Akatsuki Translations

“150km—! Yuuta, we did it! We ran the whole way!” -Misuzu

“The goal was to find the stairs, but we didn’t find them.” -Yuuta

“D-don’t say that. It makes me feel depressed all of a sudden.” -Misuzu

Both of us were drenched in sweat. The weather in the dungeon is always fixed. We had been running under the blazing sun the whole time. We were completely soaked with sweat. When we sat down, the heat was so intense that we both ended up taking off our body armor.

Misuzu even took off her pants and was in a white tank top and leggings. I was in a T-shirt and cargo pants, and both of us were so soaked that there wasn’t a dry spot left on our clothes.

“I-it’s not easy to find, is it?” -Yuuta

Misuzu’s bra was visible through her tank top, and even her panties could be seen through the leggings. I struggled with whether I should be looking or not but ended up speaking while inadvertently glancing over.

“Reality is cruel~. But at least we got some Gacha Coins, so it’s not a bad haul, right?” -Misuzu

Misuzu, fanning her tank top, leaned against me. It’s hot because we took off the body armor, but she still clung to me. Isn’t it too hot for that? But I didn’t want to move away. The heat was actually great.

“That’s true. But I think we should avoid lingering near the entrance to the Gacha Zone. We’re the only ones who go to the Stone Gacha in Ikebukuro, and it’s too conspicuous. Let’s pull the Gacha tomorrow morning.” -Yuuta

“I can pull once too, right?” -Misuzu

“That’s fine.” -Yuuta

“Maybe not now, huh?” -Misuzu

“It’s 11 PM now. There are probably fewer explorers around, but there are still some at the shops and such. It’s risky just passing near the entrance on the way back, let alone stopping to pull Gacha. It’s important, but not worth risking our lives for. Tomorrow, tomorrow.” -Yuuta

“Okay, okay, I get it.” -Misuzu

“So, I was thinking, since we’ve gotten used to it, how about we run back tomorrow at a distance from each other where we can’t help each other? As a rehearsal for the actual journey.” -Yuuta

“Smart. That way we can cover the 10km area we couldn’t explore because of Hazumi and his group on both the way there and back.” -Misuzu

“Your quick understanding helps a lot.” -Yuuta

“No, no, it’s because Yuuta is smart.” -Misuzu

We checked our path on the map app up to the dungeon entrance. Exactly 500 meters from that spot, Misuzu and I kept a distance from each other. This way, on the way back, we could cover the 10km area near the entrance we couldn’t explore because of Hazumi and his group.

Despite everything, we were still full of energy.

After running that much, we were still able to run. I could see Misuzu 500 meters ahead. We waved at each other and started running through the 10km area near the entrance, staying apart for the sake of avoiding Hazumi and his group. Running separately felt quite different.

Most importantly, since we’re within the 10km range, we can’t kill goblins and have to escape. So, I ran while making sure Misuzu, who was at a distance, wasn’t getting tired or caught by goblins.

“――Phew, glad we didn’t encounter anyone.” -Yuuta

The moment passing near the entrance is the most dangerous.

I was tense, checking if Hazumi and his group were around. There were still quite a few people at the dungeon shop. Thinking it’s better not to go near the shop because we had goblin blood on us, we only used the shower and quickly left.

Stepping outside, the cold of January hit us, contrasting sharply with the dungeon’s climate. I put on a parka and lined chinos, and Misuzu and I walked side by side. Misuzu held my hand as we boarded a train at Ikebukuro station.

Without any luggage, we blended in with the other passengers. We had left all our items in lockers at the dungeon shop.

“I wonder what we’ll get in tomorrow’s Gacha.” -Misuzu

“Is that all you think about?” -Yuuta

“It’s fun even if it’s just once. Aren’t you excited, Yuuta?” -Misuzu

Sitting close together on the train, she looked at me with an untroubled, cheerful face. I could hear other passengers clicking their tongues. Misuzu is cute, and I’m not exactly handsome. It seemed like they were wondering how a guy like me could have a girlfriend like her.

I painfully understood their thoughts but still basked in a sense of superiority. However, Misuzu is quite close to me, even though we’re not in a relationship. Does she usually interact with people this closely? How is she with other guys?

I was deep in thought about this when we reached Kokubunji station. We got off the train and left Kokubunji station together.

Walking to where our paths diverged,

“Misuzu, make sure you don’t oversleep tomorrow.” -Yuuta

“I drank a potion, so I’ll be fine.” -Misuzu

We each drank a 100,000 yen potion in the dungeon shop’s shower room. It had a restorative effect on physical strength and efficiently healed accumulated fatigue.

This method is often used by athletes, allowing for extensive overwork training.

“Misuzu, see you then.” -Yuuta

I felt lonely parting ways but happy thinking we’d meet again tomorrow.

“Wait, Yuuta.” -Misuzu

“Yeah?” -Yuuta

“Yuuta, do you want to kiss me?” -Misuzu

Misuzu suddenly said that. The sun had completely set, and the area was lit by light leaking from houses and streetlights. The streetlight cast a faint, beautiful glow on Misuzu. There were few people around, and dry leaves were scattered on the ground, being January.

With her ponytail swaying and wearing a black coat, she spoke casually. Her lips were particularly striking.

“Huh?” -Yuuta

I tilted my head, wondering if she was joking.

“I mean, I feel like kissing.” -Misuzu

“Huh?” -Yuuta

“You don’t like it? Just so you know, it’s my first kiss. Don’t think I’m easy just because it’s only been three days since we met.” -Misuzu

“I wouldn’t think that, but why so suddenly?” -Yuuta

I was flustered. Or rather, I couldn’t grasp what I was being told. Did Misuzu really say ‘kiss’? That word felt so unreal, making me wonder if all this time I spent with Misuzu, enjoying ourselves, was just a dream.

“Is it not okay if it’s sudden?” -Misuzu

“We aren’t even in a relationship.” -Yuuta

“How about we start being lovers from today?” -Misuzu

“No, it can’t be that simple, right?” -Yuuta

“It can be simple.” -Misuzu

“Misuzu, do you understand? You’re talking about me.” -Yuuta

“Of course. That’s why I’m saying it, because it’s you, Yuuta.” -Misuzu

“I don’t really get it. I mean, it’s me, after all.” -Yuuta

Misuzu must know that I was bullied at school. Why would she want to be in a relationship or kiss someone like me?

“I’ve been confessed to by cool guys before, and even by handsome college students who were tutors at the cram school. But I never felt anything for them. Even when Koharu talks about the celebrities she likes, it doesn’t resonate with me. What’s so good about them? I never understood. So, I always thought maybe I just don’t have romantic feelings.” -Misuzu

“Is that so?” -Yuuta

“Is it different for you, Yuuta?” -Misuzu

“I’ve always had someone I liked.” -Yuuta

I couldn’t say that the person I liked was Misuzu, right in front of me.

“Is that so? That’s too bad. I’m really in the mood to kiss, it’s a shame.” -Misuzu

“Ah, well, that…” -Yuuta

I want to do that too. However, it doesn’t seem like Misuzu is saying it out of romantic feelings. It’s just that during the time in the dungeon, when our lives are in danger, those kinds of feelings intensify. That’s how it seemed to me.

“You don’t mean it in a romantic way, do you?” -Yuuta

“I’m not sure. But I kind of feel like doing it a lot with Yuuta right now. Mei-oneechan says, ‘In such cases, it’s best to properly have sex.’ But that’s definitely too indecent, isn’t it?” -Misuzu

“Well, that’s quite an amazing sister you have there.” -Yuuta

“It seems that’s not unusual over there. Yuuta, do you also want to do naughty things with someone you like?” -Misuzu

“Well… yes, I do.” -Yuuta

The way this is phrased makes it seem like it could be easily misunderstood. But I also didn’t want to be seen as a man without sexual desire. I definitely think now is the right time to confess. And it feels like it might be successful.

But even if it were to succeed, it’s still fine if we’re just friends. However, I had no confidence that things would go well if I became a boyfriend to a beautiful girl like Misuzu. If Misuzu got bored of me, then this relationship would be over. We wouldn’t be able to enter the dungeon together anymore.

If this heightened sexual desire is only because of the special environment of the dungeon, then surely that would happen. I was terribly afraid of not being able to talk to Misuzu like this anymore. As I was thinking, Misuzu’s face was right in front of me. And it was coming closer.

Misuzu’s beautiful face was approaching.

Getting closer and closer.

Her pink lips were beautiful.

Huh? What is she doing?

At this rate, our lips will touch.

But wait, I haven’t responded yet.

Our lips touched. We were kissing. Misuzu put her arms around my neck. She hugged me tightly, and our bodies pressed together. I thought her chest was soft. What am I doing? A passing old man was staring at us and bumped into a telephone pole.

Yet, it was certain that Misuzu’s body was soft, and her lips were sweet. I wanted to stay like this forever. The beautiful face of Kiriyama-san, whom I had long admired, was right in front of me. If we were attacked by a goblin now, it would surely be quite dangerous.

No, isn’t this inside a dungeon? How long had we been like this? Just for a minute? Ten minutes? It felt like an hour. The lips that were pressed firmly against mine parted.

Misuzu was still holding onto my body. Our bodies were pressed together. Naturally, reaching this point, there was no way I wouldn’t get excited, and things got pretty intense as I pressed back against Misuzu.

“Hehehe, you’ve come to like me more than her, haven’t you?” -Misuzu

“Ah, eh?” -Yuuta

“Oh, you haven’t? But it’s okay. I’ve decided not to lie to myself about my feelings anymore. But if you really hate it, tell me. But if you don’t hate it… Shall we go home?” -Misuzu

Misuzu shouted. I could tell she was enduring her embarrassment, her face bright red. She seemed to have realized the magnitude of what she had done after kissing me.

“Misuzu, I can’t go home unless you let go of me.” -Yuuta

Misuzu was still hugging me. She was shaking slightly. It wasn’t because of the cold. I realized that, one way or another, Misuzu had been overwhelmed today.

“Oh, oh, right. Huh, I can’t seem to let go of your hand.” -Misuzu

I want to become stronger and continue being an explorer in the dungeon. But it’s definitely scary, no doubt about it. That’s why I want someone by my side. And I just happened to be there at the time. Misuzu’s body was trembling slightly as she tried to pull away.

I realized that my thinking wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t that I had suddenly become popular, which was either a relief or a disappointment. Instead, I felt more at ease and hugged Misuzu back. I thought, as always, that Misuzu was soft.

“Misuzu, let’s take it slow. Becoming a high-level explorer is still a long way off. We’ll get used to it gradually and become stronger. Let’s work hard together.” -Yuuta

“Ah, yes, that’s right. Sorry, I’m kind of embarrassed about a lot of things. Sorry for doing something strange even though I have someone I like.” -Misuzu

“It’s okay. More importantly, let’s meet at the usual time tomorrow.” -Yuuta

“Yeah, at the usual time tomorrow.” -Misuzu

Misuzu finally calmed down and let go of me. If I had the courage to confess my feelings, I surely would have done it at that moment. But I couldn’t. Unable to understand my own feelings, I headed home.