I can’t see a thing ahead of me-no, behind me too, left and right as well-every color and every bit of light has vanished from my world. This is bad, no, seriously… this is a right now, actively happening, incredibly bad situation. It’s not like I got hit by some kind of attack, or took damage; it’s like my optic nerves themselves are cut off, to the point where I can’t even bring up my status screen in my vision. This is really bad.
But maybe it’s a rebound from losing my sight, as my other senses, especially my hearing, were sharpened to a scary degree.
Thump, thump, the beat of my own heart pounding away.
The sound of my own rough breathing, hot with heat.
Yuna’s pained breath, coming from right nearby.
That’s right, Yuna! Is she okay, I wondered in panic?
”Yuna! Are you alright!? My eyes suddenly went blind and-” I stretched both hands out desperately into the dark space right where I was, and raised my voice as loud as I could.
”Manato! Over here. I lost all feeling in my arms and legs the moment the date changed as well… I am collapsed upon the bed right now,” Yuna called out from nearby.
”Are you hurt or anything!?” I shouted back.
”No, fortunately I was upon the bed, so I suffered no injury anywhere,” Yuna replied calmly.
”I see… that’s good then,” I breathed a sigh of relief.
So it seems Yuna also lost the use of her arms and legs, just like the theme we saw on the Monitor right before. I have no idea what kind of abnormal situation is happening to Yuna right now, but panicking here won’t make anything better. I took a deep breath and got my thoughts in order.
”For now, I’m coming over there, too. Call out and tell me where you are,” I directed.
”Very well. Over here, Manato,” Yuna guided.
I pushed both hands out in front of me and crept forward like a zombie out of a movie. She should’ve been right next to me when I was looking at the Monitor, so the distance shouldn’t be that far. One step, then another step forward-and the moment I stepped forward, BANG!
”OWWWWW!!” I screamed out in pain.
My pinky toe slammed clean into the corner of the bed.
”What is wrong, Manato!? Whatever happened!?” From beyond the darkness, Yuna’s worried voice came flying, sounding like her heart was aching.
”Ah, I banged my pinky toe… Even with my level up, it still hurts like hell..,” I groaned.
I should have a resistance skill called ‘Physical Resistance,’ but apparently it does absolutely nothing against the sharp pain of a pinky toe. I mean, there’s no human alive who can stay calm after banging their pinky toe-seriously, it hurts so much.
”Fufu… Are you quite alright? Take it slowly, do not rush. If you extend your hand straight out like that, you ought to feel the bed frame,” Yuna instructed gently.
Following Yuna’s navigation, I reached out, and my fingertips touched the soft sheets and the feel of the bed. I crawled my way up just like that, climbing onto the bed. Then, while on all fours in the darkness, I searched for her body.
The moment I slid my right hand forward, a soft, clingy feeling through cloth wrapped around my palm. What is this…? So soft.
”Ah… Manato… Not there…!” Yuna gasped out softly.
A perfect firmness that clung to my hand, a supreme fleshiness that gently pushed back when I sank my fingers in, and a captivating feel you’d never want to let go of once you touched it. And at the peak of that little mound of flesh, a tiny bump was sticking out proudly.
”What is this, I wonder? It’s super soft..,” I tried playing dumb, saying it in a clueless voice.
Of course, on the inside I knew exactly what I was grabbing. But I wanted to savor that softness through the cloth clinging to my fingertips for even one second longer, so I decided to play innocent. But-
”Manato! That is quite enough! I shall become truly cross with you…!” Yuna scolded sharply.
”I’m sorry,” I apologized right away.
Yep, got scolded right away. I can’t see her face since I’m blind, but she’s definitely glaring at me with narrowed eyes right now.
”Haah… Really, you are quite hopeless. Even in such an extraordinary situation as this, you can still conduct yourself in such a manner,” Yuna sighed heavily.
”Yes. On the inside, I was enjoying the feel of Yuna’s chest while squeezing… But the part about me being blind is true! Please believe me!” I insisted earnestly.
”I am not doubting that aspect. …Haah, for the moment, could you pray come over here? There should be a cushion somewhat higher up, and this posture is quite painful for my neck. I would appreciate it if you brought it,” Yuna requested softly.
”Got it. Uh, where’s the cushion…?” I agreed, beginning to feel around again.
Once again, I started groping around in the darkness. Squeeze, squish.
”Ah..,” Yuna squeaked softly.
A soft, supple feel-this is Yuna’s thigh! Not the cushion-miss; no, wait, that’s a hit!
Squeeze, squish.
”Ah…!” Yuna gasped out.
A bouncy, supreme elasticity-this is Yuna’s upper arm! This is also not the cushion-damn, missed again! Weird, I can’t find the cushion I’m looking for at all. Using the perfectly valid excuse of being blind, I was sneakily enjoying the feel of her whole body to my heart’s content.
Ah, this is bad… I got carried away. I’m going to get scolded again. Let me actually look properly.
As we kept touching like that, I gradually got used to the feeling of this pitch-black darkness with no light at all. It’s not that I can see, but I could tell where I was on the bed, what position Yuna was lying in, and the layout of the room started rising up in my head in 3D. By losing vision, the biggest source of human information, my other senses were sharpened to a fine point.
Ah, my fingertip touched some fluffy fabric; I finally found the real cushion.
”Found it, Yuna,” I announced.
”Very well, haah… thank you..,” Yuna breathed out weakly.
”Uh, are you okay…? You sound kind of out of breath,” I checked in.
”Whose fault do you imagine that is…! Manato, you were unequivocally playing with me along the way!” Yuna pointed out, sounding exasperated.
From her tone, she doesn’t seem genuinely furious; if anything, she sounds half exasperated with my attitude.
”My bad, Yuna. Even at a time like this, I really went too far with the jokes,” I admitted remorsefully.
This really isn’t the time to be messing around, so I reflected deeply on my behavior.
”Well, Manato being a pervert is hardly anything new, so it is quite fine…. At any rate, bring that cushion over to me,” Yuna relented with a quiet sigh.
”Got it. I want to figure out where your head is, so I’m going to touch your body, okay?” I asked respectfully.
”Yes… pray be gentle,” Yuna murmured softly.
I carefully, slowly touched Yuna’s body: from her ankles to her thighs, her stomach, her full chest, her slender neck, and her glossy hair. From the feel through my palms, I understood that she was currently on her back and unable to move. I gently slid my arm around Yuna’s back and softly lifted her upper body so as not to strain her. Then, I firmly wedged the cushion I’d pulled over into the gap between her back and the bed’s headboard.
”How is it? Is the angle of your neck okay?” I checked.
”Yes…! It is far better than before, thank you,” Yuna expressed gratefully.
Relieved that I’d lessened her burden, I sat down right next to her and gently wrapped my hand around hers, holding it. In the pitch-black view, at first I was hit by anxiety and confusion, but feeling her body heat like this puts me at ease.
”Fufu… Holding hands in this manner, even though my body remains immovable, grants me such a sense of safety,” Yuna shared softly.
It seems Yuna was feeling exactly the same thing as me.
”Yeah, that’s right. It said ‘lose the freedom of your arms and legs,’ but can you still feel it when I hold you like this?” I inquired.
”Yes, I can still perceive being touched. However, I cannot bend a single finger of my own volition, nor exert any strength. All muscle power in my limbs has completely drained away,” Yuna explained gently.
”It’s like a status effect from an RPG-‘petrification’ or ‘paralysis,’” I noted.
”A status effect, I see…. That is a rather apt way to phrase it,” Yuna acknowledged thoughtfully.
Come to think of it, if not being able to move your limbs is petrification, then my vision being stolen is also a status effect like ‘blindness’ in RPG terms. If this is a status effect given to Players by the Game’s system-then maybe my resistance skill ‘Status Ailment Resistance’ could properly apply? I have no idea how it would work against a debuff from God, though. I recalled the skill’s description in my head:
[Skill: Status Ailment Resistance]
[Effect 1: Gain resistance to all status ailments.]
[Effect 2: Halve the duration of status ailments.]
I’m pretty sure it said it halves the duration of all status ailments. If today’s theme is a status effect, then maybe I’ll be able to see in about half a day. Since losing my sight was set for 24 hours…
”Yuna, maybe I might get this blind state lifted in about half a day,” I suggested hopefully.
”What, truly!? Is that also… Manato’s skill power?” Yuna asked in astonishment.
”Yeah, that’s right. I have a resistance skill called ‘Status Ailment Resistance.’ If the halving effect works, I should be able to see sooner,” I confirmed cheerfully.
”I see…! Ah, thank goodness. If your vision restores first, I shall likely end up asking you for all manner of assistance, however..,” Yuna sighed with relief.
”Sure, ask me anything! Meal prep or whatever, I’ll give you full-power caretaking,” I promised readily.
”Fufu, I am relying upon you,” Yuna giggled warmly.
With hope in sight and feeling relieved, we decided to lie down and sleep for now. We’d barely gotten proper sleep up to the end point yesterday because we were checking the ‘Trust Level’ Ranking. It was only natural we were running on empty, both mentally and physically. Since it’d be dangerous if some kind of accident happened, we kept our hands firmly linked.
No, more than that, Yuna desperately begged me, “Please, I beg of you, hold my hand continuously while I sleep.”
For her, fighting the fear of not being able to move her limbs, my body heat is probably her only support. With our restricted, immobile bodies, we confirmed each other’s warmth and fell into a deep, deep sleep.
After I woke up, a short while later, light suddenly came pouring in, and I can see again! So my prediction was right after all. Right when exactly 12 hours had passed since the start of the challenge, my eyesight came back completely.
”Yuna, I can see again! I’m totally back!” I shouted happily.
”Oh. That is wonderful..,” Yuna replied quietly.
Huh? For some reason Yuna doesn’t seem that happy. In my view, Yuna is leaning her back against the headboard of the bed, and she looks kind of restless. Her eyes won’t focus, and she keeps glancing around, wandering to the corners of the room. Did something weird happen? Was it that not being able to move her arms and legs messed something up? I’m worried!
”Hey, Yuna. Is something bothering you? You’ve been acting off for a while,” I inquired gently.
”Yes…. If we speak of that, there is indeed one matter that has me quite perplexed,” Yuna confessed awkwardly.
She’s been restless this whole time, which for Yuna, who’s always calm and collected, is rare.
”It is rather awkward to say in a situation such as this, but… it is a matter that no human can possibly avoid,” Yuna murmured, looking away.
”Oh..,” I uttered, waiting.
She’s being surprisingly vague, even though she’s usually the type to just say what she’s thinking straight out.
”So, um, I wish for you to assist me, or rather… it is terribly embarrassing to even request this, but..,” Yuna stammered hesitantly.
”Hm?” I prompted.
”I am referring to a bodily necessity down there! Really, I suppose it is fortunate it is not the other matter, but… so, may I request your help?” Yuna admitted with her cheeks flushing red.
”Wait, do you mean you need to use the bathroom? Are you holding it in?” I realized suddenly.
”Yes, that is it… So, could you pray assist me?” Yuna pleaded quietly.
I finally got why her face was bright red and she was fidgeting. With her arms and legs paralyzed, she couldn’t even go to the bathroom by herself, and she’d been holding it in until her limit. What a complete blind spot on my part.
”Sorry, I didn’t think of it. Okay, I’ll carry you slowly,” I offered immediately.
”Yes, please..,” Yuna agreed softly.
I carefully lift Yuna up in a princess carry; she’s surprisingly light, and her body is really hot. I could tell just from touching her that her body temperature had shot up. When I glance at her face, Yuna is bright red like an apple, squeezing both eyes shut.
I slowly open the door to the glass-walled toilet and gently sit her down on the clean toilet seat.
”Um, Manato…. I cannot manage like this. …Could you pray pull my pants down?” Yuna requested in a whisper.
”Ah, sorry!” I apologized, my heart pounding too from the weird mood in this room.
What a sense of doing something forbidden… I never thought the moment would come when I’d legally undress a girl with my own hands. My fingertips tremble a little from how nervous I am. What Yuna’s wearing is my guy’s gym uniform. Luckily, the waist part of the pants is elastic, so I can pull them down easily.
”I’m going to take them off..,” I informed her.
”Yeah..,” she breathed softly.
A tight tension runs between us; this kind of situation is a new experience for me, too. Well, I guess it is for anyone. I hook my fingers on the gym pants and slide them down smoothly. Then right in front of me, her usual sexy purple underwear that she loves shows up. Her pitiful figure trembling with shame and the sight in front of me stir up my reason.
”The undergarments as well… please, Manato..,” Yuna requested in a faint voice.
”Yeah,” I nodded.
I get to work removing the last barrier covering her most important part. I hold my breath and hook my fingers on the elastic of the purple panties. The heat of her skin and the soft feel of her flesh come straight through my fingertips. Just like the pants, I slide them down slowly and carefully. When I look up, her hidden private part is right there, completely exposed with nothing hiding it.
”Okay, I’ll go outside, so call me when you’re done,” I offered respectfully.
”W-wait! Please, do not leave me alone!” Yuna gasped out frantically.
Yuna’s face is painted with grief and terrible shame.
”Okay,” I agreed instantly.
”I am sorry… I am frightened because I cannot move. If I am left alone, I begin recalling when I was abducted before… so..,” Yuna explained vulnerability.
”Ah, I get it. I’ll stay right here the whole time,” I assured her warmly.
I gently wrapped her hand, trembling with fear, in mine. Then, the next moment-
”Ah, no, do not look, Manato! It is coming out…!” Yuna cried out as her embarrassment peaked.
Urine falls into the toilet with force, and only the sound of water echoes through the silent room. From Yuna’s tightly closed slit, pale yellow holy water is flowing out hard. What a mysterious sight; it really moved me. I can’t take my eyes off the graceful young lady, who’s usually so refined, desperately turning her face red while doing her business.
Maybe I’m a pretty huge pervert for getting so turned on by a sight like this… It feels like a new fetish just opened up inside me.
”Ugh… it will not stop. Even though I am being watched, it will not stop..,” Yuna whimpered softly.
Eventually the sound of water stops, the mysterious sight ends, and the room goes quiet. Surprisingly, there was no bad smell at all; maybe it’s because her body scent is naturally faint and sweet…
”Ah… um, how do I put it, good work?” I offered awkwardly.
”Ugh… no… Manato. Now that matters have come to this, you must absolutely take responsibility! You saw me in such a state…!” Yuna protested, her cheeks burning.
”What do you mean, responsibility?! And if you didn’t want to be seen, don’t ask me to ‘stay by your side’!” I pointed out in shock.
”I do not even understand myself either! Truly, something must be amiss with me…!” Yuna groaned, burying her face in shame.
Seems like she was freaking out from extreme tension, embarrassment, and the fear of not being able to move. She usually acts strong, but it really hit me that she’s still just a person, a weak girl you want to protect.
Trivia:
- The status effect ‘blindness’ being 24 hours combined with the halving effect of Status Ailment Resistance means Manato predicted recovery in roughly 12 hours, which matches the story’s timeline.
- Yuna’s inability to move her limbs is described as complete muscle power loss, meaning even involuntary twitches are impossible, making Manato’s physical presence her only anchor.
- The fact that Physical Resistance does not dull the pain of a stubbed pinky toe suggests the skill only applies to combat damage, not everyday accidents.
- The ‘challenge’ mentioned at the very start is never explained in this passage, hinting it is part of a larger game or test the characters are stuck in.
- Yuna says she is glad it was not ‘the other one,’ a small line that hints she has been holding in more than one kind of bodily need this whole time.
- Yuna’s fear of being left alone is tied to a past kidnapping, a quiet reveal that explains why she clings to Manato beyond just her paralysis.