For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 2.6

The brown-haired man pressed closer to me while the black-haired man questioned Hamasaki Mai.

They seemed quite displeased. It can’t be helped. They probably thought their hunt was a sure win until this unimpressive-faced guy interrupted. It’s natural for them to be angry.

Struggling to suppress the trembling in my legs and before my mouth dried up completely, I managed to move my tongue inside my mouth. Putting strength into my lower abdomen, I faced the brown-haired man squarely.

“Actually, she has a boyfriend. I’m his junior. It would be troubling if someone unknown took the senior’s girlfriend away.”

Rushing through my explanation, I grabbed Hamasaki Mai’s arm. “Let’s go,” I said, pulling her away half forcefully. To onlookers, I might have looked like the abductor.

“Whoa, whoa, wait!”

As we hurried up the stairs, the brown-haired man grabbed my arm. It seems my earlier attempt didn’t shake him off. The black-haired man followed shortly after.

“We didn’t know she had a boyfriend. What’s up?”

“Basically, we were just trying to help her out. What? That’s rude.”

The duo was visibly irritated. One of the men had gotten close enough almost to kiss me. The smell of alcohol was strong. Well, I probably didn’t smell much better.

For about three seconds, which felt like thirty to me, I didn’t say anything back. Instead, I stared at the man in front of me while forcefully removing his hand from my arm.

“The train’s coming. Maybe next time.”

After belching loudly, the man recoiled with an “Ugh!” Taking advantage of the moment, I pulled Hamasaki Mai up the stairs and just managed to board the arriving train.

The train doors closed, and I caught a glimpse of the two men who had targeted Hamasaki Mai standing stranded on the platform. As the train gradually started moving, they disappeared from my view.

As the scenery visible from the train shifted completely from the platform to the cityscape, I sighed deeply and leaned against the door. The cold sweat that had broken out was unpleasantly chilling my back. Hamasaki Mai, who had been in front of me, peered at my face and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Really fine. Ah, I’m exhausted.”

Relief made my legs start shaking uncontrollably. I covered my face with my hands and sighed again. That was seriously nerve-wracking. I thought I was going to pee myself. I’m never doing this again.

Somehow, I managed to stand up straight again. Holding onto a strap and swaying, I looked at Hamasaki Mai and suddenly wondered what on earth I was doing. I really didn’t have to help her, did I?

“Do you often encounter situations like that?”

Hamasaki Mai stopped swaying abruptly. Slowly turning towards me, she then cast her gaze downward.

“Hmm… I don’t know, not really. I usually ignore it.”

I figured as much. In the month since Hamasaki Mai joined the circle, I’ve observed that she is quite cautious. She doesn’t engage with strangers, especially men. With her beauty, she must have been constantly harassed even before entering university.

But now it’s different. A drunken Hamasaki Mai has low guard. So, she doesn’t walk away when approached by unknown men, and she follows me quietly when I grab her arm.

I glanced at her arm briefly. Her arm, extending from the sleeve of her blouse, was as white as her clothing, and where I grabbed and pulled wasn’t noticeable at all.

No, not good. I shouldn’t stare too much.

“I feel sick.”

Hearing the sudden words, I looked up to see Hamasaki Mai covering her mouth, her face now pale blue.

“Are you okay? Feel like throwing up?”

I asked Hamasaki Mai. She nodded faintly, her face turning ashen. The air in the train seemed to shift slightly. For the first time, I felt pointed stares – not just any stares, but sharp ones, and it seemed like people around us were keeping their distance. Probably not just my imagination.

I quickly checked the train’s route map and the digital display. Fortunately, Hamasaki Mai’s stop was next, confirmed by the onboard announcement about the approaching station.

“Just hold on until we get to the station.”

Hamasaki Mai nodded silently in response. Hang in there. No matter how beautiful you are, if you throw up on the train, there’s nothing I can do. Worse, you might end up on the internet.

Finally, the platform came into view. Hamasaki Mai approached the door, and I stood next to her, ready to exit. Thinking back, this might be my first time helping someone who felt like vomiting. Sugino-senpai never throws up, and Mikami-senpai apparently vomits quietly on his own, so this was entirely new to me.

What will be, will be- the doors opened, and we exited the train simultaneously, walking slowly. I matched my pace with Hamasaki Mai and offered my shoulder as we approached the stairs.

One step at a time, we finally reached the ticket gate. Glancing around and spotting a familiar sign, I felt slightly relieved.

“There’s a bathroom over there. Let’s go.”

“I feel really sick.”

It seemed she was nearing her limit. I placed her thin body on my shoulder and headed towards the bathroom.

Near the women’s bathroom sign, I shifted my shoulder to allow her freedom of movement.

“From here, you’ll have to go alone. So, uh… good luck?”

Sending an ambiguous cheer, Hamasaki Mai dragged her feet into the bathroom. Good. Even if she didn’t make it in time and threw up inside, it wouldn’t be as bad as doing so on the platform or inside the train.

Leaning against the wall a little away from the entrance to the women’s bathroom, it was probably about two minutes before Hamasaki Mai came into view, and I detached from the wall.

She walked towards me with her face down, likely difficult to act cheerfully right after throwing up. I waited, holding the bag she had entrusted to me.

“How are you feeling?”

As I handed her the bag, I asked. However, Hamasaki Mai didn’t respond. Silently accepting the bag, she took another step closer to me.

“Hamasaki-san?”

I called her again. Still no reply, and the distance between us was now less than thirty centimeters.

What’s going on? Why is she suddenly closing the distance like this, appearing to be in a daze?

“…Kirishima-kun.”

Just as I was about to tilt my head to see her face, Hamasaki Mai finally looked up, grabbing my shoulder and staring up at me with wide eyes.

Her usually pale, enviable face was now blue, and she strained to say, “ blargh,” her eyes widening even further.

“Hoeekk blarghhhhhhhh!!!!”

With a sound like a beast’s growl and whatever had once been food or drink now dripping onto my clothes.

The spreading stench and stains prompted me to quickly shake off the hand placed on my shoulder.

tln : when you thought everything finally over. its goes worse.