For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 3.6

After listening to her story, I glanced at my phone and noticed it was about time.

“It’s about time to head back.”

As I said this and stood up, Hamasaki Misaki silently nodded and got up as well.

We walked side by side, exiting the classroom.

Perhaps Hamasaki Misaki came with me to confirm my feelings. To go so far as to be alone with such an unknown man for her sister’s sake, she really is a sister who cares. When I think about my own lukewarm relationship with her sister in comparison, it nearly brings tears to my eyes. Not that it’s that cold, nor would I actually cry.

“Yikes! Ugh, this is the worst!”

Just as I was planning to report to Hamasaki Mai that “Your sister was a well-behaved kid,” some kind of commotion had already erupted before me.

A man and a woman were there, with Hamasaki Misaki looking troubled with a “Whoa” expression.

I immediately stepped forward to ask Hamasaki Misaki what was happening.

“Ah, umm…”

“That girl bumped into me, and now my ice cream has spilled! This is just the worst. I really liked this one too.”

Before Hamasaki Misaki could explain, the woman started screeching at me.

Turning around, I saw melted chocolate ice clinging to the sleeve of the woman’s clothes, and the man, presumably her boyfriend, was muttering, “Seriously?” and “Won’t this leave a stain?” as he wiped her hand with a handkerchief.

Looking at Hamasaki Misaki again, she had an awkward expression, defensively holding her left arm with her right.

“I apologize for her bumping into you. I’m sorry. We’ll cover the cleaning costs.”

First, I took a conciliatory approach, and the couple exchanged glances for a moment. While the man tapped the ice-cream-stained blouse sleeve with a handkerchief, they shifted their gaze from Hamasaki Misaki to me.

“Ah, then, maybe we should just take the cleaning fee?”

“Well, if we could get that, it’d be nice.”

“Yeah, how about, let’s say, forty thousand yen?”

Forty thousand yen for what? A blouse can’t possibly cost that much to clean. What kind of place are they using—though I thought it, I couldn’t say it, and could only offer a wry smile, “Forty thousand, you say?”

“What? You said you’d cover the cleaning costs, didn’t you? Can’t you pay?”

“No, of course, we’ll pay, but forty thousand yen seems a bit… excessive, doesn’t it?”

“Excessive, what do you mean? We’re the victims here, you know!?”

“Victims? But you were not paying attention either.”

Caught in a two-on-one blame game, Hamasaki Misaki interjected. Unfortunately, her attempt to douse the flames was akin to pouring oil on the fire.

As expected, the couple’s gaze shifted from me to Hamasaki Misaki, exactly at the same moment, perfectly in sync.

“What are you talking about!? You were the one who bumped into us, right!? Trying to blame us!?”

“Well, that’s because you were walking side by side, looking at your phone, so I couldn’t avoid it. I admit I’m at fault too, but don’t you think you also share some of the blame?”

“Hah? Are you crazy? You’re the one who bumped into us.”

“You’re the crazy one. Besides, just a shirt needing forty thousand yen for cleaning? That’s impossible.”

“It’s not impossible! It’s for the cleaning fee, handling charges, and compensation! All together, forty thousand yen!”

As the argument between the couple and Hamasaki Misaki heated up, a crowd began to gather, drawn by the commotion. Realizing this was bad but unable to find the right moment to intervene, I watched as Hamasaki Misaki confidently and eloquently argued her case, even against older opponents, attempting to put them in their place.

On the other hand, the woman seemed increasingly agitated, looking ready to lash out at Hamasaki Misaki any moment.

“The last time I got a stain removed at the cleaners, it only cost a bit over two thousand yen. Even if it’s a bit more, it should only be around three thousand yen. What’s with the forty thousand yen? Have you never used a cleaner before?”

Hamasaki Misaki’s retort left the woman glaring but momentarily silenced. Ah, this was turning into a bad situation.

“Moreover, to demand money after bumping into us? The moment he said he’d cover the cleaning costs, you changed. Really, how shameless.”

At this point, it would have been better to stop. The argument was going too far. The woman’s hand was trembling with restrained force.

“And to think, wearing such an ugly outfit and talking about cleaning costs—”

The woman made her move. Her arm swung, and I reacted almost simultaneously.

Stepping forward to shield Hamasaki Misaki, I took the slap meant for her full on. The sound of the slap exploded as my face was whipped to the side.

I grounded my feet and quickly regained my stance, holding my left cheek with my right hand. The woman, her face flushed red, glared at me.

In the split silence mixed with murmurs, I pulled a five-thousand-yen note from my wallet and handed it to the woman.

Turning around, I saw Hamasaki Misaki looking down at me with a familiar expression. It was a look I had seen somewhere before.

That’s right. It was the same look Hamasaki Mai gave me. I can’t quite remember the specifics, but it felt the same.

Tapping her arm lightly, I said, “Let’s go,” and started walking.

As we made our way through the crowd, Hamasaki Misaki silently followed behind.

***

“I’ll be coming to your place next Saturday, so come pick me up at the station,” came a mysterious summons through my messaging app from an unknown account.

Not to brag, but my account hardly has any friends. To be precise, I don’t have any friends at all. Only family and acquaintances.

Receiving such a one-sided message from an account that isn’t even a friend, maybe I’ve become popular.

tln : … im speechless bro took the slap and give the btch the money. the hell