"Mm..."

As I opened my eyes, I felt the hard wooden floor in a dim space.

'Did I fall asleep...'

Before waking up, my head was hazy, and I sensed a burning fever.

Now, only a faint consciousness after waking remained.

It seems my physical condition has improved quite a bit.

'...Where's Emily?'

I unconsciously searched for Emily, who had been nursing me until a moment ago, as I didn't see her.

As I twisted my body and turned to the side,

"..."

Emily was lying next to me, asleep.

Her gentle breathing and closed eyes captured my attention.

When I turned my body to the side, facing Emily, I couldn't look away from her face.

She usually has a prim expression, but with her eyes closed in sleep, she looked soft and cute.

Of course, when she smiles, she often seems kind, but seeing such an unguarded face gave a different kind of feeling.

Without thinking, I gently reached out and tucked her hair back from her face.

This revealed her fair face more clearly.

'That night, what was she trying to say?'

Looking at her, I recalled that tense night.

The insect-type monsters interrupted us, but the way she looked at me with a flushed face and earnest eyes—

I'm sure it wasn’t my imagination.

'Does Emily like me?'

The thought of Emily liking me had never crossed my mind.

Of course, even before the timeline changed, she was friendly and kind to me.

But it's not like she wasn't kind to others, too.

Besides, back then, I was a chubby and unattractive guy.

'She even went so far as to tease me.'

I never really resented being teased from the beginning.

You can distinctly feel when someone's malice is directed at you.

Enzo, for instance.

He would smile and talk to me directly, but his malice was palpable beneath the surface.

But Emily was different.

Even when she teased or hit me, I didn’t feel any malice from her, strangely enough.

There was a peculiar excitement, though.

Maybe that's why I didn't harbor any bad feelings toward her.

Still, the idea that she likes me...

'Maybe it's because my appearance changed? Or could it be because of the event?'

It might be the effect of the Monkey Stele's event.

For instance, my heart races every time I look at Emily too.

'Was she really about to confess that night?'

As I gazed at Emily's pretty face and recalled that night, I felt a sudden dizziness.

'Could I still have a slight cold?'

The unexpected dizziness made me hold my head and bow down.

Then, my view was filled with the sight of Emily in her swimsuit.

"......"

I immediately straightened up.

Seeing a girl's face while she's asleep, that's okay, I guess. It might be unpleasant, but it doesn't prick my conscience.

But no matter how you look at it, secretly peeping at a sleeping girl's private areas is something I cannot forgive myself for.

"…Hmmm... Oh? Ken? Are you awake?"

It seemed like the rustling woke her up, as Emily, who had been lying down, also sat up.

Half-asleep, the first thing she did was...

"Um... Is your fever gone now?"

...she placed her hand on my forehead to check my temperature.

'Not even fully awake yet.'

The fact that her first action upon waking was to check on me made my face flush and my heart pound.

Like a middle school girl experiencing her first love.

"…Well, you still have a slight fever. But after sleeping, you feel a bit better, right?"

Emily, after checking my temperature, gave a cute smile at my improved condition.

"Thank you, even though you were stuck here because of me."

I scratched my cheek and expressed my gratitude to her.

After all, even though I was sick, Emily had no obligation to take care of me.

At my thanks, Emily blankly looked at me.

And then.

"If you're thankful, just lie down a bit longer."

She took my hand and laid me back down.

"Oh, but I'm feeling fine now."

"Still, you have a slight fever. Rest a little more."

"And, um... about my hand."

"What's wrong with your hand?"

Emily lay down beside me, still holding my hand.

Her fingers intertwined with mine, wrapping my hand warmly and gripping it firmly.

I could feel the strong intention that she wasn’t planning to let go.

"You grabbed my hand first, Ken..."

At my question, Emily blushed and looked at me with a determined gaze.

"Did I?"

"Yes, before you fell asleep, you held my hand and didn't let go."

Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered. During my turmoil over Emily's lost memories, I had unconsciously grabbed her hand.

'I must have fallen asleep like that...'

"So this is all your doing, Ken. You understand what I'm saying, right?"

"....."

I understood enough.

That I couldn’t let go of her hand.

'Dangerous...'

And I realized that my heart couldn't escape her earnest behavior.

The sound of my pounding heart made me so conscious of Emily.

'If things continue like this, I...'

I already hold feelings for two other girls.

If I started to feel that way about Emily too...

"....."

Though the thought crossed my mind.

I couldn’t even think of rejecting her.

Perhaps I really was enchanted by her.

Feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement that I didn't want to escape, I looked at Emily. She, too, was blushing and gazing at me with a peculiar expression.

Just as the tense atmosphere in the small cabin seemed like it could lead to anything happening at any moment...

"Ken! Emily!"

The voice of a female student from outside abruptly dispersed the tension. Both of us, as if on cue, were startled and quickly let go of each other's hands, turning away.

Then Emily got up hastily and greeted the student.

“Oh, what brings you here? Ken is still sick...”

Although I was almost fully recovered, Emily seemed to use that as an excuse without thinking.

However, the student who had come seemed distressed.

"It's a big deal! Enzo! Enzo has disappeared!"

At her words, I, too, got up from my spot and looked at her.

'Enzo disappeared?'

It was clear that this was a dangerous situation.

Please support the series on NovelUpdates

Read Here for premium chapters