Becoming Sleeping Friends with the School's Sleeping Princess - Chapter 3

“Thank you for the meal.”

 

“Thanks for your patience.”

 

The porridge was gone in a flash.

 

After wordlessly watching Shirane go off to wash the dishes, I look around the room.

 

The room was cramped for a family, but it was large enough for a single person to live in. While it would be relatively narrow for a family, it was quite spacious for a single person.

 

The furniture is basic: a wardrobe, a sofa, a wood grain table, a large TV, and a study desk. The floor is covered by a pretty carpet, and the wardrobe is decorated with knick-knacks, giving the room a girlish feel. Of course, I don’t know what the template for a girl’s room looks like, so this is just conjecture.

 

“Hm…?” 

 

My eyes were drawn to an object that didn’t look like it had any right to be in a typical girl’s room.

 

It was on a cream-colored study desk. On the cream-colored desk, among the piles of reference papers covered in post-it notes, there are empty cans of red, green, and blue drinks arranged in a straight line. They looked like the remnants of the energetic products that would force a sleep-deprived worker to stay alert. There’s a rich variety of products, varying from those that would turn you into a superhuman to those that would help put you in the right state of mind.

 

The thoughts that had been lingering in my mind began to churn on their own accord.

 

Despite the fact that she sleeps in class, her grades are at the top level.

Looking at this sight, I feel like I’ve caught a glimpse of one of her secrets. I don’t have the fortitude of a protagonist who knows the hidden mysteries of the world and confronts them like in a Hollywood movie, so I’ll act as though I didn’t see it.

 

And then I noticed the bed I had been sleeping on. It’s the type with a shallow-bottomed mattress, but it’s ridiculously large. A double? A queen? I’m not exactly sure how it would be classified, but it’s huge to the point where two adults could lie down on it, with plenty of room to spare.

 

“Here, if you’d like it.”

 

Shirane had brought me an energy drink, one of the wing-giving variety.

 

“It’s quite good for dealing with colds, you know.”

 

She casually handed it to me.

 

“Is Red Bull your favorite?”

 

“Yes, it is. It’s just the right volume to drink in one sitting, and it tastes great, so I… Eh?

 

Oops.

 

It came out so naturally that I replied without remembering to pretend that I hadn’t seen the scene from earlier.

 

For a moment, Shirane glances at the empty energy drink cans on her study desk, before returning her gaze to me.

 

Her pouty lips and small shoulders were quivering. 

Her eyes also seemed to be moistening.

 

“…Did you see?”

 

“…Well…”

 

I wasn’t so clever that I could lie tactfully here.

 

“Ah, that’s, that’s nothing! W-w-well, I like them! The colors, I mean! That’s why I collect them!”

 

“Oh, yeah, they look beautiful when arranged well. Once, I even liked a picture of a vending machine that only sold energy drinks on Twitter.”

 

Okay, good. It seemed that I had the skill to follow up with a witty smile. The Twitter thing might have been a bit much, though.

 

“…Really? Doesn’t it bother you?”

 

She looked up at me as if she was pleading with me. 

The destructive power of the look was so great that it made my body temperature rise even higher.

 

“A-ah… No worries, I don’t mind.”

 

“Thank goodness…”

 

I let out a sigh of relief as I rested my hand on my chest. 

 

I wonder how flustered she is by the revelation of her energy addiction.

I wonder if she’s the type of person who cares about what people think of her. The most beautiful girl in the school, innocent and gentle, is actually an energy fiend. Personally, I found the gap interesting.

 

I hesitated to think of what an energy drink could do for a cold, nevertheless, I poured it down the drain, hoping it would work as a nutritional supplement.

 

After indulging in the sickeningly sweet taste of the artificial sweetener without choking on it, I once again reiterated my feelings to Shirane with an “I’m sorry,”.

 

“I’m truly thankful for everything you’ve done for me. You really saved me.”

 

“No, not at all. I’m just glad to see you’re feeling a little better.”

 

She smiled a completely pure smile at me without any hesitation, and I felt a twinge of anguish in my chest. I wasn’t not accustomed to being the subject of other people’s kindness, and my capacity had long since been exceeded.

 

I can’t bother her any more than I already have.

 

“I’m sorry for inconveniencing you so much. I’ll definitely make it up to you later.”

 

I stammered quickly and got off the bed. I couldn’t help but feel the urge to be gone.

 

My feverish body still staggered, but not to the point where I couldn’t walk—I lifted my foot to take a step forward.

 

“Wait a minute, please.”

 

I hear the sound of a hand grabbing something, and feel a cool sensation on my wrist.

 

“Where do you think you’re going?”

 

“Home.”

 

“Even though the last train is long gone?”

 

“…It’s not like it’s far enough away to not be considered within walking distance.”

 

“Even in your haggard state?”

 

She has a point. But then, what am I supposed to do? 

She’s not going to ask me to stay the night, is she?

 

“It’s late at night. Please stay here.”

 

She really said it.

 

“Um, you know,”

 

“Go on.”

 

“Do you live here with your family?”

 

“No, I live alone.”

 

“Well, then, you know, …It’s kind of bad, isn’t it?”

 

“…? What do you mean?”

 

When Shirane tilted her head, I wondered if she was being serious.

 

Is she really unaware of the problem? Or is she just naive and insensitive to the malicious intentions of others? Or is it that… 

 

“Well, it’s kind of weird for a guy who barely knows a girl to stay over at her house alone with her…”

 

“Ah…!!”

 

She was truly oblivious to it.

 

Her cream-colored cheeks turned strawberry red.

 

“No, that’s not—I didn’t mean anything deep… please forget what I said earlier! No, but… you still look unwell, and, what should I do…uuuuuu…” 

 

She panicked in confusion, her arms flailing in her flustered state.

 

As I witnessed Shirane’s obvious disorientation, I became convinced of one more thing.

 

This girl is quite a doll. And, she’s very innocent.

 

I can see why she’s the most popular girl in the school.

 

I’m beginning to get tired of speculating. With my head still spinning, I tried to put into words the logic of which choice would be best for me.

 

“Do you have a rope?”

 

In response to my inarticulate question, Shirane, who had been mumbling, stopped her speech and tilted her head.

 

“No-good man-san?”

 

“That’s the name of a pimp. Calm down.”

 

“Oh, so you’re the one using the rope. But, why?”

 

“Tie my hands up.”

“…Is that what you’re into?”

 

“Sorry, I haven’t explained it properly yet.”

 

Maybe I’m the one who needs to calm down.

I exhaled to release the tension, then explained my idea step by step.

 

“As Yumekawa-san said… The last train is already gone, and I’m in no condition to walk. Even if I go home, I’ll be alone. Considering what might happen if I collapse, staying here overnight is the logical choice.”

 

—After a heartbeat, I add on.

 

“…That is, if you’re okay with it.”

 

My throat was strangely dry, and it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that I had spoken all in one breath. I hadn’t realized how nervous I was to say “Please let me stay,” to someone of the opposite sex.

 

“So you live alone too, Kurosaki-san?”

 

“Ah, yeah, well…”

 

I continued to explain to Shirane, who nodded along in interest.

 

“In any case… Yumekawa-san may not want to have a boy she barely knows staying over… So, I think a compromise would be for me to sleep with my hands tied so that I’m unable to do anything.”

 

There was a strange pause after I finished. Shirane looked puzzled, as if she had just discovered some new type of creature.

 

Unable to bear the silence, I said, “Sorry, I’m really sorry for suggesting such a strange thing,” and tried to leave again for good. 

Just as I was about to leave, I heard a slight giggle.

 

“You know, you’re a very interesting person, Kurosaki-san.”

 

“This is the first time someone’s told me that.”

 

In the first place, it’s been a while since I’ve talked to anyone other than my sister.

 

“But, okay.”

 

Shirane muttered in a soft tone.

 

“I’m not going to restrain you, you aren’t feeling well. Besides, I may have only spoken to you a few times, but… I know Kurosaki-san is not the kind of person who would do such a thing.”

 

I wondered what she was basing this on. I’m curious, but the fact is that I’m confident that I’m the kind of person who would never lay a hand on a girl, even in a situation where I was alone with her. That applies even to a beautiful girl who is known as the princess of the school.

 

“…Thank you. Just one night, please.”

 

Once again, I decided to accept her hospitality. I had no ulterior motives, but was forced to do so in this case of emergency.

 

“Yes.”

 

Shirane looked at me, revealing her beaming smile.

 

TLN: Hey guys, Unu here. This chapter was really interesting! We learned a little more about Shirane, and the gap really is fascinating. But I digress. This chapter will be going up on my 17th birthday, as a small present from me to all of you. And hey, if you liked it and feel like giving me a birthday present of my own, you can do so through my Ko-Fi. And don’t forget to join the NeoSekai Discord to be updated when future chapters release. Thanks for reading!