I Chose the Plain Girl Instead of the Class’s Top Three Beauties, and Somehow She Became the Heroine - 13

Chapter 13: Bringing the Incident to a Close

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《Sora Mukei’s POV》

When we got off the train, we were taken to a different place from where the man who had groped her was brought. The station attendant’s room was bright. The sound of the air conditioner and the rustling of papers filled the space. Miura-san sat on a bench, her hand trembling as she signed the form the station staff had given her. She had calmed down compared to earlier, but the strength in her fingers was still weak. A female station attendant spoke to her gently while I went to buy water from the vending machine for her.

“Can you drink some water?”

When I held out the bottle, she received it with both hands and gave a small nod.

“…Thanks.”

A station attendant turned toward us.

“Please allow me to confirm the situation.”

I gave a brief explanation. The positions, the angle of the man’s arm, the testimonies from those around us. I didn’t add any unnecessary descriptions. The office lady from earlier and the student boy also came to the station office and added only the important points.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Once the first round of paperwork was done, the station attendant said she should contact her guardian. Miura-san nodded and switched her phone to her other hand.

“…Hello, Mom? Yeah… I’m at the station…”

Her voice wavered slightly. I looked away and gazed at the flow of people on the platform through the glass door.

“…Sorry, Mukei-kun.”

When I turned back at being called, Miura-san was standing. Her eyes were red, but she looked straight at me with steady eyes.

“Earlier, I grabbed your sleeve, and you had to get off… Thank you for helping me.”

“Grabbing me was the right call. They say when you’re scared you’ll grab even at a straw, right?”

“You were way more reliable than a straw.”

Beautiful girls with eyes that cling to you like that made you want to help them. She let out a weak smile and relaxed her shoulders.

“Hey, Mukei-kun. Today, Kai left me behind… It’s not the first time, you know. If someone said it was my own fault, I guess that might be true.”

What is she talking about? 

Saying it was her fault she got groped wasn’t right. She had been scared, unable to raise her voice, suffering through it, and unable to even ask for help—there was no universe where that was “her fault.”

“The phrase ‘your own fault’ is something only the person themselves can use.”

“Eh?”

“When someone else uses it, that’s just an excuse for them to abandon you. Okabe said he’d protect you when it suited him, and then he put his own plans first. Even if that led to you being targeted, it’s not your fault at all, Miura-san!”

She adjusted her hold on the bottle and took a sip.

“…You’re kind of mature, Mukei-kun.”

“People say I seem old.”

“I’m complimenting you. Really. …Hey, I want to thank you properly sometime, so can you give me your contact?”

“Sure. You can contact me anytime you want.”

We exchanged contact information. If a female classmate was in trouble, I didn’t mind helping.

I had originally planned to keep an eye on Anno-san, but nothing had happened to her, and I was glad for that. And I was relieved that the issue Miura-san had been dealing with was resolved. If possible, I just hoped nothing else happened from tomorrow onward.

“Thanks. You know, even though I look like this, I’m actually not great with guys, so I kind of used my appearance as armor to keep boys at a distance. I even used Kai a little. But after what happened today, I realized I need to judge people for myself.”

There were parts of her relationship with her childhood friend that I didn’t understand. It was also true that Okabe’s behavior had been protecting her, in its own way.

“Miura-san has her own worries, so I can’t help you with everything, but if it’s just listening, I can do that anytime.”

“Yeah, thanks! Mukei-kun!”

I had assumed from her looks that she was strong. But I hadn’t imagined there was a reason behind her makeup and gyaru-style appearance.

“Is someone coming to pick you up?”

“My mom said she’ll come. …Thanks. And Asuka will be here soon too.”

“Hino-san?”

She immediately sent a message. It was marked as read right away, and the response was quick.

『I’m close. Be right there.』

She showed me her phone screen, and in less than ten minutes, Asuka Hino came rushing in, wearing a hoodie over her jersey. Breathless, the first thing she did was hold Miura-san by the shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Mukei-kun helped me.”

Asuka-san looked at me.

“We meet again, Hero-kun.”

“The station staff were the heroes. I just blocked the way.”

“That’s what makes you great, Mukei-kun.”

She said it lightly like usual, then quickly returned to a serious expression.

“For now, let’s go home together. I’ll ride too. I’ll message Mizuki.”

“Thanks, Asuka.”

Her mother arrived and bowed to the station attendants. After a brief exchange, they headed toward the exit. Miura-san looked back once and bowed deeply.

“Mukei-kun… Thank you. I’ll thank you properly tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it. If you’re scared to take the train, ask a friend to ride with you.”

She smiled and pressed her fingertip to the corner of her eye. After seeing the two of them off, I headed back toward the trains. The sound of sirens faded into the distance. When I returned to the platform, the line from earlier looked exactly like it always did.

My reflection in the glass door looked a little tired, but my breathing was calm. I boarded the train. She had said her house and mine were only one station apart. If we ended up on the same train again, maybe I’d keep an eye out on her again.

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