Chapter 278. [Making Up With A ‘Chu’]

《Has Ogu already started hating me?》

《!?!?!?》

Trembling, I asked Ogu.

She wore a hundred expressions before saying,

《O-Ogu?》

With a thud, she grabbed my arm and pushed me onto the couch.

《There’s no way I’d hate you!》

Then, Ogu continued, looking apologetic.

《I’m sorry. I was mean. At first, it was just to tease you. But I started enjoying how concerned Iroha was about me and went overboard.》

《I see. So, um, do you still like me?》

《Huh!? Are you really asking me that!?》

As I stared, Ogu blushed and muttered,

《W-Well, obviously I do!》

《…! S-So that’s how it is hehe》

《~~~~What’s with you? Are you teasing me!? If you make me say more, I’ll seriously attack you!? Are you demanding a ‘chu’ kiss to make up!? Geez.》

Ogu, trying to cover her embarrassment, was angrily flustered.

To her, I said,

《-It’s okay》

《Ha, it’s okay for once, right? Even I, huh?》

《It’s okay, if it’s Ogu》

《Huh, huh? Whaaat!? ‘Okay’… What’s this, a surprise!?》

I felt embarrassed and turned my face away.

Seeing me like that, Ogu seemed to realize I was serious.

《U-Um, Iroha. Are you really okay with this?》

I nodded silently.

Ogu’s hand rested on my cheek, directing me to face her.

《Ah》

Her hand on my cheek trembled, perhaps with nervousness.

Gulp, Ogu’s throat made a sound.

《Iro, ha》

Her hair fell, brushing against my cheek.

Our gazes intertwined.

Ogu looked down at me with a face as red as a tomato.

But surely, my face was even redder now.

《… Haa, …Phew》

《… Atsu, … Haa》

Breathing became difficult.

How did I usually breathe?

In the living room, only our breaths echoed.

Ogu’s breath on my lips was ridiculously warm.

《So, Iroha let’s do it》

《Yeah》

Ogu and I had kissed twice before.

But both times were accidents, not our intentions.

Surely, what we were about to do crossed the line as fans.

So, I justified it as an act of mine. That’s what I told myself.

《Iroha》

《Ogu……》

Ogu’s face slowly approached.

I closed my eyelids slightly.

My heart was pounding painfully fast.

Before I knew it, I was clutching the hem of her clothes tightly, as if to crumple them.

And finally.

Just before our lips touched.

《N-No, I can’t do this~~~!》

I couldn’t bear it anymore and pushed Ogu away.

She tumbled off the couch with a clatter!

《Haa, haa… Sa-Safe!》

《W-Wait, what!? Not safe at all! How could you, after coming this far, push me away like that!?》

《Uh, sorry… No, I just wasn’t mentally prepared yet! So, um… how about a cheek kiss instead!》

《Y-You’re such a coward, Iroha~~~!》

《Ugh, shut up! It’s not my fault, it’s Ogu’s fault! And if you had been more casual about it, it would’ve been better! You made such a serious face, so I got nervous too!》

《What are you talking about!? Hey, stop getting closer with your lips!》

《Shut up! Just give me a proper kiss!》

《Gyaaah!?》

After that, Ogu and I continued making noise late into the night.

It was as if we were reclaiming the time we hadn’t spent together recently —

Oh, by the way.

In the end, we really did exchange cheek kisses.

***

The next day, I boarded the school bus.

Regardless of what happened yesterday, life goes on, and there’s still class the next day.

《G-Good morning》

《G-Good morning》

Shitenno and I remained silent.

Ugh!

It’s super awkward!

Um, what should I do?

Just as we were trying to figure it out, a voice interrupted.

《Why are you two frozen like that? Why don’t you sit down? C’mon!》

So, a girl sitting next to Iroha joined in the conversation.

She made me sit by the window and sat next to me.

《And Shitenno, you come here!》

In the flow of things, she made Shitenno sit across the aisle.

Literally, the girls intervened.

《Right, Iroha-chan. I started playing that mobile game you recommended.》

The girl started a conversation.

Shitennou and I glanced at each other.

《What about you, Shitenno-kun? It’s really fun. The VTuber girls are so cute》

《Don’t drag me into this. Hey, Iroha, you didn’t lose because of that test, did you?》

《Even if I did, I have no regrets!》

《You better regret it properly!》

After that, before we knew it, we were engrossed in talking about VTubers.

Somehow, I felt like in this moment. I had become friends with Shitenno.

***

Time passed, and before we knew it,

“Everyone, it’s finally here! New gacha implementation!”

I shouted while watching the stream.