Chapter 1: Meeting the Princess
In the middle of summer vacation, tormented by the scorching heat, my ordinary days as a high school student, Kiriyama Seito, suddenly came to an end.
『Ahhh! Someone, someone help meee!』
English...?
On my way back from buying ice cream at the convenience store, I heard the voice of a girl screaming.
Curious, I peeked into an alley and saw two suspicious men in black suits and sunglasses holding the arm of a girl wearing a hat.
All three were speaking in English, so I couldn't understand what they were saying, but it was clear that this was a dangerous situation.
Broad daylight... A kidnapping...?
Is this a police matter?
And why are foreigners here in the first place?
In this unexpected situation, a variety of thoughts raced through my mind.
Meanwhile, the girl was being dragged away...
『Please help me...!』
The girl locked eyes with me and cried out with tear-filled eyes.
I could understand English at least enough to catch the meaning.
I almost instinctively kicked the ground.
"I can't just wait for the police to come...!"
I didn't understand the situation at all, but the girl was crying and asking for help.
I couldn't just close my eyes and walk away.
"Ahhhhhh!"
『W-What’s with this kid!?』
『This is bad, he saw us! Grab him!』
Without hesitation, I charged forward, and for some reason, one of the men lunged at me.
"Why are you coming at me!?"
I thought that in a situation like this, the kidnapper would try to escape with the girl, so I couldn’t hide my surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
Quickly, I pulled the ice cream I had bought from the bag, which had frozen solid, and threw it right at the man’s face.
『Ow, what the hell is this!?』
"It’s painful, right? It’s a famous ice cream that’s so hard it might break your teeth!"
It’s so hard, I only eat it when it’s starting to melt!
『Tch, this brat...!』
When the ice hit the first man’s nose and he stopped to clutch his face, the second man, who was holding the girl’s arm, came at me.
––Which meant the girl had been freed.
"Run...!"
I shouted at the girl, who was behind the man.
It seemed she understood Japanese, and my intention got through to her. She nodded and ran toward the back.
『Damn it...!』
"I won’t let you chase her...!"
『Ugh...!』
When the man turned to look at the girl, his back became unguarded, so I kicked him between the legs.
He collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
...That looks painful.
"Sorry..."
I know I did it myself, but I couldn’t help thinking that I had done something inhumane. I apologized to myself as I ran past the man.
『Wait, you little brat...!』
"Ah, I should've kicked the other one too...!"
As I chased after the girl, the man I had knocked down first was now chasing me, his face contorted with rage.
Because the ice had shattered his sunglasses, his face looked even scarier.
From the look of him... I had no idea what he’d do if he caught me.
He looked like someone who would easily take a life.
"Wait, how is he so fast...!?"
Even though I was running as fast as I could, the distance between us was closing rapidly.
How is he so fast with that bulky, muscular body!?
『Catch him—』
"—Hah, how about this...!"
Just before he caught up, I slammed on the brakes to throw off his timing and dodged his grab.
While doing so, I took advantage of his exposed back and kicked him between the legs.
『Ugh...! This kid... does he have no heart...!?』
The man, struck in his weak spot, collapsed to the ground, just like the second one.
––Looks like I managed to get away.
Phew... I really thought I was going to die there...
There’s no way I could’ve won in a straight fight...
"........."
"Ah..."
While wiping the sweat from my forehead, I noticed the girl peeking around the corner ahead.
I thought she had just run off, but it seemed she had been worried about us.
I quickly ran over to her.
"Are you alright...?"
I can't speak English, but since she seemed to understand Japanese earlier, I decided to speak to her in Japanese.
Then...
"Wow... This is like something out of an anime..."
The girl blushed slightly and stared back at me.
Her eyes were large, clear, and a beautiful shade of blue, almost as if they could suck you in.
She had a small, well-defined nose and delicate, pink lips that weren’t too thin or too thick.
Her skin was a pure white that looked unlike anything I’d seen on a Japanese person... I hadn’t noticed because of the hat, but this girl was stunning...
And most surprising of all, there was a certain part of her that was remarkably... well-endowed.
"Thank you for saving me from a dangerous situation."
As I was lost in admiration, she thanked me in Japanese.
"My name is Luna Sweet Christina Hart Arcadia. Please, just call me Luna."
She introduced herself, her golden hair shining in the wind as she smiled at me, making her even more enchanting.
"Lu, Luna, Sweet, Cris...?"
I couldn’t remember the full name because it was so long, so I repeated what I could while looking at her.
Do foreigners really have such long names...?
Isn't it hard to remember all at once...?
"Hehe... Luna is just fine."
Seeing my confusion, the girl, who went by Luna, giggled lightly.
Despite having just gone through something so terrifying, she seemed remarkably composed...
"Ah, um... I’m Kiriyama Seito. Nice to meet you..."
I decided to introduce myself as well.
"Seito-sama..."
She stared at my face again, softly murmuring my name as if savoring it.
Her eyes seemed to glow with a warm, almost hypnotic light.
"You don’t need to call me -sama..."
Is she some kind of aristocrat?
Her speech was formal, and her gestures were elegant, almost refined.
Could that be why she was almost kidnapped by those strange guys?
"No, I would like to call you Seito-sama."
"...I see."
It seemed my request had been politely rejected.
She certainly has her own peculiar sense of attachment to certain things.
Well, if she wants to call me that, I can’t stop her.
"Shall we move somewhere else to talk? We should probably contact the police, right?"
If those men recover, things will get really bad. I pointed to the path leading deeper as I continued speaking.
However...
"No, please... we cannot contact the police."
Luna seemed visibly uncomfortable, her unease obvious.
There’s something going on here.
"But... you were almost kidnapped..."
"The police... are not an option."
The police aren’t an option...?
...Wait!
Could it be that she’s involved with some dangerous organization that has control over the police!?
That ridiculous thought crossed my mind, and I quickly scolded myself for watching too much anime.
Logically, that would never happen.
...But then again, considering the fact that a kidnapping actually occurred, maybe it’s not entirely impossible...
"So, what should we do...?"
If the girl, who was supposed to be the victim, says not to contact the police, then there’s not much I can do by calling them.
So, I decided to ask for her opinion.
"......"
Luna placed her hand on her chin, clearly deep in thought.
And then──.
"Could you hide me...?"
She said something utterly unexpected.
"Eh!?"
"Actually, I am currently fleeing from those men... If they catch me, they will force me to do things I don’t want to do... Could you please hide me for a few days...?"
Could it be that those men earlier were debt collectors?
Maybe she’s desperately running away because if they catch her, she’ll be sold off?
They were definitely shady-looking, and if someone told me they were part of the mafia, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Honestly, I don’t want to get involved with such people any further... but...
As I was organizing my thoughts, I glanced at Luna's face.
"......"
Luna was staring at me with pleading eyes, her gaze filled with desperation.
I can’t just abandon someone so vulnerable...
Besides, now that I’ve already gotten involved, those men will likely be after me too...
It might be better to convince her to go to the police, though.
"Alright, if it’s just for a few days, I can manage..."
Fortunately, it’s summer break, so I have more freedom than usual.
For just a few days, I should be able to hide her without those men finding us.
"Really...!?"
"When we're in trouble, we help each other, right? But──"
I told her that I was currently living alone for personal reasons, and that during her stay, she would need to refrain from going out.
Then──.
"That works out perfectly...!"
For some reason, she was overjoyed.
Huh, that’s strange...?
Doesn’t she feel any danger?
Even though I’m a guy, I don’t look threatening...?
She seems so innocent, maybe she hasn’t really thought things through.
"Well then, shall we head to my place right away? It’s nearby."
I’m familiar with the roads around here, so I’ll take a shortcut to avoid running into those men.
Without complaining, Luna followed me.
On the way──.
『Ah, underwear...』
Luna muttered something quietly.
"Did you say something?"
"Well..."
When I asked, Luna started fidgeting, looking embarrassed, and her cheeks seemed a bit flushed... What’s going on?
"Is there a problem?"
"Um... even though I can borrow your clothes, I just realized... I don’t have any spare underwear..."
"Ah..."
I realized it when Luna pointed it out.
Since I live alone, there’s no way I’d have any women’s underwear at my place.
If I went back to my parents’ house, I could borrow my sister’s, but... I don’t want to resort to that.
Asking her to bring it would probably lead to her looking down on me.
That means I’ll have to go buy some...
"Shall we go back home first and change into disguises before heading out?"
It’s too risky to go out like this, so I’ll have to lend her my clothes to disguise herself.
I definitely don’t have the courage to buy women’s underwear on my own, so I’ll need her to buy it.
"I understand. Please, let’s do that."
Since Luna seemed to agree, we headed toward my apartment as planned.
『──I am truly grateful for this fateful encounter... Thank you, God…』
◆
"We can finally relax now."
Having successfully bought the underwear, we let out a sigh of relief in my room.
I'm glad we didn’t get tangled up with any weird people.
"Please feel free to use the bedroom. I’ll sleep in the living room."
I thought it would be better for her to use the bed, so I guided her to the bedroom.
"The living room... does it have a futon...?"
It seemed like the idea of me sleeping in the living room bothered her.
Luna looked at me with concern.
"I’ll sleep on the sofa."
I smiled back at Luna, who still looked worried.
Sleeping on the sofa would be tough, but I could manage for a few days.
It was definitely better for me to sleep on the sofa than for her to.
—Or at least, I thought so...
"It’s not okay. That won’t do."
For some reason, Luna stopped me.
Suddenly, she took my hands gently, causing me to freeze up.
"It’s not good for your health, you know...?"
"But... there’s only one bed..."
I didn’t have the money to buy a new futon just for this.
"Let’s sleep together. I don’t mind."
"What!?"
What on earth is she saying!?
We can’t... sleep together...!
"I’ve been troubling you, so I’m fine with it."
Luna flashed me a gentle, sweet smile.
She definitely seemed like the innocent type.
After all, normally, a girl wouldn’t sleep with a guy she wasn’t dating.
"This really isn’t a good idea...! I’m still a guy, so it’s dangerous...!"
"Dangerous? What do you mean?"
Luna tilted her head in confusion.
It seemed she didn’t understand the part I left unsaid.
It was hard to explain, but now I was in a bind.
"No, I mean...!"
"Seito-sama doesn’t seem like the type to harm me..."
"Of course, I don’t intend to... but there’s always the possibility of something happening..."
She was so cute, I couldn’t be sure that I’d be able to control myself if she exposed herself defenselessly.
She was impossibly beautiful, almost unreal.
"Then, I’ll sleep on the sofa."
I didn’t think I could win this argument, so Luna suddenly proposed something troublesome.
"It’s really not okay. Luna is a girl, after all."
"But I’m the one who’s troubling you, so if sleeping together is a problem, I’ll sleep on the sofa."
"Hmm..."
Luna must be a serious and kind person.
In a situation like this, I should just tell her to sleep on the sofa and I’ll take the bed...
"But, I can’t have a girl sleep on the sofa while I take the bed..."
"Then, shall we sleep together after all?"
"---!?!"
She suddenly leaned in close and looked at me, causing me to hold my breath.
She had the graceful aura of a lady, but it seemed like she was surprisingly forward...?
"I don’t mind at all."
Is there any man who could turn down such a request from an incredibly beautiful girl?
At least, I know I can’t.
I have almost no experience with women, so with her continuously inviting me like this, there’s no way I could turn her down.
"Alright..."
"Agreed then."
When I nodded, Luna gave a very sweet smile.
She really didn’t seem to mind the idea of sleeping with me.
"That said, it’s still a bit early to go to bed, isn’t it?"
It was just after four in the afternoon.
We hadn’t had dinner yet, and she hadn’t taken a bath either.
It was clearly too early to sleep.
"You’re welcome to relax in this room, or you can rest in the living room if you prefer."
"What do you usually do in your free time, Seito-sama?"
With a cheerful smile, Luna asked me.
"As for me? Well, if I don’t have homework, I usually watch anime or read manga..."
"Anime!? Manga!?"
"---!?"
What on earth was happening?
Luna practically pounced on me with the enthusiasm of a puppy that had just found food, causing me to take a step back.
She quickly closed the distance and leaned in to peer at my face.
"Seito-sama, you like anime and manga!?"
For some reason, Luna was visibly excited, her eyes sparkling as she asked me.
Her energy was a little overwhelming.
"Y-yeah, I do..."
Considering I live in Japan, it's not unusual for someone to like anime or manga. Most kids do, after all.
『It seems like our tastes align, this must be fate...!』
Luna, looking incredibly happy, started rubbing my hand in hers.
She said something quickly in English, but I couldn’t make out what it was.
"L-Luna...?"
It was ticklish...
"What kind of anime do you watch...!?"
"Eh? What kind... Well, I don’t really have a specific preference... I watch isekai, sports, or psychological battle stuff... I just watch whatever when I have free time... I even watch rom-coms too..."
Under the pressure from Luna's enthusiasm, I answered honestly.
Since I live alone, I often have too much free time. I don’t join any clubs, and I don’t have a part-time job or attend cram school, so I kill time by watching anime and reading manga.
While some people might envy this lifestyle, others might think it's pretty lame.
But Luna…
"That's wonderful...!"
For some reason, she was affirming me like this.
It seemed like she was a good person who didn't look down on others, and being accepted like this didn’t make me feel bad at all. In fact, I was genuinely happy.
"Do you like anime and manga too, Luna?"
"Yes, I love them...! It's not an exaggeration to say that I came to Japan for that reason...!"
That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but... I see, so that's why Luna was so happy.
"Well then, how about we watch something together? I’m registered on a streaming site, so if it's available, we can watch it."
"Really!? Please, let’s do that...!"
It seemed like she was excited about the idea.
I led Luna to the living room and connected my computer to the TV.
"What should we watch?"
"Please recommend something."
Recommendations, huh... When someone says that, it’s actually a bit tricky.
If I knew the person well, it wouldn’t be too hard, but I still didn’t know Luna’s tastes.
Since it was a special moment, I wanted to make sure she enjoyed it and made her happy.
I really had to think this through.
I considered what kind of show Luna would enjoy.
Since Luna loved anime too, she probably had already seen the more recent ones airing.
In that case, maybe something we watched when we were younger would be a good choice.
With that in mind, I picked a popular anime aimed at girls that aired back in the day.
Then, I sat down next to Luna on the sofa, and just as I did—
"...♪"
"──!? "
Out of nowhere, Luna suddenly hugged my arm.
On top of that, she rested her head on my shoulder.
Her silky, fluffy hair brushed against my face and neck, which made me feel a little ticklish.
Not being used to having a girl do something like this, I froze up completely.
Naturally, I couldn’t focus on the anime at all.
––Yeah, this girl is really coming on strong, isn't she...?
◆
"I'll start preparing dinner soon."
After spending several hours being led around by Luna while watching anime, I started to feel hungry, so I decided to make dinner.
Of course, the rice cooker was already set up.
"You're really going to cook?"
"Haha, do I look like someone who can't cook?"
Luna looked at me with a sense of admiration, and I tilted my head with a smile.
"No, that's not it... I just thought it's rare for a high school student to cook for themselves in Japan... And living alone is rare too, isn't it?"
I didn’t know how long Luna had been in Japan, but it seemed like she had some knowledge of the culture. From her perspective, I probably seemed unusual.
"Well, aside from going to another prefecture for club activities, it's not something people commonly do, I guess."
"Why do you live alone, Seito-sama?"
It seemed like Luna was genuinely curious about me, and she stared at me intently.
She's fearless, or rather, she doesn’t hesitate to get close to others. I honestly found it impressive, though it might just be because she doesn’t overthink things.
"Well, it’s not a very fun story to tell."
"Since it's you, Seito-sama, I want to know."
"......"
It's incredible how she doesn’t hide her feelings at all. It seems like she’s taken quite a liking to me for helping her.
That’s nice, but to be honest, I’m struggling to figure out the right distance.
"Well... the thing is, my dad remarried last year. And it was with someone who had been our neighbor for a long time."
Since she seemed so interested, I decided to tell her something I had kept to myself for a while.
"Your neighbor... did you have a lot of interactions with them?"
Luna seemed to pick up on what I was getting at, narrowing in on the issue I was dealing with.
As she mentioned, we had known each other since we were little and had a close relationship, but that wasn't really the problem.
What mattered was something much more complicated, something you often see in romantic comedies.
"Yes, actually... they also had a child... and she and I were childhood friends."
"......"
As soon as she heard "childhood friend," Luna’s expression noticeably clouded.
She really is sharp.
"Did you two get along well?"
"Well, who knows. I can't say for sure anymore."
Maybe two years ago, I would have said we got along well, but now... I felt like I was the only one who thought that.
"Did something happen?"
She's really pressing me with her questions...
I didn't want to talk about it, but after sharing so much already, it would be strange to keep quiet about the harder parts.
"I confessed, but I was rejected."
I forced a smile to keep the atmosphere from becoming too heavy as I answered her question.
"──...That's... really sad..."
But of course, I had made her worry. After a few seconds of silence, Luna lowered her gaze, looking as if she felt sorry for me.
However, this was something I had already come to terms with. Even though we were childhood friends, I had considered the possibility that we couldn’t be together, and I had prepared myself for it.
So, when I was rejected, I managed to keep myself together.
The real problem came after that.
"It was right after that. I was told that my dad was getting remarried."
At that time, it honestly felt like hell. I ended up living with the person I had been rejected by, which was, of course, inevitable.
It was so awkward that it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
"Seems like the timing was just bad..."
"Well, my dad and his wife didn’t know that I had confessed and been rejected, and they probably thought we were just close childhood friends, so I couldn’t complain. But because it was so awkward, I was allowed to live alone when I entered high school."
So now, I live alone in an apartment that's within walking distance of school. My childhood friend, who is now my 'sister,' goes to the same school, but we’re in different classes, so we don’t really run into each other much.
At least, by now, I don’t dwell on the rejection as much.
"Reality doesn’t play out like anime or manga, does it?"
Luna gently embraced me, perhaps trying to comfort me.
There was no way I could remain composed when a cute girl, whom I had just met, did something like that.
I did my best to ignore the loud thumping of my heart and forced a calm smile.
"It's in the past, so I'm not too bothered by it anymore."
I didn’t want to cause her any more concern. That’s how I felt.
『...It's dragging you so much that you have to leave the house, so there's no way you wouldn't be worried…』
Luna mumbled something under her breath after hearing my words. It was in English and so quiet that I couldn’t catch it.
"What did you say?"
I couldn’t help but ask, curious.
"It’s nothing. If Seito-sama isn’t bothered by it, then I’m glad."
Luna gave a cute smile and distanced herself from me.
It didn’t seem like "nothing," but she wasn’t going to tell me.
"One thing, may I ask?"
"Huh? Of course..."
"Seito-sama... don’t you have a girlfriend?"
"──!?"
I froze, caught off guard by her sudden question.
"No, I don’t..."
"I see, I understand."
After I answered, Luna nodded with a satisfied smile on her face.
What exactly did she understand?
I still couldn’t grasp the right distance with Luna.
『It’s troublesome with childhood friends... But if the bond has already been severed, there shouldn’t be a problem... She said she doesn’t have a girlfriend, so... I have to do my best…』
"Luna...?"
I called out to her, noticing she seemed to be muttering to herself as she turned her back to me.
She quickly spun around and flashed me a bright smile.
"If there's anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask."
"...?"
I felt like I had been brushed off, but Luna’s smile was so wonderful that I couldn’t bring myself to press her further.
◆
"──Ah... That was very delicious."
After finishing dinner, Luna smiled contentedly, clearly satisfied.
It seemed like she enjoyed it, so I felt it was worth the effort I put into cooking.
"I'm glad it suited your taste."
"Seito-sama can cook too... How wonderful."
"Do you think so...?"
Luna always praised me so easily, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed as I carried the dishes to the sink.
She also brought her plate and bowl over, then nervously looked up at me.
"Is something wrong?"
"This is my first time washing dishes."
It seemed she intended to help with the dishes, which was probably why she seemed so uneasy.
"Please, don't worry. You can just sit down. I'll wash them."
Since Luna was my guest, I felt a bit awkward making her do the dishes, so I tried to tell her not to worry.
But then—
"I want to do it..."
Luna looked down, seeming a little sad, and tugged lightly at my sleeve, almost as if she were afraid of being rejected.
Earlier, when she said it was her "first time," she had seemed somewhat excited, likely wanting to try it out since she had never done it before.
"Well then, how about I wash them, and you can dry them with the cloth?"
Respecting Luna’s wishes, I agreed to let her help in a way that she seemed comfortable with.
'You’re respecting my feelings without forcing anything... You truly are a kind person...'
Luna muttered something with a smile before picking up the dish towel that had been hanging by the sink. Then, as I washed the dishes, she carefully dried them one by one.
She was clearly a kind and honest person.
She was also incredibly cute, her gestures were graceful, and her personality was so gentle and thoughtful—living with Luna felt like an incredible stroke of luck.
However, that's only for a few days, so it's a bit disappointing.
"──I've run the bath, so please go ahead."
After finishing the dishes, I prompted Luna to take a bath.
"Ah, my change of clothes... Would it be alright if I look through Seito-sama's dresser?"
"Of course."
I had bought her some underwear, but I hadn’t bought any clothes for her.
The reason was that I didn’t want to take the risk of her going out, and Luna herself had said she didn’t need them.
It seemed she planned to borrow clothes from me.
Naturally, they wouldn’t fit her properly, but since they were just a bit larger than her usual size, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
"Thank you."
Luna smiled happily and walked toward the bedroom.
There was no need to follow her or supervise her.
Although she had a somewhat ditzy and clueless side, she seemed to be a good girl at heart, so I didn't think she'd cause any trouble.
I waited in the living room as I thought that—when suddenly...
"Um, Seito-sama...?"
"Yes──!?"
When I turned around at the weak voice, for some reason, Luna was standing there, wrapped only in a bath towel, with nothing else on.
The shock of the situation combined with the sight of her provocative appearance made my gaze involuntarily drawn to her.
The clothes Luna had originally worn were elegant, trying to expose as little skin as possible despite it being summer.
But now, she had only a bath towel covering her from her chest to her thighs—her usually hidden areas were now exposed, which only heightened my arousal.
I had thought she had a slender and delicate body, but now that I saw her like this, she had just the right amount of softness, with her entire body feeling soft and pleasant to the touch.
What stood out most was the sight of a girl desperately holding onto a bath towel with her arms, trying not to let it fall.
Although she was holding it in place with her arms, she couldn’t quite secure the bottom part of the towel, so there was a gap, and through it, Luna’s inner thigh was briefly visible.
On top of that, her face was flushed with embarrassment, and her eyes were moist as she looked at me—seeing her like this, there was no way any man wouldn’t be aroused.
"W-w-w-what are you doing!?"
"I... I don’t know how to wash my body…"
In response to my question, asked in a flustered state, Luna said something unbelievable.
"That can’t be true…!? Are you teasing me…!?"
Logically, there’s no way she, who is so clean, wouldn’t know how to wash her body. If she really didn’t know, it would raise the question of what she had been doing until now.
"N-No, that's not it...! I really don't know how...!"
Luna vigorously shook her head.
As a result, her chest bounced and swayed, and the towel she was wearing almost shifted, revealing parts that shouldn’t be shown... It was too much for someone like me, still inexperienced.
Could it be that she's trying to tease me?
Was her seemingly innocent behavior all an act?
I couldn't help but start to doubt.
"Then, how have you been bathing until now…!?"
"I’ve always had someone help me wash... So, when it comes to doing it myself, I don’t know how..."
Someone helped her wash her body?
Who exactly?
"Are you really saying you don't know...?"
"Yes... Could you... teach me…?"
Luna looked away in embarrassment, her fingers brushing her hair behind her ear as she made the request.
She didn’t seem like she was lying.
As unbelievable as it was, it really seemed like Luna didn’t know how to wash her body.
What kind of life had she been living up until now…?
"Alright, come with me..."
I tried my best not to look at Luna’s body as I passed by her.
Once we reached the bathroom, I explained how to use the shower, how to wash with shampoo, conditioner, and the like.
"──Got it, thank you."
Luna seemed to understand after just one explanation, and she smiled cutely as she thanked me.
She had no sense of danger at all, showing up in front of a man while wrapped in just a bath towel. I couldn’t help but feel relieved that she hadn’t been taken advantage of by a bad man.
"Well then, take your time."
I closed the bathroom door and immediately returned to the living room.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get her bath towel image out of my head. But I had no choice but to forget it.
We were supposed to sleep together tonight, and if I kept thinking about it, I’d lose control.
I waited as Luna finished her bath.
Then──.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"──!?"
Luna stepped out with her hair still slightly damp, wearing only my shirt from school.
Well, it seems she's wearing panties, though...
"Uh, there are other clothes, right...!?"
"This is a 'kareshatsu.' I've always wanted to try it, so I thought I'd wear it now."
T/N: Kareshatsu means Boyfriend shirt. It’s often used in casual or social media contexts, emphasizing the intimacy or casual vibe.
Luna blushed lightly and shyly smiled.
It seems like she does feel embarrassed, at least a little.
Still, what she's doing is too bold.
I wonder if she even understands the true meaning of a "kareshatsu."
"You'll catch a cold. Please wear proper clothes...!"
"No...! I like this...!"
When I tried to persuade her, Luna, who had always been so obedient and sweet, shook her head left and right like a little child, clearly refusing.
Apparently, her love for anime and manga made her admire the "kareshatsu" trope often seen in romantic comedies.
──Well, yeah.
Why does she want to do this now...?
I wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but seeing Luna so desperate made me feel bad about stopping her.
After all, if I take it away now, she'd be left in her underwear, so I can't really take it from her either.
Maybe it's better to let it slide just for today...?
Sigh... "Fine, just for today, okay...?"
"──! Yes...!"
As soon as I agreed, Luna's expression brightened instantly.
It really seems like she loves this outfit.
Even though I'm troubled by her actions, her joy is so cute that I can't help but feel an indescribable emotion.
"Anyway, let's dry your hair."
Since Luna's hair was still slightly damp, she must have just wiped it with a towel.
Considering she didn't even know how to wash her body properly, she probably doesn't know how to use a hairdryer either.
"Ah... could you dry it for me...?"
Luna glanced up at me, clearly hoping for my help.
It seems like she wants me to do it for her.
"Since this is something you're not used to, I might not do it perfectly."
"I don't mind. As long as Seito-sama is doing it for me."
Honestly, she's really good at being spoiled...
I thought to myself as I gently and carefully dried Luna's hair with the hairdryer.
◆
"........."
"Seito-sama, are you feeling sleepy?"
After taking a bath, I was watching anime with Luna, but before I knew it, my consciousness started to drift away.
"I'm sorry, I think I'm just really tired from everything that happened today..."
I had fought with strange men, run away at full speed, and been caught up in Luna's provocative behavior, which left me exhausted both physically and mentally.
"Then, shall we brush our teeth and go to bed?"
"You can keep watching anime if you want, Luna."
It was probably around 10 p.m. by now. She had been watching anime so enthusiastically, so I felt bad about making her stop.
But──.
"It's fine, I can watch anime tomorrow too."
It seemed that Luna intended to sleep with me.
She was still in the "kareshatsu" outfit, and honestly, with her like that, any drowsiness I had would likely disappear...
In the end, Luna wouldn't back down, and we brushed our teeth before heading to the bedroom.
"Please go ahead and get in."
As soon as we reached the bed, Luna told me to get in first.
So, I followed her instructions and got into bed, lifting the blanket.
Then──.
"Hehe..."
Luna giggled happily and slid into bed with a bright smile.
She was just too cute, so I turned away from her, trying not to make any moves.
"...Why are you looking at the wall?"
Apparently, Luna wasn't happy with my actions, and she spoke in a voice tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Since this is new to me..."
The last time I slept next to a girl was back in elementary school, when I shared a bed with a childhood friend.
I couldn’t help but feel nervous.
"...Please face me..."
"──!?"
I felt her body press against my back, and my heart almost leapt out of my chest.
Seriously, this girl is way too forward...
"W-why...?"
"........."
When I asked her why, Luna began tracing my back with her finger.
She wasn't writing anything, just gently tracing along my back.
"That tickles..."
"Please face me..."
It seemed that she wouldn't stop until I turned to face her.
Is it because I'm so taken with Luna that I find even this behavior endearing and cute?
"Is this okay...?"
Defeated by Luna's cuteness, I turned to face her.
As soon as I did, Luna─.
"...♪"
Perhaps to prevent me from turning away again, she pressed herself against my chest.
"W-wait, this is too much...!"
She's just doing whatever she wants now!
No, I’m happy, but...!
I wish she’d consider how overwhelming all of this is for a guy with almost no experience with women.
As for Luna─.
"I was scared..."
The smile she had just moments ago disappeared, and she began to speak solemnly, revealing something deep inside her.
Now that I think about it, in the midst of being swept up in her natural behavior, I had almost forgotten that she had her own struggles.
Maybe she was just forcing herself to act cheerful.
Thinking this, I decided not to pull away from Luna, and instead, I listened to her story.
"Is this about living with me?"
"No, that's not it... Running away was a very big gamble for me... If I got caught, it would have all been over..."
I had tried not to ask about Luna's circumstances.
Her past seemed like it was shrouded in a lot of darkness, and I had decided to wait until she was ready to share it with me, so I didn't press her.
I didn't know the full details, but she had mentioned that if she were caught, she would be forced to do things she didn't want to. It seemed like it was something she really despised.
"Just running away wasn't enough... It would only buy time, but wouldn't solve the fundamental problem..."
"From the way you're saying it, has the fundamental problem been resolved now...?"
Luna had told me that all I needed to do was shelter her at my house for a few days.
Based on what she just said, it seemed like the problem was already moving in the direction of being resolved, right?
I still didn’t understand exactly how, though.
"Yes, thanks to you, Seito-sama, it probably has... Really, thank you so much..."
As she said this, Luna nuzzled her face against my chest.
Her actions felt almost like she was seeking affection.
"All I did was help you escape from those strange men... How does that solve the fundamental problem...?"
From the information I had, Luna was still just running away.
I couldn't see how anything fundamental had been resolved.
"I think you'll understand eventually. Please forgive me for not being able to tell you everything right now..."
It seemed there were still things she couldn't share.
What Luna was waiting for, I wasn't sure, but if she said I'd understand eventually, I could wait until then.
She was such an honest and good girl, and if she couldn't talk about it, it must be something serious.
"Understood. I'll wait until then."
"......You're truly such a kind person..."
Luna softly murmured something in English and then rubbed her face against mine again.
When she did this, I felt the urge to pat her head and pamper her, but I held myself back.
I had already learned that it's not appropriate to casually touch a girl's hair.
"Seito-sama..."
"Yes?"
"Could you hug me...?"
"Eh!?"
As I was desperately trying to hold back my desires, Luna unexpectedly made the suggestion herself.
Even though I knew that things might be more forward in other countries than in Japan, I never expected Luna to be this direct...
"If you do that, I think I'll be able to sleep peacefully..."
"Oh..."
So that’s what it was.
Luna, who had likely been through a lot, probably just wanted comfort.
Her frequent closeness might have been her way of seeking reassurance.
"Is this... okay?"
"Ah... yes♪"
When I gently hugged her, Luna's voice noticeably brightened.
She then wrapped her arms around me as well.
I never imagined a day would come when I would be hugging a girl I wasn't dating and falling asleep together.
──Of course, after this, I was so nervous that I couldn’t sleep at all.
For a guy with no experience with women, this was just too overwhelming…
◆
The next morning, when I woke up, I was honestly startled.
In front of me, there was an unbelievably beautiful girl wearing the shirt I usually wear to school, sleeping in an utterly defenseless position.
She must have shifted in her sleep.
One of her white shoulders was exposed from the collar, and the hem of her shirt was rolled up to her stomach.
"That's right, we slept together..."
As a teenage boy, this was definitely a bit much for me, so I quickly adjusted her disheveled clothes while trying to remember what happened yesterday.
If someone told me it was all a dream, I wouldn't have been too surprised. Honestly, it felt like something that could have been a dream—but it seemed like it was real.
The girl sleeping in front of me was the proof.
"I wonder what time it is...?"
I checked my phone, and it was already around lunchtime.
I hadn't been able to sleep at all, probably because she was clinging to me, and I ended up falling asleep much later than usual.
"Maybe Luna isn't a morning person...?"
She must have fallen asleep pretty quickly, but now, she was still peacefully asleep.
She had likely been through a lot, and I figured she must be exhausted.
"She's still so cute..."
Her face, relaxed and sleeping, looked so innocent, like a child's.
Watching her sleep so peacefully warmed my heart.
I didn't know how long I could keep hiding her, but if possible, I wanted her to continue living in safety like this.
With that thought, I couldn't help but reach out and gently touch her cheek.
"Mm...?"
"Ah..."
By touching her cheek, I must have disturbed her, as Luna slowly woke up, her eyes still blurry from sleep.
She stared at me with drowsy, unfocused eyes.
"Sorry, did I wake you up...?"
I apologized honestly, feeling bad for waking her up when she was sleeping so peacefully.
Then, for some reason, Luna's eyes opened wide.
"Seito-sama...!"
"Eh!?"
Suddenly, Luna pressed her face against my chest, causing my heart to race.
Without noticing how flustered I was, she…
『I’m glad... it wasn’t a dream…』
She seemed relieved.
Since it was in English, it was probably something she said to herself, not directly to me.
Maybe she had a scary dream?
"It’s okay, there’s nothing to be scared of."
I was surprised by Luna’s actions, but it seemed like she had been scared, so I gently rubbed her back, hoping it would help her calm down.
I thought that if this could make her feel better, it would be worth it.
"Seito-sama... thank you..."
It seemed like my actions were the right choice, as Luna smiled softly and closed her eyes.
Then, she began to rub her face against my chest.
Of course, with my lack of experience, I couldn’t remain calm with such an action, and my already fast heartbeat only grew louder.
But more than that, seeing her look so peaceful and secure, almost as if she was savoring her safety, caused my chest to tighten with an overwhelming feeling.
Why did such a kind girl have to go through such painful things?
I couldn’t help but lament.
"If you want, you can stay like this until you calm down."
"Yes... I’ll rely on your kindness..."
Luna stayed pressed against my chest for several minutes, not moving away.
『Meeting Seito-sama... I’m really glad…』
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