Volume 8 - CH 23

Compensation for Weakness: Luxury

With my heart still pounding, I ride my bicycle home.

I actually wanted to use the train but when I saw people started looking painful on the train, I decided to commute using my bike even though it was more inconvenient.

Because of that, I arrived at the ruins a bit later than Akechi-san but he did not complain at all. He’s so kind.

After around 30 minutes, I finally arrived at my house.

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“I’m home.”

“Welcome back.”

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I can hear my mom’s voice from the inside.

Recently, my mom’s health has deteriorated so she’s trying to stay away from me but she’s a kind mother.

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The rest of my family consists of my father, my little brother who’s 3 years younger than me, and my pet cat.

A normal family you can find anywhere.

I was born sickly and I often caused trouble for my family. Growing up seeing the boys running so energetically, my only wish was to be a little bit healthier.

Even though the result of my Gift Aptitude Test came back positive, I didn’t know what it is because the ability itself hasn’t awakened yet.

However, that all changed when I became a high school student.

My Gift suddenly awakened and my physical condition never deteriorated again.

But as though to compensate for that, people around me started to get weaker.

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This Gift which troubles not only my family but my classmates, and random passers-by makes me feel even lonelier.

Everyone in my class got sick just by being around me so they began avoiding me.

Even my friends from middle school guessed that the cause was me and I think they hate me now…….

Despite that, my family remains kind without putting any blame on me.

We can not eat or watch TV together like we used to but I still love my family.

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That was why today’s encounter felt so sudden.

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[[Don’t worry, I will teach you how to control your Gift.]]

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Such kind and reliable words made me so happy that I fell for him at first sight.

He has brown hair and his eyes seem a little mean but…..

He’s like a prince, …..I thought.

I could see the pain on his face but he felt so reliable when he desperately tried to help me with my Gift.

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“………..!?”

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The warmth in my hand still lingers from his touch.

Whether it be before or after the awakening of my Gift, I have never held hands with a man other than my brother or my father.

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Akechi-san’s hand, it felt cool and pleasant…..

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Uuu, …….oh no.

I can’t get Akechi-san out of my head……

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While I eat my dinner alone in my room, I start thinking.

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If I can control my Gift…….

……would this kind of life finally come to an end?

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Would I be able to eat with my family again?

Would I be able to hang out with my friends from middle school again?

Would I be able to commute to school like anyone else again?

Would I be able to pet my cat again?

Would I be able to return to my life before my Gift awakened…….?

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Just thinking about that already made me happy!

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……..but.

If I can control my Gift then Akechi-san won’t meet me any more right?

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I open the RINE app on my phone.

If I can control my Gift, will this contact be deleted as well……?

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“I don’t want that……”

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I know that it’s selfish, that it’s a luxury…….

But I don’t want to lose both……

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Akechi-san might not think of me that way at all.

Maybe he will just cut ties with a strange girl like me who causes everyone trouble just by staying alive.

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I don’t want Akechi-san to abandon me.

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After I finished the meal, I entered the bath.

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“Uwah…..”

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My face is bright red…….

With my head filled with Akechi-san, delusions are rampaging in my mind

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He’s definitely popular, isn’t he? He’s such a kind and cool person after all…….

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“Haa……”

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My sigh disappeared into the steam from the hot bath…….

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The next day.

It’s Sunday today.

Last night we chatted and I was told that we would meet at the same place in the afternoon.

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I don’t know how I should dress.

Since I’ve never put on any make-up, all I can do is try to coordinate my clothes to at least get a little semblance of girliness.

To add some sex appeal to my ensemble, I also tried wearing a necklace.

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“I, I can meet Akechi-san again today……..”

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My blushing face is reflected back to me from the mirror.

I have to cool off a little before I meet him……..

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With both anticipation and anxiety raging in my heart, I got on my bike and headed toward the ruins from yesterday.

TLN: Awwww