Lonely Rock for the Blind.

"So you're staying here tonight..."

Shima Iwashita, who was taking Haruto Nekoyashiki home, looked at Kikuto Hiroi, who was walking in with the boy, and asked him a question.

"I went through all that trouble to quit drinking just to live here~ No way, Shima, you can have my place..."

"No way."

Iwashita Shima reached out to refuse.

"I need to go back now so as not to cause Qing any trouble."

"Iwashita Shima said, then looked at Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Qing too, isn't she a little too spoiled?"

"Um…"

Nekoyashiki Haru pondered for a while, and finally could only sigh.

"There's not much you can do once you're entangled with someone."

"Too…"

Iwashita Shima showed an expression of empathy.

"Hey! Do you two both think I'm a nuisance?!"

How could you say something like that?

boom~

After tapping Hiroi Kikuri on the head, Iwashita Shima walked towards the elevator.

"Then I'm leaving, goodbye."

"Don't hit me on the head!"

Hiroi Kikuri stretched out angrily.

"Goodbye."

Nekoyashiki Haru nodded in farewell.

The chill of the evening breeze made Hiroi Kikuri shiver, and she quickly pushed Nekoyashiki Haru into the room.

"Alright, alright, hurry inside, it's freezing outside."

With his other hand, he closed the door.

boom!

"I'm going to take a shower!"

Hiroi Kikuri cheered.

"You didn't wash yesterday, did you... I could smell something just now."

"There's a problem with the bathhouse downstairs; it'll be closed for the next few days."

Kikuri Hiroi took her change of clothes out of her bag.

"I definitely didn't shower yesterday..."

"...Go wash up right now."

"Okay~"

Kikuto Hiroi rushed into the bathroom.

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru stood there for a moment, then groped her way toward the sofa.

The phone in my hand twirled like a pen.

After drinking, my mind definitely felt much clearer.

My thoughts, which had been like silt, began to flow again.

What I should do now is to confirm the relationship between the two of them.

Liang had no reason to lie to herself. Although she liked to joke, she would never make such a terrible joke.

However, this does not mean that she will not make a mistake in judgment.

If Hongxia likes me, it's probably still because of our childhood memories.

There is a saying that childhood sweethearts or siblings who haven't seen each other for a long time are more likely to develop romantic feelings for each other.

As for Yuyo, it's probably more because young girls are easily swayed by emotions...

So it's not impossible that she developed feelings for me, and it was something I overlooked. After spending so much time together, I really didn't care about the distance.

Therefore, the most urgent task is to confirm their feelings are genuine and then politely and appropriately reject them...

Why not accept it?

"... "

Nekoyashiki Haru turned over and then lay on her side on the sofa.

Hongxia is gentle and lovely. You can even remember what she looks like from your memories. You know she has golden hair and eyes like clear rubies. You know her inside and out. If she likes you, what reason do you have not to like her?

Yu Dai is very lively. Although you still don't know what she looks like, you can definitely feel her youthful energy. You can sense her admiration for you and the care she gives you. You can tell she's trying to get closer to you, right? Now you should understand why, shouldn't you?

If that's the case, what's wrong with them liking you? What's there to complain about?

Can't accept it? Is there something about them that you dislike?

"…cannot…"

why?

because…

Nekoyashiki Haru took off her sunglasses and looked up at the ceiling.

All I could see was emptiness; there was nothing there.

That's why I'm not worthy of being liked... I just want to remain friends with them, especially since there are two of us now.

The deterioration of friendship is not something I want to see...

So you want to refuse?

A polite refusal.

Why do you think that refusing solves the problem? Can't you just accept?

What if I accept one and another?

Why don't we just say it directly?

That would be too harmful to them.

Someone clearly likes you, but you seem to be avoiding the issue. Isn't that too selfish?

It's not about escaping...

It's definitely calculated, you just don't want to admit it.

Why didn't I admit it?

"... "

Sacrificing oneself for the band, isn't that noble?

"... "

Ah, look, all you're thinking about is "sacrificing" and making yourself suffer. You think accepting a girl's affection is "making yourself suffer"?

Hypocritical, cowardly!

Nekoyashiki Haru suddenly cursed herself in her heart.

A stray cat that only knows how to hide behind its blind identity!

"...Haa..."

Nekoyashiki Haru covered her eyes with one forearm, her fists clenching involuntarily.

My thoughts became chaotic once again, and the few sips of wine I had drunk seemed to have been completely consumed at this moment.

It felt like there was a lump of anger stuck in my throat, unable to be released, accumulating in my chest, making my heart beat slower.

What exactly should be done? How should it be done?

It's like having a rock suspended high in your heart.

Anxiety crawled out of my heart like ants.

Then, over time, it spreads throughout the internal organs.

After that agonizing and meaningless period of thinking.

Nekoyashiki Haru let out a long sigh.

"...This is so troublesome..."

"What's the trouble?"

The sudden sound from the side made Nekoyashiki Haru sit up abruptly.

Didn't you notice the door opening and footsteps? Were you too focused just now?

"Kikuri?"

Nekoyashiki Haru called out the other person's name.

"Yes, I've finished showering."

Hiroi Kikuri, who had already dried her hair, looked at Nekoyashiki Haru's complicated expression.

"I thought you were asleep, but you suddenly started talking just now."

"... "

"What's the trouble?"