I'm a Shy Loner and I Was Confessed to by a Beautiful Girl Who Has All the Boys in School Smitten, but It Turned Out to Be a 'Fake Confession,' So I Politely Declined. As a Result, I Ended Up Learning About Her Hidden Side and She Started to Cling to Me - Chapter 41

“Goodnight, Ju-bei.”

“Ah, goodnight, Nene.”

That night, at a reasonable hour, we decided to go to bed.

“…”

As soon as I reached my room, exhaustion hit me like a wave. I dove into my bed.

I have school tomorrow, so I should sleep quickly.

Thinking that, I closed my eyes.

…

…

…Huh? I can’t sleep.

I should be falling asleep instantly with today’s fatigue, but somehow, I can’t. Turning over in bed several times to change my sleeping position didn’t help.

I know why I can’t sleep.

…Right now, I am spending the night under the same roof as Nene Kuroki, the school idol I once thought was out of my reach.

Despite my better judgment, I start thinking unnecessary things, and my awareness grows stronger.

Ugh… It’s a vicious cycle.

…In times like these.

“Help me, Yayoi, I’m so tired but I can’t sleep.”

Then, a barrage of stamps.

“Yayoi☆ – No, that’s annoying.”

“Didn’t someone do the same thing to you yesterday?”

For now, chatting with Kise-san should bring on sleepiness.

After about an hour of casual messaging, I finally start to feel sleepy.

I wrap up the conversation with Kise-san and close my eyes to sleep.

…

…

…

Creak…

I wake up to the sound of the door opening.

“…Hm?”

I was sleeping so well. Is it morning? …No, it’s just 3 AM. Why did the door open?

Rubbing my eyes and looking back, I was a bit surprised to see Nene, who seemed startled, entering my room.

“…Ju-bei.”

“…What are you doing?”

“…I woke up at a weird time. Just let me stay here for a bit.”

“Uh, well, yeah.”

I turn my back to Nene, trying to close my eyes and sleep before I become too conscious of the situation.

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.

…I feel like I’m digging my own grave.

I feel and hear the bed sink as she sits down.

“Wait…”

“Don’t turn around.”

I stammer and lie back-to-back with Nene on the same bed.

“Aren’t you going to ask anything?”

She’s probably referring to the reason why she ran away from home.

“Well, I’m honestly curious and concerned. But I won’t ask forcefully. Just tell me when you feel like it.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s normal for people to have things they don’t want to talk about… Like my past, the room I don’t want anyone to enter, why my family hardly comes home… You haven’t asked about those things, have you?”

“…”

“I feel saved by Nene’s respect for those parts of me… So, I want to do the same for you.”

“……Hmm.”

“What? What is it?”

“…”

“Um… Nene-san. It would help if you said something…”

I’m suddenly enveloped in a soft, pleasant scent.

Nene wraps her arms around me and buries her face in my back.

It’s only then that I realize Nene is hugging me from behind.

“This is bad…”

“Nene-san? What do you mean by ‘bad’?”

“I’m trying really hard to hold back right now, so don’t talk to me.”

Hold back? What does she mean? And if she hugs me so tightly, it’s hard for me to keep my composure too…

“Why do I have to be so socially awkward? Always, always… It’s because of you that… I…”

“…Nene-san?”

“It’s nothing… But I worry about how naive you are. What if someone deceives you, or takes advantage of you?”

“…I think I’m okay. My specialty is seeing through lies.”

“…That sounds suspicious.”

“That’s harsh.”

“…Then prove it. Tell if my next words are true or a lie.”

“Uh, well, suddenly that’s a bit…”

“I like you.”

My heart beats faster.

“I want to date you, possess you, not let anyone else have you, be with you forever, marry you, I love you.”

“…………”

“Well? Can you tell if it’s true or a lie?”

“…I don’t know.”

“…I didn’t expect much anyway.”

“If it’s something Nene doesn’t understand, I can’t understand it either.”

“…That’s true.”

“Let’s sleep now. Any more, and it’ll affect us tomorrow.”

“Mm, yeah. Then once again, goodnight, Ju-bei.”

With that, Nene fell asleep.

“Wait… Nene-san. Are we sleeping like this? I meant you should go back to your room… Huh? Hey? Seriously, you’re

already asleep? A little?”

There was no response from Nene. Whether she was really asleep or pretending, only Nene knew.

…We use the same shampoo, but why does she smell so good?

*Sigh*

When will I be able to sleep?

Tomorrow’s alarm won’t help; Nene will probably wake me up.

I had a feeling that would happen.