Chapter 1 Part 1
In the bed, her pure white hair sways gently, brushing against my body.
"Hehe... Souta-kun."
A beautiful girl who would captivate anyone's gaze.
Even with a serious expression, she could look like a painting, yet here she is, smiling softly, calling my name while in my arms.
"What is it?"
"I love you."
With the arms she wrapped around my back, she pulls me close, hugging me tightly. Just that alone makes my heart race painfully.
Shinonome Nagi.
A beautiful girl with hair as white as freshly fallen snow and skin as white as milk. Her eyes are as deep as the ocean. She originally had a rather expressionless face.
I, Minori Souta, and she were in different high schools, so our only connection was taking the same train together... until that day.
One day, I saved her when she was being harassed by a man. However, because of the trauma, she became afraid of men. To overcome that fear, she started talking to me, and we became friends.
Since then, many things happened. She made me dinner as a reward for a test... she asked me to pat her head, and I gave her a lap pillow. Looking back now, we were so close that calling ourselves just friends seems a bit off. Also, when I think about it, I don't feel like I’ve really done anything to thank her.
And the most recent memories are of her performance and the time we went to the amusement park.
I realized that I was in love with Nagi. But it took me too long to make up my mind.
I didn’t even realize that Nagi was having trouble with her parents, and she ended up being engaged to the son of some company president as suggested by her father.
Nagi had gone to a place I couldn’t reach anymore, and I could only be depressed about it... Until my friend, Makisaka Eiji, gave me a push.
With the help of Eiji and other friends, I went to Nagi’s house... and successfully confessed my feelings to her. The issue with her parents was also resolved, and we became a couple. However, due to lack of sleep and emotional exhaustion, I ended up collapsing.
When I woke up, Nagi was by my side. She noticed I was awake and crawled into bed with me — that’s how we got to this moment.
Being confessed to by the person I love. Not just with words, but with her holding me like this, it makes her feelings clearer to me. It makes me incredibly happy, but... it’s been like this for almost an hour now.
Honestly, I can’t hold on any longer. My heart can’t take it.
"Nagi, I think we should..."
"No."
She responds shortly, hugging me even tighter. The sound of my racing heart echoes through my body.
"I want to feel you, Souta-kun, with my whole body... Though I’m still somewhat in a dreamlike state."
She buries her face into my chest. The smile she shows is soft and warm.
[Ice Princess].
That’s what people called her. She had a cold and sharp presence, and if anyone tried to confess to her, they’d probably have their hearts broken. I had seen her dismiss boys on the train several times.
But that seemed to be due to her father’s words, "Never show weakness to others." Later, her father apologized to Nagi, and their misunderstanding was resolved.
And now, in the present, the girl who was once called the "Ice Princess" no longer exists. The ice has completely melted away.
With her hand resting on my chest, Nagi closed her eyes.
"I love everything about you... No, it’s your voice, your heartbeat, your body warmth... everything. I love it all, all of it. That’s why, just a little longer..."
Each of her words shakes my mind and my heart. But—should I really say it?
Chie-san and Suzuka-san—Nagi’s mother and her personal maid—are watching us.
The door is slightly open, and both of them are peeking in, smiling happily.
As our eyes meet, Chie-san puts her finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture... Well, I guess it’s fine. Is it really? To be in someone else's bed like this, together?
"...I won’t hold back anymore. Hehe."
Seeing Nagi smile like that made everything else seem unimportant.
When I gently stroked her silky hair, she gave a pure smile, almost like a child.
Holding her close, I could feel her warmth.
A sweet scent tickled my nose... and something soft pressed against me.
It's true that this is bad for my heart. Since I woke up, my heart has been pounding, and my face feels like it's on fire.
But more than that— I just can't help but feel how precious she is to me.
I want to make her happy, the girl in my arms. I feel it so strongly.
"Nagi."
When I called her name, Nagi slightly turned her face and glanced up at me.
...What is this adorable creature?
I swallowed my words and whispered quietly, so no one else could hear.
"I love you too. I love all of you, Nagi."
There was still a little embarrassment in saying it. But the moment I blushed, her face lit up with a bright smile.
"I love you too!"
She said it, moving slightly to wrap herself around me.
Her soft cheek pressed against mine.
I could feel her warmth, her kindness, and her softness all over me.
...But, now that I think about it, this makes the quiet whispering pointless.
Even as two warm gazes pierced me, I gently patted Nagi’s back.
★★★
"Th-then, thank you for everything."
"Yes, please come visit again sometime. I’m sure Souichirou-san will be happy as well."
About an hour later, it was time for me to take Nagi home.
"Oh, right. Minori-kun... or should I call you Souta-kun from now on?"
"Y-yes, that's fine."
Chie-san looked at me intently. Unlike before, she now had a slightly more serious air about her.
Still, both she and Souichirou-san look much younger than their ages. And the aura Nagi carries is quite similar to theirs. No, it's probably the other way around—Nagi must resemble Chie-san.
Even though they aren’t blood relatives, having lived together for so long, it’s only natural that they’d share some similarities.
As I thought about this, I refocused on the conversation.
"Souta-kun. I’d like to confirm something. Would it be alright for you to be my daughter Nagi’s fiancé?"
Those words caused my eyes to widen.
"If Nagi has a fiancé, then there won't be anyone trying to get close to her. It would be more reassuring for you as well, and we can think about whether you’ll move in as her husband later. How about it?"
—And just like that, the topic of marriage came up. Well, I’ll put that aside for now.
Still a bit confused by the suddenness of it all, I glanced over at Nagi. She was looking at me nervously, but there was a clear look of hope in her blue eyes.
Well, my answer had already been decided from the start.
"I’d be honored."
When I said that, Chie-san nodded happily.
"Oh, that’s right. Nagi, could you lend me your ear for a moment?"
"Eh...? Yes, of course."
Chie-san whispered something to Nagi, and Nagi’s face began to turn brighter and brighter red.
"M-Mom? I mean, Mother!!"
"It’s fine to call me 'Mama,' dear. No need to be embarrassed. Actually, I’d like you to call me 'Mama.'"
"Mother... M-Mama..."
With Chie-san’s words, Nagi’s face turned even more red, like a ripe apple.
So, Nagi wanted to call her that, huh?
I couldn’t help but smile, my heart warming as I felt an overwhelming sense of tenderness.
Chie-san smiled, then delicately covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her own smile.
"Hehe, I’m sorry. You’re just so cute when you're flustered... I’ve already prepared everything, so take your things."
"U-understood. Souta-kun, please wait just a moment."
Though I didn’t quite understand the meaning of her words, I nodded anyway.
"Uh... alright."
Nagi went back to her room to fetch something. Before long, she returned, holding a slightly larger bag. It looked like something she usually took to school, but it seemed a bit heavy, probably because it was packed with various items.
"Nagi? What's with the bag?"
"...It’s nothing. Now, shall we go?"
Nagi shook her head slightly, but her cheeks were still a little red. It was probably best not to focus on it too much.
After saying our goodbyes to Chie-san and Suzuka-san, we headed outside. I wanted to greet Souichirou-san, Nagi’s father, but it seemed he was off delivering the message about the broken engagement, and they weren't sure when he’d be back. I’d have to apologize and thank him properly another time.
As we walked out through the gate, I pulled my smartphone from my pocket.
"Sorry to do this right after leaving, but I need to contact Eiji. He really helped me out a lot this time. He said he’d get in touch once everything was over."
"I see... But it seems like you don’t need to anymore."
Nagi chuckled lightly and then said, "Look," as she gestured toward the road ahead.
There, I saw—
"Oh, you finally made it."
"Yo. Looks like it was a success."
"Did you give her a good flick on the forehead?"
Eiji, along with his girlfriend Kirika Nishizawa and our friend Hikaru Hayama, who we’d bonded with through mutual connections, were all there.
"Flick on the forehead?" I asked, confused.
"No, you didn’t do that, huh? Well, I guess it’s a little too much to ask for."
I chuckled at Hayama’s comment and approached Eiji and the others.
"You guys waited for us?"
"We just thought it was about time," Eiji said with a shrug.
"You're lying. You said, ‘I have to be the first to see what happened to Souta, no matter if it was a success or failure,’ and ended up staying here the whole time. I even brought you your coat."
"Hey, don’t say that... It’s embarrassing."
"By the way, I was waiting here too, just holding your jacket because I got curious."
That was just like Eiji, and also like Nishizawa and Hayama.
We really did have great friends.
I patted Eiji on the shoulder, who was sipping hot cocoa.
"Thanks."
"You were the one who did all the hard work."
"But you were the one who made it possible, who helped me stand up again. So, thank you."
"...No problem."
Seeing Eiji fluster a little made me smile. I naturally turned my gaze toward Nagi.
"...I’m really sorry for all the trouble and worry I caused you."
"You don’t have to apologize. ...I have some responsibility in this too. But, Shinonome-chan... I mean, Nagi, close your eyes."
Nagi looked at Hayama with a confused expression after hearing his words, but she closed her eyes as instructed.
Hayama grinned and then—
Thwack!
A very satisfying sound echoed in the air.
"Ow!" Nagi let out a cute little groan and pressed her hand to her forehead.
"That’s for not telling me anything. I had asked Minori-kun to do it, but I figured it would be impossible."
Hayama said that with a gentle smile.
"Next time, be sure to talk to me, okay? We're friends after all."
"...Yes! I'm sorry. And thank you very much," Nagi said politely, bowing her head, while Hayama gave a small nod in acknowledgment.
Watching this exchange with a smile, we began walking back home.
"By the way, what should we do for lunch? Should we move up lunch and order pizza?"
"Eh, how about we just go somewhere to eat instead?"
I had already told Nagi about the pizza party with Eiji and the others. While we discussed what to do, Nagi suddenly let out a small exclamation.
"Then, how about I make lunch? …I believe there's fried chicken on the menu at your house, Souta-kun. How about that?"
"Are you sure?"
Since we’d been through a lot since this morning, I thought Nagi would be tired, but she nodded with a smile.
"Yes! It's my way of apologizing for causing trouble to everyone. Plus, if I make extra, it’ll be perfect for tomorrow's lunch for both me and you, Souta-kun!"
"...If that's the case, then I'd love that. What about you three?"
"Of course! I love fried chicken!"
"Yeah! Me too!"
"I do too!"
With all three of them agreeing, we decided to stop by the supermarket on the way back.
As we walked toward the supermarket, Nagi’s finger gently brushed mine. Looking to the side, I saw her smiling at me kindly.
Her little finger then intertwined with mine. She leaned her face close to my ear, her face glowing with happiness.
"I love you, Souta-kun."
She whispered softly.
I felt my mouth twitch, trying to hide my grin with one hand. I knew she’d probably seen through it, but I couldn’t stop myself from doing it.
Nagi watched me with a happy, amused expression.
"Well, shall we go? Souta-kun."
"...Yeah, let’s go."
Could this kind of day continue every day from now on?
Could I really handle it...?
No, there’s no need to handle it... wait, no, that’s not right. There's a proper order to things. If I make one wrong move, I could end up being disliked.
Even in close relationships, respect is important. Especially since we’re out in public, I need to keep my composure.
I tightly grasped Nagi’s little finger and walked beside her as she happily smiled. Then, I heard voices coming from behind us.
"What's with that couple? So lovey-dovey and innocent."
"We wouldn't be so obvious about it, right? Did we ever have that kind of phase?"
"Well... I guess it's fine. They look happy."
I tried to ignore the voices and cleared my throat before continuing to walk. Nagi had probably heard them too, but she just kept smiling happily.
★★★
——.
T/N: I don't know how many parts I will split this into. Each chapter is very long (15000 words atleast), so, lets see how it goes.
Also, reminder. This chapter in the raw is titled as chapter 3, since volume 1 is ended with 2 chapters. It seems, author is continuing from there. I will using chapter 1 for convience.
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