NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48.2
Stage 2-17. The Gloom Of A Holiday Evening
…This feeling, I know it well… Hah! Could it be…!?
A terrifying possibility crossed my mind.
No, but… I need to confirm it.
This isn’t just about Reina—it could affect my relationships with other girls too.
“…Alice, may I ask you something? …Do I smell?”
“No, not at all.”
“Don’t hold back. Can you give me a sniff?”
“As you wish. Please excuse me.”
Alice leaned in and sniffed delicately with her cute nose.
…This feels like some kind of bizarre noble pastime—having a beautiful girl like Alice smell me. And honestly… it’s a bit exciting.
She sniffed my hair, my nape, and my back, then spoke in her usual calm tone.
“Your body is perfectly clean, Ouga-sama. You smell like sunshine.”
“I see. That’s good.”
Thank goodness…! I thought maybe the clothes I gave Reina reeked of my scent.
If they had stunk, it would’ve been no wonder if Reina gave me such a sour look.
But if that’s not the case… Ah, I understand now.
Reina was feeling the same as an overworked employee on a Sunday evening.
She said it was her first time hanging out with someone, and that she had no friends.
When a fun holiday comes to an end, and the thought of another workday looms, it’s easy to fall into a melancholic mood—and that must’ve been the reason for her expression.
The pajama party plan worked even better on Reina than I expected.
Alright! I’ll keep up this “white company” strategy and pull Reina to our side!
“Heh heh… Another thing to add to my letter to Father.”
I scribbled down that I’d be introducing one more person. This was no longer just a possibility—it was certain.
“Ouga-kun! Let’s go to the student council room!”
“It’s your first day on the job! I’ll teach you everything—I am your senior, after all.”
Right on cue, Mashiro and Karen came to invite me to the council room.
Today marks the first day of our duties as student council members.
Reina said she wouldn’t participate in council activities—but that’s no reason for me to hold back.
I’ll take over her tasks, drag her out to enjoy the sun during lunch, and free her from the clutches of endless overtime!