I’m a Telepath, but It’s Tough Because the Cool Beautiful Girl Next to Me Is Having Pink Thoughts - Chapter 4

“Heh, what, ah, I’ve been found out!”

Even though my glare is as weak as a barking Pomeranian, it still worked. It seems to have a significant effect when it comes from a complete stranger’s hostility. The pervert was clearly flustered, and his inner thoughts were audible.

Why does he have the guts to commit a crime, but then panic so much when he gets caught? He should not have done it in the first place. Or, maybe it’s not so strange if I think of it as the dark descent of a timid person who can’t even talk to the opposite sex?

“You know that’s sexual harassment, right? That’s a crime.”

“Haa, ah!”

When I said crime, the groper’s brain started chattering on its own. He probably realized his mistake and was worried about the future. He was going over various personal information, like his family and where he worked.

“Your parents must be crying too, that you didn’t get married, didn’t get a decent job, and on top of that, you’re committing crimes.”

“!? What the?”

“I guess you will have to say goodbye to the friends who have been there for you until now. And make sure you pay back the money before you go to jail.”

He looked totally shocked, like I had read his mind. His thoughts were so fast I only caught pieces, but it worked to scare him.

But what should I do from here? Should I hand him over to a station attendant or something? Or do I have to restrain him until the police arrive? No, that’s not right, is it?

Honestly, I don’t know how to handle situations like this, so I just keep thinking it over.

…And just then, the train doors opened with a ping-pong sound, and people poured out like water flowing.

“Oh!”

Taking advantage of that momentum, the molester brushed off my arm and got off the train. I let my guard down, and I scared him too much.

“Molester! That person is a molester!!!”

I wanted to chase after him, too, but the crowd of people immediately started flowing back the other way, so I couldn’t. I at least tried to shout, but everyone just frowned and looked around, letting the fleeing criminal pass through. I wonder if things would have been different if I could not only hear people’s inner voices but also broadcast them.

…Damn it, it’s not going the way I want.

Just like that, empty, the door clicked shut again mechanically. I could feel the gaze that had been on me, and the thoughts of bewilderment and annoyance, following me.

Even the body that had been in an excited state from facing the criminal cooled down a bit. So, not that I had forgotten about it, but as if I had just remembered, I looked at her.

“Huh?”

I may have just thought or said the most foolish and rude thing.

Tatsuki, the one who always wore that expressionless face, was crying so hard her face was all scrunched up.

—

After that, I got off at the next station and immediately reported it to the station staff. They agreed to take measures, but since there was no evidence, it was limited to issuing a wanted notice, or rather, just putting out information about a suspicious person. Perhaps I should have pushed through the crowd and chased after him.

“Ugh… cough…”

“…”

And now. On the train platform, I didn’t know what to do.

Tatsuki is holding the water bottle I gave her with both hands, still sobbing uncontrollably. I’ve never seen her change her expression so much before. It must have been incredibly terrifying.

…No, that’s not it. Being touched by a man she doesn’t know is incredibly disgusting.

I’d been thinking all sorts of things about her, like her mind was full of pink and whatnot, but she’s not a pervert or a nymphomaniac. It’s just that her interests lean in that direction. So, it’s not going to turn into something like an erotic manga.

I sincerely apologize for thinking, even for a moment, that she might actually be happy about it.

“…”

I’m starting to worry about the stares and whispers of those around us.

This situation. If someone were watching from the side, they might misunderstand us as a couple fighting. Actually, that’s exactly what happened.

“Ugh, a couple’s lovers’ quarrel.”

“Hey, your girlfriend’s crying? Dude!?”

“Huh? How could you make such a cute girl cry?”

For completely unfounded reasons, I was being criticized from all sides. Well, it’s not like I’m the type to be affected by something like that, but it still doesn’t sit right with me.

“Tatsuki…san, are you alright?”

I have a strong one-sided impression of Tatsuki, but from her perspective, I’m probably just a background character, a nobody. I thought calling her by her first name would be a bit much, so I added -san. In the end, it’s still informal, so it might not make much difference.

“…”

She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, trying to respond, but no words would come. And the voice of her thought was also becoming unmanageable.

“That’s right, I’m scared of people, especially men who are scary and who I can’t be polite to…”

I don’t understand what she’s saying, but if I were to transcribe the jumbled torrent of emotions, it would probably look something like this.

Humans aren’t that simple. They think and feel various things simultaneously. Especially when someone is in a panic, like she is now, various emotions surge up, they start thinking, and as a result, they can’t organize their thoughts. That pervert earlier was the same way. Various memories and events get jumbled up in their minds.

Well, I can roughly read her feelings. As for Tatsuki’s current feelings, it’s something like fear, tension, and gratitude toward me…

Even if I understand, the question is what I can do about it. My communication skills aren’t good enough to say anything clever.

“Um, it looks like you won’t be able to get home on your own. Maybe you should have your parents or a friend pick you up.”

So, I decided to talk about what happens next for now. Will people think I’m heartless? Well, it doesn’t really matter.

“…Um, that…”

She speaks while swallowing her tears and forcing out her voice. Take your time, I say, and she gulps down some water from a plastic bottle. Then,

“…Actually, today… my family isn’t home.”

“Oh, that’s…”

What should I do? Should I just wait until her emotions calm down? But I don’t really have any obligation to do that… no, I’m already in too deep, I guess…

“So… um, I’m feeling a little… lonely, I mean.”

That’s probably right.

“This happened, and that’s why…”

Her eyes had been downcast as she turned toward me. As a result, she was looking up at me, and for a moment, I was startled by the weak gaze in her eyes that was completely unexpected from her usual sharp expression.

…But, this flow, it’s a bit…

“Just for tonight, could you let me stay… or not?”

……

“Ha?”

Haaaaaaahhhhhhh!?