For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 2.5

“It’s time for me to take Mikami-senpai home. See you~”

As the dissolution time arrived, Hamasaki Mai and I saw off the two seniors getting into their ride.

Watching the car drive away, I felt relieved that the day ended relatively peacefully. I have lectures from the first period tomorrow, so I should head back and get some sleep quickly.

“Well, then I’m heading…?”

Hamasaki Mai, who had been nearby just a moment ago, was gone. Glancing around, I found her sitting on the stairs leading down to the bar.

“Hamasaki-san? No… surely not.”

I called out, but there was no answer. She didn’t even flicker a response. Focusing intently, I noticed her small head suddenly droop. That’s ridiculous. She was fully conscious just a moment ago.

Feeling a strong sense of foreboding, I approached Hamasaki Mai. Standing directly behind her, I waited for any reaction—finding none, I slowly peered at her face to find her dozing off.

“This is troublesome.”

I muttered softly, but that didn’t wake her up. At this point, I suppose I’d have to shake her awake somehow, but that’s also difficult.

If I were a woman like Hamasaki Mai, being shaken awake only to find a not-so-handsome, strange man in front of me would undoubtedly be frightening.

However, leaving Hamasaki Mai here and returning home also seemed exceedingly insensitive.

So, how should I wake her up?

“…Maybe it’s okay from behind.”

If waking up to find me right in front of her is scary, then it’s fine if I’m not there. I circled to the back of Hamasaki Mai, gently touched her shoulder, and shook her gently.

After one, then two shakes, Hamasaki Mai made a muffled sound. I immediately withdrew my hand, observing her movements to see if she would wake up.

“Hmm… hnn… where?”

It seemed she had woken up. Hamasaki Mai lightly massaged her face with her hands and made a gesture as if she was brushing her hair. Being woken up by someone but finding no one next to you upon waking up is kind of scary in itself, though it’s too late for that now.

“We’re in front of the bar. The seniors have left, so I’m about to head home.”

“Mm. Me too, going home.”

Despite being suddenly approached from behind, Hamasaki Mai wasn’t startled at all. She clumsily rose, gripping the handrail, then spun around too forcefully, nearly falling over.

“Going home.”

She staggered forward. Her bag was still left on the stairs in front of the bar.

“Wait, your bag. You forgot your bag.”

“Carry it~”

Hastily calling out didn’t work on the drunken her. I made a “really now” face, picked up the bag, and walked beside the tottering Hamasaki Mai—only for her to stop and bump her face into my back, or rather, the nape of my neck.

Ah, no good, she’s completely drunk. Must’ve drunk too much whiskey.

“Going home~”

Hamasaki Mai’s muffled voice came from behind. Despite having drunk so much, there was no smell of alcohol, only the scent of her shampoo clearing away my intoxication.

Any normal man would’ve lost his composure by now. Of course, I’m fine. I’m below average, after all.

Ignoring the warm breath on my neck, I continued towards the station. Hamasaki Mai followed, her face still pressed against me.

“Buy me a cola.”

As we walked, her voice came from behind. Like last time, Hamasaki Mai seems to start begging for things when drunk. Last time it was pizza—though I gave her a hamburger—this time it’s cola. Even a broke student like me can afford that, but if this keeps upgrading every time, it’s going to be annoying. Well, dealing with a drunk Hamasaki Mai in the future is troublesome in itself.

But well, a cola is fine. Ignoring her would only lead to her whining, so I replied, “Alright, alright,” and looked for a vending machine. Being in downtown Tokyo, it took only about five meters of walking to find one. While enduring Hamasaki Mai’s pokes on my shoulder, I bought two colas.

I handed one to Hamasaki Mai behind me. She let out a high-pitched “Yay!” and distanced herself from me to open the cola bottle.

Hamasaki Mai struggled to twist the cap of the bottle with her wobbly hands. Watching her struggle with just a plastic bottle, considering she retains memories even when drunk, made me feel somewhat sorry for her.

“Open it.”

As I sympathetically contemplated, Hamasaki Mai pushed the bottle towards me. I took it without a word, opened it normally, and handed it back to her.

“…Why cola?”

I posed the question that had been swirling in my mind to Hamasaki Mai, who seemed delighted as she sipped her cola.

She held the cola in her mouth, looking at me. “Gulp, gulp, gulp,” she swallowed in several takes, then holding the bottle in both hands with her eyes crinkling in an innocent smile, she seemed even more vivid against the blurry neon lights behind her. About to drink my cola, I was momentarily stunned by the brightness of her smile, causing the cola to backflow and making me cough.

“Because, it has sugar, so it’s good.”

“Cough, I see.”

I managed to reply while coughing. The explanation was far from satisfying, but I decided not to dwell on it. After all, she’s drunk.

Having drunk more than half her cola, Hamasaki Mai started walking again. She was still a bit wobbly but seemed to have recovered enough to walk on her own.

Relieved that I wouldn’t have to support her back— as I followed behind, she immediately crashed into a standee for an Italian restaurant.

With a loud crash, the sparse passersby turned to look at Hamasaki Mai. I sighed and rushed to her side.

“Are you okay?”

“It hurts~”

She groaned while rising, leaning against my back once more. I grabbed her skinny arm, dragging her along like a backpack. It seems my handling has become increasingly rough, but I don’t mind. I don’t care if Hamasaki Mai dislikes me.

“…Ah, a sushi restaurant. There’s a sushi restaurant.”

“That so?”

“I want sushi! Let’s eat sushi!”

“I’ve already ordered some takeout.”

“Now! I want it now!”

“Pretty demanding, huh?”

Dodging Hamasaki Mai’s words while proceeding, of course, I hadn’t ordered anything.

Well, she’ll have forgotten all about this by tomorrow.

“…No, wait, she remembers everything.”

That’s right, Hamasaki Mai remembers everything. Even being dragged along like this.

For a moment, I considered changing how I was carrying her, but the thought quickly dissipated. It can’t be helped. It’s her fault for being drunk.

Dragging her along, we finally reached the station. I handed back her bag and said, “Well then.”

“…Are you okay going alone?”

I hesitantly asked, and with her eyes still closed, Hamasaki Mai nodded slightly. Well, it’s somewhat worrying, but I have my own life to live. I should head home.

Turning my back to Hamasaki Mai, I passed through the ticket gate. Checking the arrival time of my train, I headed towards the escalator to the platform.

The sound of someone passing through the ticket gate reached me, and I instinctively turned back.

Hamasaki Mai was staggering, her face flushed red.

As I watched, thinking she might fall onto the tracks, two men appeared in front of her. Both seemed as drunk as her, cheerfully chatting her up.

Observing the scene, I recalled the incident at the park.

It was just like before. What could I possibly do in this situation? Those guys were clearly after one thing, but there was nothing I could do to stop them.

It’s none of my business. Whatever Hamasaki Mai does or whoever she hangs out with has nothing to do with me.

Sugino-senpai might say something, but I don’t care. After all, I’m a social misfit. It would be troublesome if they expected too much from me.

“…Excuses over.”

Muttering so no one could hear, I headed towards Hamasaki Mai.

“Hamasaki-san, stop fooling around and let’s go home.”

I approached quietly, trying not to be noticed by the two men who were unusually close to her, and tapped on the shoulder of the dazed Hamasaki Mai.

The sudden male arrival caused the duo to look at me with a “Huh?” expression. Hamasaki Mai seemed a bit surprised, staring at me and simply replying, “Ah, yeah.”

“Eh? Who are you?”

“Do you know her?”