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Chapter 257. An Innocent Girl Hosts Minami the Incubus
🕑 Added 2025-04-02 05:58:49 +0000 UTCWalking down the street alongside Satou Matsuzaka inevitably drew some attention.
And the reason was simple.
Anyone seeing a guy accompanied by a drenched, adorably pretty girl would naturally be curious about what exactly the two of them had been doing.
Minami could definitely feel the stares from passersby.
But he didn't care.
After all, even when Satou Matsuzaka wasn't around, he'd still get looks from girls on the street—curious, inquisitive expressions thrown his way.
He was used to that kind of attention by now.
Holding the umbrella, he walked on without a second thought.
But that simple gesture sparked a bit of confusion in Satou Matsuzaka.
She remembered clearly—
Minami had mentioned earlier that he had things to take care of in the afternoon.
And yet, even now, he showed no signs of leaving.
So she tilted her head and asked, "Minami-senpai, don't you have something you need to handle?"
"I do."
Minami didn't deny it. He nodded in acknowledgment.
"Then why...?"
Satou Matsuzaka lifted her head, pink eyes blinking in puzzlement as she looked at him.
"You're soaked. Of course I'm walking you home first," he said, turning his gaze to the side, voice calm. "I can't just watch you go home alone in the rain like this, right? Did you already forget about fainting from anemia yesterday?"
"Is that so?"
Satou Matsuzaka nodded and didn't press further.
His reason made sense, and yes—she had fainted yesterday due to anemia.
But more importantly—
"Haah—"
Satou Matsuzaka lowered her head and breathed warm air onto her reddened hands.
Now that he mentioned it...
She suddenly became aware of the cold biting into her body.
Her hands stung with a sharp, prickling pain from the cold.
It really was freezing.
She propped her umbrella against her shoulder and tried to rub her hands together to generate warmth.
But just as she raised her hands—
A warm hand reached out from beside her and gently took hold of hers.
"Minami-senpai?"
She tilted her head, puzzled, looking at Minami.
"Warming your hands," he said simply.
"Is that so...?"
Instinctively, Satou Matsuzaka looked at the hand holding hers.
Not knowing how to express affection, she couldn't quite understand this kind of gesture.
After all, her hands were icy cold.
She didn't believe that just by holding her hand, Minami's warmth could really make her feel any better.
A person's body heat was limited.
It's not like he was a fireplace in winter, providing endless warmth.
That's what Satou Matsuzaka thought.
And yet—
"Eh...?"
Her pink eyes sparkled with surprise as she looked down at her hand, now held tightly by Minami.
For some reason—
Just that simple act of holding hands stirred a strange, indescribable feeling in her heart.
A surge of heat radiated from her palm—
And then, that warmth reached her face, usually calm with a gentle smile.
A soft blush bloomed on her pale cheeks.
She even felt a strange, almost burning sensation—warm and intense.
What was going on?
Satou Matsuzaka couldn't understand it at all.
It was just a simple gesture—holding hands.
So why was her heart reacting this way?
Back when she participated in group dances, she'd held hands with others before.
But back then, she hadn't felt a thing.
No emotion, no inner fluctuation at all.
But now...
A warmth she couldn't describe.
It felt like it was melting the chill from every part of her body.
As if someone had opened a jar of Konpeitō candy.
Bits of sugar dissolving, syrup sweet and smooth, seeping into her chest.
And yet, all she'd done was hold hands with Minami.
Why was she feeling this way?
As someone who suffered from emotional detachment, she simply couldn't comprehend it.
She stopped walking, placing a hand on her chest.
Minami turned toward her and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Ah… I…"
Satou Matsuzaka didn't know why.
Her heart, always calm and unshaken since childhood—
Now for the first time, it felt like waves were crashing inside her.
Even her voice had lost its usual peaceful, quiet tone.
"I don't know why… but Minami-senpai's hand… it feels so warm."
She looked up at him, eyes wide.
So warm…
Really warm…
It was just ordinary skin contact—she'd never felt this before.
But her chest—especially her heart—felt as though someone had lit a flame.
The warmth scorched her long-frozen heart, leaving her at a loss.
She couldn't describe this feeling, so all she could do was clumsily express it the best she could.
As she stumbled through her thoughts and words—
Minami felt a twinge of emotion.
Just like in the simulation—
Satou Matsuzaka didn't understand what love meant.
Nor did she understand how to express it, or how others might show it.
This was the first time she'd ever experienced emotions—her own and someone else's. No wonder she was reacting like this.
Minami thought about that, then asked, "Should I let go?"
He figured that, overwhelmed as she was, Satou Matsuzaka would probably nod and agree.
But—
"No."
She didn't hesitate for even a second. Instead, she gently tightened her grip on his hand.
And maybe it was just his imagination—but Minami thought her face turned even redder.
"Let's hold hands a little longer, Minami-senpai."
If it had been the old her, she might've let go without a second thought.
But now—
Now that she'd tasted warmth for the first time, there was a part of her that didn't want to let go.
"Is that so…?"
Under Satou Matsuzaka's gaze, Minami didn't bring up letting go again.
She exhaled slowly, pink eyes sneaking a glance at him.
Her body still felt cold.
The chill of the world still pressed in.
But somehow…
The warmth rising in her chest felt strong enough to drive all that cold away.
…
Unlike Minami, who had to take a train to get home near Shimokitazawa, Satou Matsuzaka's home was much closer.
Her home was only about a ten-minute walk from Shuka High School.
All you had to do was pass through the shopping district and take a few more steps into the residential area, and you'd be there.
"So this is the place, huh?"
Minami squinted at the apartment building in front of him.
Satou Matsuzaka lived in a simple, ordinary residential apartment complex.
From where he stood, it looked to be about ten stories tall.
And yet, this was the very place—
That he had tried to visit multiple times in the simulation.
But each time, Satou Matsuzaka had brushed him off with various excuses.
In the simulation, Minami respected her wishes. After realizing how she felt, he stopped trying to visit altogether.
Even after they got married—
Satou Matsuzaka never returned to this place again.
But I'm not the same as him.
Minami stroked his chin thoughtfully. He knew one of the main reasons Satou Matsuzaka didn't want him to come here was her guardian—Sayuri Matsuzaka.
A person who had clearly played a major role in Satou Matsuzaka's life but had never once appeared in the simulation.
Even at the end—
When Satou Matsuzaka passed away from illness, Sayuri Matsuzaka never showed up.
Everything about her had been hidden away by Satou Matsuzaka herself.
Minami hadn't walked her home today just for the sake of courtesy.
No—he wanted to meet the elusive Sayuri Matsuzaka, someone he had never seen before.
If he could just speak with her—
He might be able to uncover the root cause of Satou Matsuzaka's emotional detachment.
From there, he could find a way to heal her heart completely.
Which meant… the next step was simple.
Minami turned to look at Satou Matsuzaka.
The pink-haired girl had already folded her umbrella and raised her head to speak:
"Minami-senpai, this is far enough. I can go up by myself from here."
Right—they were already at the foot of her apartment building.
She could make the rest of the way on her own.
But—
"I've already walked you all the way here. Aren't you going to invite me up for a bit?"
Minami stepped forward, his tone casual, questioning.
"Eh…?"
Satou Matsuzaka looked up, her pretty brows knitting slightly, her voice hesitant. "But… Minami-senpai… um… my place is kind of messy…"
Exactly the reaction he expected!
Minami could feel her hesitation. Without missing a beat, he took another step forward and shook the rain off his umbrella.
"A little mess doesn't bother me. I don't mind. And it's still pouring—surely you're not going to send me away in this weather?"
Satou Matsuzaka fell silent.
From any angle, Minami's reasoning was perfectly sound.
He'd taken the time to walk her home, and she was not only refusing to host him, but trying to send him off.
No matter how she thought about it, that didn't seem right.
But…
Thinking of the person waiting at home—
Satou Matsuzaka's delicate brows furrowed deeper.
"Come to think of it, I'm a little hungry."
Minami spoke up again, unbothered. "Aren't you going to invite me in for a bite?"
"…If you want to eat, I can go up and change clothes, then take you to one of the famous restaurants nearby," Satou Matsuzaka replied, shaking her head, still trying to refuse.
Still resisting?
Minami could feel the stubbornness in her heart.
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
Now he understood why the simulated version of himself had never forced her to let him meet Sayuri Matsuzaka.
Most likely, he had been moved by Satou Matsuzaka's firm stance.
Decided there was no need to force it.
But—
"I personally think, compared to standard restaurant meals, a dish cooked by Satou-san herself would better express your gratitude."
Minami didn't budge.
If he wanted to avoid the same regretful tragedy from the simulation—
Then he had to stand firm here.
With that in mind—
Minami took a slow breath.
Then, facing Satou Matsuzaka, who was still clearly hesitant, he gave her a smile—one that could only be described as perfect from any angle.
"I'm counting on you, Satou."
He deliberately lowered his voice. His normally clear tone now carried a deeper, more resonant edge.
"Ugh—"
Satou Matsuzaka, who had fully intended to refuse again, found her cherry-pink lips frozen in place.
She realized something—
She couldn't say no when Minami looked at her like that.
Rain-drenched strands of hair clung to his handsome, fair-skinned face.
His cheeks, normally warm and healthy, were pale from the cold.
His pant legs were soaked, his hair damp, and altogether he looked disheveled.
It was an image no woman could bring herself to refuse.
Satou Matsuzaka wavered.
She couldn't help but wonder—maybe she was overthinking it.
Minami just wanted to come inside for a short rest.
That was all.
Shouldn't she simply open the door and host him, as a matter of courtesy?
It was such a small, simple thing.
Why was she making excuses and resisting?
She felt that this—this whole mess—was her fault.
Why did she try to refuse him in the first place?
With that thought—
The resistance in her heart gave way.
Satou Matsuzaka gently took Minami's hand again, feeling his cold, slightly trembling fingers.
A strange ache bloomed in her chest, a bitter taste rising in her mouth.
Shaking her head, she said softly, "It's just that the place is a little messy… If Minami-senpai doesn't mind, then… please come in with me."
Yes!
Perfect!
Minami let out a quiet sigh of relief, watching as Satou Matsuzaka finally agreed.
It had been worth it—using his [Perfect Enchanting Smile – Shouji Akane Variant] and sacrificing his dignity to earn her trust.
After all, to Satou Matsuzaka, he was still just a senpai she'd known for a single day.
Even if she'd fallen for his smile at first sight…
They hadn't yet developed the "I am your master" dynamic from the simulation.
It made sense that she was a bit cautious.
But that didn't matter anymore.
Now that he had her permission—
He casually reassured her that he didn't mind the mess and followed close behind, discreetly watching her input the apartment's passcode.
Then, he followed her into the elevator to head up to her floor.
Somewhere along the way, Minami felt a strange sense of irony.
Why did it feel like he was the shady stalker, secretly tailing someone—
And Satou Matsuzaka was the innocent girl letting her guard down around him?
Wasn't this completely reversed?
Both in the simulation and in reality, she had been the one trying to tail him first.
The odd feeling swirled in Minami's mind.
But the moment they stepped into the elevator, all those thoughts vanished.
Because now—
He was finally going to find out who the elusive Sayuri Matsuzaka really was, the one hidden behind the simulation's curtain.
All he could hope for now—
Was that she turned out to be… well, normal.
