Chapter 68 Chapter 68 What does nodding mean! ...

"Is this the only reason you came here today?"

Too close.

"Foshiguro Megumi."

So close that I could touch her if I just lowered my head a little bit...too close.

It was so close that he could feel that his body was once again filled with the rich scent of cherry blossoms. Fushiguro Megumi froze for a moment. He could only look at her with his eyes lowered, holding his breath as if it was a subconscious action.

It seemed long but actually it only lasted for a few seconds, making people nervous and helpless. Fushiguro Megumi finally looked away and tilted her head slightly.

"Is that why you came here?"

...Of course not.

That's not what he meant at all.

There is so much that Fushiguro Megumi wants to say.

He wanted to ask Eri why she still called herself Fushiguro-san. Obviously, all the others came later, so why was she still called Fushiguro-san?

Yuji Itadori is Yuji, Nobara Kugisaki is Nobara, and now even Junpei Yoshino is Junpei. Is there something I haven't done well enough? Did I ever tell you not to call her "Megumi"? Or was it that he didn't express it clearly enough, or are you deliberately using the name to draw a clear line between them?

He wanted to say, Eri, why can you naturally show that kind of unconscious closeness to other people, even the newcomer Yoshino Junpei, but it took a long time for you to finally relax and become close to him from the first time you met him. Are Yuji Itadori, Nobara, and Yoshino Junpei so amazingly friendly?

He wanted to ask Eri why she sent so many messages to Geto Suguru. Even if that guy was half your teacher, he was also a cult leader with weird bangs. Even if he retired and lived in seclusion in the mountains, you couldn't completely trust him.

He was thinking, is it because I didn't mention my ideal type so subtly last time that I have to avoid me for so many days? So if I really open up completely this time...

So how would you answer?

Every question made Fushiguro Megumi feel uneasy, but what was even more depressing and astringent than this uneasiness was that the boy himself knew that this was actually jealousy and envy, and it was a jealousy that he had no right to feel.

Do you feel confused?

Do you feel that you are a little petty?

Will we be unable to maintain the relationship where we can only talk occasionally now?

Will...will I be completely pushed away and eventually become an ordinary passerby?

Thousands of thoughts surged up in my mind like a tide, and all the mental preparations I had built up before coming here were completely shattered by the surging waves.

As expected, she still felt that she was stupid and not good at this at all. Megumi Fushiguro thought, damn it, Nobara was right, she was still this kind of introverted and dumb person.

"Megumi Fushiguro,"

"I'll just ask you one question, and you only have one chance."

However, Eri Kimoto, the current Eri Kimoto, stood in front of the door. After asking that question, she stared at him with her dark red eyes burning with flames, almost cutting off all his retreat and nailing him to the spot.

"Do you like me?"

“…!!”

At this moment, all the chaotic thoughts were cut off by her words.

The air seemed to completely freeze, and Fushiguro Megumi's pupils shrank sharply. He felt as if his mind suddenly went blank. All his attempts to whitewash the situation and his careful disguises were completely cut off.

He looked at Eri Kimoto, who tilted her head slightly, her eyes stubborn yet with a barely perceptible nervousness.

Want to confess?

...

want.

Just after making this decision, strangely, a sense of relief arose in his heart, and the gaze that Fushiguro Megumi had been trying to hide finally stopped dodging.

All those hesitations, struggles, and confusions were finally swallowed up by the love that could no longer be concealed. They appeared clearly in his eyes. The boy nodded almost as if accepting his fate, his movements slow and solemn.

"Um."

like.

.

“....”

“....”

Eri Kimoto stared at him with wide eyes.

"...Hmm what does that mean."

After hearing his reply, Eri Kimoto actually understood what he meant!

After all, just being stared at by such eyes made her heartbeat beating again like the clattering gongs and drums of the singing and dancing band.

But what she wanted was not just this short word "hmm"!

She wanted to hear more! Who would just say "hmm" when a nice guy confessed and confirmed their relationship?

Eri Nori struggled to suppress the smile on her lips and acted fierce. She tugged at Fushiguro Megumi's collar and said, "You nodded so softly and your voice was so low. What do you mean? Speak, Fushiguro Megumi. I want to hear you explain clearly!"

"like."

The boy's voice was hoarse but no longer hesitant, and his pronunciation was exceptionally clear.

"I like you, Eri."

“.......”

Now the person who suddenly fell silent became Eri Kimoto.

It was a bit unbearable to see this guy suddenly become like this. After swallowing, Eri Qimoto let go of her hand that was holding his collar.

But she didn't retract her hand completely. Her falling hand unconsciously grabbed the corner of his sleeve again. The sleeve of the white shirt was clenched and wrinkled in her hand for the countless times.

"...So, the ideal type you mentioned the other day," Eri Kimoto said with almost uncontrollable excitement, "was me, right?"

Fushiguro Megumi's eyelashes trembled, and her gaze silently returned from the corner of her sleeve that was caught to the top of her head: "Yes, it's you."

"You you you you you—"

"You, how could you—"

Why are you suddenly so honest?

Qi Ben Eri stuttered for once, but she still gripped the corner of his sleeve tightly, as if she was too nervous to know what to do: "Why didn't you just speak frankly and explain it properly--"

"I'm afraid you'll hate me."

Fushiguro Megumi spoke frankly: "I'm afraid you'll feel troubled. If you...if you don't like it, after I tell you, maybe even your friends will—"

Even if the words ended abruptly, Eri Qimoto could guess what would happen next. She was just afraid that if she said it and didn't get a response, they wouldn't even be able to be friends anymore. She looked up and quickly glanced at Megumi Fushiguro, and was again deeply touched by his rare depressed expression.

"How could it be?!" Qi Ben Eri hissed and said quickly, "It can't be that serious!"

"...But after that day." Fushiguro Megumi's voice became increasingly low, and there was a feeling of grievance that had never been heard before.

"You ignored me and went on a mission with Yuji the next day. You replied to my messages perfunctorily and didn't even try to chat with me."

"If you hate me—"

"How could I hate you!"

"...It was just a little sudden, and I wasn't quite sure if you were talking about me." A blush gradually appeared on Eri Norimoto's cheeks. She bit her lower lip with her fangs and whispered, "It's just a little bit... Then my sister said we could temporarily avoid it until everyone is sure... Ahhhh, anyway, that's it!"

Eri Kimoto's explanation was a mess, but fortunately Megumi Fushiguro was a smart person, and a very bright light flashed in her eyes.

Eri Kimoto felt that his gaze on her was really strange. She felt even more uncomfortable being stared at by him. She loosened her grip on his sleeve, raised her head and glared at him fiercely: "...So?! After you said you like me, what are you going to do next?"

The tone was fierce, but it concealed an expectation that could not be hidden.

The boy just looked at her blushing face and those eyes that were obviously shy and expectant yet forced to be calm. He thought that his ears were burning and probably wouldn't be normal anymore. He took a deep breath and whispered, "I don't know...but..."

This pause was like making an important promise. Fushiguro Megumi said in a serious tone: "I think, I want to try to get closer to you, is that okay?"

...Okay, now the person nodding slowly becomes Eri Kimoto.

The bubbling feeling of being soaked in melted honey made it difficult for her not to feel that the room was a little hot. She quickly glanced at the boy who was standing there in a daze, and felt that the only thing she should do now was to rush into his arms.

Fushiguro Megumi opened her mouth: "Nodding what—"

"hiss!"

As soon as Eri Qimoto heard it, she guessed what he was going to say!

He definitely wanted to repeat what he had just said and use his own words against himself!

Don't give him this chance. Eri Qimoto suddenly reached out and held his face, and the next moment a kiss fell on the boy's lips.

“....”

This finally brought Megumi Fushiguro back to her senses, as if struck by lightning. She was still foolishly thinking that the two of them were really going to have a come-and-go today.

But Eri Kimoto, who snuggled into his arms as if this could avoid the embarrassment brought about by the kiss she had just taken... felt like her brain was about to crash.

Eri Kimoto could feel the body she was hugging was as stiff as a stone, and the sound of his heartbeats, through the thin fabric of his shirt, was hitting her eardrums heavily and rapidly. She didn't know whether it was his or her own.

After several seconds, perhaps even longer, the stiff body slowly relaxed.

A pair of warm hands hesitantly and tentatively wrapped around her shoulders, then slowly tightened, finally holding her tightly in his arms.

Megumi Fushiguro's chin rested lightly on the top of her head, and his breath brushed through her hair, bringing a slight tickling sensation.

Then Eri Kimoto heard it. She heard a very soft laugh in her ears, which was filled with unconcealable joy and disbelief. The laugh was like a feather gently scratching her heart, making her whole body numb.

"...A sneak attack?" Fushiguro Megumi's voice was still a little hoarse, but it was filled with a gentle smile. The arms around her tightened a little: "I understand what Eri means."

Qi Ben Eri buried her face deeper into his chest. A muffled voice came out from his arms, filled with anger and embarrassment: "Just know it!"

Gently rubbing the top of her head with his chin, Fushiguro Megumi laughed softly again. The embrace was warm and reassuring.

In this intoxicatingly warm atmosphere, Qi Ben Eri suddenly remembered something and raised her head abruptly, looking at him with sparkling eyes and a blush on her face: "By the way, Hui!"

She finally called out his name naturally, instead of the distant Fushiguro-san.

"Can we not tell anyone yet?" Eri Kimoto clutched his clothes, her eyes flashing with that all-too-familiar sly glint of a mischievous prank. "It would be fun to keep this exciting underground romance a secret from everyone. Then, when the perfect moment comes, suddenly reveal it to the public and give them a scare. Just imagine their expressions, hahahahahaha!"

The young man looked at Eri Kimoto quietly. The smug and malicious look on this guy's face made him feel so soft-hearted that he couldn't say no.

"good."

"But I still have to tell you, sister!"

"But...if my brother-in-law knew about this, everyone would probably know too!"

"Then tell my sister not to tell Yuta Otsutsukota!"

“Hehehe!”

Megumi Fushiguro hummed softly, lowered his head and hugged her again, this time he rubbed her gently with his head.

The sour feeling completely disappeared at this moment, leaving only a sense of satisfaction that made him unconsciously smile. Then he heard the expectant voice of the girl in his arms.

"Nene! Can I call my sister over and talk to her right now?!"

Fushiguro Megumi suddenly stopped: "........"

At this point in time...Isn't it a bit...

"sister!!!"