For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 4.1

After learning about Hamasaki Mai’s past, things between her and I became somewhat awkward.

Or rather, it’s just that I unilaterally know about it, so whenever Hamasaki Mai talks to me during drinking parties, all I can manage are vague responses.

In a nutshell, I’ve just become a bit awkward.

“Umm, tororo beef soba in regular size, please.”

“Uh… chicken nanban soba in regular size for me.”

The server took our orders and disappeared into the back of the restaurant.

Closing the unusually elongated menu, I looked across the table at Hamasaki Mai seated opposite me.

It’s a weekday, lunchtime. During the break between classes, I ended up having lunch with Hamasaki Mai at a soba restaurant in Tokyo. Naturally, it’s her treat.

Despite mentioning the awkwardness, why am I having a meal with Hamasaki Mai?

While attending a morning lecture, she suddenly contacted me, and without a reason to decline, I agreed.

But upon reflection, although it’s true I had no reason to decline, didn’t I also have no particular reason to go?

Well, now that I’m here, it can’t be helped. It’s on her, so whatever.

“This soba place is quite good. It’s not too far from campus, but not many students come here.”

Hamasaki Mai closed her menu and chatted in a cheerful tone. It seemed she remembered my saying “I don’t want to be seen by other students” and chose the place with that in mind.

“How do you find a place like this? What, do you go location scouting on weekends or something?”

“Not at all~ I just found it online, you know.”

She giggled as she answered. Since we usually had someone else pick the place for our circle’s drinking parties, I hadn’t thought of that.

Nodding thoughtfully as I sipped my tea, our ordered soba was served. We both bowed our heads saying “itadakimasu” and began to slurp our soba.

The soba turned out to be delicious. I’m honestly more of an udon person, but this soba was so good it made me moan appreciatively. A bit of luxury like this might be nice every now and then.

“Um, Kirishima-kun…”

Just as I was internally praising the meal with a mental “Yum!” Hamasaki Mai called my name.

I stopped slurping my soba and looked up.

Hamasaki Mai fidgeted with her mouth as she gazed at me, giving off an intensely bad premonition.

“Are you free this Friday night?”

“Well, I’m free, but…”

There’s no way it’s just for drinks. There’s definitely something else. She could have just asked Sugino-senpai if she wanted to drink, so why specifically ask me? And if it were just about having drinks, she wouldn’t need to invite me out all the way here. A simple message would do.

Realizing my soba bowl was now more than half empty, it dawned on me that Hamasaki Mai’s preparations were already complete.

In a way, I was like a fish caught in a net. Or perhaps, more aptly, like soba that’s been boiled and is ready to be served. All that’s left is for her to enjoy her meal.

“So, what do you need me to do?”

It was an inappropriate response to her invitation to drink, but Hamasaki Mai seemed to understand what I meant and gave a wry smile.

“Uh, just accompany me for drinks.”

“What’s the situation?”

She then began to explain why she invited me out.

A guy had been aggressively pursuing her for a while, and recently she couldn’t decline anymore and accepted his invitation to go out for drinks.

But now, she found herself in a situation where she’d have to go drinking alone with a guy she wasn’t interested in at all. So, Hamasaki Mai suggested to the guy, “Can I bring a friend?” Apparently, he reluctantly agreed to it, even though he wasn’t keen on the idea, considering it was their first time.

“So, I’m your ‘friend’ who’s joining the drinking party.”

After hearing her out, I confirmed the request. Hamasaki Mai nodded without saying anything.

I couldn’t help but feel, “Why me?”

I wouldn’t deter any guys, nor could I act as her knight and protect her. Hamasaki Mai has a wide circle of acquaintances, so she could’ve easily asked one of her female friends, or even Sugino-senpai, if it was really necessary.

Sure, I might be a convenient tool that’s easy to use, but that doesn’t mean I’m capable enough to perform as expected.

While pondering this, I glanced at Hamasaki Mai’s expression.

With her brows delicately furrowed and looking up at me with a swaying, bewitching gaze, I quickly looked away.

Catching a glimpse of her again, our eyes met. After a pause, she whispered, “…please,” in a thin voice.

The sweet tone tickled my ear, and I tightly gripped the fabric of my pants with my right hand, taking a deep breath.

“Just this once, I’ll go along with it.”

***

“I’m just living normally. How about you, Mai? What’ll you have?”

“Ah, I guess I’ll have a draft beer too.”

“Ah, okay, then two drafts.”

“Make that three, please.”

I added my order since they forgot to include me.

Today’s drinking companion, Kagamiya-kun, seems determined not to acknowledge my presence, refusing to even glance my way or recognize me since earlier.

It’s been a while since I’ve been ignored so blatantly.

Well, it’s understandable. After all, Hamasaki Mai brought me along when he was expecting a female friend, only to find a gloomy otaku like me. If I were Kagamiya-kun, I definitely wouldn’t be able to forgive that.

“Three drafts, coming up!”

The Asian-looking foreign part-timer lazily places the glasses and quickly moves away. Kagamiya-kun hands a glass to Hamasaki Mai first, then takes his own. Anticipating the next move, I grabbed the remaining glass and started drinking without waiting for a toast.