What If You Spoil a High School Girl Who Looks Like a Landmine? - Volume 1 Chapter 3.7

Seeing What Shouldn’t Be Seen 7

“Wow, amazing…”

“I somehow managed to get it.”

It’s been quite a while, and I thought the specifications might be different from back then, but it seems I was overthinking it.

I bend down and pick up the stuffed animal that fell, feeling relieved.

“Here you go. It’s Raihara-san’s.”

“…Um, …thank you very much.”

Accepting the stuffed animal I offered—she hugged it and smiled radiantly.

Wow, incredible, it’s like a commercial.

In the arms of Raihara-san, dressed in Jirai-kei (Landmine type) fashion, and the Usa…byan(?) is being held, with a face that seems like it found its predestined place.

It’s as if the creators truly wanted a girl like this to hold it this way and with this expression.

“…Sorry for troubling you, …ehehe, well, I’m happy! Having you it fetched for me.”

Raihara-san says, fluttering her hands on her face. I’m glad I could make her happy.

“I’m glad. …No, but I also really wanted to thank you for taking care of me. I’m rather worried that it won’t be enough.”

“That’s…after all, it was something I wanted to do.”

“But that day, I was really grateful. If Raihara-san hadn’t taken care of me like that, it might have gotten worse, and besides…”

There are many parts I don’t remember in detail because I was feverish, but…the warmth from her at that time, the feeling of being saved by it…still remains.

“I might not be like Raihara-san, but I’m also not the type who is good at relying on people. In other words, if I hadn’t been taken care of by Raihara-san, I would have never experienced something like that in my life.”

I want to convey that there is at least one exception, even though she probably has a strong feeling of ‘Taking care of people is a burden to others’ due to memories from her middle school days.

“Because Raihara-san was being Raihara-san, I was truly saved that day. I wanted to convey that.”

***

“Just remember that there is at least one person who was saved because Raihara-san was being Raihara-san.”

My body has been feeling strange the entire time.

It’s not because of the words he gave me, not because of the stuffed animal, it’s been since before that. And, even though it’s been since before, receiving the words and the stuffed animal made it even stranger.

“Yes…”

Somehow, I feel wobbly.

My mind can’t get organized, and my feet are restless.

I replied to him, being careful not to let my voice sound strangely high-pitched.

Today has been like that since the initial greetings.

I hope I seem to be speaking normally…

“By the way, there are others in that series, right? I’ve seen the character with an intimidating face and the one with a smiling face.”

“Yes, there are, Usaboyan(ボャ) and Usabeyan(ベャ).”

“No good, my tongue isn’t skilled enough to say that…”

While exchanging seemingly trivial conversations, my heart keeps beating fast.

It’s been like this since today when I saw his face.

It’s making noises as if trying to convey something to me…

So, um…, it’s like that, maybe?

No, but I don’t know. It’s not clear. It’s not something that I can understand!

The only thing I understand right now is that my shaky feet are really restless.

I sneak a peek at Chifuji-san’s profile beside me.

『I’m sorry…haha, maybe the fever messed up my tear ducts…』

“….uh.”

Suddenly, the image of him from that time flashes back in my mind.

My throat makes a swallowing sound.

“Usabayan, Usabiyan,… no good, Usabayan, Usaban… Usabiyan… hmm?”

Chifuji-san is practicing pronunciation.

The way he tilts his head, his gestures seem mature and reliable… I find it… cute.

Unconsciously, I squeeze the stuffed animal in my arms tightly.

“Why don’t we play other games as well since we are here? What kind of competitive one were you playing with your sister?”

“Yes, her favorite is——”

I brought him to the corner with a distinctive fighting game atmosphere.

“Oh, a fighting game!”

“It’s possible to do online battles, but she says, ‘I want to feel like I’m playing against a human,’ and prefers to battle against me or her sister, hehe.”

My younger sister Kanon is not interested in competing with others, so playing against Shion has mostly been my role.

“I’d like to see it.”

“I’m not very good, so it’s a bit embarrassing…”

While saying that, I sit in the chair and insert a hundred yen into the slot.

Chifuji-san kindly holds Usabyan for me.

Then I choose a familiar character and select the single-player story mode.

Fortunately, my hand on the lever is not too awkward.

“Wow, it’s a nice gap; seeing someone in Jirai-kei (Landmine type) fashion playing this kind of game is picturesque.”

“Hehe, maybe so. Ah!”

The display shows that an opponent has appeared.

It’s the beginning of a player-versus-player battle.

“Oh? Do your best!”

“Yes!”

Even so, I’m really not familiar with these kinds of games.

So, I don’t really understand things like combos…

“… Raihara-san’s attacks, they land very well.”

“Not at all, I’m only doing simple things. Just watching the opponent’s movements and pressing the attack button when it seems it will land.”

The guard is the same.

When I see the opponent’s attack and think it can be done in time, I just pull the lever back.

“…? You watch the opponent’s movements and then press the button in time?”

“Surprisingly, I can make it in time. Well, it won’t when it won’t… oh, I won the first round!”

With a kick from my character, the opponent is blown backward.

By the way, this kick comes out quickly, so if the opponent’s attack is a bit slow, my attack will reach the opponent first.

So, I particularly like this kick.

The second round has started.

“See, you can easily see the beginning of the opponent’s punch now, right? If you press the button at this time, the kick will land.”

“…No…hmm?”

“See, this. Ah, again.”

“I-I have no idea…what, you can see it? That one just now?”

“It’s somewhat, just somewhat.”

While doing this, the opponent’s health bar has again reduced to zero.

Since I got two rounds, this is my win.