heh. You made this too?"
"Yeah. While Naibusu was snoring away."
Akane is definitely sitting there just to nag at me.
"Akane would make a great bride."
Sister beams happily at Akane.
"Bride? Who'd marry someone with that personality?"
-Thwack.
Akane kicks my shin under the table.
Of course, it didn't hurt a bit.
"Ugh..."
Instead, Akane clutches her own toe and groans in pain.
Idiot.
After getting ready and heading out...
"N-Naibusu."
Akane stops me at the front door.
She hesitates, like she has something to say but it's hard to get out.
"What."
I knew exactly what she wanted to say.
Staying at our house, doing chores to score points, even having gentle sex with me.
There was only one reason Akane was going this far.
"Um... Please talk to Yuu... nicely for me."
Begging Yuuki for forgiveness.
That was the sole reason Akane had for living.
『Right now, the only person I can rely on is Naibusu. I don't want to admit it, but...』
"...Fine, I'll at least talk to her. Don't get your hopes up and just wait."
"Okay. Have a good day."
I head out with Akane seeing me off, a faint happy smile on her face.
A complicated feeling I couldn't quite put into words settled over me.
"—Naibusu. Naibusu?"
"...Huh?"
Was I so groggy that I didn't even notice Yuuki calling right beside me?
Morning, on the way to the academy.
Hina left ahead with her friends, so Yuuki and I were walking alone.
Perfect timing. The ideal chance to bring up Akane.
Yuuki was our neighbor anyway—she'd figure out Akane was staying at our house soon enough without me saying a word. Better to tell her upfront before any needless misunderstandings built up.
But... I just couldn't get the words out.
There was something awkward about broaching it with Yuuki.
Akane had committed an unforgivable sin against Yuuki. A crime she deserved death for—and she'd actually died once over it.
And Yuuki showed no sign of forgiving her. You could tell from how coldly she'd brushed Akane off yesterday.
It was laughable for me to wedge myself between them and push for reconciliation. I'd always despised Akane. I was the one who'd killed her.
So why was I suddenly switching sides to defend her now?
Because I'd slept with Akane?
...No way in hell could I say that.
"Naibusu."
"Ah."
Yuuki calls me again as I sink back into my thoughts.
"Sorry. Still waking up."
"You haven't been overdoing it lately, have you?"
"Nah, not really."
I scratched the back of my head vigorously.
Man. Why the hell was I agonizing over this?
Tch. Shouldn't have made that dumb promise to Akane.
No helping it.
Tell Akane to hold off longer. It wasn't urgent.
As I try to shove the hassle aside, Yuuki speaks up first.
"What happened with Akane?"
"Huh? Akane? Why bring her up?"
What? How'd she know? Don't tell me she could read minds too?
Yuuki smirks at my clumsy dodge.
"You were watching from behind yesterday when Akane came to our house, right?"
"...Knew that, huh."
Well, I hadn't exactly been hiding.
Akane hadn't noticed, but Yuuki spotting it was a given.
I'd wanted to put off the annoying chat, but no dice now.
"Akane's at our house right now."
"...Your house, Naibusu?"
Screw it.
Might as well lay it all out now that it'd come up.
"Yeah. Got kicked out of her place with nowhere else to go. Came crying for help—couldn't just ignore that. Sis felt responsible as her homeroom teacher too."
I rattled it off like I was making excuses.
No lies there. Akane had no place to crash, she'd begged tearfully, and Sis had insisted on taking her in—all true.
But the more I talked, the more it sounded like justifications for my actions.
Like the thief who feels the heat in his own feet.
What I'd done with Akane was gnawing at me.
Yuuki smirks at my spiel.
"Figured it was something like that. That's just how you are, Naibusu."
"How I am what?"
"The type who helps girls in a pinch? Or is 'type' even the word? Habit? Hobby? Special skill?"
"Helping someone in trouble's just common decency."
Even spouting the obvious, I didn't feel entirely aboveboard.
With Akane, my motives weren't purely selfless, after all.
"Wouldn't lift a finger for a guy in the same spot, though."
"A dude should handle his own messes."
"Haha. Yeah, sounds like you."
...Hmm.
The mood was good. Just like always.
Maybe slipping in a casual question wouldn't hurt.
Dwelling on something like this between us felt ridiculous.
Aw, hell. Just spit it out.
"...Yuuki."
"Yeah?"
"You got no plans to reconcile with Akane?"
"With Akane? Why?"
Yuuki asks back, genuinely surprised.
"Hate to even bring it up, but Akane begged me to help patch things up with you. Spilled her whole sob story."
"Akane? Asked you, Naibusu?"
Yuuki tilts her head.
"Weird. Akane hitting you up for that favor, and you actually going to bat for her with me? Both sound off."
-Gulp.
Stung by my conscience, I swallow dryly without thinking.
Yuuki fixes me with a sharp look.
"...Naibusu. Did something happen between you and Akane?"
Caught red-handed.
Yuuki had picked up on my off vibe.
Couldn't let her uncover my thing with Akane.
No guy wants to hear the girl he once crushed on banged someone else. Even if those feelings had cooled. From Yuuki's angle, it'd look like I'd stolen Akane right out from under her—no shock if she blew up over it.
I force the most natural response possible to hide my guilt.
"H-Happen? N-Nothing happened!"
Disaster. Zero naturality. I'd always sucked at lying.
Yuuki lets out a huge sigh.
"You did it, didn't you? With Akane."
"Did what?"
"Sex."
A chill runs down my spine.
For an instant, it felt like a honed blade pressed to my throat.
"N-N-No way!"
I stiffly turn to look. Yuuki's smiling with a face like a mask.
"Haha. You and Akane, huh."
Damn, Yuuki. Turning into a girl sharpened her instincts too.
"Hold on, Yuuki. There were circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
I repeat the same explanation I'd given Sis.
Akane dying and reviving. Her mana steadily draining as a side effect, leading back to death. The only way to recharge it.
"...So, you did it to save Akane's life."
"Exactly. In that pinch, there really wasn't another option."
Yuuki laughs like it's the dumbest thing she's heard.
She could rage all she wanted—it wouldn't change facts. This mess started because she turned girl. If she'd stayed a guy, she could've topped off Akane's mana instead. Pure-love reconciliation yas! How perfect!
But no, she went girl, so I got stuck with the Akane time bomb. Blame yourself, not me.
Of course, voicing that would've just thrown fuel on the fire, so I kept it zipped.
"..."
Yuuki falls quiet and keeps walking.
After a few steps in silence, she speaks slowly.
"—Then, if I ended up in Akane's shoes, you'd do the exact same thing to me?"
"No. That won't happen."
I answer without a second's pause.
Yuuki's feet halt.
I turn back to her, a few steps behind, and finish my thought.
"I won't let you end up like that."
Ah.
That line hits kinda cheesy on reflection.
But whatever—it's the honest truth.
I'd only gone there with Akane because she earned it.
Yuuki? I'd never let her fall that far.
"Fuu."
Yuuki gives a hollow laugh and resumes walking.
"Got it. I'll reconcile with Akane."
"Huh? For real?"
Guess my corny line landed somehow. Lucky break.
"Akane's not even on my radar anyway. Whether we make up or not doesn't matter to me."
"I'd appreciate it if you did."
My deal with Akane only went as far as setting up the sit-down. This should satisfy her without complaints.
"But I've got a condition."
Yuuki flashes a sly grin.