Saito called out to me in a slightly high tone that sounded like a mixture of embarrassment and confusion.
Because of that, I hurriedly let go of my hand that had been stroking her, and she slowly raised her head.
[Oh!? Youāre awake!?]
I was so surprised that I raised my voice unintentionally.
I didnāt expect her to be awake. When I looked at her before, she was sleeping soundly andĀ peacefully.
Maybe she woke up when I was patting her?
[Umā¦ Yes]
She turned and stared at me, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
She seemed very embarrassed, so she hung her head down. Then, she looked up to me. That gesture also looked very cute.
My heart skipped a beat at how cute it was.
[How long have you been awakeā¦?]
[I was half awake when you put this blanket on me, andā¦ I was fully awake when you started to pat me]
I didnāt think sheād be awake from the start.
That means she knew everything from when I stroked her, including when I let out a weird voice.
I could feel my cheeks burning up as I writhed in shame, but there was something I had to say first.
[Umā¦ Thatā¦ Iām sorry for patting you without consent]
[N-Noā¦ I didnāt really mind being pattedā¦]
[What?]
I couldnāt help but retort at her unexpected response.
I expected to be blamed for stroking her hair without permission, but I didnāt expect it to be forgiven.
Iāve touched her before, and it seems like she has allowed me to touch her even more.ć(TN: if this sounds so wrong, blame my editor)
My heart started to beat faster again at that fact.
[I said that I didnāt dislike it]
She was aware that she was saying something embarrassing, and her cheeks turned even more red when she said it again.
It seems she couldnāt bear looking at me, so she lowered her gaze.
[O-Okay, but. That doesnāt change the fact that I patted you without your permissionā¦]
Iām grateful that she forgives me, but Iāll feel guilty about being forgiven without doing anything.
When I told her I felt a bit guilty, she proposed an equivalent exchange.
[Well, then, let me pat your head too. Thatāll make me feel better]
[Okay, butā¦ Is that what you really want?]
[Itās okay if I say itās okay]
[Understood]
Her cheeks were red, but she looked at me earnestly, so I agreed.
If she will forgive me by patting my head, thatās fine with me.
In fact, I feel that being patted by such a beautiful girl is only a reward for me, but if sheās okay with it, I donāt need to worry about it.
[Then, Iāll touch itā¦]
[U-Unn]
With a nervous, and tense voice, her thin, white hand slowly approached me.
A soft fingertip touched my head and began to rustle and gently stroked it.
I can feel a bit of her body heat from the palm of hers when sheās touching my head.
She stroked me as if she were handling something precious, and it tickled in a strange way.
Furthermore, her stroking my hair inevitably brought us closer, which made my cheeks burn from her sweet scent, which I smelled more than usual due to our close proximity.
I was so embarrassed that I couldnāt bear it and asked her to hurry up. (TN: Boooo, enjoy it more >:c)
[Hey, hey, are you still patting me?]
[J-Just a bit moreā¦]
[ā¦Fine]
When I glanced over at her, she had a soft, calm expression on her face, and her mouth was slightly relaxed. When I see her squinting her eyes and patting me happily, I donāt want her to stop.
In the end, she continued to pat me quietly until she was satisfied.