Chapter 299 - A Belated First Look at Love
—And so.
Since we were both at our limit, I suggested we forcibly 'avoid that kind of atmosphere for a bit,' a proposal that was accepted without issue.
After that, we shifted to more casual tasks, like me giving her the gems I got from the Great Rock-Eating Hive and having her appraise things—
But I was a fool for thinking I could relax my guard and find some peace of mind.
I mean, it's not a matter of avoiding it anymore. It wasn't just Nia; I was forced to realize that I myself couldn't handle it either…
Once you're consciously aware of it, it's over—how could anyone pretend to be perfectly calm when there's 'a girl who likes you' in the same space?
Whether I can come to terms with this whole romance thing is a complete unknown, but… now that I've decided to face it, I can't just push it out of my mind so easily.
"…For now, let's just… go to sleep today. We're both, seriously, going to collapse."
"I agree…"
See, just as I said, both Nia and I are already on our last legs.
To make matters worse, even the sight of her sprawled out on the sofa has ceased to look 'normal' to me… I’m truly at a loss.
One way or another, I've always recognized this world as being 'a game' more strongly than most, and on top of that, by recognizing her as an 'avatar,' I'd had an extra layer of resistance to beautiful women and girls.
But she's genuinely beautiful. Now that I've seen her real self, I can no longer think of her avatar, with its minor differences, as 'artificial.'
Her father is Japanese, but apparently her mother is from Russia. She threw that information at me casually, so I don't know the details, but she's a fairly famous painter or something.
The only daughter of a globally active creator couple… which means exactly what it sounds like. It wasn't just her looks; she was a genuine rich girl, too.
Isn't the density of rich girls around me getting a little weird?
Well, I suppose that makes sense. Considering we met in a virtual world with a three-million-yen entry fee, it's probably not that rare for people my age to come from wealthy families…
—But, putting that aside.
"You ran around a lot in the real world today, too. Get some proper rest."
"Yeah… I know."
It wasn't even nine p.m. yet, but Nia, who gave me a slightly dazed reply, was already hugging a cushion with a sleepy expression.
…Don't fall asleep here. Well, even if you do, [Arcadia] will automatically ensure you get a good night's sleep.
It's a mysterious function whispered about in more than a few circles as being 'better for you than sleeping in a real bed.' How it provides such comfort to a body that can't even toss and turn is, as always, an incomprehensible fantasy.
Now then, as we're about to part ways—I really have to say what needs to be said.
"Nia."
"Fya."
…I get that you're sleepy, but don't try to kill me with the first word you say. Guys are weak to that kind of thing. We're basically idiots when it comes to beautiful women.
"Wake up. I have something important to say. If you miss it, I'm not saying it again."
"Ngh… j-just a second… —Okay, I'm good."
I couldn't help but let out a small laugh as I watched her rub her eyes like a child to ward off sleep. I tried to stay calm, push past my embarrassment, and began to string together the words I had prepared.
"Thank you for telling me you like me. I was genuinely happy, and I'm honored. …Though I’m still having a hard time believing it’s real, to be honest."
"…It's definitely real, you know."
"…Yeah. I know."
She probably took that as another self-deprecating comment. I gave a wry smile to Nia, whose face was a busy mix of blushing and sidelong glances, and took a moment to let the heat in my own face subside.
"So, you've probably figured this out already, but I've got, well, some complicated baggage… When it comes to love and stuff, I’m not very good at it."
"Oh, really."
She probably hadn't guessed the details of my 'complicated baggage.' I could hear a little surprise in her voice as I continued my embarrassing self-monologue.
"So—I'm sorry. I can't give you an answer right now. It's not even a question of 'yes' or 'no' yet. I wasn't even in a position to be in a 'romance' in the first place."
"…Okay."
"But… now that someone has told me they like me, even when I was acting so carelessly, I'm taking down my selfish barrier."
"Okay."
As I said what I needed to say—I thought about whether to avoid her or not.
And in the end, I didn't run from the girl who approached me head-on, but accepted her.
"…I don't know what my final answer will be, but I will think about it."
"Okay."
A muffled voice reached my ears from the mouth pressed against my chest. To be honest, this situation was mentally challenging, but it was a relief that we didn't have to see each other's faces.
"Hey."
"What is it?"
"I like you."
"…"
"It started as love at first sight, but… I really love how you're so honest about everything."
"…Have I really shown you an honest side of me that often?"
"I heard your reason? And I kind of get it now, but the way you so obviously weren't conscious of girls was a big plus for me, too."
"Looked at another way, that could have just made me seem like a 'weirdo' or 'immature.'"
"And on top of that, you try to act cool in front of everyone. You're so unfair."
"Hearing just that makes me sound like a total loser, doesn't it? And hey, it's an RPG, what's wrong with that?"
"And—even with your light banter, you choose your words carefully, watching the other person."
"…"
"It's not fair. You need to realize it—you're basically my ideal guy."
…—My heart hurts.
I've had similar experiences recently, but.
I don't think my chest has ever ached like this before. Therefore—
"…From now on, I'll look at you more closely."
"Okay… I'll be in your care, then."
I'm probably not a completely hopeless case, either. It's not too late.
So, yes… I'll look closely, and I'll face it.
I'll swallow the unsightly beginning and middle, and whatever the process may be—
I hope that in the end, as a man, I can give an answer I won't be ashamed of.
………………Which brings me to,
"…N-Nia-san?"
"Mhm."
"I-If you could… let go… soon… that would be… great."
"Mhm."
"No, not 'mhm'…!"
Developing the mental defense to withstand these high-firepower heroines—
That is, for the time being, my top priority.
And with that, the first section of Chapter 3 is concluded.
…Now that the romantic comedy's introduction is over, there's only one thing left to do, right? Let's add more sweetness than ever before and officially begin the 'game'.