“I’m bored…”
Sakurazuki and Reon apparently have things to do today and can’t come. Since I have nothing to do, I’m stuck reading reference books that I don’t even want to look at.
I want a smartphone soon…
Still, I’ll be discharged soon. I still can’t do any strenuous exercise, and even walking is a struggle, but I’m happy to be able to leave the hospital. The doctor suggested I stay a little longer, but I politely declined. Of course, the hospital bills are a factor, but I feel more at ease at home. I can’t stand the atmosphere of the hospital at all.
Even though it’s home, I live alone. Because I did whatever I wanted with my knowledge from my previous life, I created a rift with my parents, and I cut ties with them when I entered high school. I even thought about filing a report with the police to make sure they would never look for me, but that wasn’t necessary.
My parents’ contact information is still registered on my phone, but they haven’t contacted me at all. I guess they’re better off without me too. I had a slight lingering attachment, but I realized that I wasn’t loved, so I really don’t care anymore.
Leaving aside the family I cut ties with, it’s more productive to think about what to do after I get home.
“Well, for the time being, I’ll have to rely on Amazon and Uber.”
To do that, I need to go buy a smartphone first. Without it, I can’t even order deliveries. Once I’m discharged, I’ll go to a mobile phone store first.
“Hmm?”
I could tell through the frosted glass that footsteps were approaching from beyond the door and stopped in front of the hospital room. Then, a knock echoed in the room.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me~”
A relaxed, languid voice echoed in the hospital room. My body went limp.
“Hello~, Satoshi-kun. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay, I guess. Nanjo is as energetic as ever.”
“That’s not true~ I’ve been so worried about you every day. More importantly, it’s sad when you use my last name. Please call me by my first name~?”
“Ah, sorry. Shuna.”
“Ehehe~, I’m so happy.”
She’s so fluffy…
I feel like my injuries are getting better for some reason.
Shuna Nanjo. One of the heroines of [LoD].
She has long, wavy, fluffy brown hair. Her first impression is approachable, and she never loses her easygoing nature, no matter who she’s with.
She’s the student council president of our year and is affectionately known as “The Saint.” She can’t leave people in trouble alone.
And what’s particularly noteworthy is her figure. I won’t say what, but she’s exceptionally large, even among the large heroines. Many guys must have been taken care of by that.
“Thanks for visiting. I always appreciate it.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay~ Don’t worry about it. I’m doing it because I ‘like’ to~”
She sat down in the chair to my immediate left and immediately started being modest.
“But, Satoshi-kun, you’ve been sleeping all the time, haven’t you been bored~?”
“Uh, yeah, well, I guess.”
What’s with this drawn-out quiz? There’s no inflection in her voice at all.
“So, I have a present for you, Satoshi-kun~ Ta-da! I bought you a game~!”
What she handed me was a Game Boy. And the cartridge was an ancient Pokémon game. It was something that was released over twenty years ago.
Huh? Isn’t it too old?
As I was surprised, Shuna smiled apologetically.
“I don’t have any money, so I couldn’t buy you the latest games~. That’s why it ended up being used.”
“Ah, I see.”
I’m actually impressed that she even found it.
“I really wanted to buy you the latest one, but no matter how I tried, I didn’t have enough money~ I’m really useless, aren’t I~? I can’t even give my savior something better than this… sniffle“
Ehhh!?
Shuna started crying and apologizing to me in a sobbing voice.
I was so taken aback by the suddenness of it that I could only panic.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I can’t forgive myself for not being able to give my savior anything but a used game that someone else used…”
Shuna’s family is dirt poor. Originally, Shuna’s parents were successful entrepreneurs who made their fortune in one generation, and Shuna herself was a president’s daughter.
However, a trusted subordinate embezzled the company’s money. Moreover, he used it all on horse racing and gambling, and when he was found out, he didn’t have a single penny.
You can’t collect from someone who has no money. From there, the company’s performance went downhill, and now they’re in the red, repeating debts while somehow managing to run the company.
Shuna started working part-time when she entered high school to help with the household finances. She seems to have a family motto of “Even if you’re poor, don’t be poor in spirit.” Becoming the student council president and helping people is also rooted in that. It’s quite touching.
In [LoD], there’s a story where the protagonist helps Shuna’s company, but well, you can guess what happens from the bad ending…
“Shuna, please lift your head. Thank you for the present?”
“…No. It’s more like I gave you garbage. I’m sorry?”
“That’s not true. Shuna knew I was bored in the hospital and went out of her way to choose this for me, right? I’m happy just with that feeling.”
“But…”
“No buts. Besides, I don’t often get the chance to play old games, so I’m actually excited. The latest ones are good, but retro ones have their own charm.”
“…Really~?”
The light returned to her eyes. It seems my true feelings got through to her. Just one more push.
“It’s not a lie. Come on, Shuna, come over here. Let’s play together.”
“Okay… Thank you~”
“I’m the one who should be saying thank you…”
How many people would spend money on others when they themselves are poor? I want the production team and the protagonist who tried to make this girl unhappy to drop dead.
That said, old games really don’t start up at all. It’s no wonder, since it was made around the time I was born in my previous life. I guess this is part of the fun of retro games.
“Wow~, it’s so choppy~”
Shuna looked at my game with sparkling eyes. She doesn’t even have a smartphone, so I guess it can’t be helped.
Still, she’s too close, isn’t she?
I can smell a mix of sweet floral fragrance and a soft, warm scent. Shuna, who’s engrossed in the game next to me, doesn’t realize it, but the distance between our bodies is zero. She must think the game is very rare.
However, it’s too stimulating for a healthy high school boy. I took a deep breath and decided to focus on the game.
However, it’s more difficult than I thought. I can easily press the directional pad on the left, but since my right hand doesn’t work, it’s a struggle to press the A and B buttons on the right. It’s hard to play with just my left hand.
“Huh~, what’s wrong, Satoshi-kun?”
“Hmm? No, I was just thinking that it’s hard to press the right buttons since I can’t use my right hand.”
“Oh~, that’s right. I’m sorry for not being more considerate~”
As she said that, the weight on my left side disappeared. Along with that, a mysterious sense of loss took over my heart.
It’s true that you don’t realize what’s important until it’s gone…
While I was thinking about that, Shuna went around my bed. She moved to the opposite side. Then, she leaned in from the right side. And from my immobile right side, she touched the game console.
“I’ll press the buttons from the right side~ This way, we can play together~”
A happy sensation rushed in from the right side… not. Since I don’t have any feeling in my right arm, the happiness is halved. Damn it!
“Hehe, so this is what they call co-op play~”
“I don’t think so.”
If this kind of real-life co-op play was a thing, sales would have been higher.
Actually, I was having trouble because I couldn’t use my right hand. Shuna helping me is a plus plus, a super plus. I bowed my head in gratitude to Shuna in my heart.
“Hmm~, is something wrong~?”
“No, nothing. I’ll leave that side to you.”
“Okay! It’s our ‘first’ collaboration~”
“That’s right.”
It is a fact, but the word ‘first’ was emphasized quite a bit… Well, it can’t be helped if I worry about it.
From there, a two-hour, heart-pounding game time began in various ways, but fun times really do pass quickly. I was starved for entertainment since there’s nothing to do in the hospital. The end of visiting hours had already arrived.
“Ah~, it’s already over~”
“Too bad. Maybe next time.”
I turned off the power. I would regret my rash act of turning off the power a little later. The hint is “save data.”
“Shuna, are you going to work now?”
“Yeah. I get a free meal, so I’ll do my best until closing~”
“You’re amazing.”
She’s putting on a show of enthusiasm, but I wonder if she’s really motivated. It seems like she’s more likely to lose her energy.
Shuna puts on a coat that’s tattered and has holes in it here and there. Strangely, it doesn’t make her look shabby. Rather, it enhances Shuna’s charm.
“Don’t push yourself too hard. If you collapse, it’ll be all for naught.”
“Thank you~ But it’s okay~ I’m only good at being energetic~”
She made a peace sign next to her face. It seems to be her way of saying she’s okay.
“If that’s the case, then it’s fine. If you’re ever in trouble, just tell me, okay? I’ll help you no matter what.”
“━━━Eh?”
Eh? What’s with that expression?
Akina was staring blankly at me. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking just from her expression. But, she kept looking intently at me.
“Akina?”
I wasn’t used to being stared at so much. I asked Akina, trying not to step on any landmines.
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing~”
“If you say so.”
She gave a weak smile and waved her hand, saying it was nothing. I could see that there was something behind that smile, but she didn’t seem to want me to pursue it. If that’s the case, I don’t particularly feel like doing anything either.
But, Akina opened her mouth.
“…Lately, my dad’s company has been doing well~. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to go to university~”
“Oh! That’s great.”
“Yeah. Someone placed a huge order~. Somehow, we managed to scrape together my tuition. It’s a blessing from heaven.”
That’s good. Then, should I tell her the name of the person who made that happen? As usual, his name.
“Isn’t that Sano? I heard him saying, ‘I’m going to the same university as Akina!’ with great enthusiasm?”
Akina’s parents’ company was in a real pinch this year. It was really on the verge of bankruptcy, when a miraculous large order came in. That was Sano-kun. He used all his savings and earned the rest himself to make up the difference.
“Hey, Satoshi-sama.”
“Hmm?”
When I looked at Akina, she had her usual smile, but it lacked warmth. She was smiling, but expressionless. It felt like contradictory things were mixed together. And then, she walked towards me.
“Lend me your ear for a moment~”
“? Well, okay.”
It’s not like there’s anyone else in the hospital room, so does this action even have any meaning? I couldn’t help but lend her my ear. Then,
“━━━Liar…”
“Huh?”
A ticklish whisper reached my ear. Even when I tried to ask her what she meant, she just looked at me with her usual smile.
“And, Satoshi-kun. I’m not interested in that thing anymore, so I don’t want you to worry about it~”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Just like Sakurazuki and the others, Akina doesn’t seem to be interested in Sano either.
It doesn’t matter, but because of that awful statement, the girls who liked you are abandoning you one after another… I feel good about it though.
“The only one I’ll devote myself to is Satoshi-kun━━━until I die.”
“Ah, okay.”
That’s why it’s so heavy!?
Her drawn-out way of speaking is Akina’s charm point, but she said the last part firmly. I felt her sincerity there, which made me even more scared.
“Well, I’m going now~ Let’s play games together again~”
“Ah, yeah. See you later.”
Akina waved her hand and left the hospital room.
I want to get out of here soon…
━━━
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