Chapter 152- Naoko(1)
Minoru wasn't expecting Naoko to arrive at his place at all. He was thinking that it might be Akisu, given he texted Minoru that after school, he would come to check on him.
However, upon seeing the blue-haired teenager, Minoru was quite taken aback.
“Why are you here and not in school?” He asked the obvious. Although it might be sounding cold for someone who came to check on his condition, compared to before, Minoru was quite polite to the guy.
Naoko didn't mind the tone and answered him honestly, “I asked Chinatsu-san.”
Minoru frowned, “You are still in contact with that woman?”
Minoru was worried about Naoko’s mother, given how much that lady had suffered because of that asshole of a husband, Minoru wanted at least her son to remain on the right track.
However, his concerns were misinterpreted,
“Are you jealous?”
For a moment, Minoru was rendered completely speechless, and in the next moment, he scoffed,
“I would be jealous that you are meeting some strange woman? Don't give yourself such importance, Naoko.” Minoru crossed his arms, and leaned back in the bed before turning his head away from the narcist.
Naoko smiled seeing that reaction.
He slowly raised his hand and removed a hair strand from his forehead. His movement was slow and delicate, as he asked,
“Hey…are you okay?”
For some reasons when his fingertips touched his forehead, a jolt ran down his spine as Minoru replied a bit shakily,
“I-I am good…”
Naoko smiled as he cupped his warm cheek and said, “Although you recovered quickly, please don't move around much and if you feel unwell anytime, you can contact me.”
Minoru scoffed, but this time he didn't turn his head away, as he said, “Who wants you? I have my family.”
“Still…if there is something I can do, don't hesitate to ask me, okay?”
Minoru was…unable to say anything in opposition to that.
Thinking that he was just annoyed with Naoko, Minoru simply nodded.
The atmosphere between the two was…strange, Minoru noticed.
It has been like this since Minoru rescued Naoko from Chinatsu that the guy has started to look different.
Minoru often feels Naoko glancing at him from time to time and he also was showing concern for him, as if,
“You…like me?” Minoru ended up asking what was on his mind, “...do you like me romantically?”
Minoru didn't feel awkward anymore asking these things because of his experiences with people. And one thing he knows about people; talk things out rather than letting them assume things and misunderstand further.
Naoko heaved a sigh and leaned back in his seat.
He took a few moments of pause, looking at nowhere but into those deep crimson eyes of Minoru, as he asked,
“What if I say, yes? Will you hate me?”
“I hate you even now, but I want a concrete answer; do you like me, Naoko?”
Naoko frowned slightly…he never thought he would be asked something so directly today.
He had planned to first build their friendship once again, before moving through stages, then only revealing his feelings.
However, looking at Minoru, he knew if he lied, Minoru would be quite displeased.
So he confessed, “I love you…as a romantic interest.”
There was no point in hiding anymore. His action has gave Minoru the evidence of his feelings and Naoko didn't want for Minoru to hear about it from someone else.
Minoru frowned, “How can you, who used to date a girl, suddenly started liking me? Are you really not just confused between-”
“No, Minoru..I can never be anymore sure. I never felt like this before…even when I was with Koori. I liked her, true that is, but the feelings I possess for you far surpasses any of those emotions I ever felt for her or anyone else.”
Minoru…couldn't remember when was the last time he heard Naoko talking this much.
He seemed…quite emotional, and honest when stating those words. There was nothing but honesty in his eyes and when Minoru read his mind,
[Please don't hate me…please don't hate me…please don't hate me…]
He was insecure and scared of rejection. Was it his pride? No.
Then…was Naoko really infatuated by him? But why?
Well, that doesn't matter, “Listen Naoko-”
“Before you answer my confession…can you listen to one request of mine?”
Minoru heaved a sigh and gave a brief nod, “What is it?”
Naoko took a deep breath, he seemed nervous, as he asked, “Just date me for a week before deciding if you want to date me or not?”
Minoru massaged his brows, ‘This sounds familiar…’ as he asked,
“And why I, who is not interested in dating you, give you this chance?”
Naoko was rendered speechless, his eyes wandering in the room, however, he wasn't thinking of what he should say, rather, he was hesitating if he should say it or not.
Minoru was about to tell him to leave since it was the time for his meds, when suddenly, Naoko said, “If I provide you with some vital information, will you help me?”
Minoru frowned, “What vital information? And are you bribing me here?”
Naoko ignored the last bit of his question, and told him,
“It's about these weird people who recently contacted me, calling themselves Vanquisher or something.”
“...!!”
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.