Insensitive Bocchi-kun ~Reluctantly Heading to School Today~ [Dropped] - Chapter 26: Train

Chapter 26: Train

Whew… Another day has come to a close, and thankfully, without any major incidents. 

Well, I guess I can’t say it was completely without its risks. 

I can’t help but think back to the incident with Arisa Shibuya earlier this afternoon.

“Kento, are you free later?”

As I sit here, lost in thought about tomorrow, I suddenly hear Ran’s voice. Huh?

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“How about we grab dinner nearby?”

So, she just asked me about my plans after work. 

I mentioned that I was only planning to catch up on a recorded drama. 

Well, I suppose that’s important too…

“Sorry, I have something to take care of tonight.”

“Just watching a drama… Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

She looks at me with an intense gaze as she says that. 

Lately, she’s been giving me this look quite often. 

Well, having dinner should be fine… 

There won’t be any classmates from our high school around here. 

Although I have turned down her invitations a few times before…

“Alright then… Let’s go.”

“Hehe, great! Let’s have dinner together, Kento.”

She responded, her smile shining brightly.

I couldn’t help but think that this girl had such a captivating personality. 

Just by going to dinner with me, she could light up like that. 

But honestly, it seemed like a waste for her to share that charm with me.

By the way, why was she so fond of me? I couldn’t really grasp it.

We had only recently met, and nothing particularly significant had occurred between us. 

That’s right. 

Yeah, that’s right. 

At least, that’s how I perceived it… 

But strangely, I felt like I had encountered her somewhere in the past. 

Although I couldn’t recall anything specific, so there must be nothing…

“Let’s go then.”

“Yeah.”

I quickly checked the contents of my wallet.

“Kento, would it be okay if we took the train for just one station?”

“Yeah.”

It wasn’t a problem if it was just that.

_______The door closed behind us.

“Hehe, Kento, why are you keeping your distance like that?”

“Well… It’s nothing.”

“Come closer.”

“…”

Doesn’t she realize the many gazes she’s attracting from the men around her? 

Undoubtedly, she must be considered beautiful by most people. 

Perhaps she’s accustomed to such attention. 

But I wished she understood what would happen if someone like me, an unremarkable guy, stood next to her. 

I would become the subject of gossip again…

“I’ll go ahead then.” 

I said, trying to divert my thoughts. 

While I pondered these things, she somehow closed the distance between us and stood next to me.

“Hehe, Kento, do you like Chinese cuisine?”

“Yeah, well…”

I trailed off, my mind still preoccupied by the surrounding gazes.

“And why does Kento always dress so dark outside of work? Is there a reason for that?”

“Just… It helps me feel calm.”

“I-I see… Well, it doesn’t really matter.”

But seriously, the intensity of those gazes was overwhelming. 

Unable to bear it any longer, I lifted my face to avoid the stares from people around us.

“…”

Still, everywhere I looked, there were posters of her. 

It must be tough… 

That person probably didn’t have a single memory of me remaining. 

She had truly become a star…

“So, where are you looking? Oh, you’re a fan of Mikichan from Asazakura Street 47? Anyway, we’re getting off now.”

“Yeah.”

We left the train behind and started walking together.

“Here we are.”

She said after a few minutes of walking, pointing to a slightly worn-out Chinese restaurant.

“This place…”

Huh?

Yes. I knew this place where she brought me…

I trailed off, a sense of nostalgia washing over me.