NOVEL NEXT Chapter 233
Ugh, uh-heh!?
When I opened my eyes, it was morning.
What the heck, when did I fall asleep?
As I tried to get up using my hands, I realized my body was firmly wrapped around something.
No, it wasn’t tied up. To be precise, Sua was hugging me tightly with both arms. She had wrapped both her legs around one of mine, so I couldn’t easily move my leg either.
Uh… so…
I remember yesterday, in that situation, Sua kissed me several times. She was holding my hand until the end. However, since I have no memory after that, it seems I just fell asleep like that.
How could I fall asleep in that situation?
Seriously. How did I manage to sleep in that situation?
Sara teased.
I had nothing to say in response.
“Are you awake?”
Hearing that sound, I carefully turned my head to look at where the noise was coming from, making sure my lips didn’t bump into Sua’s, who was closely pressed against me.
Sohee and Ha Neul, looking groggy, were sitting at the table in the center of the room, watching us.
“What time is it now?”
“It’s nine.”
Sohee answered while sipping coffee. Her hair looked slightly damp, indicating she had already taken a shower.
“Oh, school…”
“Today is Saturday.”
Oh, right, of course.
There were just a few days left until the exams. Son Ah-reum had come over to our house on that excuse.
“Ugh….”
As I tried to sit up, Sua clung to me even tighter. With that strength, I just flopped back onto the bed. Sua buried her head against my chest. To be honest, there wasn’t much space to bury into.
Hey!
Sara shouted like that.
“Is she really asleep?”
Sohee was skeptical.
“……”
Ha Neul also squinted at Sua but said nothing. It seemed she decided to trust Sua for now.
“Uh, guys? Can someone help me?”
When I cautiously asked, Ha Neul and Sohee exchanged glances before letting out a big sigh.
“Sorry, but we’ve tried too.”
“I was worried that if I moved too forcefully, it would hurt her, so we let it be and slept together… I didn’t expect it to last until morning.”
Sohee and Ha Neul said that.
“……”
So, you’re saying you slept like this all night? Isn’t Sua’s limbs supposed to hurt at least?
“Uh, then when am I going to be able to…?”
“Probably until Sua wakes up.”
“Right, sure.”
Ha Neul and Sohee said it with expressions that showed they found it boring.
“Maybe we should adjust the agreement a bit?”
And then Ha Neul suggested that to Sohee.
“Maybe we can turn this situation around?”
Sohee responded.
“Huh? What do you mean by agreement?”
“Yeah, uh, nothing. It’s just something.”
When I awkwardly lifted my head to ask again, Ha Neul immediately waved her hands and answered.
“No, it’s not that. Wait a minute—”
“Ugh.”
Before I could question them further, Sua turned over and hugged me even tighter.
I could feel her taking a deep breath against my chest.
“…See? She’s awake, I told you!”
Sohee spoke almost confidently.
“No, let’s leave it for just a bit longer.”
Ha Neul’s eyes were burning with intensity.
No, this is too scary.
I just wanted to share the opportunity fairly! Things are getting really weird.
No, more importantly.
“What the heck is this agreement!?”
Of course, from the three of them—No, including Sua, who was probably pretending to be asleep but was actually awake—no one answered me.
*
The three of them really liked Sara.
But at the same time, the three of them were also friends with each other.
Of course, if they had to choose one among their friendships with Sara, they would choose Sara, but they all wished that such things wouldn’t happen if they could help it.
Above all, if such a thing were to happen, it would hurt Sara, who the three of them liked so much.
So, they established an agreement.
Of course, it wasn’t a completely defined rule or anything. There were things they established directly, but it was a flexible promise mixed with unspoken consensus.
All three of them would share the opportunity to be with Sara as much as possible. However, if Sara wanted to talk one-on-one, they wouldn’t deliberately stop it. In other words, ‘the opportunities given by Sara’ would be respected and not obstructed.
If any of them were in physical contact with Sara, they wouldn’t forcibly separate them.
That’s right. In fact, most of the clauses were made to ensure that ‘when I get a chance, I won’t miss it at all.’ They claimed it was for the sake of their friendship, but underneath it all, the sentiment of ‘I want to be with Sara the longest’ was thickly layered.
Of course, all three of them were perfectly aware of that fact.
And Sua utilized that loophole to snatch up the very last turn and stick to Sara.
During the timing when they were alone together. Without any chance for the two of them to intervene or interfere.
‘Not obstructing the opportunities given by Sara.’
That clause, designed to guarantee 100% of their own turn, was the real reason why the two of them couldn’t separate Sara from Sua.
Of course, since they couldn’t directly tell that fact to Sara, the two of them took turns watching over the two sleeping ones closely so that Sua wouldn’t go too far.
That was the reason for the dark circles under their eyes.
As a note, after almost another hour, when Sua finally woke up, her face was shining brightly. Bright enough for the other two to notice.
When the three of them were together, talking openly about the agreement was prohibited. Even if two of the three agreed, the agreement could only be changed if all three participated in the meeting.
Placing rules seemingly for fairness was actually a last-minute suggestion made by Sua when they were finalizing the agreement.
As long as Sua was sticking close to Sara, they could not talk about the agreement.
Only then did the two realize that they had fallen for Sua.
*
In the end, after being trapped with Sua for almost an hour, I finally escaped and fell into deep contemplation.
Am I completely screwed?
I can’t fully control the three of them, and even if I try to use a stick and carrot approach, my body has become one that cannot use a stick, and in fact, I also like the three of them, so I can’t completely let go.
Still, I’m managing not to go on a rampage when we see each other, but it’s terrifying when I meet one person at a time. I’m really afraid I might cross the line.
…No matter how much I’m in this situation, one moral line still remains for me.
At least, it can’t become a relationship with a minor.
Well, I wonder what significance it holds to worry about it now, but this is like a disaster or some calamity, so it can’t be helped.
…Then, should I make maximum use of these three?
Avoid meeting one-on-one at all costs, and adjust situations so that I can be with at least two people together as much as possible. Then at least, there wouldn’t be any incidents of getting overwhelmed to the point of no return.
In dreams?
Sara teased me as if taunting, but I desperately tried to ignore it.
…Is there a way to escape in dreams?
I should look into it.
I’m not some herbivore caught among carnivores.
“…Sara?”
“Uh, yeah.”
I was lost in thought when the girl in front of me spoke, snapping me back to reality.
Today is Saturday. That means it’s not a school day. But how diligent, Son Ah-reum still came to our house today.
After knocking on the door, Yang Hye-in came in and announced the guest had arrived, allowing me to finally escape from Sua’s embrace. So in a way, Ah-reum has been my savior.
“Thank you.”
“…Huh?”
When I suddenly expressed my gratitude, Son Ah-reum looked momentarily dazed.
“I’m just helping you study.”
“Oh, that thing.”
After I added that as if I was making excuses, Son Ah-reum gave a somewhat awkward smile and said,
“Well, isn’t that what friends are for?”
So sweet.
I think Ha Neul had this image when I first saw her as well.
…
Hmm, well, that’s not to say I didn’t like Ha Neul, though.
I subtly redirected my gaze. There were still Sohee and Ha Neul with slightly dazed faces, and Sua, who was sparkling with life. Well, they all had their shine, but today Sua looked especially vibrant, probably due to her overflowing energy.
“By the way, what happened yesterday?”
Noticing my glances, Son Ah-reum followed my gaze and inquired. Her eyes darted between the two whose faces looked dazed and Sua, who was sitting with a tremendously satisfied expression, and me.
“Uh, well…”
I hesitated for a moment before responding.
“…Something happened, yeah.”
Hearing my answer, Son Ah-reum’s face turned bright red. She had clearly seen firsthand every day what the three of them were doing to me at school. I wonder if she knows what happens every night in the same room with the three of them.
Their expressions alone, which showed they had stayed up all night, were quite telling.
Indeed, it seems the rule that leads are the most lewd characters applies even in this world. At least she hasn’t been incorporated into my harem yet, thankfully.
…I must absolutely keep her only as a friend.
I vowed that to myself deep inside.