For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 1.5

***

Walking home with Hamasaki Mai, I felt an odd gaze on me.

It’s late at night in Tokyo, and we’re the only ones walking.

That narrows down the source of the gaze.

I took a quick glance at Hamasaki Mai walking beside me.

“…”

She’s staring way too much. It’s almost rude how much she’s staring. More like targeting.

Yes, Hamasaki Mai’s gaze wasn’t on me but on the bag containing the hamburger she forced me to buy earlier.

“This?”

I lifted the plastic bag slightly, and her gaze followed it. She’s like an animal.

“…Do you want to eat it?”

Hamasaki Mai nodded vigorously. She already ate earlier, but this girl sure can eat.

Actually, it was a double cheeseburger I bought for myself, but I’ve become indifferent about it. It was just an extra purchase.

Trying not to look directly at Hamasaki Mai, I handed her the remaining double cheeseburger. The strawberry shake was already consumed on the train, so that’s gone.

“Thank youーI’ll enjoy.”

Hamasaki Mai began eating the double cheeseburger with a fluffy, pleased air. She’s an emotionally busy person, getting angry over hunger, making a fuss over a missing pass, and happily eating her meal.

I truly think we’re opposites.

Resulting from numbing my sensitivity to avoid getting hurt, my emotions have solidified. Unlike me, Hamasaki Mai is soft. She can laugh, cry, and show joy without her beautiful features ever distorting hideously. It’s honestly a bit enviable to see how attractive she remains regardless of her expression.

Having gotten used to being disliked, I’m at a point where I don’t really care if I am disliked. But that doesn’t mean I want to be disliked on purpose. I do possess a minimum level of social decency.

It’s just that maintaining this minimum social decency requires more energy than most people, and I often think about giving up on maintaining it.

But for her, for Hamasaki Mai, her beauty—probably her personality too—allows her to maintain social decency effortlessly. What an “equal” world we live in.

And yet, here I am, a social underdog, being tossed around by someone like Hamasaki Mai, a natural-born winner. Indeed, society seems to be running quite efficiently.

“……Kun? Kirishima-kun?”

Lost in thoughts that were pointless to contemplate, I was suddenly addressed by Hamasaki Mai walking beside me. I was surprised not only by her sudden talk but also by her remembering my last name.

“What’s up? What’s wrong?”

“We’re at my place. Here.”

Looking around, I realized we had strayed from the main street. Across the road was a small park and an open café, and on our side stood a simple-designed five-story apartment building. I haven’t seen the inside, but it’s definitely larger than the one-room apartment I live in. I thought I was prepared, but being outclassed even here was something else.

“We ended up coming all the way here, but are you okay with the last train, Kirishima-kun? Is there still a train?”

Her belated question was too much. Stunned by the overwhelming disparity in living standards, her concerned look against the backdrop of the apartment’s entrance lights only elicited a dry laugh and a distant gaze from me.

“Thanks to you, there’s no such thing as the last train anymore.”

My sarcastic reply, laden with resignation, didn’t seem to faze Hamasaki Mai much. She just said, “Oh, okay~,” as if that was expected.

“Well, it’s fine. There’s a net café near the station, so I’ll rest there.”

“Ah, really? Um, thanks for taking me home. And for treating me.”

“It’s fine, really. I don’t mind.”

Drunken antics. She’ll probably forget about it by tomorrow. She’ll forget I took her all the way here. I truly don’t mind.

After saying goodbye, I walked away from Hamasaki Mai.

Walking alone through the city at night, I reflected on the journey back to the station with Hamasaki Mai.

Honestly, being dragged around by a drunkard like that was extremely annoying, but somewhere in my heart—I was delighted.

Walking through the city, casually chatting with the most beautiful girl in college. Just that made me somewhat euphoric, indulging in a sense of superiority around others. It was deeply humiliating.

“Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Walking down the night street, I reminded myself. Hamasaki Mai is indeed beautiful, cute, and attractive. But it’s wrong. I shouldn’t fall for her. Someone like me, gloomy, self-deprecating, and below average in studies, athletics, and looks, a social underdog, won’t be considered by her. My affection would only creep her out.

Didn’t I learn that in middle school? I’m no good.

“Forget it.”

I tried to erase all memories with Hamasaki Mai, telling myself it didn’t concern me, and continued walking with an empty mind.

***

The next day was terrible.

I spent the time until the first train at a net café near the station, catching only a bit of sleep in an uncomfortable reclining seat. I went home on the first train, slept again, got up a few hours later, showered, and went to college. If my classes hadn’t started from the third period, I would have skipped them long ago.

“…Dull.”

Before the third period class started, I sat in a seat towards the back corner of the classroom and rested my elbow on the desk.

As the classroom gradually filled up, my phone suddenly vibrated on the desk.

Checking the notification, it was a friend request on a messaging app. Impossible. I don’t have friends at college, nor do I have any back home. Me, getting a friend request?

Who could it be—Unlocking my phone, I checked the message, and the sender was someone named “Mai.” Who’s that? Probably one of those spam accounts pretending to offer a friendship.

“Behind.”

A creepy message from what’s supposedly a spam account. Scary, way too scary. Their aim is to steal personal information, right?

“Behind you.”

Stop, stop, stop. Terrifying. The next message will definitely be “Next to you.”

What’s with this person, sending such horror-themed messages—Could it be that this isn’t a spam account?

Beginning to doubt the account itself, I realized something crucial. The account’s name was “Mai.” Considering the timeline, this might be Hamasaki Mai’s account.

With that thought, the meaning of the messages became clear. She’s probably messaging me from a seat behind mine, likely having gotten my account info from Sugino-senpai or someone.

In that case, there’s nothing to fear. I turned around smoothly and naturally, and, as expected, Hamasaki Mai was sitting in a seat diagonally behind mine. Our eyes met, and she smiled slightly and waved.

Trying to appear unruffled by her disarming gesture, I internally scolded myself. Don’t think such a cunning move will work on me. I was only slightly startled.

“Are you free for lunch today?”

The next message arrived, and I took a moment to think. What does Hamasaki Mai want by spending lunchtime with me? She’s probably forgotten or is vague about her drunken antics from last night, and if she had questions about the circle, she’d be better off asking Sugino-senpai or someone else.

“I’m free.”

Though I’m still unsure of her intentions, unfortunately, I am free. Besides, a college student like me without friends wouldn’t have lunch plans.

“Really? Then let’s have lunch together.”

“Should I pick the place?”

“No, I’ll choose. I’ll send you the location later.”

“Thanks. Preferably somewhere a bit away from college.”

“Got it.”

The conversation paused just as the lecturer entered. I pocketed my phone, adopting a posture of listening.

Hamasaki Mai must have something to talk about, but honestly, I had no idea what.