The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
โโฆHuh? Ehโฆ?โ
I opened my eyes and realized I had been asleep because my throat felt unusually dry.
With a foggy head, I stared at the ceiling and suddenly remembered that Saeki had come to my room.
The room was unusually quiet. Only the night light dimly illuminated the walls.
I thought he must have left alreadyโฆ but just then, I felt something move beside the bed.
โOh, you’re awake? How are you feeling?โ
โUmโฆ I’m stillโฆ in pain, maybeโฆโ
โI see. Let me check you.โ
He placed his hand on my forehead and narrowed his eyes, saying, โYou’re hotโฆโ
โWould you like something to drink?โ
โโฆUh, yeah.โ
โI’ll go get you some sports drink.โ
โโฆHave you been here the whole time?โ
โWell, yeah. I said I’d stay with you.โ
It was past 9 PM.
For over five hours, he had been waiting quietly for me to wake up, without turning on the lights, just checking on me.
โฆAnd the room is super clean.
There’s a nice smell too. Did he say he was making porridge?
โWould you like it cold or at room temperature?โ
I pointed to the room temperature one, and he opened the package and handed it to me.
I’m happy. All of his kindness, big and small, means everything to me.
I can’t look him in the face, it’s too painful.
โUghโฆ ughโฆโ
โWhat’s wrong!?โ
โSaekiโฆโ
โYes!โ
โโฆMarry me.โ
โโฆHuh?โ
โStay with me foreverโฆโ
โUmโฆ I’ll think about it.โ
It’s probably because I’m sick.
I dodged the question with a gentler tone than usual and smiled awkwardly.
I moistened my throat and then took my temperature.
Hmmโฆ it’s high. A little over 39 degrees. No wonder I was feeling dizzy.
โDo you have an appetite?โ
โโฆYes, I’m hungry.โ
โThen I’ll warm up some porridge for you.โ
he served the porridge and heated it in the microwave.
I just sat on the bed and stared at him as he brought it over.
โUmโฆโ
โโฆโ
โMaybeโฆ you want me to feed you?โ
โYeah.โ
Hehe.
He knew what I was thinking. I’m so happyโก
โUmโฆ ah, ahnnโฆโ
โMmmโฆโ
While recalling how I competed with Subaru to have him feed me, I let Saeki feed me.
To be honest, I can’t really taste it because of my condition.
But it’s delicious.
It’s strange to say it’s delicious even though I can’t taste it, but that’s how I feel, so there’s nothing I can do about it.
My stomach is filled with his kindness.
In proportion to that, I like him even more.
The endless sense of security he gives me brightens up the future I imagine with him in my mind.
โOh, you ate it all. That’s great, Amagi-san.โ
โHeh, hehโฆโ
โDo you want seconds?โ
โNo. Butโฆ I want some banana juice.โ
โGot it. I’ll warm that up too.โ
Soon, a warm mug arrived in my hands.
The banana juice was a light brown color.
Taking a sip, the gentle sweetness made my cheeks relax.
โDeliciousโฆ I might like thisโฆโ
Saeki sat down on the bed with a thud.
He smiled contentedly at my face and gently stroked my head.
His warmth, filled with relief and affection, seeped from the top of my head to the core of my body.
It seeped in slowlyโฆ
โฆAh.
Nnnghโฆโกโกโก
What is this? โก I’m so happy, so happy๏ฝ๏ฝ๏ฝโกโกโก
Saeki, how can you be so spoiling?
This is cheating! It’s unfair! I want to make you fall in love with me, but I’m the one falling in love with you!
I’m going to be ruinedโฆ
I can’t live without Saeki๏ฝ๏ฝ๏ฝโกโกโก
โThen, shall we take the medicine next?โ
โโฆIf I take it properly, will you praise me?โ
โSure. Iโll praise you to pieces.โ
Itโs not that Iโm bad at taking medicine, but right now, I just wanted to be pampered so badly.
I took the ordinary pill, showed off that I took it, and got petted again.
Blissโฆ heheโฆโก
โI’m going back to my room.โ
โโฆAre you leaving already?โ
โI’m just going to change clothes. I’m pretty sweaty.โ
โOh, okay. Got it.โ
And I saw Saeki off.
I sipped the remaining banana juice and suddenly thought.
โฆAm I sweating a lot too?
Maybe I smell?
I had PE at school, came home, got into bed, and fell asleep after Saeki arrived.
I ate dinner too, so my forehead and neck are covered in sweat.
The more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I feel.
โโฆOh.โ
Maybe Saeki went to change at this timing to tell me, โYou smell, so you better change now.โ
It’s possible.
Given Saeki’s personality, he wouldn’t directly tell someone they smell bad.
So maybe he’s prompting me to figure it out by taking action himselfโฆ
I sniff my body.
It smells like sweatโฆ I think.
No, it smells bad. It definitely smells bad.
Plus, this pajama is the same one I wore yesterday.
This is the one that was seriously thought to smell bad. I was thought of as a smelly womanโฆ and not by just anyone, but by Saeki.
โI-I have to clean upโฆโ
I’ll be disliked. I’ll be disliked. I don’t want to be disliked.
Anxiety pushes me forward.
My vision blurs.
I’m out of breath after a few steps, I almost fall, but I manage to keep going.
First, I need to take a showerโฆ no, before that, I need to get some clothes.
A towelโฆ and underwear, and a new pajama set. Something cute would be nice.
My head is spinning. My hands are unsteady, and I can’t manage to get the things I need.
I have to try harder. I have to do something quickly.
Before Saeki comes back.
Maiban