Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 20: Night, the Two of Us
In the dark room where the lights had been turned off, I gazed up at the ceiling. It’s different from the ceiling I’ve been seeing since I was a baby… Well, the house was built just last year. However, it’s been more than a year since I’ve been seeing this ceiling. I’m used to it.
But that’s not the only thing. I also know the sensation of the futon I’m lying on and the tatami mat beneath it. Nothing has changed. It’s supposed to be the same as always.
What’s not the same is that I can hear Nina-chan breathing from the next futon.
“…”
She’s not sleeping, I think.
I know because sometimes Hina comes to my futon when she’s sleeping, and her breathing becomes much slower when she’s asleep. Nina-chan’s breaths are faster than that. So, she must be awake.
But seriously, thinking about this calmly is just creepy…
I tightly closed my eyes while thinking such thoughts.
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I thought I would feel sleepy after lying down, but my eyes were wide open, and sleepiness wouldn’t come.
It wouldn’t come, of course. That’s obvious. I’m too nervous for that.
Spending the night with a friend is a first-time experience for me with Nina-chan. However, even though it’s called a sleepover, it didn’t feel like one until now. After all, Nina-chan sleeps in the guest room, and we only meet when she’s awake, so it felt more like she was coming over to play rather than a sleepover.
But now, sleeping in the same room changes things. I didn’t expect this to happen, nor did I anticipate it.
That’s why I’m so nervous.
“…”
Since I turned off the lights and said, “I’m going to sleep,” Nina-chan has remained silent. I’m also hesitant to start a conversation after saying, “I’m going to sleep,” myself.
So, silence. It’s awkward. The silence is way too awkward.
Nina-chan and I have been in the same class for two years, and we practice magic together. We’re close enough to visit each other’s homes after school. However, I have no idea how to handle a situation where we’re in the same room with futons side by side and maintain silence. Even in the present world, let alone in my past life, I’ve never experienced anything like this. Can someone please tell me the right thing to do?
Just as I was troubled, Nina-chan spoke quietly.
“Thank you, Itsuki.”
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“Huh…? Thank you for what?”
Even though I was suddenly being thanked, I had no idea what she was talking about. However, I was more than happy that the silence was finally broken, so I replied somewhat bluntly.
“For earlier, and for saving me from the Ferris wheel. I realized I hadn’t thanked you yet.”
“…It was nothing. It’s part of the job.”
“But you did save me, so just accept the gratitude.”
“…Sure. You’re welcome.”
When I tried to be modest, Nina-chan scolded me a bit.
“And you also exorcised the monsters that appeared after the actor from the theater troupe disappeared.”
“…Yeah, I did.”
What Nina-chan was referring to were the two monsters that appeared after the actor from the theater troupe disappeared. Since the actor had referred to them as friends, I was wary of their strength, but it turned out they weren’t that powerful. Probably around the level of a Second rank monsters. Of course, you can’t let your guard down against any kind of monster, but I was thinking that it wasn’t too bad.
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“Hey, Itsuki.”
“Hmm?”
“…Why aren’t you asking me why I came to this room?”
“…Huh?”
What should I say…?
I hadn’t expected Nina-chan to suddenly bring up this topic, and I was taken aback.
Moreover, is it even okay to ask someone that?
Up until now, we’ve been sleeping in separate rooms, and now she suddenly wants to sleep in the same room. There’s probably a reason for it, but it might be a sensitive topic that’s hard to bring up.
No, if she’s hesitating about whether or not to ask, maybe I should just ask her if it’s okay to ask.
“Is it okay for me to ask you why?”
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about it, Itsuki.”
And then Nina-chan continued.
“Sometimes, just sometimes… there are times when I can’t sleep alone.”
“…?”
“Um, it’s hard to explain. I notice it when I’m about to sleep, or when I’m taking a bath. I knew today was going to be one of those days.”
“Why does that happen?”
“I don’t know. When I asked Mom, she said it might be related to something from a long time ago, but she won’t tell me the details.”
Nina-chan responded with a slightly sulky tone.
“What happened in the past?”
As I pondered what she meant by “the past,” it suddenly came to me.
Nina-chan has had some of her memories sealed. In order to save Nina-chan, whose heart was shattered when her father was killed right before her eyes, Irena-san sealed those memories.
Could that be related?
“If I sleep alone… I have really bad dreams. I don’t remember them, but when I wake up, my chest hurts so much, and it’s painful, and I feel like crying.”
It seems like it is related.
However, Nina-chan shouldn’t know that her memories were erased. Irena-san said, “I haven’t told her that I sealed her memories.”
So, I decided to change the subject as much as possible to avoid bringing up that topic.
“It’s good when Irena-san is there, but what do you do when she’s not?”
“I sleep with a stuffed animal…”
“Huh?”
“I sleep with a stuffed animal.”
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What Nina-chan muttered softly was so unexpected that I had to ask for clarification.
Well, Nina-chan is in second grade. It’s not unusual for a child her age to sleep with a stuffed animal, but it was still surprising.
Nina-chan is spirited, confident, and strives to be strong, so I had assumed she wouldn’t be into that sort of thing.
“Is it no good?”
“No, it’s not… I just thought there were no stuffed animals here in the house.”
“Yes. So, that’s why I came to your room?”
I wonder what she means by “that’s why.” I have no idea, but regardless, it’s nice to be relied upon by someone.
“I see. Well, I hope you have good dreams.”
“Yeah… Thanks.”
I said that to Nina-chan, and it was sincere.
I hope she doesn’t have any bad dreams.
“Hey, Itsuki.”
“Hmm?”
“Is it okay if I hold your hand?”
“It’s fine.”
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I gently extended my hand from under the futon, and Nina-chan held it in return.
If holding my hand like this can help Nina-chan avoid having bad dreams, there’s no reason for me to refuse.