While Airi slept soundly in the futon beside me, her breathing a soft, rhythmic whistle, I lay there with my eyes bugged out, hands trembling as I gripped my smartphone.
The attic was now shrouded in a heavy silence, and my heart was thumping so hard I thought it might burst.
This wasn't some sweet, fluttering moment from a shoujo manga where she might hear my heartbeat—this was the ominous, skin-crawling dread of a high-stakes gambling manga.
Of all people, for Rui to find out about the sleepover...
Rui had developed a mysterious obsession with me ever since I’d pulled her out of a tight spot twice. She’d been trying to domesticate a pervert like me by sending her own selfies. In fact, those very photos were the reason I—the pervert in question—was currently being coerced into serving as the student council vice president.
If Rui found out I was staying overnight with Airi, I had no idea what would happen next... actually, I didn’t even want to imagine it.
Anyway, now that things had come to this, it would be a total disaster if she thought we’d "done it" when we hadn't. For the sake of my honor, I needed to be completely honest with her.
If I just told the truth, that would be the end of it, right? Probably.
I took the plunge and finally tapped on the chat I’d been previewing via a long-press to avoid leaving a read receipt.
Now, where should I start...
Kuroki: Hehe. You finally marked it as read, Ryouta-kun ♡
The instant I opened the screen, a message from Rui popped up.
Did she... has she been staring at the screen this whole time, just waiting for the read receipt to appear?
It was bordering on a horror story at this point.
But if Rui was watching the chat that closely, I had to speak up fast. If I didn't, she’d definitely think I was busy cooking up an excuse. I poured my heart and soul into typing a reply as quickly as possible.
Me: The truth is! I heard catching beetles is better in the early morning, but since there are no buses out here in the countryside, I ended up staying at Airi’s grandmother’s house! Also, just so you know, we’re in separate rooms, okay? Don’t get any weird ideas.
There. That should do it. Perfect.
I’d told a tiny lie at the very end, but that was just to emphasize that nothing was happening. About ninety percent of it was the honest truth. I wasn't doing anything wrong.
With this, she'd understand the sleepover was purely for bug hunting and was unavoidable. It should be fine... or so I thought.
Kuroki: Hmm, I see. But that last part was a lie, wasn't it?
The lie was exposed in a heartbeat.
Wait, how did she... Is she bluffing?
Me: How would you even know that?
Kuroki: You know, I was acting like I didn't know about the sleepover earlier, but I was actually talking to Airi on LIME first. When I asked her what was going on, she sent me a photo like this.
A photo? What... what?!
The photo Rui sent showed Airi and me sitting between our two futons, playing B-ttle D-me.
Airi was the only one grinning at the camera and flashing a peace sign. She must have secretly snapped a selfie while I was busy cleaning up the game set.
Kuroki: Futons laid out side-by-side. On one of them, a pile of clothes that look like the ones Ryouta-kun took off for his bath. In the corner of the room, luggage for two people. Do you still want to insist you're in separate rooms?
I had completely blundered.
I had underestimated the insight of the flawless Perfect Superhuman.
Kuroki: It’s all exposed, you know? Ryouta-kun?
Airi-iiiiiiiiii!!!!
I glared at the girl sleeping peacefully next to me.
I really shouldn't have tried to lie to Rui.
Kuroki: Since you lied to me, I’ll have to give you a proper... punishment... once you get back, won't I? Well then, goodnight, Ryouta-kun.
Rui didn't care to listen to any more of my excuses. She ended the conversation right there after saying her piece.
Punishment... huh.
If it were just getting my butt smacked or something, I'd take it gladly, but I knew that with Rui, it wouldn't be anything that half-baked.
As if being at the beck and call of the Beautiful Girl Trio all summer vacation wasn't enough... now I had a punishment waiting for me, too.
"Sigh... I should just go to sleep."
I slowly closed my eyes, seriously contemplating just moving to the countryside for good.