Chapter 4

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Chapter 4: "Good night" with the sleeping princess

"It sure is exciting to have a stay-over with a friend, isn't it?"

From Kanata's perspective, the voice came from diagonally upwards on the left side.

"Since when did we become friends?"

"Am I wrong?"

"To me, at least... someone you talk with for the first time doesn't become your friend on the same day."

"Ugh, you like to argue, it seems."

"You could say my definitions comprise of a very definite line."

Kanata is currently lying down on a futon on the floor right beside the bed.

It's not like he was forced to take that position.

The conversation they had until just now went as follows.

"I'll sleep on the sofa."

"That's not good. You're my guest, so please sleep on the bed."

"No, I'm just borrowing your shelter for one night, so I can't hog the bed."

"You don't need to worry about me, you know? I'll use the extra futon for when my family comes to visit."

"Then, I'll sleep on that futon."

"But the floor is hard..."

"It's okay, really."

"But..."

"Any further than this and I'll get a headache from my feelings of guilt."

"...Ugh. If you go that far, it can't be helped."

And that's what happened earlier.

Therefore, the two of them wholesomely decided to sleep in separate futons.

The development where you share a futon with a beautiful girl---

Is just an event limited to cliche love comedy stories. It never happens in real life.

If it ever happens, maybe it'd be three reincarnations after.

Since tomorrow is a Saturday, I don't set an alarm.

Shion also said something like "I also don't set one, so let us sleep to our hearts' content".

It seems like she always sleeps to her hearts' content, though.

"Fwah" - the sound of a small yawn hits my eardrums.

"Oh, so you also feel sleepy at night time."

Normally, if people sleep all that much in the daytime, they can't shut their eyes down at night. At least, that was my impression.

I ask her this question to fulfill my curiosity.

".........I mean, of course I'll feel sleepy at night."

She paused a while before answering.

I interpret that pause as a delay due to drowsiness.

"Does Kurosaki-san..."

Her muttering had a different tone than till now.

"Not feel lonely to sleep by himself at night?"

Since the question was so much out of context, now it was my turn to be bewildered.

"Nah, not really."

"Why?"

"Even if you ask me why..."

I've never even thought about it.

After pondering a bit, I put into words what I think.

"I'm used to sleeping alone."

No idea how Shion took my words.

"......Is that so."

Noticing that her mood became darker, "Oh shoot" were the first two words that came to my mind.

"You know, I feel quite lonely."

I quieten my breathing to focus on my auditory nerves.

"That's why, as I'm able to sleep with someone else after so long... it makes me really happy."

...She's a very kind girl.

She's trying to lessen my feelings of guilt by saying that my staying over is helping her as well.

---At least, that's how I interpret it.

".....I see."

"Sorry for blabbering on like this."

"Nah, I don't mind..."

If I didn't suck at communicating with others, I could've probably come up with a better reply.

Unfortunately, my interpersonal skills were completely lacking, and it was an impossible hurdle for me.

"Umm, you know."

"Yes?"

"Once again, thank you very much for today."

I say as if to balance out our concerns for each other.

"Fufu, you're welcome."

The sound of clothes rustling enters my ears.

I make a conjecture that her feelings and movements are linked together.

"Good night, Kurosaki-san."

"......Good night."

Our conversation ended there.

The only two sounds in the room were those of the clock's second hand ticking away, and the sleeping breaths of another person other than myself.

Although the environment was too different from what I'm used to, I end up thinking---

When was the last time, I wonder.

That I spoke the words "good night" to someone else.

TL Note: Since it's been a while since the last NU update, I decided to put this up here. Do remember that I have a main project (LN) at Chuuko demo Koi ga Shitai! which has huge ass chapters, so this project is just something I'm doing cause it's fast and easy.

PS. If you're the original TL for this series from NeoSekai and want to continue anyway, contact me on discord (invite link on the right navigation bar) and I'd be happy to drop the series.