His Childhood Friend is a Beautiful, Reclusive Girl, So He Spends His After-School Hours in Her Room (But He’s Not Her Boyfriend!) - Ch. 28: Annoyed Neighbor, Childhood Friend Meeting 2

Yuika and I were colliding with each other head-on.
It seems as if a dragon and a tiger are drawn in the background, but alas, neither of us was serious at heart, so it’s probably just a deformed dragon and a tiger making “giao” and “meow” noises.

However, we’re in a confrontation now.
I said, twitching in my temples.

“Okay, I get it. So what Yuika is trying to say is this, right? You don’t want to be pushed down, yet you want to be pushed down through the end, but you want to be pushed down without being pushed down. That’s what this is about, isn’t it?”
“That’s what I mean!”
“No, what do YOU mean!?”
[TLN: Someone save me pls.]

I don’t know what she’s saying, but she nodded at me with all her might.
I continued to Yuika, who was slumped over in her pajamas.

“Don’t insert a definitive contradiction into a proposition! I’m not Dora-san okay!? You’d have to have a four-dimensional pocket to do that!”
“How can I request such an adult needs to Dora-san? The other party is Souta, that’s why I’m telling you! Don’t worry, it’s already the 21st century, Souta can jump over another 100 years. Aim for the 22nd century! You can do it! I believe in you!”
“Such heavy trust for me transcend through time and space… Also, don’t say adult needs! It’s weirdly exciting to hear those words come out of Yuika’s mouth!”
“H-hey, what’s with the sudden excitment…”
[TLN: Doraemon.]

My childhood friend was on alert.
That’s what I’m talking about. You’re a big talker, but when it comes down to it, you’re timid, so I have to take good care of you. As someone who loves and adores you.

Unaware of my intentions, Yuika loses a little momentum and fidgets with her fingers.
It’s a gesture she makes when she knows she’s wrong. If she shows me her cute side like that, I can’t say anymore. I listened to what Yuika had to say quietly.

“… I know it is a contradiction. I’m not asking you to go beyond the limits of the laws of physics.”
“I’m glad you’re reasonable. You almost got me to start training with the clothesline…”
“It’s a multi-dimensional refraction phenomenon! But I think a jeweled sword would be a better metaphor!”
“Ah, not now. There’s a high risk that Yuika’s tension reaches a limit and the conversation will go sideways.’
“Muu, I can’t really object. … I understand.”
“Good judgment.”
“Thank you.”
[TLN: My head really hurts.]

After a two-way exchange, Yuika returned to the conversation.

“What that guy in Souta’s favorite manga says? Conviction takes precedence over everything else. That’s why I think Souta should just convince me, leaving all that aside.”
“Maybe. … How exactly do you do that?”
“I don’t know. It’s Souta’s job to figure it out.”

I don’t know why, but she’s puffing her chest out proudly.
It’s amazing, I almost respect her when she says things like that without thinking.
But…

“I will tell you, that is impossible.”
“Eh, why?”
“Think about it the other way around. Do you think you can do it, Yuika? Leaving aside all the problems, all the contradictions, theories, and say ‘whatever’ to think it would ‘convince’ me.”
“I-I can do it.”
“Mmm, that’s the face you make when you can’t.”
“Muuu, I can do it!”

When she declared that, Yuika jumped on the bed.
What, what is she going to start now…?
She jabbed a finger at me, making me shiver.

“Now! I’m going to blow all contradictions and logic out of the water! I’ll convince Souta that I’ve won!”
“Winning… includes the result of the meeting? That’s a big deal.”
“Listen carefully!”

It was a voice that came through loud and clear.

“To w*nk or not to w*nk with Souta’s maid picture!”
“Wha—!?”

You’re bringing that subject up here!
To my chagrin, I was instantly pulled out of my consciousness. My concentration was 10 times as focused, and I devoted my entire being to Yuika’s words.

“I won’t masturbate to Souta’s image!”
“What’s in your mind!?”
“I-I’m…”

Yuika’s face was bright red.
Her eyes were teary and puffy.
She looked like she was about to run away. But being a recluse, there was no escape for her. And more than that, she continued her words with a touching display of courage.

“I’m…”

She clasped her hands in front of her chest.

“I’ve never done anything naughty by myself because I’m sure Souta eventually would teach me everything he knows!”
“Na…!?”
“Even when I felt a little weird, I thought, ‘this is for Souta,’ and held back for a long, long time!”
“Nana…!?”
“That’s why my body really doesn’t know anything about anything naughty!”
“Nanana…!?”

That’s why, why, why, she repeatedly said. My childhood friend, who is very cute, adorably asked me to do something.

“It is my first time, please be really, really gentle to me!”

I felt lightheaded. My consciousness is blown away and my soul is about to ascend.
Everything doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t care about contradictions or theories. I was “convinced”. Yuika had won.
Scolding myself for almost fainting, I slammed my forehead on the floor.

“I’m sorry I miss understood you!”

At the same time, my phone rang with a ‘pirororine.’
It was a message from Iori. And it was a series of messages.
I turned my phone to see what was going on.

“Dear Souta nii-san. Don’t make too much noise as it will disturb the neighbors.”
“Also, can we please cut the crap now?”
“Every single time, I hear how you two are making out, it makes me feel like I’m going to die of vomiting sugar in my mouth.”

… Wow.
I was filled with an uncomfortable feeling and I quietly turned off my phone. … Yes, I pretended I didn’t see that. Well… honestly, I’m sorry.