episode_0078

I stared for a moment at Haru’s expression, her eyes shaped like hearts, and then I sighed. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if this was a disaster I had brought upon myself… In any case, now that I knew the other person liked me, it wasn’t polite to just stand by. I figured I should at least talk to her.

Of course. ‘Just move locations first.’ Just move locations. No matter how thick-skinned I was, I wasn’t shameless enough to say such things right next to someone who had just been rejected after confessing.

“Haru Nuna, let’s go to that park we went to last time.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

Haru smiled sweetly at my words, took my hand, and left the school. After we left the school, only Hiro remained, unable to regain her composure after her confession was rejected.

A short while later, we arrived at the park we usually frequented. Upon arriving at the park, I was about to get straight to the point…

“Wait a minute, I’ll get you a drink!”

“No. Wait…”

I couldn’t get to the point. Haru suddenly pulled my hand and led me to a vending machine in the corner of the park, giving me a drink. Thanks to that, I couldn’t get to the main topic and ended up drinking the beverage. Well, it didn’t taste bad, so it didn’t matter.

After drinking the beverage, I said, crushing the can.

“Nuna, do you, by any chance, like me?”

Saying a line that seemed fit for a younger male lead in a drama, I looked at Haru, and at my words, Haru…

“Ah, ahhh, no?!”

Hmm, she clearly showed signs of panic. No, not just panic, she looked like someone who couldn’t collect herself because she didn’t know how to react. And from that reaction, there was one thing I could tell.

‘She really does like me…’

Namely, that Haru genuinely liked me. Honestly, with that kind of reaction, it would be strange to think she *didn’t* like me. Anyway, since I knew she liked me, what should I do now?

While I was pondering for a moment, Haru, her face flushed, hesitantly spoke to me.

“D-do you, by any chance, already know?”

“Know what?”

“Th-that I like you…”

At her words, I nodded my head. The moment I truly looked at her face, I could easily tell that Haru liked me. It was quite evident on her face, and there was also that unique aura of someone in love.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Hauuu.”

When I nodded in affirmation, Haru shyly buried her face and made a cute sound. Haru buried her face, and after a short while, as if her feelings had calmed down, she raised her head again. Haru’s face, now raised, was as red as a beet, but her eyes still held affection for me. I met Haru’s gaze directly without averting my eyes, because avoiding her gaze here seemed impolite.

Haru, who had been quietly watching me and parting her lips, then took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind about something, and spoke to me.

“The timing is very awkward, but… by any chance, would you go out with me?”

What she said after steeling her resolve was a direct confession. And it was the same kind of confession she had just received earlier. I wasn’t flustered by Haru’s confession. Honestly, I knew this confession was coming. Therefore, I had already decided on my answer to this confession.

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

My intention was to refuse. And at my words, Haru was momentarily flustered, then cautiously looked at me and asked.

“C-can I ask why…”

She said it in a voice much lower in self-esteem than before.

I nodded at Haru’s words and explained the reason.

“First, I’m not as pure a person as you, Haru Nuna, might think.”

“Not a pure person…”

“I already have many people I’m involved with.”

“Th-that means…”

“I have quite a few sex friends.”

At my words, Haru wore a shocked expression. Well, if she had seen me as a slightly mature child, it was a perfectly understandable reaction. Honestly, I would have been surprised too if I were in Haru’s shoes. So, I understood her reaction…

“Th-then I’ll become a sex friend too!”

What is this woman saying? I quickly explained myself to Haru, who had suddenly gone off the rails.

“I don’t just meet people for their bodies.”

“Th-then those sex friends are…”

“Less than lovers, more than friends? That kind of relationship.”

Though some slaves were mixed in, most of the people I had been intimate with were in that kind of relationship. Perhaps because of my words, Haru mumbled with a deflated expression.

“Then why can’t I…”

If she asks why she can’t, I really have nothing to say. I have my own personal circumstances, and there’s also a second reason.

“The second reason is… it’s actually because of your career path, Haru Nuna.”

“My career path?”

“Haru Nuna, you told me before, didn’t you? That your goal is to go to the World Athletics Championships.”

“Th-that’s natural for an athlete…”

At her words, I shook my head.

“Most people aim to win regional competitions, let alone world championships, but Nuna, you’re looking at something much higher. That means you have ambition, and you have a goal.”

“That’s true…”

“And I don’t want to become an obstacle to you in the process of reaching that goal.”

“…”

Haru fell silent at my words, and I looked at her and thought.

‘No matter how I think about it, it’s just an excuse.’

In truth, these words were all just excuses. Become an obstacle? On the contrary, there’s a high chance I could provide mental support and even a positive influence. So, this was just an excuse. But what can I do?

‘It’s already hard enough to take care of the people around me as it is.’

I don’t want any more people added to my circle. I’m already at my limit with the people I have. So, I tried to reject Haru’s feelings.

“Then…”

But Haru didn’t seem to have that intention.

“If I become a national athlete or win an award in a Japanese national competition within at least three years, please go out with me… If going out is difficult… even a sex friend…”

Why on earth would she go to such lengths? For a moment, I couldn’t understand her feelings. No matter how attractive I was, what reason would she have to go to such lengths just to date me? I pondered for a moment, but no answer came to me. So, instead of dwelling on the matter, I nodded at her proposal.

“If you insist that much, then if you achieve the goal you spoke of, we can go out.”

Honestly, with someone going to such lengths just to date me, it wouldn’t be polite to refuse any further. Haru, upon hearing my answer, had her deflated demeanor from moments ago vanish, and she spoke confidently, as if overflowing with energy again.

“Heh, heh, then I’ll have to work incredibly hard from now on!”

She said that and stood up, dusting off her knees. Then, she looked at me and declared.

“Just you wait! I’ll definitely succeed in winning an award and proudly become your girlfriend!”

At her words, I nodded and said.

“I hope that goal comes true.”

With those last words from me, we parted ways. She probably had her own plans.

“Sniff… sniff… It was my first confession. I failed…”

On my way, I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard the sound of some girl’s tears. If I listened to that sound, I’d realize once again what a scumbag I was.

Having returned home, I collapsed onto the bed. No. Actually, I couldn’t even really collapse.

“Ugh, this is uncomfortable.”

The cast on my arm was uncomfortable. Anyway, lying on the bed like that, I calmed my confused mind and pulled myself together again.

“A confession, huh…”

To think the day would come when I’d receive such a thing, I definitely felt that the world really had changed. If it had been before I possessed this body…

‘I’d be lucky not to get hit by eggs.’

I was the government’s military dog, a brute who killed countless people. Even if it was for a crumbling nation, the hatred of those who suffered wouldn’t disappear. That’s why I thought such a confession would only happen in anime or games. But today, it happened to me. Thanks to that, my emotions were mixed.

It was just as I was lying there thinking about my past life.

-Knock knock.

[Hey, I’m coming in.]

“Ah, Yuka’s mom, please come in.”

It was Yuka’s mom, one of my two mothers and someone who knew my true identity, who knocked on my door.

-Creak.

Looking at Yuka’s mom who opened my door and entered, I spoke.

“What brings you here?”

At my question, Yuka’s mom frowned for a moment and said.

“To hear why your body ended up like that.”

Ah. That story. The reason Yuka’s mom came to my room was simple. It was to hear why I had come home injured a few days ago.

At her words, I nodded and replied.

“I have quite a bit to tell you, so I’ll go get something to drink.”

“Suit yourself.”

Having brought back something to drink, I explained to Yuka’s mom what had happened. Oh, and I didn’t forget to explain the penalty. And Yuka’s mom, after listening to my explanation, looked at me with a surprised expression for a moment and then just quietly spoke.

“…You did well.”

She said I did well. At her words, I felt an indescribable feeling. Did well, huh…

‘I certainly did do well this time.’

Playing Cupid, fighting to the point where my body was breaking apart, receiving a confession from a high school girl, and realizing I was a scumbag myself. It was a lot of hardship. But what can I do?

‘As long as a task is given, I must do my best.’

Thinking that to myself, I was about to say something to Yuka’s mom. But I ultimately couldn’t open my mouth. Because Yuka’s mom took my head and embraced me straight into her arms.

“Uh, Mom, what’s this…”

“Because you worked hard. A reward.”

“No…”

At her words, I thought, ‘Weren’t we awkward with each other?’

‘Still, it’s warm…’

Being in her warm embrace, everything felt better. I fell asleep while being held in Yuka’s mom’s warm embrace for a moment.