7th Heaven: Weapons of God's fury

Chapter 9 - Bonds between the Looser and the progidy

Laura, now somewhat abandoned, looked up at the upper bunk bed and studied the boy who defeated her.

I'm... certainly not weak.

She wasn't brash enough to think she was the strongest in the world, but she'd never lose to a person of mediocre ability. Near was strong, and she was curious about the source of that strength. She wanted to know how he could continue to believe in himself without all that mistreatment overcoming him.

"...Roswell. Near."

As she spoke that name, a mysterious sweetness made her heart lightly throb. For Laura, this was the first time she wanted to know someone else so much. She couldn't restrain the desire to learn more about the sleeping boy, and the delay from his recovery was unbearable. That was why, after being overwhelmed by the curiosity bubbling inside of her, she climbed the bunk bed's ladder.

Near was still sleeping. He might've changed sides while asleep, but now he was lying on his stomach, and she could no longer see his face. She could hear light breathing that matched the gentle movements of his well-built back, so he must have improved quite a bit since a while ago, because the feeling that he might never wake again was no longer there. Laura felt a little relieved at that.

"...Near."

She called out his name, but as if defying her, he didn't rouse from his deep slumber. It couldn't be helped. He was sleeping soundly, so it would be rude to wake him up by force. Since her anxiety hadn't subsided yet, Stella decided she should take a stroll outside and come back later.

Yes, as Laura was thinking that―she accidentally peeked into the gap between the shirt and the nape of Near's neck. He had a wide back, and the sight of his back had a profound impact that she couldn't imagine from his sheepish smile.

No, his body wasn't that muscular. If anything, his body could be considered thin, but the steely strength there made his back seem far more substantial than it actually was.

...Ju-Just a little, it's okay, right? He's facing the other way too.

After conferring with some invisible person in her heart, Laura extended her hands towards Near's back, and she slowly started to touch.

"W-Wow...."

*Thump thump*

When Laura touched him with the palms of her hands, the sensation of Near's blood flowing started to enter her. It was strong, and hot enough to burn, but his body felt quite different from steel, as if she was feeling the heat of his vitality.

So this is a boy's... back.

It was her first time touching a boy, and Laura felt like she was dreaming.

"N...mn...."

"Eek...!"

Near suddenly turned over, and now he was facing up. Because of that, Laura's right hand got rolled in and pinned under his sleeping body.

Oh no!

If Near woke up now, Laura couldn't give any excuse. His body was unexpectedly heavy, so she couldn't pull her hand out and escape. She could yank it, but that might disturb him, and falling off the ladder because she pulled too hard would also be disastrous.

...What choice do I have?

Laura held her breath and climbed further up the ladder. Standing on her knees while taking care not to touch him, she used her left hand to raise Near's side slowly... slowly... very slowly.

"Uun...n! ...Kuh."

Th-That was close!

Stella felt cold sweat forming on her back. She somehow managed to lift up that side with her free hand and... one way or another succeeded in pulling out her trapped one. Success! But... even so, Stella kept on looking at the sleeping Ikki below her.