Chapter 188: Can You Be My Wings? (5000 words!) (Patreon)

It had to be said: when it came to living conditions, Minami Yuji had never once shortchanged himself.

His room was decorated in a fairly minimalist style.

A wardrobe stood in the corner.

A square desk sat in a prominent spot.

Acting awards and trophies of every kind were casually arranged inside a glass display cabinet, and under the lighting they looked quite striking.

And apart from all that furniture,

the most eye-catching thing in the master bedroom was a bed that took up an enormous amount of floor space.

Going by the room's overall style, a plain single bed would have been the normal pairing—leaving a little room for a computer and a desk chair.

Minami Yuji had originally thought so too.

But when he'd bought the furniture and done up the place, Kana Arima and Sakurajima Mai, who'd come along to look at the apartment, had been nearly unanimous: a bed was a necessity of life, so it had to be big enough for a comfortable night's sleep.

Minami Yuji thought it over and decided they had a point.

Sleeping badly could easily throw off the next day's condition, and a bed was a hassle to replace once you'd bought it.

So he'd dropped the idea of a single bed and gone with the one Kana Arima and Sakurajima Mai had picked out.

It was only after the purchase was made that the corner of his mouth started twitching.

Because the thing was just too big!

He'd been famous for quite a while now, so naturally he hadn't skimped on where he lived, and the master bedroom was by no means small.

But that bed alone took up at least 60% of the floor.

Back then, the movers had spent a good while just dismantling it before they could barely squeeze the thing inside.

At a rough glance, four or five people could sleep on it with room to spare.

Under the frame, the noisy Kana Arima and the ever-smiling Sakurajima Mai had also had specialists reinforce it, so it could easily hold the weight of five or six adults.

But honestly, Minami Yuji thought—this is a bed?

Can you appreciate what it means for Minami Yuji, who's now a full 175 centimeters tall, to spread his arms and legs and still be unable to touch the edges of this thing?

It was honestly a bit much.

It left even Minami Yuji speechless, and he'd wanted to send it back on the spot.

But as mentioned before, returning or replacing a bed was just too much trouble.

With no other choice, Minami Yuji had to give up on the idea.

And so this enormous bed, big enough for five or six people to roll around and play on, stayed in his master bedroom.

Once, when Ruby Hoshino came over as a guest and saw the thing, she went "Pah!" at him on the spot and, red-faced, called him "lewd."

Minami Yuji had no idea what that so-called sworn sister of his had imagined this time.

But, well…

He turned to look at Misumi Hatsune beside him.

She was hugging a pillow in her pale arms and staring blankly at the ridiculously huge bed. Seeing her dazed expression, he couldn't help laughing, and then he spoke.

"As you can see, Hatsune, the bed I usually sleep in is… well… a little special. So don't worry—if we're just a bit careful, I definitely won't 'touch' you tonight."

"Uh…"

Hearing Minami Yuji's loaded words, and the emphasis he put on them, Misumi Hatsune's pretty face flushed red all at once.

In the glow of the night light on the bedside table, the girl's delicate, blushing skin had an indescribable charm.

Her skin was thin, after all.

But still—

Misumi Hatsune took a deep breath and hugged the pillow a little tighter.

She'd finally made it this far.

No matter how embarrassed she was, she had to go through with it.

"Then I'll get to sleep first. Your bedding is over there. Good night, Hatsune."

"Ah… okay, good night, Yuji."

Her snow-white legs showed tender and bare beneath her nightgown. Sitting sideways on the edge of the bed, Misumi Hatsune gave a small wave, her wisteria-colored eyes watching Minami Yuji lie down on the other side.

Perfect!

She let out a slight breath.

Misumi Hatsune's brows lifted.

Credit where it was due—she was every inch Misumi Hatsune.

Her long life on Mameshima, and the resilient character she'd absorbed over the years by following Minami Yuji and soaking up his every word and deed,

let her show, at this very moment, a patience and capacity for lying in wait that ordinary girls didn't have.

Because… this was something Yuji himself had said.

Only through endurance could you seize the chance.

Someone who could seize a fleeting opportunity while enduring—

that kind of person was a true genius.

Misumi Hatsune didn't know whether she counted as the "genius" Minami Yuji spoke of.

But… tonight was the night!

Controlling her breathing, Misumi Hatsune looked at Minami Yuji's back on the other side, her heart fluttering.

She would show Minami Yuji everything he'd taught her over the years!

The wait was undoubtedly long and tedious.

Yet at this moment, even the waiting was worth it in Misumi Hatsune's eyes.

Because if she just kept waiting, kept enduring… the moment would surely come!

And then—

That's the moment!

Moving slowly and lightly, she pushed herself up from the bed.

Pale golden strands of hair spilled from beside her ears onto her snow-white shoulders.

She lifted her head a little.

And there, sleeping on the other side, was Minami Yuji.

His chest rose and fell steadily.

His limbs lay quiet and still.

One glance was enough. Having lived with Minami Yuji before, Misumi Hatsune was certain.

Yuji was asleep!

The thought alone made her force down her excitement as she tiptoed and turned over.

Her movements were so light and cautious that they brought to mind a mouse sneaking a bite of cheese.

And thanks to that gentle care, Minami Yuji on the bed showed no sign of waking at all.

She crept slowly toward him.

Until she could make out his face.

Misumi Hatsune's breath caught, without her even meaning it to.

Because—

"So beautiful…"

The words came out slightly intoxicated. Cupping her own cheek without thinking, Misumi Hatsune gazed at the scene before her, a little entranced.

It really was beautiful.

The neon light from outside the room spilled faintly onto the bed.

The soft stray glow traced Minami Yuji's face in the dark,

and the skin exposed beyond his clothes, so fair that even this faint light brought out its texture…

drew another sigh from Misumi Hatsune.

She considered her own skin to be quite good.

But next to Minami Yuji's nearly flawless complexion, even she, a girl, felt a little inadequate.

Add to that a handsome face at rest in sleep.

Under the night, the black-haired young man before her looked exactly like a "Sleeping Beauty."

Yuji… he was so handsome, so dashing, and yet he could look this innocent in his sleep…

That was way too unfair, wasn't it?

And to think that the usually flawless Yuji…

was sleeping so peacefully right now, in such a defenseless pose, as if "at her mercy."

Her throat swallowed on its own.

Her breathing quickened.

A faint flush began to rise in her face.

"N-no, I can't!"

Her head jerked back a little.

Misumi Hatsune reached out and clapped a hand over her slightly warm, fair nose.

If she kept fantasizing like this, things would turn bad.

Her nose would be the first thing to give out!

Besides, there was something more important to do right now than fantasize!

She forced herself to steady her breathing.

She swallowed.

Her slender white fingers reached out,

carrying a hint of urgency.

First things first: pull the blanket off.

But then—

"The more critical the moment, the less you should rush."

Minami Yuji's voice seemed to sound beside her ear.

"Huh…?"

R-right! Yuji taught me that!

The closer you are to succeeding, the less you should rush!

If she moved too roughly and Yuji woke up, what then?

Snapping back to herself, Misumi Hatsune's urgent fingers turned slow and gentle, and with a soft touch she eased the blanket off Minami Yuji.

But soon another problem presented itself.

With Minami Yuji lying on his side like that… she had no way to take the next step.

She could hardly just reach out and push him from his side onto his back, could she?

But then—

"When you run into a hard problem, don't only think about using one method. Take a detour, and you might find a better way."

Minami Yuji's old lesson rang in her ear once more.

Ah?!

Prompted by the Minami Yuji in her head, Misumi Hatsune suddenly remembered: Minami Yuji had always had a habit of shifting his sleeping posture along with the state of his pillow.

If that was the case…

She reached out and gently adjusted the pillow.

And then…

Just as she'd predicted,

Minami Yuji changed his sleeping posture, rolling from his side onto his back!

"Everything you've built up until now has definitely not gone to waste."

Minami Yuji's voice echoed in her mind again.

Right! Yuji! You're right!

Misumi Hatsune's eyes blazed.

That was right.

What she'd accumulated had definitely not gone to waste.

It was precisely because of all the care Minami Yuji had put into teaching her these years that she hadn't really been fighting alone, not from beginning to end!

Whether it was patience or resilience, or never giving up on a goal,

all of it was something Minami Yuji had taught her!

And now she had plenty of confidence that she could put everything he'd taught her to good use!

That's right! Minami Yuji would surely be proud of her now too!

With that mix of nerves and anticipation, Misumi Hatsune's hand finally reached toward Minami Yuji's pajamas.

Just a little more effort and she'd surely succeed…

"Huh?"

Sensing something off beneath her fingers, Misumi Hatsune blinked her violet eyes in confusion.

Only then did she notice that Minami Yuji was actually wearing a buckle-lock belt.

The thing was fastened to his pajama pants, and only by opening it could Misumi Hatsune proceed to the next step.

A cry of despair escaped her.

Damn it!

Yuji!

Always pulling these little tricks!

Her hopes were completely dashed.

Misumi Hatsune ground her teeth a little.

But she'd already prepared this far, and there was no turning back.

Without a moment's hesitation, she leaned in and started working at the belt.

The problem was…

What kind of design was this belt, anyway?!

Normally a belt had a prong that bit into the round holes along the strap.

But on the belt Minami Yuji was wearing, Misumi Hatsune couldn't see the kind of clasp a regular belt should have, nor any other place to unlock it.

Mind you, she was already at the final kick before the goal.

And yet this very "final kick" was one she just couldn't land.

Anxiety!

Urgency!

Worry!

All sorts of emotions mixed together in her heart.

Just as Misumi Hatsune had no idea what to do,

a finger reached over.

"Just press this lock catch and it'll open."

Huh?

Press the lock catch and it opens…?

Following that familiar voice, Misumi Hatsune reached out and pressed the spot on the belt's lock.

With a crisp click,

the belt that had been fastened so tightly actually came undone at that very moment.

Her delicate, anxious face relaxed at once.

She thanked him without thinking: "Thank you…"

But it was exactly that thank-you that made her freeze.

Because she'd realized something.

The place she was in right now was Minami Yuji's master bedroom.

Apart from her and Minami Yuji, there was no one else here.

So who, exactly, had spoken up to tell her how to open the lock?

She gulped.

Misumi Hatsune's violet eyes lifted, trembling.

And then…

And then she saw.

The one pointing at the lock catch with an outstretched finger and smiling brightly down at her…

was Minami Yuji.

"Ohh… so you were planning a surprise night raid while I slept. It's been so many days since we last met, and I never expected Hatsune to have grown this bold."

"Uuu!!!"

At the teasing voice, Misumi Hatsune, kneeling on the bed, lowered her head.

"You didn't just pull my blanket off, you were going to undo my belt too. I really never thought the always obedient, well-behaved Hatsune would do something like this."

"Uuu!!!"

Her head sank further, until it was nearly buried in her own chest.

"Come to think of it, Hatsune, what exactly were you thinking? Did you want that badly to have something happen between us? What a lewd girl you are."

"Uuu!!!"

By now Misumi Hatsune couldn't even keep her eyes open.

At this moment, she finally understood what it felt like to be caught red-handed doing something bad.

She couldn't even argue back.

Whatever she said would sound like an excuse.

And, most importantly… what would Minami Yuji do with her now?

The little version of her inside clutched her head with both hands.

Misumi Hatsune didn't even dare think further.

She'd done something like this, and Minami Yuji had caught her.

Being thrown out of the house would only be natural, wouldn't it?

And the scariest part…

was that Minami Yuji might hate her for it.

The thought made Misumi Hatsune's expression change.

Her composed face took on a humble look, afraid of being abandoned.

"I-I'm sorry, Yuji. It's all my fault."

She pressed one hand to her chest and reached out with the other, wanting to say more.

But—

"No. I won't accept your apology, Hatsune. On the contrary, I'm going to punish you."

He had no intention of waiting for her to apologize. Under her gaze, Minami Yuji coldly waved a hand.

He looked like he simply didn't want to hear any more of her excuses.

"Why would you…"

Seeing Minami Yuji's utterly unforgiving expression, Misumi Hatsune's whole face dimmed.

It was over…

This time it was really, truly over.

The everyday Minami Yuji, no matter how big a mistake she made, always ended up laughing it off.

A Minami Yuji who wouldn't listen to a single word from her simply didn't exist.

But when she thought about it, of course he'd be like this, wouldn't he?

Who told her to try to touch him while he slept?

So what would Minami Yuji's punishment be?

Surely he meant to cut off all ties with a troublesome girl like her?

Just as Misumi Hatsune felt the road ahead go dark,

Minami Yuji's smiling voice rang out.

"As for the punishment…"

He held up one finger.

"I'm going to make you sleep under the same covers as me."

"Y-yes… I'll pack my things right now and leave Yuji's ho— Huh?"

Lips pressed together, Misumi Hatsune, who'd answered without thinking, froze.

She lifted her head in disbelief.

Because…

What had Minami Yuji just said?

That she had to sleep with him?

This… this wasn't a punishment at all! Wasn't it completely a reward?

But why?

She'd clearly done something she shouldn't have…

Shouldn't Minami Yuji hate her?

Faced with her question, the Minami Yuji before her only blinked at her and answered with a beaming smile.

"How could I possibly hate you, Hatsune?"

"Ah!"

Her clear, big violet eyes instantly turned watery at those words.

The fear of being rejected and hated by Minami Yuji, which had filled her heart, burst outright at that sentence.

She finally stopped holding back, stood up on the bed, and threw her arms around Minami Yuji.

Honestly…

This man, honestly!

Even at a time like this, he still had to spoil her!

Wasn't this… wasn't this forcing her to like him even more?

Yuji!

Yuji!

Yuji!

She kept rubbing her face against Minami Yuji's chest.

It was then that Minami Yuji spoke again.

"Besides, how should I put it… thanks to your 'bold' behavior this time, Hatsune, I really did wake up quite a bit."

"Wake… up?"

"Mm."

Meeting Misumi Hatsune's puzzled big eyes, Minami Yuji reached out, stroked her head, and nodded with a smile.

The words weren't just meant to comfort her. They were the truth.

He really had woken up quite a bit.

He'd realized that he truly couldn't go on like this.

The girls' feelings were growing ever stronger, and they were gradually approaching physical maturity.

He could no longer treat their feelings with the old way of looking at them, as if they were children.

Misumi Hatsune's incident this time had served as a warning to him.

Continuing to turn a deaf ear and play deaf and dumb about certain things was absolutely no longer acceptable.

Minami Yuji had never liked being wishy-washy, and he liked even less playing some Japanese-style dense male lead who kept everyone in an endless push-and-pull.

Minami Yuji resolved it in his heart, and at the same time shook his head.

Still, dealing with it was one thing; it wasn't something he could finish in a hurry.

He could hardly gather all the girls together and announce, "I like all of you, so be my wings, every one of you," could he?

No matter how he thought about it, that was unrealistic.

Besides, apart from the matter of feelings,

there was another thing that was quite important to Minami Yuji right now.

And that was the Television Drama Academy Awards coming up in June.