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 44

“…Why are you here?”

“I have a safety GPS on you. I can easily find where you are. …And who is this beside you?”

Nene’s father’s gaze pierced through me. His intense stare made me straighten my back involuntarily.

…I must introduce myself confidently and manly. First impressions are said to define a person’s perception.

“Nice to meet you, I am Sato Ju-bei, a friend of Nene-san.”

Alright!! That should do it.

“Nice to meet you—”

“Her boyfriend.”

“!?”

What… why would he suddenly say that…? Why lie? Is he trying to involve me in something?

Oh no…! I need to introduce myself quickly…!!

“Uh, ah, ehm, my name is Sato Ju-bei.”

“…I see. I am Nene’s father, Kuroki Yosuke.”

Nene’s father… Yosuke-san’s gaze towards me definitely changed. His eyes became sharper. Do I sense some kind of killing intent, or is it just my imagination?

Oh no… it’s over…

“Why are you here… what do you intend?”

“That should be my line. When I finally come home after a long time, no one is there, and no matter how long I wait, you don’t return. What’s the meaning of this?”

“I don’t want to be with someone like you, so I stayed at my boyfriend’s house! What’s wrong with that!?”

“…So you ran away from home. Ridiculous. Don’t cause unnecessary worry. I’m busy.”

“Unnecessary… what do you mean…!! You don’t really care, do you!! If you were really worried… you would’ve called at least!?”

Her voice sounded like a cry filled with loneliness. So, that’s why Nene was concerned about her phone because she was waiting for Yosuke-san’s reaction.

“I left my smartphone at the hospital.”

“…!? Seriously… can’t you come up with a better lie?”

…No, it seems like Yosuke-san is not lying. Could it be that he’s somewhat clumsy?

“Are you done? Let’s go home.”

“I’m not going…!! I absolutely won’t return…”

Nene glared at Yosuke-san defiantly. Seeing this, Yosuke-san glanced at me momentarily.

He sighed as if in exasperation and was about to speak…

“Um, excuse me!!”

I interrupted, anticipating that his words would not be pleasant.

“…It’s not suitable to keep standing and talking here, so if you don’t mind, let’s have some tea.”

Yosuke-san’s eyebrows twitched. Was it out of surprise or irritation… I couldn’t tell.

“…This is none of your business.”

“No, it is my business. …I am Nene’s boyfriend.”

“…”

“…”

An oppressive silence attacked me, not so much intimidating as it seemed to be assessing me.

I couldn’t avert my eyes. I had to face it; otherwise, he would leave this place.

“…Very well.”

Hearing his response, I let out a sigh of relief. For now, I decided to invite Nene and Yosuke-san into my house.

“…It’s just plain tea.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I prepared tea and snacks, but Yosuke-san didn’t touch them. …Is he cautious, or is it something else?

“What do you mean by this!? Why did you invite this jerk father of mine into your house!?”

Nene whispered to me in a voice that Yosuke-san couldn’t hear, her face full of dissatisfaction.

“…It’s no use, he won’t listen to me anyway.”

I don’t think so.

If he really had no intention of listening, he wouldn’t have come into my house. Plus, his “unnecessary worry” earlier, despite the unfortunate choice of words, indicated he was indeed worried.

Yosuke-san does care about Nene. Maybe if she speaks her true feelings, something might change.

So, I should be the catalyst.

“…Aren’t you going to ask?”

“…About what?”

“Why Nene ran away from home.”

“That’s because she didn’t want to be with me, right?”

Yosuke-san glanced at Nene, who awkwardly averted her eyes.

“…I’m asking why you think she didn’t want to be with you.”

Nene’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

“…What?”

“Why haven’t you tried to understand why she doesn’t want to be with you? Don’t you want to know what she thinks, what she’s dissatisfied with?”

“…”

I was doing something unimaginable. Lecturing a much older adult, preaching about something that isn’t my family affair.

Who do I think I am?

But right now, age and status don’t matter.

“I was… a loner and socially awkward

.”

I may still be a loner and socially awkward…

“That’s why I know the importance of communication.”

Feelings and thoughts don’t get conveyed unless they’re put into words.

“…I…”

Nene grabbed my hand. I squeezed it back.

“I really like this high school… I have friends here, a place where I belong… And, someone who… faces me…”

She spoke hesitantly but conveyed her feelings.

“I… don’t want to transfer… I want to stay with everyone… I don’t want to… leave.”

She revealed her feelings to her father.

Then she looked up to meet his eyes.

“…Don’t decide on your own… about me!!”

That must have been Nene’s true feelings that she wanted to express.

Nene spoke her heart out, faced her father whom she had been running from and escaping.

Now, it’s up to Yosuke-san to respond.

My heart pounded.

I also don’t want to be separated from Nene.

“Alright, I understand. Then the transfer will be canceled.”

“「…Eh?」”

“Eh? Wait, Dad, what did you just say?”

“I said I understand.”

“Eh, eh? Wait? Huh? Is it that simple? Eh? What about the procedures?”

“Ah, the house and the school… all that was left was to decide and respond. I was about to answer them when this situation arose.”

“Huh? Wait a minute… I wasn’t consulted at all!?”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“…Huh?”

“Didn’t I ask for your opinion?”

“Eh? That… was a consultation?”

“Ah.”

The communication between them was lacking! Both are not good with words…

Nene and her father each had their own assertions.

The problem was the miscommunication that existed.

Nene could have avoided all this if she hadn’t given up and expressed her feelings.

Nene slumped down, looking completely drained.

“Be more clear next time. Make sure I understand when you consult me.”

“? Okay. I’ll make sure to do so… It’s late now. Nene, stay at Sato-kun’s place tonight.”

“Eh? Oh, um?”

Yosuke-san drank all the tea I served in one go and stood up.

“Sato-kun. I entrust my daughter to you.”

“Yes…”

I also stood up reflexively, and we both bowed to each other. Yosuke-san then left for the hospital.

…He must have managed to find time to come here amidst his busy schedule, all for Nene.

It’s like the storm has passed…

Thinking that, I returned to the living room, and Nene suddenly jumped into my chest.

I was surprised but gently stroked her head.

“…I’m tired. Really tired.”

“Yeah… Nene did great.”

“Right. I did great. So praise me more. Give me a reward.”

“…A reward? If there’s anything I can do…”

“…I want to take a bath together. Have you dry my hair. Sleep together.”

“…Are you joking?”

“Who knows? Which do you think it is? You can tell lies, right?”

“…Everything but the bath is true?”

“…Correct.”

“No… but…”

“…………….No?”

Nene looked up at me pleadingly.

“…Isn’t that unfair?”

I could only nod my head.