## Chapter 78 – Confession
I stared for a moment at Haru’s heart-eyed expression, then sighed.
Honestly, I don’t know if all of this is a disaster I brought upon myself…
Anyway, now that I know she likes me, it wouldn’t be polite to just stand by.
I figured I should at least have a conversation.
Of course.
‘Before that, let’s move locations.’
Just move locations.
Even if I’m thick-skinned, I’m not about to say something like this next to someone who just confessed and got rejected.
“Haru, let’s go to that park we went to last time.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Haru smiled brightly at my words, grabbed my hand, and we left the school.
All that was left behind was Hiro, who was still out of it after being rejected.
A little while later, we arrived at the park we often went to.
As soon as we got to the park, I was about to get to the point…
“Wait, let me get you a drink!”
“No, wait…”
…but I couldn’t. Haru suddenly pulled me to a vending machine in the corner of the park and got me a drink.
So, instead of getting to the point, I ended up drinking a soda.
Well, it didn’t taste bad, so it was fine.
After finishing my drink, I crushed the can and said,
“Hey, do you… maybe like me?”
I looked at Haru, delivering a line that sounded like it came straight out of a drama, and Haru’s response was…
“Ah, n-no, I don’t?!”
Well, she was clearly flustered.
No, it wasn’t just flustered. It was more like she didn’t know how to react and was completely out of it.
And from that reaction, I could tell one thing.
‘She really does like me…’
It was clear that Haru genuinely liked me.
Honestly, with a reaction like that, it would be weird to think she didn’t.
Anyway, now that I knew she liked me, what should I do?
While I was pondering, Haru, whose face had turned red, hesitantly asked me.
“D-did you… know?”
“Know what?”
“That I… like you…”
I nodded at her words.
The moment I looked at her face properly, it was easy to tell that Haru liked me.
It was written all over her face, and she had that unique aura of someone in love.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Hauuuu.”
When I gave her an affirmative answer, Haru lowered her head shyly and let out a cute groan.
Haru kept her head down like that, and after a little while, she seemed to have calmed down and lifted her head again.
Her face was as red as a beet, but her eyes still held affection for me.
I didn’t avoid Haru’s gaze and looked back at her. It wouldn’t be polite to look away at this point.
After quietly looking at me for a while, Haru, as if she had made up her mind, took a deep breath and said to me.
“This is really awkward timing, but… would you maybe go out with me?”
The words she said after making up her mind were a confession.
The same kind of confession she had just received earlier.
I wasn’t flustered by Haru’s confession. Honestly, I knew this confession was coming.
That’s why I had already decided on my answer.
“I don’t think I can.”
My answer was a rejection.
And at my words, Haru was momentarily taken aback, then cautiously asked me with a worried look.
“C-can I ask why…”
Her voice was much lower and lacked confidence compared to before.
I nodded at Haru’s words and explained the reason.
“First, it’s because I’m not as clean of a person as you think I am.”
“Not a clean person?”
“I’m already involved with a lot of people.”
“T-that means…”
“I have a lot of sex friends.”
Haru looked shocked at my words.
Well, if she thought of me as a slightly mature kid, it was understandable.
Honestly, even I would be surprised if I were in Haru’s position.
So, her reaction was understandable…
“T-then I’ll be a sex friend too!”
No. What is this girl saying?
I quickly explained to Haru, who suddenly went into overdrive.
“I’m not the type of person who only sees people for their bodies.”
“T-then those sex friends are…”
“More than friends, less than lovers? Something like that.”
There were some slaves mixed in, but anyway. Most of the people I had slept with were in that kind of relationship.
Was it because of my words? Haru mumbled with a deflated look.
“Then why can’t I be one…”
If you ask why not, I don’t really have an answer.
I have my own personal circumstances, and there’s also a second reason.
“The second reason is… actually because of your career path, Haru.”
“My career path?”
“You told me before that your goal is to go to the World Athletics Championships.”
“W-well, that’s a given for someone who does track and field…”
I shook my head at her words.
“Most people aim to win at local competitions, let alone world championships, but you’re aiming higher. That means you have ambition and a goal.”
“That’s right…”
“And I don’t want to become a stumbling block in your path to achieving that goal.”
“…”
Haru was silent at my words, and I looked at her and thought.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s just an excuse.’
The truth is, all of this was just an excuse.
A stumbling block? It’s more likely that I could provide mental care and have a positive influence.
So, these words were just an excuse.
But what can I do?
‘It’s hard enough to take care of the people around me here.’
I don’t want to add more people to my circle.
I’m already at my limit with the people I have now.
So, I was going to reject Haru’s feelings.
“Then…”
But Haru didn’t seem to be willing to give up.
“At least, if I win a national championship or place in the top three in a national competition within three years, go out with me… if dating is too hard… then at least be my sex friend…”
Why would she go so far?
For a moment, I couldn’t understand her feelings. Even if I’m an attractive guy, why would she go this far to date me?
I pondered for a moment, but in the end, I couldn’t find an answer.
So, instead of thinking about the question, I nodded at her proposal.
“If you’re going that far, then if you achieve the goal you mentioned, I’ll go out with you.”
Honestly, if someone is willing to go this far to date me, it wouldn’t be polite to reject her any further.
Haru, who heard my answer, looked like she was full of energy again, completely different from how deflated she was just a moment ago, and said confidently.
“Heh, then I’ll have to work really hard from now on!”
She said that, brushed off her knees, and stood up.
Then, she looked at me and declared.
“Just you wait! I’ll definitely succeed in winning and become your girlfriend!”
I nodded at her words and said.
“I hope you achieve that goal.”
With my last words, we parted ways. I guess she has her own plans.
“Sniff… sniff… it was my first confession. And it failed…”
I decided to pretend I didn’t hear the sound of a girl crying as I passed by.
If I heard that, I might realize that I’m a piece of trash.
After returning home, I flopped onto my bed.
No. Actually, I couldn’t even flop down.
“Ugh, this is uncomfortable.”
The cast on my arm was uncomfortable.
Anyway, after lying down on the bed, I calmed my confused mind and refocused.
“A confession…”
The fact that I’m receiving something like that, the world has really changed, I can definitely feel it.
If this was before I was possessed…
‘It would have been a miracle if I didn’t get hit with eggs.’
I was a government war dog. A butcher who killed countless people.
Even if it was for the sake of a failing country, the hatred of the people who were harmed wouldn’t disappear.
That’s why I thought that confessions were something that only happened in anime or games. But it happened to me today.
Thanks to that, my mood was all over the place.
I was lying down thinking about my past life when…
-Knock knock.
[Hey, I’m coming in.]
“Ah, Yuka’s mom, please come in.”
One of my two mothers, and the one who knows my true identity, Yuka’s mom, knocked on my door.
-Click.
I looked at Yuka’s mom, who opened my door and came in, and said.
“What brings you here?”
Yuka’s mom frowned for a moment at my question, then said.
“I came to hear the reason why your body is like that.”
Ah. That’s what this is about.
The reason why Yuka’s mom came to my room was simple.
She wanted to hear the reason why I came home injured a few days ago.
I nodded at her words and replied.
“I have a lot to say, so I’ll go get us something to drink.”
“Suit yourself.”
After getting us something to drink, I explained to Yuka’s mom what had happened. Oh, and I didn’t forget to explain the penalty.
And after listening to my explanation, Yuka’s mom looked at me with a surprised expression for a moment, then quietly said.
“…You did a good job.”
She said I did a good job.
At those words, I felt an indescribable feeling.
I did a good job…
‘I definitely did a good job this time.’
I fought to the point of breaking my body for the Cupid role, got confessed to by a high school girl, and realized that I’m a piece of trash.
I’ve been through a lot.
But what can I do?
‘Now that I’ve been given a task, I have to do my best.’
I thought that to myself and was about to say something to Yuka’s mom.
But in the end, I couldn’t open my mouth.
Because Yuka’s mom grabbed my head and pulled me into her arms.
“Uh, mom, what is this…”
“You worked hard. This is a reward.”
“No…”
At those words, I thought, ‘Weren’t we supposed to be awkward with each other?’
‘But still, it’s warm…’
Being in her warm embrace made everything feel better.
I stayed in Yuka’s mom’s warm embrace for a while and then fell asleep.
