Feeling genuinely flustered by Natsuhi's teasing, Saki quickly withdrew her hand in embarrassment, trying to act as if nothing had happened.
However, the moment Saki's hand pulled away, she couldn't help but recall how, when she was on the verge of collapse earlier, it seemed someone had also held her hand tightly, refusing to let go, giving her strength.
Saki looked down at her trembling palm, as if savoring the lingering sensation. For some reason, she felt a restless unease.
Seeing Saki standing dazedly in place with a pained expression, Natsuhi tilted her head and asked:
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare just now? Your expression... it's quite worrying."
"Uh... I don't remember too clearly. Maybe."
"Come to think of it, back then, my hands were being held..."
Her gaze fixed on her palm gradually lost focus, then slowly refocused and became clear again.
"What on earth is going on..."
Unable to understand the situation, Saki felt utterly unsafe, her whole body trembling.
"Sorry, please let me try again!"
Finishing her sentence without waiting for a reply, Saki reached out and tightly grasped Natsuhi's hands once more.
[This is the feeling.]
The memory from moments ago gradually clarified in her mind, and the figure who had silently stood guard by her side in the darkness revealed its identity — Natsuhi.
She couldn't bear to see me in pain, so she lent me her hand.
No mistake, this was the sensation—warm and strong, as if as long as this person was by her side, all malice could be driven away.
Thump!
Not knowing whether it was due to her earlier shyness or something else, Saki only felt her forehead grow hot, her heart beating faster and faster.
"Um... Saki-san, is there a problem?"
Her released hand was rudely grabbed back again. Natsuhi was momentarily confused by the situation and could only wear an awkward expression.
[She's holding on way too tight!]
Her crimson eyes fixed on the girl, Saki's pupils reflected Natsuhi's somewhat clumsy yet reliable figure.
For some reason, a wave of inexplicable grievance suddenly welled up in her heart.
"No way... I'm actually crying because of my own best friend?"
A teardrop slid down her cheek, gathered at her chin, and finally fell to the ground.
Two drops, three drops, more tears followed closely.
Wanting to reach up and wipe away the tears continuously flowing from the corners of her eyes, Saki didn't want to show such a pitiful expression in front of her good friend, but she couldn't control it.
She just wanted to hug the other person with all her strength, not wanting Natsuhi to leave her side.
The suppressed emotions were like a breached dam, completely released at this moment.
Saki hugged the caught-off-guard Natsuhi, pulling her tightly into her embrace... and cried.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on all of a sudden? Saki...san? Isn't this a bit too emotional?"
Natsuhi was directly hugged into a daze. She couldn't understand why the other girl, who seemed fine, was suddenly hugging and crying.
"Wuwu~ I'm sorry... can I... be a little selfish? Natsuhi, when I was feeling uneasy... having you... by my side was really wonderful."
Saki hugged Natsuhi tightly, sobbing incessantly, her words stumbling. She could feel the girl trembling in her arms.
Natsuhi's expression gradually softened. She affectionately stroked the girl's golden, shimmering hair.
[After all, she went through such a terrifying experience. It's normal to want to find someone to rely on. Let her be a little selfish for a while longer.]
"Sigh, I really can't do anything with you. Fine, go ahead and cry. I won't laugh at you."
Natsuhi's tone was gentle for the first time, slow and careful, as if afraid of startling Saki.
In the quiet twilight, on the empty roadside, only the sound of the girl's crying could be heard.
Natsuhi stroked the girl's head while looking towards the gradually disappearing sun on the horizon.
Her smile slowly faded, her eyes grew sharp, and her expression instantly turned somber.
[She didn't want to see Saki wear such a sad expression again.]
[She would make those scoundrels who bullied girls pay the price!]
——————
The crying slowly subsided. Looking at Natsuhi's smile, even though tears still stained Saki's cheeks and a shy blush colored her face,
she showed no intention of leaving Natsuhi's embrace. Instead, like a kitten seeking security, she subconsciously nuzzled against that warm chest again.
The soft touch against her face, carrying a faint, fresh fragrance, made Saki feel incredibly at ease and comfortable.
This feeling was unprecedented, as if as long as she was by Natsuhi's side, all fear and unease could be dispelled.
"Sorry... I must have looked really pathetic just now..."
Her voice still carried a hint of a nasal tone, muffled as it came from against Natsuhi's chest.
"No, I didn't mind."
Natsuhi gently patted her back, her tone carrying a gentleness she herself hadn't noticed.
"This feeling of being someone else's support... how should I put it... it's not bad."
After all, her mental age was over a decade older than this young girl before her. In her view, tolerating and protecting children's occasional fragility and willfulness was a privilege of being an "adult."
"Natsuhi..."
"Why do I feel you've changed so much? You sound like an old man."
[Oh no!]
Hearing this, Natsuhi's heart skipped a beat, and her calm, indifferent expression instantly froze.
[Could she have noticed something?!]
Avoiding Saki's gaze, Natsuhi feared her identity as a transmigrator being exposed. That would definitely be troublesome.
"Don't run away. Look at me properly,"
Saki wouldn't allow her to dodge. She gently cupped Natsuhi's face with both hands, forcing her to face her directly.
Their pupils reflected each other's slightly magnified faces, the distance between them silently closing.
An ambiguous atmosphere spread through the air, mingling with the light jasmine fragrance from Saki's body, lingering at the tips of their noses.
They could clearly hear each other's gradually ragged breathing and the increasingly synchronized, flustered heartbeats—"thump-thump... thump-thump..."
"Really, I don't know why, but I feel you're especially charming today."
Her voice grew very soft, tickling Natsuhi's eardrums and heartstrings. Finally, her gaze settled on those clear, bright eyes.
"And... you look really good without your glasses too."
Her breath brushed against Natsuhi's skin, carrying a thrilling warmth. Spring had arrived.
"So good-looking... it makes my heart race."
The distance between their lips grew closer and closer in the enchanting atmosphere. Natsuhi's brain short-circuited from the girl's sudden intimate gesture, losing the ability to think.
For a moment, she was completely controlled by Saki, losing the initiative.
Feeling the other's warm exhaled breath, Natsuhi felt dizzy-headed and light-bodied, wishing she could sink into this gentle land full of lilies right then.
"So... can I ask you to take responsibility?"
Just as those soft lips were about to touch and meld together—
"Mmph!"
A sharp glint flashed in Natsuhi's eyes. She snapped back to her senses, quickly raising her hand to cover Saki's mouth, shutting out the tempting affection.
"Saki, this doesn't seem like the usual you either. How about calming down a bit first?"
Natsuhi forced herself to appear calm and indifferent, her voice reaching Saki's ears.
!!!
She jolted back as if electrocuted, instantly putting distance between herself and Natsuhi.
What... what was she just doing?!
She actually... actually wanted to kiss Natsuhi?! Kiss her best friend, a girl?!
A wave of scorching heat "whooshed" through her entire body. Saki's cheeks, ears, even her neck flushed a bright red.
She abruptly lowered her head, her hands nervously twisting her skirt hem like a student who had done something wrong.
"I... I... I'm sorry! Natsuhi! I, I don't know what came over me just now either..."
Her mind was a chaotic mess, various thoughts crashing wildly against each other.
[I must be crazy! How could I have those kinds of thoughts about Natsuhi... about her?!]
[We're clearly best friends! I'm supposed to like boys!]
[But... but when I got close to Natsuhi just now, my heart was racing so fast, I felt so at ease, and even... even felt a bit of desire...]
[Sigh, will Natsuhi think I'm weird? What if she starts disliking me because of this, stops talking to me...]
Saki's mind conjured images of Natsuhi looking at her with disgust, politely keeping her distance whenever they met in the future...
She realized she absolutely couldn't accept that situation!
[Please, don't let that happen!]
Unable to understand her body's and heart's reactions, she could only attribute it to a momentary lapse and confusion.
"Y-yes, I'm sorry, please don't hate me. I was just... just not thinking straight, not fully awake!"
Saki repeated herself, her voice choked with tears, her eyes secretly glancing at Natsuhi's expression. She looked just like a little kitten.
Seeing the other girl was even more agitated than herself, Natsuhi felt her own mood calm down, regaining her rationality.
She smiled and waved her hand, indicating,
"I didn't mind. I was just a bit startled, that's all."
"Speaking of which, it's getting late. If we don't head back soon, your family will worry."
"Ah, you're right. Let's call it a day here then."
Looking at the gradually darkening sky, Saki reluctantly took one last look at Natsuhi, then turned and walked into the distance, praying in her heart that the next day would come quickly.
"Hey, don't rush off. I'll walk you home."
"Eek!!!"
The girl had just turned around when she was pulled back by the hand.
Saki wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her. Natsuhi actually said she'd walk her home?! She would never do something like this before.
Ehehe... Was she really that worried about her?
Could it be that she...?
Just thinking about that possibility made Saki feel warm inside, happiness almost overflowing from her body.
"Hehe, Natsu-chan, I knew you were the best to me! You really can't bear to part with me, right?"
Saki turned and threw herself into Natsuhi's arms, hugging her tightly.
Natsuhi looked speechlessly at the girl giggling foolishly against her chest and sighed.
She was just afraid Wada Saki might encounter some plot event on the way home and needed to see her enter her house with her own eyes to feel at ease. It definitely wasn't because she couldn't bear to part with her!
"Natsu-chan?! Don't go giving me weird nicknames! If that spreads around class, I'll die of embarrassment."
"Are you blushing? Hehe... so cute~♡"
"Please don't look at me with such a perverted expression, okay?! I'm scared! Maybe you should just go home by yourself."
"Huh? No way! Wuwuwu~"
"You're getting snot all over my clothes!"