kscans

Chapter 485 - Frequently in the Red Zone

"—Okay. So, to summarize..."

'Yes.'

"You got lonely and came over."

'That's oversimplifying it! You make me sound like some pathetic kid!'

"How else am I supposed to describe it???"

I thought it would be a hassle to make her go back for her phone, which she had simply forgotten, but this might have been even more of a hassle.

I'm having a conversation with her by giving her a pen and paper, but the response time is dead compared to her specialty, super-fast flick typing. Nia herself seems annoyed by it, frequently abandoning the conversation to lunge at me with a 'Fine, just let me cuddle' attack.

Nothing is fine—well, regarding the feelings she explained, I can say 'that's good' to the extent that I understand.

Apparently, after she woke up and saw the calendar and clock, she was struck by the anxiety of whether the events of the past three-plus days had really happened.

I'm familiar with that kind of sudden, inexplicable anxiety, and I can understand turning to 'someone who can share that anxiety' when it happens.

Since that someone is right 'next door', I can understand the feeling of being unable to hold back and rushing over on impulse. Therefore, I only have one complaint.

"I don't mind you visiting at night, and the body slams are pretty much routine by now, but... please wear clothes, Miss Liliania Vrubele."

'I am wearing clothes. And stop with the full name.'

"Pajamas don't count as outdoor cloth—hey, stop, you don't have to show me, don't lift it up!"

I slapped the hand of the esteemed Miss Vrubele as she flashed me her shorts by lifting her T-shirt, putting a stop to her outrageous behavior, whether she was aware of her own charm or not.

She shot me a sidelong glance while rubbing her hand theatrically, but I'm confident my use of force was perfectly calibrated, so justice remains on my side. Back down.

"You...! I mean, you girls...! Don't you have any sense of caution as young women? I mean, I may be this and that, but I'm still a genuine man, and I do have some kind of rationality meter installed, you know? Get it?!"

I'm not exactly some harmless, herbivorous type—not that I know myself well enough to make that self-analysis, but I'm definitely a man who can recognize women as members of the opposite sex.

So, it's very painful when that's misconstrued.

I want them to properly understand the fact that I interact with all three of them with reason and self-control, so that I don't make a move before I've given my answer, heaven forbid.

—And so, I've already blurted it all out.

Swallowing my pride, prepared for any reaction, I laid bare my heart, concerned about a potential future accident... and the result... Nia slid across the sofa, closing the distance, her cheeks relaxed in a wide grin. Stay, stay, stay!!

"Were you listening to me? I believe I just conveyed my sincere hope that you would refrain from such direct advances, you know?"

Using a two-cushion-wielding style to guard against the Grade-A hazardous material that was thin, soft, and warm wherever I touched, I pushed her into the corner of the sofa with the intent of overpowering her.

But the expression peeking out from the gap remained unchanged. Her hand shot out, and guessing what she wanted, I handed her the pen and paper that had been left on the table.

Then, after five, ten seconds—

'Do you say all these nice things on purpose?'

"Guh...! N-Ngggaaaahhhh...!"

I know, okay?! I know, but there's no other way to say it!

I'm fully aware that I'm saying something insane by basically saying, 'You're so damn attractive I feel like I'm gonna make a move, so please restrain yourself!' I'm clearly, firmly, and distinctly aware of it!!

But I can't help it, it's impossible. Before any feelings of like or love, every single one of them, as a girl, is just so... ah, damn it all.

—This is a good opportunity, I guess.

I should probably open up to Nia about a few things here. It's probably unreasonable to expect her to understand my stance without a detailed explanation.

I should tell her that I'm afraid of 'losing my mind'.

And with that...

"Hey, Nia-chan."

'Hm?'

"I used to have a sibling, you know."

'what'

'w'

'wait what are you talking about all of a sudden'

I trust her enough to tell her all that, which in turn means she's someone I want to cherish. It would be my good fortune if she could sense that, even just a little.

---

It's not going to get serious.