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"What's this urgent matter? Let's finish quickly—I want to go back to sleep."
Yuji yawned, still curious as to why Kasumigaoka Utaha had come looking for him.
But after thinking for a moment, he felt his initial guess was unlikely. He still remembered vividly how Kasumigaoka had performed during the apocalypse.
A girl who could face the end of the world wouldn't be rattled by a mere earthquake, right?
"If you don't let me sleep, I'll just sleep with you."
Yuji shook his head to snap out of it.
"Sleep with me? That's funny coming from the girl who ran away earlier. I gave you every chance—and yet, someone still ran."
Was Kasumigaoka Utaha the kind to be shaken by simple teasing?
"You're giving me a chance? Normally, when someone's tempted, it's the girl who takes the initiative—taking off her clothes, slipping into bed… You don't seem that desperate, though."
"Haha. You really do have a great imagination, Yuji-jun—no, I should call you Yuji 'Delusional' Jun."
She hugged the pillow tighter, and the warmth from it made her feel safe and cozy.
Despite how close Yuji was, Kasumigaoka Utaha had no intention of backing down now.
"Miss Kasumigaoka Utaha, who's so reserved and cautious, who thinks I'm some kind of pervert… why are you still here? You do realize what it looks like when a girl stays in a single guy's room in the middle of the night, right?"
At those words, Utaha trembled slightly—but didn't move.
Clearly, she wanted to stay.
This woman… she wanted to stay the night?
Testing his patience? Was she trying to flirt with danger?
"You want to stay here?"
"Mm."
She answered softly.
"You like this room that much? Fine. I'll go to yours and sleep there instead."
Yuji turned to leave the room, but before he could take a full step, he felt a tug on his boxers.
What the—!?
Yuji froze. He almost shouted slut! in his head.
But after thinking it over, he realized Kasumigaoka probably didn't mean anything like that—she just didn't want him to leave. She still hadn't said what she came here for.
Surely, she didn't come just to sleep with him, right?
Yuji couldn't recall any character trait or scenario where Utaha had insomnia without a man beside her.
"If you've got something to say, then say it. I'm not a mind reader."
He looked down at her hand, still gripping his boxers.
"And this—this is inappropriate. Keep doing that and I will think you've got certain thoughts about me."
"Pah—"
The girl instantly let go.
Only then did she realize just what she'd done—her hand had slipped into his underwear without thinking. Even she couldn't keep her composure.
Her beautiful face turned bright red, and shame bloomed across her cheeks.
"I just… actually…"
Utaha still couldn't bring herself to say: I want to sleep here because I'm afraid to sleep alone.
"Actually what? Want to sleep with me?"
"…"
She lowered her head.
Yuji frowned.
No, this isn't the Kasumigaoka Utaha he knew.
The girl he remembered would never offer herself up so casually. She was the kind who would rather die than give in. Cold and proud, yes—but with her own principles and integrity.
Even if she made such an offer, if he were to actually go through with it, she'd likely bury her pain, hide her rage, and one day strike when his guard was down.
Kasumigaoka Utaha… offering to sleep with him? That was just ridiculous.
There's a big difference between being proactive and just going along with something.
"Fine. Take a nap here, then."
Wait, what?
Yuji blinked, genuinely stunned.
His eyes roamed—Utaha, hugging the pillow, still couldn't hide her stunning figure. Her full chest formed a deep, natural valley, and her long pale legs seemed to shimmer even in the dim light.
Even from where he stood, it was a captivating sight—something anyone would fantasize about.
But she…
"Can I?"
She asked, timidly, afraid of rejection.
"Sure. I don't mind."
Kasumigaoka Utaha visibly relaxed.
She had been worried Yuji would tease her again.
"Then I'll sleep in this bed, and you take the other one."
"That's it?"
"Yes." She nodded firmly, afraid Yuji would suggest sharing the bed.
If it were another man, she'd likely be thrown to the mattress by now.
"Alright. That works for me."
Girls afraid of the dark… afraid of being alone?
He understood that.
At that moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a small sigh of relief.
"It's just… an acute psychological reaction. Post-earthquake trauma. I'm scared of being alone in a dark, silent space. That's all. If you needed a clearer explanation, now you have one."
A flicker of surprise passed through Yuji's eyes.
Kasumigaoka Utaha finally lowered hers.
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