Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

Suddenly hugged from behind, my heart almost jumped out of my chest.
Ruka was stronger than expected. She embraced me, shoulders and all. I can’t move my arms.
No, in terms of pure physical strength, I’m sure I can shake her off.
However, my body is frozen stiff. I’m so surprised the nerve signals practically stop at the head; I can’t move my body freely.
This feeling is similar to when I was suddenly kabedon’d at the toilet.
The difference this time is that Ruka isn’t saying anything. Her arm is wrapped around my body, and she’s not moving a bit. I can only barely hear her breathing.

「… W-what?」

Eventually, I was finally able to say something.
Telling her, 「Stop,」 would be a bit weird; I’d just feel bad doing it. And if this was just another prank of hers, she might just go, 「Misaki’s taking it seriously～」 and laugh at me.
Ruka didn’t answer my question.
With my body still in her embrace, she doesn’t move.

「R-Ruka?」

Maybe my voice was too quiet to hear earlier.
I called her once again, and Ruka’s arms twitched before finally releasing me.

「*Ah*, sorry, sorry. Couldn’t help myself…」

Turning around, Ruka was scratching her head with an awkward smile.
It was completely out of the blue, so I thought my heart would stop, especially since it happened the moment we were alone.
　
「No, no, don’t suddenly apologize; you just scared me～」

*Rather, what was that just now?
An actual prank? Can you reveal the details now?*
Is what I won’t ask. I try my best to bring out a comical mood in the room.
　
「What, are you suddenly in heat, Ruka-chan～?」
「You were just so cute. When I saw your back, I just… We’re all alone, too, so I thought it was my chance.」

What are you candidly confessing for?　
At this point, I’m really hoping this is a joke.
Saying all that, how do I even reply?

「When you see someone’s nape and shoulder from behind, don’t you just wanna hug them?」

Well, I can’t say I don’t understand. I felt that when Miyu and I were walking together.
But even when that comes to mind, you don’t normally act on impulse. As I thought, maybe Ruka’s a little different from normal.
Besides, I only think that way towards Miyu; I don’t have those kinds of thoughts with just anyone.
In other words, am I to Ruka what Miyu is to me?
Doesn’t that mean…

「Still, having Misaki in my room feels really strangeー」

She changed the topic.
I say ‘changed,’ but it’s more like she’s just yapping as she likes.
Ruka crawls on the carpet and then sits seiza right next to me.

「Hey, hey, Misaki. Could you live in my room?」
「I won’t. Or rather, like hell I can.」
「Jeez, I’m obviously just kidding～ Whatcha all serious for～?」
　　
No, no, I wasn’t being serious, and, in fact, wasn’t your tone just now actually somewhat serious?
Ruka immediately had a worried expression and leaned forward to peer into my face.

「Are you mad? I’m sorry.」
「I wouldn’t get mad over something like that.」
「Really? I’m glad. Still, your miffed face is adorable.」

There it is: her rain of compliments.
I turned my head to escape from Ruka’s puppy eyes and visible cleavage.

「You’re seriously cute, Misaki. I get entranced just looking at your face.」
「Yeah, yeah, too close, too close, too close.」

I pushed Ruka’s face away.
She pouts her face in discontent.
　
「*Mmh*～… Hey, aren’t you slowly treating me worse and worse?」
「I’m gradually understanding your true colors, after all.」
「*Mnn*ー… But that means that we’ve gotten closer, doesn’t it? I’m so happy.」

This time, she’s smiling.
Yeah, yeah, you’re adorable, super adorable.
　　　
「Hey, thanks for immediately coming to help me earlier. You were so cool.」

She says that, but I practically did nothing back then.
Ideally, I wanted to show my cool side, but Miyu won all the glory.

「I’m really bad with men like them, you see～ I was honestly amazed when you came in strong.」

I’m just a paper-thin difference away from a crazy b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲, though.
Admittedly, I partially act that way since I don’t like being seen as a woman.
Well, when I was in middle school, I was quite the Yamcha… I mean, quite the youngling, myself.
Constantly getting into fights with the boys, you know?

「Misaki, you said you didn’t have a boyfriend, right? Do you have a boy you’re into, or something?」

A boy, no.
But a girl, yes.
Rather, aren’t you changing topics too much?

「I-I don’t, I guess…」
「I wonder what guy you’d fall for; I seriously can’t tell.」

I can’t tell either.
At the moment, I can’t think of it, though.
Ruka puts her hands on the floor and looks up at the ceiling with a sigh.

「*A-ah*, if only I could be more, like, barefaced like Misaki…」

It sounds like a compliment yet also like an insult.
It’s like she’s saying that my head is empty and I have no worries at all.
She does seem to want to talk about something, so I’ll try asking.

「What? Is there something bothering you?」
「*Mnn*ー… There’s just something I’m a bit troubled, conflicted about…」

Ruka pushed against the floor and sat up straight. Then, a gentle smile.

「Actually, scratch that. Sorry, that was heavy all of the sudden.」

… What? What’s going on with you?
Cutting it off now just makes me more curious.

Rather, for some strange reason, she seems to have a very favorable impression of me the whole time.
Even as a dense, indecisive main character (who are you calling that?), I do feel concerned about her. Rather than having her spill her guts out at the worst possible timing…

「I’ll at least hear you out, you know? I don’t know if I can help, though. Actually, does it relate to me? Probably not, right?」
「*Mn*ー… If I have to say, I guess it does?」

It does, damn.
A heavy topic related to a person you just got close with the other day; what does that mean? I have a bad feeling about this.

「Rather, getting closer with Misaki was when I started to get conflicted…」

Before she could continue, Ruka’s smartphone on the tea table suddenly began ringing.

「*Ah*, a call.」

Ruka picks up the phone.
After looking at the display for a moment, she puts it to her ear.

「… Yeah, at home. Yeah.」

Ruka stood up, turned her back to me, and began speaking in a somewhat serious tone.
While the way she talks is intimate, her tone is a bit stiff.

「*Eh*? Now? Right now is…」

At that moment, the door opened and Miyu returned. She then kneels beside me.
Seeing Ruka in a call at the corner of the room, she asks, 「What’s going on?」 with her eyes. 「Who knows?」I silently cocked my head.

「… Yeah, yeah… Right, I understand. Later.」

Ruka lowered her phone from her ear and looked at us. She held her hands in front of her face, apologizing.

「Sorry, I got a sudden errand. I need to go out right now.」
「What’s wrong? Is everything okay?」
「Yeah, no problem; it’s nothing to worry about, you see.」
「The call, who was it from?」

I said without thinking, only realizing that that was uncalled for a second too late.
Hearing my question, Ruka froze for a moment, seemingly hesitant. After that, she reluctantly answered.

「*Mnn*… My boyfriend?」