Chapter 60

"Ultimately, we didn't get much studying done, did we?"

On the way back.

Yugen smiled wryly at Arisa and said so.

Of course, he had known from the beginning that studying with them probably wouldn't be very productive.

"…I feel kind of bad about it."

While it was fine that Yugen didn't get much studying done, he felt guilty that he had also ruined Arisa's study time. Somehow, he felt as if he had dragged Arisa down a path of mischief.

On the other hand, Arisa smiled wryly.

"Hehe… Well, we didn't make as much progress as I thought, so I need to study when I get home…"

Then she narrowed her eyes.

"But it was fun."

Arisa clasped her hands behind her back and walked with a light, bouncy step.

"Playing with so many people like that was a first for me, or at least, it's been a long time."

"Didn't you have the opportunity before?"

Yugen himself wasn't particularly sociable, but he did have friends like Soichiro and Sei.

Arisa seemed to have only acquaintances with whom she would "exchange pleasantries while eating lunch," but Yugen tilted his head, wondering if such people had never invited her to play together. Surely, there must have been a few opportunities in her sixteen years of life.

"No, there were… opportunities, I think. People did invite me. It was my fault."

Arisa sighed, despite having seemed in good spirits just a moment ago. She seemed to have fallen back into her "I'm a bad girl" mode.

"The past is the past. Besides… it's not unreasonable for you to feel that way. …You probably didn't like it when your personal matters became known."

When you get close to someone, there's a chance that your family situation will be revealed. You might be distanced, or people might start spreading rumors out of curiosity.

It's better not to socialize at all if that's going to happen.

That was why Arisa had taken a distant attitude, Yugen thought.

But…

"It's a bit different."

It seemed to be a bit different.

"What I didn't like… was that I didn't want people to get involved in my personal matters."

"…You didn't want to drag them in?"

"It's not that noble a reason."

Arisa weakly shook her head and smiled slightly, as if mocking herself.

"I didn't want my position to be compromised if someone did something inappropriate. That's all."

"I see."

"…Selfish, right?"

"To protect yourself, it's only natural."

Selfish, perhaps, but there's nothing wrong with trying to protect yourself.

"But…"

"You're not a bad person."

Yugen interrupted Arisa's voice.

To Arisa, who looked slightly surprised, he repeated, as if trying to convince her.

"You're not a bad person. I think I've said this before, but I can guarantee that."

"…That's because you don't know me."

You're being irresponsible.

Arisa said, as if scolding Yugen.

She seemed to be aware that she was lashing out at Yugen. Despite saying it with an angry expression, she quickly became dejected.

But she couldn't help it.

"I… am much uglier than you think."

"Is that so? Even if I don't know everything, we've known each other for half a year. I think I have a good grasp of your character."

Of course, he knew her good points.

And he knew her bad points too.

"Lie."

"Whether it's a lie or not, I can't know unless you tell me."

"…"

When Yugen said this, Arisa fell silent for a moment.

Then, in a small voice, she said one thing.

"I'm selfish."

"Is that all?"

When Yugen asked, Arisa shook her head.

"I'm gloomy, sullen, negative…"

"I know."

"Arrogant, jealous, narcissistic…"

"I know that too."

"Deny some of it!"

"Add 'contrary' to the list."

When Yugen said this with a laugh, Arisa turned her head away, pouting.

She wanted her bad points to be denied.

But she was also angry at being told irresponsible things by someone who didn't know her.

Yugen guessed that Arisa's feelings were something like that. She was a bit, no, quite a troublesome person.

"Everyone has a few flaws. That level of bad character doesn't count."

"But…"

"It's not 'but.' If having flaws makes you a bad person, then I'm a terrible person."

Yugen shrugged in a playful tone.

Still, Arisa said, "But, but."

"Yugen… has a lot of good points too."

"You do too."

"…I don't."

"Serious, hardworking, good at cooking, good at studying, good at sports, kind, considerate, cool, handsome, cute, beautiful, and your figure is…"

"That's harassment!"

Arisa said this while covering her ears.

Her face was bright red, and her emerald eyes, slightly teary, glared at Yugen.

"Sorry, I got carried away. Forgive me."

"…I won't forgive you."

"I'll do anything."

"…Then, one thing, okay?"

Arisa stopped walking.

With a teary, almost inaudible voice, she looked up at Yugen.

"Let me lean on your chest."

"Sure."

Well, Arisa is quite a troublesome girl, isn't she?

If you want Arisa to be happy, please bookmark and rate (change the ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★ below the table of contents), and Yugen will make Arisa happy.

The next chapter is a side story, to be updated the day after tomorrow.

Current True Dere Level: 40% → 50%

With Yugen, I might be able to walk through life together…

It's still at the "maybe" stage.

It's a line that seems close but not quite.

As we enter the final part of Chapter 2, I want to move things forward soon.

If you're looking forward to the Dere Level and future developments, please bookmark and rate (change the ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★ below the table of contents).