For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 1.6

Choosing a store away from the university was to avoid rumors and hassles.

Being a beauty contested over in the circle, if someone as mediocre as me was seen dining with her, my ordinary and uneventful college life would shatter.

Hence this approach. To avoid being seen together, I suggested this condition to her, but I never expected— to be brought to such a store.

“Set of San Yuan pork, tamagoyaki, sashimi of winter amberjack, and—oolong tea, please. What about you, Kirishima-kun? Anything else you’d like to order?”

“…Um, oolong tea for me too.”

With a respectful bow, the waitress left our table. I casually set aside the compact menu and gazed at the still-empty hot pot in front of me.

A shabu-shabu specialty store, one station away from the university, clearly a step above the average establishment, made me question Hamasaki Mai’s taste.

Well, yes, it does fit the criteria, but to choose this place? It’s clearly beyond what a college student can afford. And shabu-shabu for lunch?

Considering the clothes she wears, her rental apartment, and how accustomed she seemed ordering in such an expensive restaurant, it made me wonder if she’s some rich girl like Sugino-senpai.

Well, the reason I can stay relatively calm is that she’s treating. Being treated by Sugino-senpai one day and by Hamasaki Mai the next, I’m living a life of being perpetually treated. Not bad.

But just because it’s a treat doesn’t mean I have the audacity or courage to order expensive dishes and meat. I chose the San Yuan pork set because it was relatively affordable, even though it was my choice.

“Today, I invited Kirishima-kun because there’s something I wanted to talk about……”

As the drinks and meat arrived, Hamasaki Mai started the conversation. While dipping meat into the pot, I listened.

“About yesterday……”

Hamasaki Mai took a piece of meat ready to eat, dipped it in the special sauce, but didn’t bring it to her mouth, instead looking at me apologetically.

Yesterday means either about the drinking party or what happened after.

“You took me home yesterday, didn’t you?”

“…Did I? I don’t quite remember.”

I vaguely dodged the question. However, Hamasaki Mai didn’t get angry or relieved at my ambiguous response but just stared intently.

“I remember everything.”

“…Everything as in?”

“Yes, everything. Even though I staggered, you called out to me, I was capricious, hit you several times, you bought me food, even paid for my train, and took me home without any thanks… Even when I’m drunk, I don’t lose my memory.”

Hamasaki Mai laughed self-deprecatingly. Remembering everything even when drunk means she can’t forget what happens during her drinking sessions. That must be tough in its way.

“Okay, I get that you remember everything. But there’s more to the ‘talk,’ isn’t there?”

After swallowing the incredibly tender meat, I continued the conversation. If it’s just about the trouble I caused yesterday, this meal makes us even. I’d even say I’m coming out ahead.

“Yes, about that… I’d really appreciate it if you… didn’t tell anyone about yesterday.”

Her guilt-ridden request made me chuckle involuntarily.

Covering my mouth with my hand to prevent further laughter, it was simply too off-target to request such a thing.

“Sorry, sorry,” I removed my hand from my mouth and continued, “To not tell anyone, as if I have acquaintances to spread it to.”

Hamasaki Mai looked puzzled at my response. Whether she fully grasped what I said or not, she chewed on her meat, tilting her head in confusion.

She truly doesn’t understand what it means to be isolated from the community.

“Even if I did tell, no one would believe me. That Hamasaki Mai is a drunkard. But wouldn’t people who’ve drunk with you before know?”

She must have been drunk and made a fool of herself at past drinking parties—not for the first time yesterday.

Yet, Hamasaki Mai shifted her gaze awkwardly downwards at my question.

“I… got that drunk for the first time since entering university.”

An unexpected answer. It seems yesterday’s high spirits were unusual for her. Well, it was indeed a bit unpleasant.

It’s rare to hear getting that drunk for the first time. Was there a particular reason?

“Didn’t you get that drunk at your tennis club’s drinking parties?”

“Well, yeah… it wasn’t fun.”

So yesterday was fun enough to remove the limiter. Trying not to get carried away by Hamasaki Mai’s words of not having fun, I downed my oolong tea with an expressionless face.

It’s not like I made her have fun. She reached that level of excitement because of Sugino-senpai. I was just entangled by her drunken antics.

“Yesterday was really fun.”

As she ate the vegetables scooped from the pot, Hamasaki Mai spoke happily.

Sure, getting drunk and making a racket must be fun. Recalling the scene of two women drinking and squealing, I silently listened to her words.

“I haven’t had such carefree conversations in a long time. It was a genuinely fun drinking session.”

Remembering and grinning, Hamasaki Mai seemed to have found drinking parties unenjoyable until now.

“Are you going to join our circle?”

Though the answer was probably decided, I asked anyway.

Hamasaki Mai looked straight at me and smiled innocently.

“It’s okay, I’ll make sure not to drink too much next time.”

Hamasaki Mai’s response seemed to see through my concerns.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about her joining the circle. Mikami-senpai said it’d be fine as long as no other members joined, but guys would surely flock around her. It could lead to troublesome matters, and more importantly, our values don’t align.

Hamasaki Mai shines too brightly. Being too close makes me feel miserable about myself.

So, I can’t be happy about her joining the circle—not happy, but it can’t be helped.

“Let’s get along from now on, Kirishima-kun.”

“…Right.”

How could I refuse when she smiles at me like that, especially when I’m already so weak-willed?