*Knock knock knock—*
“Natsumi?
Time to get up, Natsumi?”
“Why did this child lock the door…
Natsumi?
Are you up?”
Natsumi lay in her bed, wearing a large nightgown, tightly hugging a soft, squishy creature with all four limbs.
Usually, she liked hugging her pillow, but today…
compared to a pillow, Nagumo’s Tentacle Monster body seemed much more comfortable to hug?
She couldn’t put it down.
Hmmm, to be honest, this girl had quite poor sleeping posture.
She even drooled on Nagumo’s head.
But this didn’t diminish her charm in the slightest.
“Huh…
Kaasan?” Natsumi was awakened by the knocking.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she suddenly realized something and her drowsiness vanished.
She quickly threw off the covers and sat up, letting out a sigh of relief only after seeing that the door hadn’t been opened.
Phew, good thing she had the foresight to lock the door.
Otherwise, if her mother came in and saw…
Nagumo on the bed, all hell would break loose.
“I know, I’m already up.
I’ll be right there—”
Looking at the jellyfish-like Tentacle Monster still sound asleep and undisturbed beside her on the bed, Natsumi reached out and stroked his soft body.
She curled her legs, resting her knees against her chin, tilting her head as she murmured softly, “It wasn’t a dream…
what happened yesterday…”
Turning her head, she pulled open the curtains to face the dazzling sunlight outside.
Natsumi stretched her arms, straightened her back, and twisted her waist.
Even the oversized nightgown couldn’t hide her proud figure.
“Nagumo, I’m going downstairs first.
Be careful in the room by yourself.
You absolutely must not be discovered by Kaasan—”
“…”
Looking at the motionless Touch-kun, Natsumi shook her head helplessly.
She changed into fresh clothes, opened the door, and went downstairs.
Before she could even speak upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, she saw a certain familiar person who had been waiting in the living room for a while.
Natsumi froze.
“Houichi?”
It was indeed Matsubara Houichi.
“Natsumi, I came to see you,” Matsubara Houichi waved in greeting, offering a gentle yet polite smile.
“How did you…” The girl abruptly cut herself off, shaking her head.
The subtle expression on her face quickly vanished, replaced by the same bright smile she usually wore.
“It’s nothing.
Good morning, Houichi.”
“Aren’t you going to the hospital for a check-up today?
Houichi is coming with us,” Natsumi’s mother explained as she brought breakfast. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“That’s right.
We live so close, so we might as well go together.
You don’t mind, do you, Natsumi?” Matsubara Houichi asked, sounding slightly nervous.
“Of course I don’t mind.
Aren’t we Childhood friends?” Natsumi still wore that same smile, just like before.
“But Houichi, you don’t look too well.
Did you not sleep well last night?”
Of course he hadn’t slept well.
He had been agonizing all night, constantly wondering what attitude Natsumi would take towards him.
He hadn’t expected it to be like this, which surprised him.
“I’m alright.
After all, what happened yesterday…
Natsumi, I’m really sorry.
I had no idea Hanagaya would…”
“Stop!”
She raised a hand, cutting off Matsubara Houichi’s following words.
Contrary to his expectations, there was no trace of anger on the ponytailed girl’s face.
She spoke very calmly, “I’m not an unreasonable woman.
Thinking about it, last night’s incident…
it really can’t be blamed on you.
So let’s not bring it up again.
I don’t blame you.”
“Natsumi, you really…
aren’t angry?”
“I’m not angry.
Nothing happened to me, right?
Relax, Houichi.
We’re still good friends.
I won’t get angry over this.”
“…Good friends?”
“What’s wrong?” Natsumi tapped her cheek with a finger.
“Aren’t we Childhood friends?
Of course we’re good friends.”
Matsubara Houichi finally noticed something was off.
On the surface, Natsumi’s attitude towards him seemed unchanged from before.
But in reality, an earth-shattering change had occurred.
Every smile, every word from Natsumi towards him maintained a certain distance.
It carried a sense of alienation.
“Just…
good friends?”
“…We are Childhood friends, and that’s limited to being ordinary Childhood friends.
Isn’t that perfectly normal?”
Matsubara Houichi felt struck.
He said urgently, “You’re right, we are just Childhood friends.
But yesterday’s events made me realize, Natsumi, you are very important to me!
It’s definitely not as simple as just being Childhood friends.
I…”
“Matsubara Houichi,” Natsumi interrupted him, the girl wanted to laugh, “You’re not going to say you like me, are you?”
“I…” Matsubara Houichi gritted his teeth, thinking that his Childhood friend in front of him would leave him, his heart tightened, and he blurted out, “Yes!
Natsumi, I like you.”
He really said it?
Natsumi covered her mouth in surprise, but the girl showed no sign of being moved, instead, she looked a little helpless and awkward, “I never thought that Matsubara Houichi, you would be so direct, finally no longer indecisive…
but, it’s already too late.”
Wh-what?
“It’s already too late.
If you had said that before yesterday, I…
I would have been very happy,” Natsumi looked directly at the boy in front of her with complicated eyes, “Unfortunately, it’s too late now.”
“Why?
Why is it too late?
It’s not too late now, is it?
Natsumi, is it because of that guy?” Matsubara Houichi became anxious, “Because of that monster, you just—”
“Shut up!”
The blue-haired girl with the high ponytail, who had been smiling brightly just seconds before, suddenly changed her expression, sharply stopping him.
She nervously glanced at her mother busy in the kitchen, then glared at Matsubara Houichi, “You, come out with me!”
“…”
The two went out and stood in the small courtyard.
Natsumi felt a little relieved when she saw that her mother wasn’t paying attention to their movements.
“I don’t want you to tell my mom about Nagumo’s matter, including anyone else.
It’s best to keep your mouth shut.”
If Nagumo’s existence were discovered, it would definitely bring him a lot of trouble.
“Natsumi,” Matsubara Houichi’s heart ached so much he could barely breathe, “It’s a monster.
Is that kind of thing so important to you?
Natsumi, are you crazy?
Why are you so obsessed with that kind of monster?!”
“Ah, he is very important to me.
I just like him, I’m infatuated with him, even if he’s a monster, I don’t care!” Natsumi’s tone was firm and resolute, “No one can separate us!”
“Natsumi, you—”
Matsubara Houichi staggered, leaning against the wall.
He suddenly realized something and widened his eyes, “Could it be that monster, it’s at your house right now?
You’re living together?!”
Natsumi didn’t answer, but her silence was an implicit affirmation.
Seeing Matsubara Houichi’s face grow paler and his expression more shocked, the girl sighed softly, her eyes gradually turning cold, “Although so much happened yesterday, I still consider you my Childhood friend, Matsubara Houichi.
We are still good friends, but!”
Her voice was cold, her gaze sharp, “If you dare to tell my mom about this, or spread his existence, and cause Nagumo suffering…
we probably won’t even be friends anymore.
At that time, it won’t just be a break-up, I won’t let you off either!!”
Listening to the merciless warning from his Childhood friend, Matsubara Houichi felt a chill in his heart, from head to toe, a cold sweat broke out all over his body, the chill was bone-piercing, and his mood was despairing.
Watching Natsumi’s retreating back, Matsubara Houichi’s heart bled, and a sharp pain shot through his chest, making it difficult to breathe.
“Natsumi…
why…”