Stepping Beyond the Pixels: Loves Intricate Game

Chapter Eleven: Miss-Understanding

"What do you want?"

You couldn't help but feel flushed and warm faced at the sound of his deep, resonant voice. You heard it before during that altercation with Makino, but you have yet to be able to fully appreciate it until now. It was times like this that you wished the game had in-game voice overs, it would have made your fawning more appropriate from behind a screen than in person.

Realizing that you were staring, you shook your head slightly to once again focus on why you stopped him in the first place. "I'm sorry to bother you, it's just I, well, I noticed that you looked hurt and–"

"I'm fine, so you can go now," he replied curtly.

While this reaction wasn't something you didn't expect, it still threw you off slightly, but you weren't backing down, not when you needed to express how grateful you were for his help. "Okay, I believe you, but at least let me offer you this," you say, reaching into your mini bookbag and pulled out the first aid kit that sat on top. Earlier you had to change out your bandage which made it convenient now because you didn't need to go rummaging for it. "It's not much, and you don't have to use it, but please humor me." You reached out your arm and held out the kit. "I didn't get the chance to do this sooner, but I wanted to say thank you because you," your voice wavered, "you saved my life back then, a-and I was so scared that I was going to die."

'Great, I'm starting to get choked up.'

Dropping into a deep bow, still holding out the first aid kit, you quite loudly said, "So thank you very much!" Your face felt hot again as you felt embarrassed about how unintentionally loud you sounded. The brief silence that followed your declaration only fueled that feeling.

While his face didn't betray it, Ryōta was actually flustered and quite frankly confused with your reaction. He didn't realize how much his act of heroism had impacted you. "Geez, there's no need to get so worked up about it. I was just doing what anyone should do," He said, looking away from your form and awkwardly rubbing the nape of his neck. "I'll take the kit if it makes you feel better, but I'm fine." Gingerly, he took the kit from your outstretched hand at the same time you went to stand up. "Wait, a-are you crying?" Alarmed, Ryōta took a small step back in shock after seeing the tears cascading down your face.

Shocked by your own tears, you reached up and quickly tried to wipe the tears away but they just kept falling. "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me, sorry." You couldn't think of what else to say besides apologizing. 'Looking at Ryōta is bringing back all those memories of that day; Makino's hands around my neck; the inability to breathe. Dang it, now I'm crying harder.' No matter how much you wiped you couldn't get the tears to stop, and out of embarrassment you could only mutter quiet 'sorries.'

While it wasn't uncommon for girls to get teary eyed in his presence, with you it was different and he couldn't help but feel flustered as he tried to find ways to console you. "H-hey, don't cry. Look," he awkwardly put a hand on your shoulder, "you don't need to apologize, really it's not that big of a deal, so just stop crying already."

'Poor Ryōta, he was never good at dealing with girls, let alone crying ones, and here I am crying my eyes out. I don't even know why I'm crying so much,' you thought to yourself, furiously trying to wipe away the tears.

The two of you continued to stand there, Ryōta doing his best to comfort you and you trying to stop the tears, unaware of how you might have looked to people outside the conversation. Which is why you both were completely taken off guard when an angry shout reverberated through the alley.

"Hey, leave her alone!"

Before you could even turn around and stop your friend, Yuki had already run up and forcefully shoved Ryōta back. He visibly winced as she had actually hit a tender spot that he received from his fight only moments ago. Now that he was further away from you, Yuki took a protective stance in front of you, while Akui just stood idly by you.