I’m a Telepath, but It’s Tough Because the Cool Beautiful Girl Next to Me Is Having Pink Thoughts - Chapter 13

After what happened yesterday, walking side-by-side with Tatsuki doesn’t faze me at all.

But that wasn’t true. Honestly, I still wasn’t used to the current situation.

From the perspective of me from two days ago, this was something utterly impossible, and expecting me to just accept it right away would be cruel.

“Itsumi-san, what club did you join?”

“Oh… I…”

When the conversation turns to topics like this, it makes someone like me a little uncomfortable.

“Go-home club.”

“…Is that really considered a club?”

“Of course. We fight hard every day, pushing ourselves to the limit.”

“T-that sounds tiring?”

When I cracked a joke, she tilted her head in mild confusion.

Was she playing along, or did she just take it literally because she’s that naive?

Somehow, I felt it was the latter.

Though before, my image of her would’ve made me think it was the former.

“Then, what club did Tatsuki-san join?”

“I… I still haven’t decided. I’ve been trying out different things thanks to everyone’s invitations…”

Well, that figures. No matter the club, they’d all be dying to have her.

She can move, she’s sharp, and on top of that, she’s gorgeous.

Even I, who never joined a club in middle school, could imagine how motivating it would be if someone like her were there.

I feel like you could do well anywhere. I saw you play basketball today, and you were amazing.

“Oh, thank you! I’ve always been good at sports.”

Tatsuki smiles shyly.

That said, it was only her usual poker face softening a little.

Even so, compared to her usual expression, it was practically overflowing with emotion.

“…But I don’t know if it’s really what I want to do. I feel like there might be something else I truly desire, something I just haven’t found yet…”

I understand what she’s trying to say.

I’m not trying to make fun of it, but high school is also a time for self-discovery.

But finding that answer is difficult.

So, I have no choice but to reply like this.

“Well, I hope Tatsuki-san can choose a path you won’t regret. I don’t really know much about that stuff myself.”

“…I see.”

She looked at me with a blank, almost bewildered expression, then fell silent.

…Did she just think I was weird?

“I’m sorry, I sound like I’m being arrogant.”

“N-no! That silence just now was because I thought you sounded kind of enlightened.”

Tatsuki immediately corrects herself.

…Enlightened, she said?

To me, it felt closer to resignation than wisdom.

“Well, maybe it’s just because I’ve had different life experiences.”

“I thought I had my share of experiences too, though…”

She’s probably had a tough life, too, but compared to me, it’s still pretty easy.

“Have you ever been attacked in the middle of the night?”

“A-attacked… in the middle of the night…”

It’s not exactly fishing for information, but when I jokingly bring up a slightly suggestive topic, she visibly stumbles over her words.

…Seriously, how did she manage to keep her true nature hidden under such a thin shell all this time?

Ah, maybe to an outsider this would look like sexual harassment.

“That was a joke… well, it’s not entirely a lie, but anyway, let’s not go too dee—”

───Crack!

Just as I was about to make a slight correction, I heard a sound like something was shifting.

…This is, that.

“What should I make for dinner today, curry or nikujaga…”

“Ugh, I’m so tired.”

“This doggy’s sooo cute!! I could pet it forever!”

“Don’t touch my Pochi so casually, brat.”

“The damn light won’t change, hurry the hell up.”

“It’s such nice weather.”

All at once, a flood of human thoughts came crashing in like a muddy torrent.

My telepathy had come back.

And again, it’s always acting up at the weirdest times.

The sudden influx of information caused me to stumble slightly.

“…!? A-are you alright?”

Tatsuki changed her tone to one of genuine concern, still half-confused from my earlier remark.

“Y-yeah. It’s kind of a chronic condition, it’ll clear up soon…”

If my telepathy had returned, then that meant I could read her thoughts as well.

And since she’d deliberately made a comment earlier that brought that kind of thing to mind…

“I hope he’s alright… I just hope it doesn’t turn serious.”

“───────────”

Alongside her worried thoughts came, as usual, something extremely adult in nature.

This time it was a disturbingly vivid, downright awful fantasy, one where someone gets attacked by some hulking brute in the city at night.

“U-ugh.”

“Aah, are you really alright!?”

She hurried over, and her face could hardly be called expressionless for once.

—

“U-ugh…”

“D-don’t worry, it’ll be okay! You’ll definitely get better!”

I wanted to snap back with something like this is all her imagination’s fault but seeing how genuinely worried she looked, I ended up feeling this strange, tangled mess of emotions instead.

Pathetically clinging to Tatsuki, I somehow managed to make it to a bench at the station.

Even though she wasn’t used to it, she rubbed my back and fussed over me.

I really was grateful beyond words.

“E-every boy… has weak moments too? I-I knew it…”

Could she not make such ridiculously pink statements?

I mean, sure, I was leaning against her shoulder right now, so getting a little flustered was fair enough.

But the way she said it.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m fine now.”

I quickly moved away from her.

The volume of the telepathy decreases just a little.

When I was actually in contact with her, the telepathy felt much clearer.

Add to that the sweet scent of her so close, and my thoughts turned into a mess. That’s why I took the chance to create some distance.

“R-really…? Please don’t push yourself, okay?”

“A-ah… he pulled away…”

She fidgeted nervously.

And why did she sound just a little disappointed?

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”

“N-no, it’s fine. You helped me yesterday… I’m not sure if returning the favor is the right way to put it, but…”

“Then let’s call it even.”

When I gave a grin that even I wasn’t used to, her expression finally changed to one of relief.

“Oh, looks like the train’s coming.”

“Yes, what about Itsumi-san?”

“I’ll rest a bit more before heading home. Tatsuki-san can go on ahead.”

“Are you really alright?”

“Yeah. Thank you for staying with me.”

She sure worried a lot.

Well, I guess if someone she barely knows suddenly collapses, that’s normal.

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

“…Y-yes! Then, g-good night?”

With that odd little farewell, she stepped onto the train.

Probably just not used to this sort of thing. She’s kind of socially awkward, after all.

For the time being, at least I’ve been freed from her delusions.

…I’ve been freed, but the telepathic misfortune isn’t over yet.

“Ugh, look at them flirting.”

“Wait, who’s that beauty!? And is that guy her boyfriend!?”

“Explode, explode, explode.”

A while ago, I was constantly getting blasted by jealousy, mostly from guys.

It doesn’t actually hurt, but man, it’s annoying.

It’s not even that kind of relationship, but even if it were, they could just leave us alone.

“Eh, is that the Ice Princess…? And wait, is that her boyfriend!?”

The moment I picked up that voice, I frantically darted my eyes around.

It was a girl’s voice. I couldn’t tell whose.

To begin with, I hadn’t listened to girls’ voices enough to remember them.

So, of course, there was no way I could identify the speaker.

I did spot some people in our school uniforms, but I couldn’t tell which one it was.

No, maybe they all thought the same thing.

Rumor has it that Tatsuki’s reputation extends beyond her grade.

Maybe everyone was thinking something along those lines.

If that’s the case, this is going to get troublesome.

It’s only been two or three months since we started school, and yet her fame is already that great.

If word spreads that she has a boyfriend…

And if I’m misunderstood to be that boyfriend…

My stomach is already aching.

…Maybe I should just skip school tomorrow.