kscans

Chapter 726 - Nier love it

—From what I hear, she got worried because she thought I wasn't doing a good job of hiding my exhaustion.

That being said, it was a serious worldwide broadcast. I had been trying my best not to show a pathetic side of myself as much as possible, so I shouldn't have had an expression that could be so easily read through the screen.

In fact, it seems even Hiyo-chan, Mitsueda-san, had said something like, "Is he that worryingly tired?" But to Nia's eyes, it was apparently 'obvious.'

And so, as she was getting endlessly fidgety, wondering if I was okay...

"I see, so she gave up on you..."

I think that's a bit of a rude way to put it.

She was delivered by the hands of her best friend, who had reached her limit of annoyance.

..................Well, that's fine and all, but?

"—What is this?"

What do you mean, it's a lap pillow.

"I'm not asking about the act, I'm asking about the intention."

She had been just as confused as me the moment she was brought here against her will, but the instant I tilted my head, wondering what was going on, and invited her into the room, she seemed to come to terms with it or something and regained her energy. Before I knew it, I was pushed onto the sofa and ended up in this situation.

What is this, a reward?

If she wanted to comfort me, I would have preferred to be allowed to spend my break time in peace and quiet...

You were on edge the whole time, you must be suuuper tired.

"Well, yeah."

So, I'll be your pillow and alarm clock. Rest easy.

"'So' isn't functioning as a conjunction there."

And so, there it was. I mean, I get what she's trying to say, and I can more than read her concern, but even so, a 'pillow' isn't necessary.

Besides, even if she tells me to rest... I only have about an hour until I have to be back at the venue, so I wasn't planning on sleeping in the first place—or so I thought.

"Mm..."

Just as I was about to state my intentions, her index finger sealed my lips first.

You don't have to sleep, just close your eyes.

Next, the complaint I was about to voice after she moved her finger was dammed up by her gentle tone.

You don't have to worry about oversleeping or anything, right?

"............"

Just relax and laze around. Your big sister will watch over you.

The feeling of her slender fingers brushing the hair from my forehead, and the soft expression raining down from above...—they so easily rob my thoughts of any intention to resist.

"............You've been unfair recently."

And so, I throw out a complaint not about the present, but about her recent behavior.

However, she, who had tossed her phone aside as if to say, 'Stop talking and rest,' simply tilted her head with a natural look, without a word.

Really, she's unfair.

"You're doing that on purpose now, aren't you?"

As I say that and glare up at her with half-lidded eyes, what comes back is a feigned smile that seems to say, 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

Considering the mischievous color mixed in, she's a completely deliberate offender.

—Sora, who has become able to show her age-appropriate selfishness and be honestly spoiled. And Asche, whose relentless assaults increase by the day, trying to put me in check at every opportunity.

It's not just me; it's natural that those around me are gradually changing as well.

So then, how has Nia changed? ...—She hasn't changed. More correctly, she has added a facet to herself and is trying to make me fall.

And this is it. Treating me like a complete junior.

The gap with her usual noisy demeanor is so huge that it's extremely not good. It was a part of her she had shown from time to time before, but recently, there have been signs that Nia is intentionally using her two-sided nature... or rather, at this point, it's a certainty.

That little... she's realized her weapon. And, what that means is—

"Ah, geez, really..., ............"

It means that she has realized the fact that it is supremely effective on me.

It was a clear attempt to hide my embarrassment. I turned my face towards her lap, looking away. I could feel her smiling as she watched over me. From the hand gently stroking my hair, I could muster neither the will nor the energy to escape.

"................................................, ...Nia."

After tens of seconds of deep deliberation, as the meeting in my brain, mediated by various emotions such as hesitation, reason, and guilt, reached its conclusion, I squeezed out her name from a place between my will and my reluctance.

And so, to her, who stroked my head as if to prompt me to speak,

"I might... fall asleep, so. Just in case, be my alarm."

As I waved the white flag in utter defeat, a thoroughly satisfied breath reached my ears.

I closed my eyelids, accepting the warmth of her fingertips stroking my hair—and how I lost consciousness in that peace, I, of course, have no way of knowing.