My hospital room came into view, but the fluorescent lights in the hallway were about to go out, repeatedly turning off and brightening. I felt it was somehow eerie and wanted to break the silence.
“Sano was all fired up saying he’d definitely solve it. That guy’s a good person, isn’t he? I can’t do things for others like that, so I think guys like Sano are amazing.”
“I see.”
Huh… what’s going on here?
Satsuki is an exception, but the other heroines should still like Sano. So what’s with this lukewarm reaction?
Then, the wheelchair stopped. Reine must have stopped pushing.
“What’s wrong, Reine, gub—!?”
I raised my head to look back at Reine, but my cheeks were grabbed with both hands. Reine, her pupils fully dilated, brought her face right up to mine.
“Hey, Satoshi-sama. You who saved our lives are a wonderful person who can act for others more than anyone. So please, don’t put yourself down.”
My head was fixed in place, so I couldn’t look away from that all-too-direct gaze.
“Thank you. I’m happy to hear that…”
“Good boy. I’m fond of honest Satoshi-sama.”
She smiled at me with a grin and peered into my face.
More importantly, your face is too close!?
“But you know—”
The fluorescent lights flickered several times before finally going out. The area around us was enveloped in darkness like night.
Only Reine’s deep blue eyes were shining.
“Don’t ever mention that trash, Sano Yuuto’s name again. Especially from your mouth—I never want to hear it again.”
“Eh…?”
“That guy is a cancer on this world. An existence so vile that being covered in filth would be preferable. It’s presumptuous to even compare him to Satoshi-sama.”
“I-is that so. But, you liked him… ah.”
This is the worst. I want to take back my careless words.
“Yes, I liked him. No—I was made to like him.”
Made to like him…?
Just as I was about to ask what she meant, I was released from Reine’s grasp. And when I looked forward, Reine hugged me from behind around my neck.
“But I’ve woken up now. Thanks to my savior. From now on, I will support Satoshi-sama, no, Satoshi. For life.”
“A-ah. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
That’s way too heavy, you know!?
Even though she’s hugging me, instead of happiness, fear and anxiety are building up.
I sincerely vowed to get discharged quickly so I wouldn’t be a burden to the heroines.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“I’m bored…”
Both Satsuki and Reine apparently have things to do today and can’t come. With nothing to do, I’m continuing to read reference books I don’t even want to read.
I want my smartphone back soon…
Still, discharge is just around the corner. Intense exercise is still impossible, and even walking is a struggle, but I’m happy to be getting out. When the doctor suggested I stay in the hospital a bit longer, I politely declined. Not only because of the hospitalization costs, but also because I feel more at ease at home. I just can’t bring myself to like the atmosphere of hospitals.
Though I say home, I live alone. When I did whatever I wanted using my knowledge from my previous life, a rift formed between me and my parents, so I cut ties with them when I entered high school. I even thought about filing a report with the police to make absolutely sure they wouldn’t search for me, but that wasn’t necessary.
The contact information for my parents registered in my phone—they haven’t contacted me at all. They’re probably better off without me too. I had a faint trace of lingering attachment, but now that I know I’m not loved, I truly don’t care anymore.
Rather than dwelling on 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 get by with Amazon and Uber.”
For that, I first need to go buy a smartphone. Without it, I can’t even rely on delivery services. Once I’m discharged, I’ll head to a phone shop first.
“Hm?”
I could tell through the frosted glass that footsteps were approaching from beyond the door, stopping in front of my hospital room. Then, a knocking sound echoed in the room.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me~”
A relaxed, languid voice resonated in the hospital room.
“Hello~, Satoshi-kun. How are you feeling~?”
“So-so, I guess. Nanjou, you’re the same as always, huh.”
“That’s not true~, I’ve been so worried about you every single day, you know~. More importantly, it makes me sad when you use my last name. Please call me by my first name, okay~?”
“Ah, sorry. Shuna.”
“Ehehe~, I’m happy.”
She’s so fluffy…
Strangely enough, even my injuries feel like they’re getting better.
Nanjou Shuna. One of the heroines of [LoD].
She has fluffy, brown semi-long hair done in curls. Her first impression is approachable, and she doesn’t break her laid-back pace no matter who she’s dealing with.
She was the student council president of our year and was affectionately called the “Saint.” She can’t leave people in trouble alone.
And what should be especially noted is her figure. I won’t say what specifically, but among the heroines with large… assets, hers are particularly large. Many male students must have been indebted to this.
“Thanks for visiting. You’re always helping me out.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine~. Don’t worry about it. I’m doing this because I like it~”
She sat down in the chair right beside me on my left and immediately started being modest.
“Suddenly, Satoshi-kun. You’ve been lying down all the time, so aren’t you bored~?”
“Eh, ah, well…”
What’s with this drawn-out quiz…
Her voice has absolutely no intonation, so I almost did a comedic stumble.
“For such a Satoshi-kun, here’s a present~. Ta-da~, I bought you a game~!”
What she handed me was a Game B○y. And the cartridge was an ancient Pokem○n. It was something released over twenty years ago.
Huh? Isn’t this way too old?
As I was surprised, Shuna smiled apologetically.
“I don’t have money, so I couldn’t buy the latest game~. That’s why it ended up being this used one.”
“Ah, I see.”
Rather, I’m impressed she managed to find this.
“I really wanted to buy you the latest one, but no matter how I scraped together money, it wasn’t enough~ I’m really useless, aren’t I~ To think I can only give something like this to my lifesaver… sniffle“
Ehhh!?
Shuna started crying, apologizing to me with a voice mixed with sobs.
The suddenness of it all left me flustered and confused.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I can’t forgive myself for only being able to give a used game that someone else has already played with to my lifesaver…”
Shuna’s family is dirt poor—dirt with a capital D. Originally, Shuna’s parents were capable entrepreneurs who built their fortune from nothing, and Shuna herself was a company president’s daughter.
However, an employee they trusted embezzled the company’s money. Moreover, all of it was used on horse racing and gambling, and by the time they found out who the culprit was, that person didn’t have a single penny left.
You can’t collect from someone who has no money. From there, the company’s performance went downhill, and now they’re operating in the red, repeatedly taking out loans just to keep the company running.
Shuna started working part-time when she entered high school, contributing to the household finances. Their family motto is apparently “Even if we’re poor in wealth, we won’t be poor in spirit.” Becoming student council president and helping people is rooted in that mindset. How admirable.
In [LoD], there’s a story where the protagonist helps Shuna’s company, but well, given the bad ending, please read between the lines…
“Shuna, please look up. Thanks for the present, okay?”
“…No. It’s more like I gave you garbage. I’m sorry, okay?”
“That’s not true. You knew I was bored in the hospital and went out of your way to pick this out for me, right? That feeling alone makes me happy.”
“But…”
“No buts. Besides, I don’t often get the chance to touch old games, so I’m actually excited inside. The latest is good, but retro has its own charm too.”
“…Really~?”
The light returned to her eyes. It seems my true feelings got through. One more push.
“It’s not a lie. Here, come over here, Shuna. Let’s play together.”
“Okay… Thank you~”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you…”
How many people can spend money on others when they themselves are poor? I hope the production team and protagonist who tried to make this girl unhappy drop dead.
That said, old games really don’t start up easily. It was made around the time my previous life self was born, so I guess it can’t be helped. This must be part of the fun of retro games too.
“Wow~, it’s so pixelated~”
Shuna peered at my game with sparkling eyes. She doesn’t even have a smartphone, so I guess it can’t be helped.
But she’s too close, you know?
There’s a scent like sweet flower petals mixed with a soft warmth. Shuna, who’s excitedly focused on the game beside me, hasn’t noticed, but the physical distance between us is zero. The game must be really rare to her.
However, it’s too stimulating for a healthy male high school student. I took a deep breath and decided to focus on the game.
But it’s more difficult than I thought. The directional pad on the left is easy to press, but since my right hand doesn’t move, pressing the A and B buttons on the right side is a struggle. Playing with just my left hand is tough.
“Huh~, what’s wrong, Satoshi-kun?”
“Hm? No, I can’t use my right hand, so I was thinking it’s hard to press the right buttons.”
“Ahh~ that’s right. Sorry for not being more considerate~”
Saying that, the weight disappeared from my left side. Along with it, a mysterious sense of loss dominated my heart.
It’s true what they say about not noticing important things until they’re gone…
As I was thinking that, Shuna moved to the opposite side of my bed. Then she leaned against me 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~”
The blissful sensation pressing against me from the right side… isn’t happening. Because I have no feeling in my right arm, even happiness is halved.
Damn it!
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