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

On the way from my house to the station, I nearly bumped into a utility pole more times than I could count.

Part of it was because I was sleepy, sure… but the bigger reason was that something else had completely taken over my head.

No matter how hard I tried not to think about it, I kept recalling her inner voice.

The words of Tatsuki’s overly vivid daydreams, clinging to my mind like sticky tape, kept flashing back with lifelike images.

It was like a curse, and I couldn’t shake it off.

If telepathy were working at a time like this, it might have helped distract me more, but this ability is only useful when I don’t need it.

So, feeling troubled and lost in thought, I arrived at the station.

I tapped my worn commuter pass at the gate and stepped through to the platform. Same as always.

Just another ordinary morning on my way to school.

Students, office workers, company ladies, one after another, arriving and lining up on the platform.

I followed my usual routine, weaving through the crowd and heading toward the entrance away from the ticket gates…

But on the way there, I spotted something unusual.

“…Tatsuki-san?”

“…! Oh, I-Itsumi-san…”

Just like that, the atmosphere around her seemed to straighten out and almost be dignified.

There was only one person I knew who carried that kind of presence.

She was sitting on a bench, posture neat, long legs together and stretched out, yet her shoulders hunched ever so slightly.

“W-why are you still here? I thought you left home way earlier.”

“Um, well… you see…”

Her voice sounded heavy. Not that she was usually bright and cheerful, but this was a shade darker than usual.

Her expression and complexion both seem somewhat listless.

“Um, I had a flashback…”

“Flashback?”

Like an idiot, I just repeated her words.

“Yesterday, um, the feeling of being touched… and the fear that came with it. It all came flooding back…”

“…Ah.”

I regretted asking again.

Without telepathy, I really was hopeless at reading the situation.

“I forced myself to get on the train, but it was too much… I ended up getting off right away.”

“So you did get on, so that means you came back here again… right?”

“Th-that’s right. Um, that…”

Her eyes darted around nervously.

Did I just say something wrong again?

If I’m not careful, I will immediately say something insensitive.

I’m trying to be careful, but…

“Um… I, I was hoping that I-Itsumi-san would… accompany me… to go to school with… me?”

“…Huh?”

That answer came from a completely unexpected angle.

Well, not that I’d been expecting an answer at all.

“Just thinking about what happened yesterday… It scares me. I don’t feel safe being alone.”

That made sense…

But… Why me of all people?

“Beside… I’ve always had trouble being around men, even before yesterday… and if I’m being honest, I’m not very good at interacting with people in general…”

Yeah.

Well, I kind of had that feeling; I could sense her vibes of someone who’s socially awkward.

“But… somehow, I don’t know why, but I’m not afraid of Itsumi-san. When I’m with you, I don’t feel anxious at all… I actually feel a sense of security…”

…I’m happy and embarrassed at the same time.

It almost sounded like she was telling me I wasn’t even seen as a man… but hearing her say it so directly still didn’t feel bad.

“I see. Well, in that case… I guess it can’t be helped.”

“! So that means.”

“I’m heading to school anyway, so there’s no reason for me to refuse.”

Her thank you came with a bit more life in her voice than before. If I’d had telepathy, I was sure her thoughts would’ve been brimming with relief.

“Alright then, let’s go. We don’t have much time.”

“Y-yes. I’m sorry to trouble you, but… thank you.”

With that, Tatsuki stood up and lined up beside me on the platform. Soon after, the train arrived, and we boarded, following the same route we always took to school.

The train was as packed as ever with students and office workers.

Because of the crowd, she stuck close by my side.

“…I’m sorry, Itsumi-san.”

At this distance, even just muttering a reply would’ve sent my breath brushing against her.

“Oh, are you okay?”

The car body lurches up and down.

Perhaps because of that, Tatsuki stumbled from the swaying of the train, so I instinctively reached out to support her.

“…T- thank you…”

We ended up staring at each other at close range. Not that it mattered… It was a packed train, after all.

Wait, hold on. Me touching her like this… wasn’t that just like yesterday’s creep? Wasn’t I being too careless?

“No, I’m sorry too. I touched you without asking.”

“N-no, not at all! If anything… You really helped me.”