Ranobe Mo Ore Mo Sukina Gyaru - Volume 1 Chapter 11.3

Gal and a Mini Runaway 3

In the relationship between Tsumakawa and me, is it acceptable for something like this?

As I pondered over this, Tsumakawa, who looked visibly downcast, continued in a dejected tone:

“…I’m sorry for asking something impossible. But… I just want to be with you right now…”

” ….. “

“Running away from home, being alone, and crying… After that, the first person I contacted, even before anyone else, was you. On this night when I felt so sad, my heart was crying out for Yoda’s help… So, I sent a message on LINE, but… was it bothersome for you…?”

” ….. “

“It’s okay. For now, I’ll spend the night at a net cafe or something. I might message you occasionally, but well… if you can, within your capacity, please respond…”

” ….. “

“…I was happy that you came to see me. Well, see you at school…”

Looking at me, who didn’t say anything, Tsumakawa, with a lonely expression, stood up from the bench quietly.

She is in no condition to spend the night alone.

Still, she seemed to realize that she wouldn’t get help from me, so she was about to leave the park alone…

Seeing that, I felt a sharp pain in my chest and made a decision.

——It was probably the wrong choice.

Tsumakawa and I should never sleep under the same roof. So, normally, I should reject her request to stay at my house.

But I couldn’t forgive myself for not being able to help her here at this moment.

This feeling is probably not friendship or love.

Because I’m not trying to help Tsumakawa out of a desire to help her her. It’s not that… It’s just that I can’t stand the thought of leaving Tsumakawa, who has been so kind to me, in a state where she needs help and abandoning her.

I’ve decided to do whatever I can to avoid that.

In essence, it’s because I don’t want to abandon her that I’m trying to help her——This is also another hypocritical act on my part.

Just like when I helped out at Nakamachi’s bakery, I feel a strong resistance toward having this seen as pure goodwill… As I finished pondering that point, Tsumakawa, with a face on the verge of tears, turned her back to me and began walking out of the park toward the outside.

Because of me not reaching out my hand, she would be alone once again.

Disliking that idea, I instinctively grabbed her wrist and said

“Wait… I, I’ll try asking…”

“—huh…?”

“I’ll ask my parents or something. You can sit down first for now…”

“…uuuuu….”

Upon my words, Tsumakawa-san’s eyes brimmed with tears and she started crying.

On the other hand, I hastily let go of her wrist that I had grabbed.

I had touched Tsumakawa-san’s body on my own… How presumptuous of me…

As I was reflecting on that, she spread her arms out to the sides with her tear-streaked face and then said in a pleading voice,

“Is it okay if I, um… hold you?”

“Huh… N-No, let’s not…”

“….Uuuuuuuu…”

Tsumakawa-san tightly embraced me, sobbing like a little animal.

… Whether she was granted permission or rejected, if she was planning to hug me anyway, why did she bother asking for permission…?

And so, for a little while, Tsumakawa-san clung to me…

This hug was a result of her seeking emotional stability, and it didn’t carry romantic implications.

Still, I felt ridiculously nervous despite this.

I’m a virgin, you know (just stating the fact).

Amidst all this, a few minutes passed… and I was finally released from her embrace.

After I told Tsumakawa-san, ‘Well then, I’ll try contacting home,’ I called my sister’s phone.

“Tonight, I want to have a female classmate stay over at our place. Is that okay…?”

『Ha?』

…After a discussion that ensued from there, I somehow managed to get permission from both my parents and my sister for the sleepover.

I turned back to Tsumakawa-san and noticed that she seemed to have been on the phone with someone at the same time.

She had her smartphone to her ear and let out a voice like this:

“Yeah, it’s like a temporary runaway… Mmm, it’s okay. When I asked Yoda for help, Yoda said he’d help. If I get permission from his family, they’ll let me stay… Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that… Yeah, next I’ll ask Kanachamu… Hehe. I’m not in the mood for that today. I’m not even wearing my lucky underwear… Yeah, thanks for worrying. Love you. Yeah, I’ll do that…I was really happy to talk to you on the phone. Bye-bye.”

After ending the call, Tsumakawa-san’s expression became slightly relieved, and she noticed my gaze.

In response, she let out a small smile and pointed to her own smartphone.

“It’s Kanachamu. It seems my mom got in touch with her, and Kanachamu called me out of concern… But when I mentioned relying on Yoda, she scolded me, saying, ‘You should’ve asked me first.’ Usually, I’d definitely call Kanachamu first…but today, it was totally Yoda…”

My mom contacted me, and she called out of concern. When I mentioned asking Yoda for help, she scolded me, saying, ‘You should’ve asked Aishi first.’ Normally, I would’ve called Kanachiyamu first… but today, it was totally Yoda…”

“Don’t use my name like it’s a verb.”

While interjecting like that, I pondered for a bit… but yeah, that’s true, right?

Tsumakawa has plenty of other friends besides me, so why did she have to come to my house and risk getting rejected?

Why me?

With that question in mind, I ended up looking at her face.

Tsumakawa met my somewhat piercing gaze head-on and, with teary eyes, shyly smiled.

“Hmm, anyway, since I got permission to stay over… should we head to my house right now?”

“Yeah. Seriously, thanks…”

“And also, I realized from what my older sister said earlier… I think it’s better to at least let your mom know that you’re staying at my house. So, could you make a call?”

“Yeah, that’s true… By the way, Yoda, did you have an older sister?”

“Oh, yeah. I have an annoyingly overprotective and irritating older sister…”

“Lucky you. I want siblings too…”

After that conversation, Tsumakawa-san promptly made a call to her mother.

…This girl is straightforwardly saying, ‘I’m staying at Yoda’s place tonight,’ but is that really okay?

If Tsumakawa’s dad finds out that she’s staying over at a male classmate’s house, won’t he explode in anger?

I hope Tsumakawa’s mom can be flexible about this whole situation…