CH ss - 16

SS 16: The Boyfriend Who Tests His Girlfriend on the Psychology of Love

Translated by: chocolalaEdited by: Seiryuu

“I’m in trouble…”

As usual in the literature club room. I was alone in the room, staring at the plastic fragments on the chair. It was probably originally a hair clip for girls.

It was shattered into pieces.

“This, maybe this is Yuzu’s,” I muttered as I held my head.

The situation was simple. We were playing a game in the club room as usual, but halfway through the game, Yuzu said she was thirsty and went to the vending machine to buy a drink. Then, I grabbed a book that caught my interest from the bookshelf to read while she was away, and sat down on a nearby chair; I heard something break under my butt.

“Oh no, what should I do…”

It didn’t seem expensive, but if the item happened to be her favourite, the price was not important. Anyway, I should apologise and try to get her to forgive me…

But first, I needed to find a way to alleviate some of her anger.

“But how do I get a girl to be in a good mood…?”

Then I suddenly saw a book on the shelf. It was like I was drawn in by it and picked it up to read the words on the cover.

“Let’s Deepen Your Relationship with Your Lover Using Love Psychology’…?”

The book was the perfect solution to my situation. Heaven had not forsaken me. I turned the pages as if impelled.

The best way to get to know your partner is through skin-to-skin contact! Light skin-to-skin contact, such as holding hands and hugging, is a great way to increase affection, especially for couples who have just started dating.

“Suddenly there comes the hard part…”

I had never really thought about the idea of having skin contacts on my own initiative. It would take a lot of courage to do it out of the blue, so I was wondering if there were anything easier. I looked for something like that as I skimmed the book.

The next best thing is the Door-in-the-Face! This is a technique where you first make a big request and then get the other person to say ‘No’ so that the next time you make a smaller request it will be easier to get through!

Mmm… this might be good. For example, when borrowing money from someone, it would be easier to persuade them by saying, ‘Please lend me 5,000 yen. If that’s not possible, at least lend me 1,000 yen’.

If I could combine this technique with skinship, I could get Yuzu in a good mood.

“A hug… would be impossible. Let’s aim to hold hands.”

So here’s the plan: First, ask for a hug, and when she refuses, let’s say I want to hold hands at least. It kind of made me appear like I was desperate for a body touch… but needs must when the devil drives.

Just then, I heard the door of the literature clubroom turn. I immediately put the book I had been reading back on the shelf.

“I’m back. I’m sorry I made you wait. This is for Yamato-kun.”

Yuzu, holding two cans of juice in her hands, came back with a smiling face, oblivious to what had happened on my side.

“Oh, oh. Thanks a lot. Thank you for going to all the trouble to buy mine too.”

I answered awkwardly and tried to think of a way to ask for a hug.

“It’s nothing, well, I’m a good, caring girlfriend. How? Did you fall for me again?”

‘…It’s here!’

“Oh, yeah. I’m falling in love with you all over again. So, can I have a little hug?”

When human beings were cornered, they could do anything. Surprisingly, I was able to put forward demands that I would never normally make.

Of course, Yuzu’s eyes widened when she heard the words that she would never normally hear from me; she looked downwards as her face blushed a little.

“It’s very surprising that Yamato-kun would say something like that to me… Well, I don’t mind if you do.”

Oh, what? My first big request went through just like that! It was not supposed to be like this! What should I do in this situation?

“Ooo, oh… Is that so?”

I was surprised by the situation, but I could not possibly retract what I had just said, so I approached Yuzu with an awkward, robot-like gait.

Yuzu was also something… she didn’t even follow up by saying anything like she was joking or we should stop it; she just patiently waited for me with a blush on her face.

“I-I’m coming!”

“Y-Yeah.”

After a dumb ritual-like exchange, I resolved to give Yuzu a hug.

Her slender body, which fit perfectly in my arms, was soft and smelled sweet when we were close. When I was worried that my heart was beating too loudly that Yuzu could hear it, I released her from my arms. It was a few seconds. But strangely, it felt like an hour had passed.

“It-it’s kind of embarrassing, isn’t it? It was a surprise that Yamato-kun came to me so aggressively. Oh, you’re not drunk again, are you?”

As she said it, Yuzu smiled shyly.

“I’m sober. Frankly, I was only saying that expecting you to refuse it… Sorry, was that unpleasant?”

Finally, I came to my senses and was overcome by shame, and Yuzu shook her head in a flurry.

“N-no, not at all. I’d rather it’s always like this… No, no can be, my heart won’t last that way, yep. I think it’s okay to be like this once in a while!”

“O-oh, really?”

Personally, I didn’t think I would ever have the opportunity to do this again, or should I say, I honestly hoped it would never happen.

“Anyway, I didn’t mind it at all.”

Yuzu seemed to be in a good mood. There was a bit of a glitch, but I accomplished what I wanted to, so it was all good.

“Phew… But all the nervousness was too much that I’m tired now. Should we take a longer break?”

Yuzu opened the juice and pulled a nearby chair.

‘Oh no, that chair is…!’

“…Hn? What’s this? A broken hair clip?”

Yuzu found the hair clip that I forgot to collect from the chair. My plan failed—Nope, the timing was great! I’d just apologize!

“I’m sorry!” From a split-second decision, I got down on my knees.

After a short silence, I could hear Yuzu sighing.

“I see… So that’s why Yamato-kun… I was wondering why you were being so forward, but I guess you were just trying to put me in a good mood.”

“Uh…”

I grunted, the intention behind my action just now was easily seen through. Oh no, maybe it was counterproductive on the contrary.

“I’m really sorry. It was an accident.”

“No, this wouldn’t have happened by accident. I think it was intentional.”

“It was really an accident.”

“What a pathetic excuse, I’m disappointed in you!”

I was startled by Yuzu’s anger, which was much bigger than I had expected, and she unleashed the killing words.

“Yamato-kun, you cheater!”

“What?!”

Her totally unexpected words of abuse made me look up at her. I was ready to be cussed at, but I didn’t imagine being attacked in this manner.

“You see, that’s not mine! But, the fact that there’s a girl’s hair clip is enough proof that you brought a girl inside the room, didn’t you?”

“It’s not… Yuzu’s?”

I was stunned as I hadn’t anticipated this.

And as soon as I understood everything, I felt a deep sense of relief, “Oh, so it’s like that… That’s great.”

“Not great! While you still have me!”

“Wait, wait, wait. You’ve got it all wrong. I’ll tell you everything in order.”

I stopped her with my hand and began to tell her the situation from the beginning. Yuzu nodded in understanding after she listened to the end.

“…So that was it.”

“Yeah. I think it was something left by the former students here. Until now, we barely touched stuff that we do not really use, and that chair was in a blind spot, so we probably didn’t notice.”

With this, it was settled. What a relief.

“Hmm… I see.”

Contrary to what I thought, Yuzu’s mood remained sour.

“Hey, what’s the matter, Yuzu?”

“Nothing? It’s just, Yamato-kun, you’re my boyfriend, yet you don’t even know whether that hairclip was mine or not. I had never even had that on before. If only you’ve carefully observed me, you must know from the beginning that it wasn’t mine.”

Oops… I ended up stepping on another mine.

“Err, that’s…”

“Oh, you don’t have to make excuses. Yamato-kun, you don’t care about me, do you? Even if I’m sulking by myself, you won’t see it at all.”

She was completely mad.

Well, certainly that was a bit of a mistake for a boyfriend to do.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more attentive from now on. Will you forgive me?” I bent down once more..

Yuzu’s expression softened a little, perhaps because of how I looked from her position.

“…You want me to forgive you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will have you absolutely obey what I say for the next week.”

“No-no-no, isn’t that too severe a punishment?”

“Really? Then, I’ll let you off with only one day of absolute obedience, today.”

‘One day… one day? That sounds doable, and only a few hours are left for the day.’ I thought to myself.

Besides, she was actually a kind-hearted gal, I supposed she wouldn’t make any unreasonable demands.

“All right. I’ll obey you and we’ll call it even.”

When I responded, Yuzu’s expression brightened.

“Yep, yep, being obedient is the best, isn’t it? So I’m going to ask you to help me level up my game. Then give me a shoulder massage and buy me something at the convenience store on the way home.”

“Oh, please go easy on me.” I could only nod warily in front of the mischievous looking Yuzu.

—It wasn’t until I got home that I realised that Yuzu’s request was a brilliant Door-in-the-Face.

chocolala: It’s important for a boyfriend to be observant! And Yamato-kun never learns, he’ll never win against Yuzu-chan in psychological battle.