For Some Reason The Girl Who's Too Popular Only Drinks with Me - Volume 1 Chapter 5.8

Early at 4 AM. The drinking party finally ended, and Mai Hamasaki and I were walking towards the station to catch the first train.

Sugino-senpai had gone back in the car that came to pick her up, taking care of Mikami-senpai who had passed out from drinking. And me? I was taking care of Mai Hamasaki. Just the usual flow of events.

“Laundry detergent, that stuff for washing clothes, it’s about to run out, so… buy some more~”

Thunk. Mai Hamasaki’s head bumps against my back. Enduring the dull pain, I managed, “Got it, got it,” as a response.

After all, we had been drinking until morning. Of course, she’d be drunk. Even I was feeling a bit rough.

But dealing with a drunk was even tougher.

We stopped at a traffic light. Then, Mai Hamasaki, who had been using my back as a cushion, came to stand by my left.

She leaned in and peered into my face intently. I tried my best to ignore it, but soon reached my limit and ended up asking, “What is it?”

Mai Hamasaki reached out her hand. Gloved fingers traced along the line of my face.

“Does your cheek still hurt?”

Her voice, sounding concerned about me, prompted me to swiftly turn my face away. Escaping the smooth touch of her gloves, I fixed my gaze somewhere far off in the distance.

Wishing for the traffic light to change quickly. I need to walk to put some distance between us.

“It’s fine. Thanks to you, it doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Really?”

“Yep, no problem.”

“You’re not pushing yourself?”

“Not at all.”

I shrugged my shoulders as if to emphasize how fine I was.

Actually, it still hurt. Probably still swollen, throbbing with pain right now.

But what would saying that change? Would admitting it hurt lessen the swelling or ease the pain?

Saying it wouldn’t change a thing. So, it’s better to say something that won’t make the other person worry.

Mai Hamasaki withdrew her hand, seemingly giving up after seeing through my act of bravery.

I couldn’t tell what expression she had on now. My gaze was fixed on the pedestrian light, eagerly waiting for it to turn green.

“Nh.”

Mai Hamasaki let out a small noise. Wondering if she felt sick from the alcohol, I turned to look at her, only to find her reaching for my left hand. What does she want now? Taxi money, maybe?

As I tilted my head with a blank expression, Mai Hamasaki puffed her cheeks slightly and extended her right hand further.

“Hold hands while we walk, I sway too much otherwise.”

“No way.”

“Why! You did it earlier! You dragged me along!”

“That was an emergency. Now it’s impossible. My hands are sweaty; it’s gross.”

“I’m wearing gloves, so I don’t mind.”

“I mind. So, no.”

“No, I refuse!”

Mai Hamasaki protested like a typical drunk. As always, I responded coolly.

My reason for refusing was genuine. Holding hands with someone, especially when drunk, is just too embarrassing. My body would definitely react.

Finally, the light turned green. Ignoring her request, I moved forward.

“Then, this way.”

The moment we stepped onto the crossing, she grabbed my arm. Her grip tightened over my coat, and she walked beside me with a satisfied look.

I couldn’t shake her off. Deciding it was just a drunken whim as usual, I went along with it, figuring she’d get distracted and let go eventually.

“Kirishima-kun.”

Mai Hamasaki called out to me right after we crossed. I kept facing forward and replied, “What?”

“Did you eat the cheesecake, which means, did you read that message, too?”

She asked with a surprisingly clear tone for someone drunk.

It was too conspicuous a placement to miss, so I couldn’t say I hadn’t read it. After hesitating for a bit, I exhaled and spoke.

“I read it. I understood what you wanted to say.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know what will happen from here, but, well, I hope it turns out that way.”

“Even after we graduate from university?”

“That’s unlikely. Once we graduate, we probably won’t see each other again.”

My cold words made Mai Hamasaki grip my arm tighter. It’s unavoidable, the truth. Nothing lasts forever.

The thin thread of a university circle connects Mai Hamasaki and me. Originally, we were people from different worlds, and the environment of a drinking circle temporarily tied our world lines together.

So, when we graduate, our connection will sever. But that’s okay. Someone like her shouldn’t be tied to me forever. If she’s looking forward, all the more so.

“Do you think it’s okay not to see people once you graduate? That you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind. Relationships change.”

“Maybe there are things that don’t change?”

“Not really. At least, I don’t think so. After graduation, I’ll be alone.”

“Really?”

“Definitely.”

“Doesn’t that hurt?”

“I don’t feel anything.”

“I would hate it.”

Mai Hamasaki muttered softly and stopped walking. Her grip forced me to halt as well, and reluctantly, I looked down at her.

She had a somewhat sad look on her face, and yet, her eyes seemed to hold a firm resolve—

“I want to see you. No, that’s not all. I want to be by your side, Kirishima-kun.”

“Stop it!”

I sharply rejected her words and forcefully shook off Mai Hamasaki’s hand.

On the sidewalk leading to the early morning station, I glared at her.

Mai Hamasaki seemed puzzled, holding the hand I had shaken off to her chest.

“Please don’t say that. I can’t bear it, I can’t believe it. A beautiful, kind, and charming person like you caring about someone like me is impossible. You’re being deceived. Delirious. You’re just drunk.”

“How can you know, Kirishima-kun? I’m not being deceived, I’m not delirious. Sure, I get drunk easily, but I remember everything. I know you’re a kind and warm person. That’s why—”