Are Men Really a Rare Species? - Chapter 14: Friend

When I was talking with Kengo-kun, I suddenly became aware of someone’s gaze.

When I looked, Kengo-kun’s mother was looking at us with a surprised expression.

“What’s wrong, Kengo-kun’s mom?”

When I tried talking to her, she widened her eyes even more in surprise.

Then, as she gazed at me curiously, she patted Kengo-kun’s head and gave a gentle smile.

“…I’m just a little surprised because it’s the first time I’ve seen Ken-chan talk so much, Yuuta-kun.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Thank you, Yuuta-kun… really.”

With a very kind face, Kengo-kun’s mother thanked me.

It’s a face that looks genuinely happy, different from the smug grin she usually has for his son.

“No, I was happy to talk with Kengo-kun too.”

Next to me, Mama is deepening her gentle smile even more.

Just a little bit smug.

Oops.

I forgot the crucial thing.

I haven’t said “Let’s be friends.” to Kengo-kun.

Since we’ve gotten closer, it’s about time, right?

After that, I need to send friend requests on SNS platforms like LIME and Discard.

When it’s between men, we can only exchange contact information like this in person.

“Hey, Kengo-kun.”

“Y-yeah… what is it, Yuuta-kun?”

“If you’re okay with it, how about we—”

“Yuuta-sama!”

In the middle of the conversation, we heard Azuma-san’s flustered voice coming from the communicator.

“It’s an emergency! Please leave the area immediately!”

Huh?

Emergency?

Did something happen?

While I was thinking about such things, my Mama pulled my arm.

It’s not rough, but the pulling force is incredibly strong.

I looked up and I saw that Mama had an expression I had never seen before.

I was dragged away without question as I was forcibly separated from Kengo-kun and his family.

I was taken out of the food court as if to keep me away from them.

“Wait, wait a minute! What’s going on, Azuma-san?”

I hurriedly asked Azuma-san, not understanding anything at all.

“Women, centered around young girls, are gathering from the surroundings.”

“Why?”

“Kengo-sama has been discovered to be a man. He will probably be surrounded soon.”

“Eh, what about the bodyguards? Doesn’t Kengo-kun have bodyguards like Azuma-san and the others?”

“Yes. They were currently in the process of evacuating Kengo-sama.”

After looking back, a few women in civilian clothes were taking Kengo-kun outside the food court while hiding him behind them.

The direction they are heading is the exact opposite of where Mama and I are escaping.

Perhaps, the plan was to forcibly evacuate as soon as it was discovered that he was a man.

Their actions are swift and very sophisticated.

On that face, there was a determination that disregarded even one’s own life.

They’re truly professional in security.

However, Kengo-kun’s face, as he was leaving surrounded by them, was stained with anxiety and fear.

Suddenly hearing that “you’re in danger,” being surrounded tightly by the female guards who have been taught that they’re a wolf, and being forcibly evacuated.

He was originally a timid person, so there was no way he could endure this.

“Yikes, eek… ah, help…!”

Kengo-kun was scared to the point of being pitiful as he left such a scream and disappeared to the other side of the mall surrounded by the guards.

As I look, a group of women is following behind them.

The breakdown includes nearly ten young girls and an equal number of mothers, as well as several groups of middle and high school girls.

The number exceeds 30.

They must be the “women who gathered” that Azuma-san was talking about.

The girls following Kengo-kun and the others also disappeared to the other side of the mall.

***

Since we were no longer in a state to go shopping, Mama and I went straight to the parking lot and got into the car driven by Azuma-san.

We’re on our way home now.

“…Hey, Azuma-san.”

I couldn’t help but ask Azuma-san as she was driving.

“…Is that kind of thing common?”

Of course, those kinds of things happened to Kengo-kun.

He was almost surrounded by more than 30 women.

It was a scene that could easily be mistaken for a lynching or a riot.

“Yes. In recent years, men’s outings have drastically decreased, so unfortunately, overreactions like the one earlier are quite common.”

“…Kengo-kun, did he manage to escape?”

“As of now, it’s unclear. The security team over there is probably quite busy with the emergency evacuation, so we are refraining from contacting them. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“…No, it’s fine. Thank you, Azuma-san.”

I might have underestimated the situation surrounding men on this planet.

Just being found out as a man, and they chase us like that?

And is that normal?

Even celebrities should be treated a bit better.

If Kengo-kun were to be caught by more than 30 women just like that, what would happen?

I can’t even imagine it.

I mean, I don’t even want to imagine it.

Right now, all I can do is wish for Kengo-kun and the others’ safety.