Chapter 64
After undoing the brainwashing, Shin fainted.
I carried his collapsed body to the sofa and let him rest his head on my lap.
"……"
I didn’t know how long it would take for him to wake up.
There was a chance he might sleep until tomorrow.
Until then, I’d have to wait without knowing how Shin truly felt about me now that the brainwashing was gone.
……And yet, strangely enough, I wasn’t scared.
With my personality, it wouldn’t have been odd if—after feeling relieved at first—I grew frightened again while waiting. But I wasn’t.
Well, saying I wasn’t scared at all would be a lie. I did feel a little anxious, but mostly, I wasn’t afraid.
"……Hehe."
That was probably because Shin had told me I was important to him.
Those words had made me so happy that just remembering them made my worries disappear.
I reached out and took Shin’s hand.
His right hand was resting on his stomach, within easy reach, so I ended up holding it without thinking.
Shin’s hand was warm and large—just touching it made me feel safe.
"Hehehe."
Feeling Shin’s warmth through his hand and against my thigh, I kept waiting for him to wake up.
"Shin?"
About two hours later, Shin finally opened his eyes.
"Shin, you’re awake?"
"……Yeah."
When I called out to him, his reply was a little groggy.
His eyes wandered around, as if checking his surroundings.
"……Shin, are you okay?"
"I’m fine."
Shin sat up slightly and shook his head lightly.
When he did, our hands separated—and I couldn’t help but feel a little lonely.
"……Yuu?"
So, without thinking, I grabbed his arm.
Maybe because he’d just woken up, Shin seemed a little distant.
……I wanted him to look at me a little more.
If he didn’t, I’d start feeling anxious.
"……"
I glanced up at him from below, and our eyes met.
Then, I saw it—the same gentle gaze he always gave me.
That wasn’t the expression of someone who hated me.
Just like that, my unease melted away.
……My chest felt warm.
Shin really didn’t hate me after all.
He truly did care about me.
"……Hehe."
……Still, even if I wasn’t that anxious, maybe I should confirm it anyway.
Hearing it out loud would make me happier.
"Hey, Shin, about me…"
"I don’t hate you. Not at all."
Before I could even finish, Shin said it himself.
He’d given me the exact words I wanted to hear.
"Hehe… hehehehe!"
I was so happy—so unbearably happy—that I clung to his arm without thinking.
When I looked up slightly, Shin’s face was right there, so close.
It had been so long since I’d seen him this near. My heart pounded wildly.
……But honestly, I wanted to hug him properly, not just his arm.
Since we weren’t lovers yet, though, I had to hold back.
A little disappointing.
"……Yuu. There’s something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
Just as I was soaking in the happiness of being by Shin’s side, his tone turned serious.
"Yuu, I…"
"Yeah?"
Whatever it was, I felt confident I could accept it now.
I wanted him to say it—anything.
"……I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
"………………Huh?"
I love you. Be my girlfriend.
……Wait, was this a confession?
"…………Huh? Am I dreaming?"
"You’re not."
Shin denied it immediately.
But wasn’t this too good to be true?
He forgave me for brainwashing him, didn’t hate me, and now he was confessing?
No matter how kind he was, this felt too generous.
I pinched my cheek.
It hurt.
……So, this was real.
"Um, well—"
Once it fully sank in, happiness and joy surged through my chest.
My vision blurred, and my heart burned so intensely I wanted to scream.
"But—are you sure? I did something terrible to you."
"I don’t care."
Overwhelmed, I ended up saying that.
Shin dismissed it without hesitation.
"……And I used to be a guy."
"That doesn’t matter."
Shin looked straight into my eyes.
His expression was so serious—there was no way he was lying.
"……Are you really okay with me?"
"It has to be you."
……Why did Shin keep saying things that made me so happy?
If this kept up, I felt like my head would explode from sheer bliss.
"……Aah…"
Holding my chest, I looked up.
Shin was staring right at me, waiting for my answer.
……I had to respond properly.
Steadying myself, I turned to face him fully.
"……Shin."
"Yeah."
I took a deep breath and spoke.
……Not that I needed to think about it.
My answer had been decided from the start.
"……I love you too. Please… let me be your girlfriend."
Saying that, I reached out and hugged him—not just his arm this time, but his whole body, face-to-face.
"……Thank you."
"……Hehe."
As I wrapped my arms around Shin’s back, he hugged me in return.
His embrace tightened slightly, squeezing the air from my lungs.
And that—feeling like he wanted me—made me happier than anything.
"Hehe… heh… Uu… Sniff… Uuuu…"
……Ah, no good.
I was too happy. Too relieved.
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
"Shin… I love you… hic… I love you so much."
"Me too."
Tears spilled out one after another, unstoppable.
Shin’s arms were just so warm—so full of happiness.
……And after that, I couldn’t stop crying.
I cried and cried in Shin’s embrace until, exhausted, I finally fell asleep.
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