Animania: Everyone Loves Me

The sky gradually dimmed.

Dusk spread like a pool of bluish-gray dye over the buildings, startling the birds returning home. The streetlights lit up one after another, interweaving with the neon lights flowing from the cubicles of office buildings, casting soft patches of light on the asphalt road. From the nearby 24-hour convenience store came a faint aroma of instant noodles, perhaps a corporate slave who just finished overtime was foraging for food.

Although being the only one whose legs went weak from fright was embarrassing to mention… after leaving the cinema, Miura Yumiko quickly pulled herself together again, just like a worn-out human who had been tempered a thousand times, "What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger."

"What's the plan next?"

Kaito glanced down at the screen, 'Just fifteen minutes away from exactly eight o'clock.'

"I booked a private room in advance."

Yumiko also waved her phone, speaking seriously, "Why don't we go eat something together? Bocchi must be hungry too, right?"

"I-I'm okay with anything…", The little social anxiety girl was as timid as ever.

"Should we give your family a call first?"

Kaito thought about it and suggested, "If you get back too late, Mrs. Gotou and Mr. Gotou might get worried, right?"

If he were Bocchi's father, having such a timid, introverted, and adorable daughter who suddenly didn't come home late into the night, his first reaction would definitely be worry about what might have happened to her.

"N-No need…", The pink-haired girl didn't know what she was recalling, but a strange blush spread across her delicate face, "Before I left, I-I already told Mom that I might be home very late…"

Bocchi still remembered her mother's expression at that time. At first, it was confusion, followed by worry.

But after learning that she was going out with Kaito, it turned into surprise and then… a smile that seemed like sudden realization.

First, she had warmly reminded her to have fun outside, and if she felt like it, staying overnight would be fine.

Then she indirectly hinted, absolutely remember to take safety precautions.

Before leaving, she had even secretly stuffed a few strange little boxes into her hand, saying they were high-end products specially prepared, ultra-thin, in all sizes.

Bocchi had curiously opened one for a look, then panicked and threw it to the floor, steam practically rising from her head.

After hesitating for a moment, she blushed and picked them up again, stuffed them into her pocket, and even while changing clothes later, didn't forget to keep them close to her body.

'I-It's just that I don't want to waste Mom's money.'

The little social anxiety girl tried her best to convince herself with this excuse, 'A-After all… she said they were high-end, so they must be expensive…'

As for what was truly on her mind, only God knew.

———

The private room Yumiko booked was at a Western-style restaurant not far from here.

The decor was refined, the ambiance elegant, and the lighting was uniquely warm yellow, creating a cozy atmosphere.

But… Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Bright red roses could be seen everywhere, curled into heart shapes inside frosted glass vases.

Each table was its own isolated island, with young men and women chatting and smiling softly to one another, their voices barely audible. The waiters' polished shoes slid across the teak floor like black fish gliding through a deep pond. In the corner, a phonograph softly played jazz from the 1930s. The ambient light was just enough to envelope two people's shadows, any more would be overstepping.

It didn't feel like a normal Western restaurant.

Rather, it looked more like, 'A love hotel?'

"Excuse me, are you Miss Miura?", A beautiful waitress had already been waiting in the lobby, her smile gentle. Even upon seeing this strange combination of two girls and one guy, she didn't show the slightest trace of surprise.

Perhaps it was due to professional training… or maybe because she'd seen even more absurd scenarios.

After confirming their identities, she led Kaito and the others to a private room on the sixth floor. It offered a great deal of privacy, and the decoration was tastefully done.

Rather than calling it a private dining room, it would be more accurate to say, it was a luxurious single bedroom.

Aside from the rectangular dining table covered with linen and the softly flickering white candle flame, plus a rose in a vase, there was even a large bed for resting, shaped bizarrely like a heart. It should have no problem fitting two or three people.

'So this really isn't a proper restaurant, was it?'

Candlelight, roses, heart-shaped bed.

Even if Kaito had never actually been to a love hotel, with all these elements combined, there didn't seem to be any other interpretation?

He gave the blonde girl beside him a long look and sighed.

Though he didn't know exactly what kind of scheme this girl was cooking up…

'Forget it, better to just observe quietly for now.'

———

Baked cheese shrimp, volcano-style mashed potatoes in tomato sauce, grilled lamb chops, tomato vegetable soup…

Dishes were served one after another by the waiter until the table was completely full.

At first glance it looked abundant, but the actual portions were small. Kaito tried each one, flavor-wise, they were decent.

After that, he didn't touch his fork much, not because he was full, but because Yumiko wouldn't give him the chance.

"To celebrate the first successful team building event of the Supernatural Research Club! President, I toast you!"

"The weather's been great today, President, let's drink another one!"

"Mm… this wine looks really wine-y, gulp gulp gulp…"

Basically, she just kept finding all sorts of excuses.

Bocchi, who had been immersed in battling the meal, noticed and instinctively picked up her wine glass too.

But unlike Miura, she didn't dare encourage the president to drink, so she could only silently drink it herself. In no time, she was dizzy, and her pretty face was blushing a lovely red.

Kaito wasn't sure what Yumiko was truly up to.

But for a normal person, this strong wine could knock them down in one cup, yet for him, it was no different from water. No matter how much he drank, he wouldn't get drunk.

So he accepted every toast calmly, always composed.

.

.

.

[Ten Minutes Later]

The table was a mess, and empty wine glasses were scattered all over the floor.

The blonde girl lay face-down on the table, not moving for a long while. Beside her, Bocchi was also woozy, seeing triple of every figure in front of her.

'Is this the limit?'

Kaito shook his head. He had thought Yumiko had some other tricks up her sleeve, but now it seemed… maybe he was overthinking it?

'Well, drunk is drunk.'

'At least once she passed out, she'd stop trying to put a hat on herself.'

He waved his hand to clean up the chaotic scene, then prepared to help Yumiko and Bocchi over to the bed.

He started with Bocchi, the little social anxiety girl had a soft and gentle disposition, her body delicate and tender. Hugging her felt like holding a cloud of cotton, very pleasant to the touch.

The drunk girl looked rather dazed, completely unresponsive to the outside world's movements, and so he easily carried her to the bed.

Then he came to the seemingly sound-asleep Yumiko. Kaito picked her up by the waist and gently placed her on the bed using the same technique.

Only after finishing all this did he breathe a sigh of relief, planning to use this time to gather tonight's moon essence.

But just as he took a step, his stride stopped.

"N-Not over yet!", The blonde girl, who a second ago had no reaction at all, had somehow already opened her eyes. Her pretty face was flushed all over, and though she couldn't even speak clearly, she still gripped his wrist tightly.

"Don't… even… think… of escaping!"

Bocchi, lying right next to her, dazedly watched this scene as if enlightened.

Under Kaito's gaze, the little social anxiety girl pounced forward, just like a facehugger from Alien.

"I-I want to too!"



═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator

🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.

https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y