Escape Galge - Chapter 6

Chapter6Bewilderment

With the way things have been going, even I can predict.
When I open the front door, that guy is there yet again.
Same as yesterday.
No, I have a feeling hes sparkling more than yesterday.
Did he power up? How come?

Its such a huge difference from his grim expression yesterday that I can only feel fear.
What should I do if theres flowers placed above Ei-kuns desk[1] when I enter the classroom today!

Haa.
Kii, gmorning.
Can you please stop this already?

Did he accumulate some sort of weird exp and levelled up?
Or does he have some item that recovers his mental energy?
Otherwise, its strange.
His heads strange.

Shall we hold hands?
Sure enough, somethings wrong with your head, huh.

Is there something wrong with you? I wont ask that.
Its something I already know. Its enough that I affirm it.
When I let my guard down, his hand reaches out and tries to grab mine.

Ah, ouch.

Whack, I smack his hand off.
Why are you trying to grab my hand so naturally!
I cant be negligent for even a moment.
How many hands had that hand held?
Damn soiled hand, come back after cleansing it with the spring water from the peak of a sacred mountain!

()

Sheesh, how long are you going to follow me around for

During the short rest periods, during noon break.
And now, even after school
Hes always there.
Ive an inkling that the frequency he clings to me is increasing.
It seems like hell eventually end up joining me for class too.
Perhaps, the favourability rating of the other capturable characters are MAXed, and theres only me left for his harem to be completed.

Wait a sec, Aoi!

Being stopped when climbing down the stairs.
The one being stopped isnt me, but the scum following me around. However, I unconsciously reacted and my feet ended up stopping too.

The origin of the voice came from the top of the stairs.
A second-year like that guy, his tsundere classmate with outstanding athleticism, Nekoyashiki Midori.
Green, straight and long hair with yellow-green eyes.
Shes a capturable character whose favourability rating increases easily on Wednesdays.

Ive not passed her the Letter of Awakening yet.
I wanted to pass it to her yesterday, but there wasnt any time to because I was desperately escaping from that guy.

Her eyebrows are raised and her expression is full of anger.

Why didnt you come yesterday!
Thats

After awkwardly averting his gaze from Midori, he looked over in my direction in a dispirited manner.
Oi, why the heck are you looking here!?
Isnt that like saying Im the cause!

So you were the one leading Aoi around, huh!
See, it really turned out like this!

Thats incorrect!
Im sorry, Midori. Kii didnt do anything wrong at all. Its my fault!

Thats right, its all your fault!
Actually, insinuating its me and then protecting me are you doing it on purpose?
Nah, youre probably not thinking at all!

I dont needthisso please go on ahead!

Ill even hand him over in a gift wrap[2].
I pushed the scums back and presented him.
Alright, go over there, shoo shoo.

The expression on Midoris face changes.

Ah, this is bad.

Staring intently at me with a solemn face is honestly scary.
Its scarier than if she behaves angrily.
I understand that I stepped on some landmine.
I honestly dont need something like the scum, so I handed him over with a I dont need this, but now that I think about it clearly, if something like that is done to someone

Im an incredibly terrible woman.
I dont need such a man so Ill give him to you, doesnt that sound just like a villainess on high horse!

Seriously, you!

Using her outstanding athleticism, Midori bolt from the stairs and draws closer.
Im pressed by that pressure and

Ah.

I back away, completely forgetting that Im on the stairs.
I realise it when I lose my footing its already too late.
My body has already stiffened
Its no use; Ill fall.
I make the mental preparation and gather strength in my body, but huh?

Impacts that arent painful exists in the world, but is this how its like?
The impact is really too weak, though
The floor isnt even hard; in fact, its soft.

Soft?
When I open the eyes that I reflexively closed, I see

Kii. Are you okay?

A handsome face, one that used to make my heart throb painfully simply at the sight of it, entered my eyes.
But now

YIKESSS!

I feel pained in a different way.
Too close! Scary!
Suppressing the rising goosebumps, I jump back in a panic.

Kagurazaka Mamoru lays stretched out at the bottom of the stairs.
It seems that this guy acted as a cushion and shielded me.

Ah, I am sorry! Are you hurt

I reflexively distanced myself but
It wasnt an attitude one should take towards a person who saved her.
I wonder if hes okay.

Aoi! Are you okay!?

I attempted to check if hes injured but Midori ran over, pushed me away, and knelt near that guy.
She supported him as he tried to get up, and fussed over him.
So it seems I dont have to make an appearance here.

Midori appears terribly anxious as she worried over him.
More than him, Midoris the one who seems much less composed.

Im okay so dont worry, Midori.
B-but its because I jumped down and pressured that girl that I am sorry
Im really okay. So dont worry.

Being spoken to gently by that guy, Midori finally started crying.
The tear glands are more easily stimulated when one is being treated gently, huh.
Yep yep, I understand but Erm, can I leave already?
A nice ambience rose from the crying bishoujo and the ikemen whos stroking her head and comforting her.
Yall sure are lost in your own world!?

Sheesh, Midori. Its not like Im hurtow.

Huh?
He seems to be appealing that he isnt hurt so as to not worry Midori, but his expression stiffened for an instant when he shifted his right foot.

Im glad Aoi isnt hurt.

Looks like Midori didnt realise it, but I think hes sweating abnormally.
Perhaps, his foot hurts?
I wonder if its sprained?

Are you okay, Kii?
Ah, yes

Rather than me, youre the one who doesnt seem okay.
But if I say that, Midori will get worried.
Since the injured person himself is trying to hide it, it isnt something I can voice out.

S-sorry. Both of you. I need to go to the toilet, so

Saying that, he started walking in the toilets direction hastily.
He appears to be enduring it, but if I look carefully, hes walking while being mindful of his right foot.

Ill go back home with Aoi so Im going to grab my bag.

Shooting a gaze that saysSo you better not steal a march, alright, Midori left.
Good grief, what should I do?

For the time being, lets see how that guy is doing.

I prepared myself for a chase when I headed in the direction of the toilet, but that guy is in the immediate vicinity, standing unmoving with his hand on the wall.
It looks painful.

Is your foot okay?
Kii, you found out?
Yes. You were acting cool.

Even his face that gave a bitter laugh in reply, showed a lack of composure.

You know, even though it was unintentional, Midori had once caused her friend to get injured. Hence, she has this side of her where she tends to blame herself a lot
Is that so.

I know about that from my knowledge of the game.
In Midoris middle school days, a tiny prank that she set up for her childhood friend, a boy, caused a huge incident.
It was an unfortunate accident, but he became badly injured.
Although his injury healed, there were still after effects on his foot. It became difficult for him to fulfill his dream as a short distance runner in track-and-field.
With regards to that, he was working hard to overcome it on his own, but it wasnt so for Midori.
Midori who was also a track-and-field runner like him quitted with the intention of atoning.
That angered him, and created a gap between the two.

Her memory from that time probably resurfaced.
Perhaps that was why she was so flustered.

That guy appear relieved when I tell him Midori isnt here. He crouches down on the spot.

Lets go to the infirmary.
Its okay. Midoris coming back, right? Shell be worried if I go to the infirmary.

While I think that its wonderful to take such a stance of not worrying girls
I would have probably fallen in love all over again if I didnt knew hes scum.

I liked this side of him, huh.
Geez, I dont really want to recall though.

Ill go get a compress and come back, so please wait here.

I saw his lips move, sayingI dont need it, but Im ignoring that.
Besides, its my fault that hes injured.
I obtain a compress and return to that guy in a hurry so that I will have time to put it on him before Midori returns.

His ankle is sprained; its slightly swollen.
It doesnt seem that serious but sprains cant be judged visually.

Please treat it properly at home, alright.
Thank you, Kii.
That should be my line. Thank you very much for saving me.
Im glad Kii isnt hurt.

When he gives me that smile I used to like so much, an indescribable fuzziness spread in my chest.
Perhaps, I didnt hate this smile.
Even though hes unforgivable and Imusthate it.

If someone is going to get hurt because of me, it is better if I am the one who is hurt. That is why, please do not do it ever again. It is none of your business.

Somewhat unpleasant huh.
The me who can only say things like this.
What an uncute girl I am.

To prefer being hurt yourself, Kii sure is kind.
.

What is this guy saying?
If he speaks this way in addition to saving me
When I direct my gaze at him, he is still smiling gently.
I wonder Im getting poisoned by this smile?
What an idiot I am.
So much so that its astonishing.

You, who paid attention to not make Midori-senpai uneasy were a little, wonderful.

I unconsciously voice it out.
Even though I did not intend to say something like that.

He has a surprised expression on.
It becomes awkward as I look at that expression.

Im happy. Its been awhile since Kii smiled.
Eh?

Just now, I smiled?
If thats so, it means my guard was down.
Thats a bad indication.
I have to, build more walls.

Hey, Kii. As expected, I want to be with Kii more. I want to see more of Kiis smiles. I want to get to know Kii better, and I also want Kii to know me better will you watch over me?
Such a thing

Of course Ill reject.

I intended to say that, but

The words wont come out.
The smile reflecting in my eyes right now is trying to break down something in me.
If I had heard these words earlier, I would probably have answeredYes.

However regretfully, the current me is unable to say that.
Because I am stubborn.
Even if that is something that will worsen as time goes by and constrict my neck.

Thats why, more and more, I want you to get a taste of it.
Of exactly how hurt I was.
Work harder and harder to attract my attention.

Eh?

Wrong, wrong wrong, just now, I was thinking about something.
Something like that is wrong, I have to hate him.
Even though its best to not get involved, to be wanting him to attract my attention, thats absurd.

Please dont bother with me!

Midori-senpais footsteps are drawing nearer.
Lets go home first.
Ill go back and reset.
So that I can properly hate him tomorrow too.