Chapter 9: Prince Takatsuki and the Love Letter 4

In the dim light of the candles, I could make out Takatsuki-kun’s face. I was caught by his dazzling eyes, I felt oppressed and bitter, but his eyebrows were lowered in pleasure.

“Manaka-kun… (I like Manaka I like I like I like cute cute cute…)”

Takatsuki-kun’s inner feelings were transmitted to me. My face grew hot and my heart was racing. While still pinning me to the floor, he used one of his hands to gently stroke my cheek, and repeatedly over my eyelids.

“…Manaka-kun, Manaka-kun. (I like you I like you I like you I like you I like you…)”

He said my name many times. Repeating it as if to make sure of something. Strangely, Takatsuki-kun was no longer transmitting those shady feelings from before. He was being awfully serious and straightforward. My chest started gradually hurting when I heard Takatsuki-kun’s confessions in his heart. I felt something indescribable kind of like frustration.

“Takatsuki…-kun… I’m not a demon?”

“… (I know.)”

“Can you get off me?”

“… (I really understand.)”

“Could you move?”

“… (I’m not going to separate.)”

“Takatsuki-kun. I, I won’t run away?”

“Manaka-kun… (I like you I like you I like you I like you I like you…)”

“Ah–! Enough–! I’m done with this! You don’t have to keep saying that you like me!”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

…Uhh? I, what did I just say? I was surprised by my own words and my hands jumped to cover my mouth. Because, Takatsuki-kun was transmitting his feelings of like, in his mind he kept saying it at such a high degree, but in reality that wouldn’t be understandable, I could have passed the incident off as a wild delusion, but I wasn’t able to bring myself face him properly to do so.

…Ah…I see… so it’s like this…

I finally understood the reason for the fuzzy feeling in my chest as it felt like it was being dropped down to my stomach. It’s like this. I was definitely happy. Receiving Takatsuki-kun’s favour made me pleased. Even the first time when I touched Takatsuki-kun, to see into Takatsuki-kun’s brain, I was confused at the sudden confession, but I was happy. I should have been thinking over the situation with Takatsuki-kun properly. To understand his perverted feelings more, I should have touched him properly. Ah so it’s like this… I get it…

“Sorry, Takatsuki-kun…”

It’s my bad. Using my strange ability, I peeked into Takatsuki-kun’s brain without permission, because of that, I tried to distance myself from him. While not wanting to reject Takatsuki-kun, I half-heartedly pushed the matter aside. I was proud to think that the popular Takatsuki-kun that was loved by everyone liked me. I’m the worst.

“Manaka-kun’s apologizing?”

“Yes.”

“Manaka-kun isn’t at wrong. It’s me that’s doing something bad. Doing this–“

“No. It’s not that…”

Takatsuki-kun removed his hands from me and held one out. I took his hand and Takatsuki-kun pulled me to stand up.

“It’s not?”

“Yeah. I’m the worst.”

“Why?”

“I have this secret I haven’t told anyone.”

“Secret…?”

“Yeah.”

I never thought that I would talk about my abilities with Takatsuki-kun. I didn’t think I’d have to explain it to him. It might be surprising. Or make him uncomfortable. He might even get angry for keeping silent about listening into his thoughts. But I have to talk about it now, if I keep up my bad attitude towards Takatsuki-kun, I can’t move forward.

“You see, Takatsuki-kun. I can hear the thoughts of the people I touch.”

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