Chapter 7 In the End, It's on My Mind

In the End, It’s on My Mind

“Phew…”

Leaning against the door, I let out a deep breath.

She must have been scared, so maybe I should stay with her for at least one night…

“Yeah… it’s impossible for me…”

For someone like me to stay with a woman—there’s just no way that’s happening.

I just… don’t want anything to do with women anymore…

“Ah… I need to put away Kinoshita-senpai’s side dishes in the fridge.”

With that thought, I put the food in the refrigerator and, knowing I’d have to wake up early tomorrow, I took a quick shower and got into bed.

But…

“… I can’t sleep.”

Between the suspicious person from earlier and the woman next door crying and clinging to me, I was too agitated to fall asleep…

Maybe if I just lie here and roll around for a while, I’ll eventually drift off.

With that hope, I closed my eyes… but nope, still not happening.

Ever since then, the image of my neighbor crying keeps flashing in my mind, bothering me so much I can’t sleep.

“Sigh… She’s probably not there anymore, but…”

Just to be sure, I opened the door and peeked outside to check if anyone was in front of the neighbor’s room… Huh!?

“…Hic… Sniffle…”

The woman from next door was sitting on the floor in front of her door, sobbing uncontrollably.

But it’s been over an hour since I ran back into my room, hasn’t it?

And it’s such a cold day to begin with…

“Um… You’re going to catch a cold, you know…?”

Before I realized it, I had spoken to her.

I shouldn’t have.

I should’ve just left her alone.

“…No, it’s fine.”

Perhaps in a fit of despair, she turned her face away as she said this, not even looking at me.

After she had pleaded so much for me to stay with her, and I ran away, this kind of reaction was understandable, I guess…

But… looking closer, her hands were red and numb from the cold, and she was shivering—not just from fear, but from the chill.

“Y-you really should go back inside…”

“…Go back?”

“!?”

She glared at me sharply, and I involuntarily leaned back a little.

“Go back? Where? Inside the room?”

“Y-yes, that’s right…”

“And what good would that do? No matter where I go, they’ll find me, chase me down, corner me, harass me in every way imaginable, and take away my place to belong!”

“W-wait a second!?”

Tears streamed down her face, but her anger was palpable as she stepped toward me!?

“You’re just like them, aren’t you!? You think the world would be better off without me… don’t you!? Someone like me… someone like me…!”

“…”

After shouting so much, she grabbed me by the collar and collapsed into my chest, crying her heart out.

And yet… I couldn’t push her away.

I didn’t know her circumstances, so I couldn’t sympathize, and besides, I don’t even want to touch a woman.

But… seeing her eyes, brimming with those large, sorrowful tears…

For some reason, I thought, “She’s just like me…”

“Sniffle…”

I don’t know how much time had passed, but the woman finally seemed to regain her composure.

“U-um… are you… okay…?”

The moment I said it, I realized—what a completely off-the-mark question that was.

Clearly, something isn’t okay; that’s why she’s crying so openly…

Then, the woman pulled away from me, removed her black-rimmed glasses, and wiped her tears with her arm.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“N-no, it’s fine…”

Watching her bow her head deeply, I wondered what I should do now.

The right answer was probably to part ways here and head back to my own room before things got more complicated.

If that’s the case…

“…If it’s just for tonight…”

“!?”

…What did I just say?

Why am I saying something completely different from what I’m thinking!?

“…I-is that… okay…?”

The woman timidly looked up at me and asked hesitantly.

But… her eyes were clouded with resignation, as if she was bracing herself for rejection.

To steel herself against the pain, she bit her lip tightly…

“Y-yeah… uh, w-where would you…?”

I nodded, indicating agreement, and alternated pointing between my room and hers.

Honestly, either choice carried risks—spending the night alone in a room with a stranger would understandably feel dangerous for her, and staying outside together until morning would almost certainly result in catching a cold in this weather.

Ugh… how did it come to this…?

Then…

“U-um… in that case, would it be alright if I came to your room…?”

She asked timidly, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly in her hand, as if still unsure.

“Y-yes, of course…”

…What do I mean, “of course”…?

That said, there was no point staying here any longer, so I opened the door and invited her in.

“P-please, sit wherever you like.”

“O-okay…”

After turning on the heater, I boiled some water while waiting for the room to warm up.

As for cups… well, there was only one mug, so I guess a glass will be fine for me…

I put instant coffee powder in the mug and the glass, then poured the boiling water into them.

“Um…”

“Y-yes!”

When I called out to her, the woman, perhaps nervous, straightened her back and replied energetically.

“Would you like milk in your coffee…?”

“P-please do!? Please!”

She bit her tongue.

I grabbed the carton of milk I had planned to use for breakfast and poured some into the mug, adding a spoonful of sugar.

“H-here you go…”

“T-thank you…”

She accepted it cautiously, blowing on it to cool it down before taking a sip.

“Ah… it’s so warm…”

Her cheeks turned pink from the warmth, likely a reaction to how cold she had been.

Seeing that made my heart skip a beat.

Until now, though we lived next door to each other, I had never properly looked at her face. But… this woman was stunningly beautiful.

Her glossy, long hair was closer to a vibrant lapis lazuli than black, and through the lenses of her black-rimmed glasses were rare, sapphire-like blue eyes. Her nose was elegantly shaped, and her lips were soft-looking, like cherry blossoms.

“…Is there something on my face…?”

“Huh!? N-no, not at all…”

Wh-why am I staring so intently at her face…?

A-anyway.

“So… about the suspicious person in front of your room earlier… are they, um, someone you know…?”

I cautiously asked her.

Considering she hesitated to call the police, it would only make sense if it were someone close to her…

But then…

“…(shakes head)”

With a sorrowful expression, she shook her head.