Insensitive Bocchi-kun ~Reluctantly Heading to School Today~ [Dropped] - Chapter 33: Zoo ②

Chapter 33: Zoo ②

“Fufu, hey, Mamiya-kun. Isn’t this penguin cute?”

It might be cute, but what is this situation really…?

Alone with the popular girl from school…

If others see us like this, it would be a big problem.

Well, we’re not classmates anymore, but I’ve already passed by some of the other students from the same school…

I could feel their piercing gaze as they passed by me.

This is bad…

And… rather than Yamamoto, everyone is staring at me with curious eyes while I’m with Yamamoto.

Honestly, I can’t stand it…

Especially classmates like Sakaki, if they find out about this scene, it’s all over for me.

I don’t know how much gossip I’ll have to endure.

There is a possibility that they won’t recognize me in this appearance, but the guarantee is not that great among my classmates. It’s better to assume that there is none.

“Yamamoto… Wouldn’t it be better for you to go back to your group? You won’t have any fun with me…”

Unlike me, Yamamoto doesn’t need to become a loner.

I’ve been saying such things repeatedly since earlier, but she doesn’t listen at all.

“I-It’s okay. I’m really having fun right now…”

It’s definitely a lie, but since she followed me, I can’t say anything back when she says that.

Even now, she’s giving me a kind smile.

How can she direct such a face towards a loner like me…

I can’t forcefully separate from her like this.

“Hey… hey… Mamiya-kun, are you having fun?”

Now she’s saying that with a serious expression on her face.

What should I even answer?

Honestly, right now… I don’t understand my own emotions.

“I don’t know.”

“I-I see.”

“Ah…”

“I-Is it okay to interpret that as not hating it?”

I wonder.

Honestly, this situation is not something I desire.

But strangely, the word “hate” doesn’t come to mind.

“Ah… Maybe…”

“I-I see.”

Saying that, she once again gives me a gentle smile.

But still, I think it would be bad if other people see us in this situation.

“Hey, Mamiya-kun. W-where should we go next?”

“…”

“Y-you see, there’s a place I want to go… Is that okay?”

Honestly, being with her makes me stand out in a negative way, so I don’t want to walk any further.

But I can’t voice that thought.

When I look at her face, the words don’t come out of my mouth.

“Yea…”

And before I realize it, I find myself giving her a word of consent.

“T-thank you.”

“…”

It’s not like there’s something to be grateful for…

I quietly continue walking, matching her pace.

Heading towards our destination…

__________ Huh? Wait.

“Eh?… Wait a sec.”

W-why…?

Right now, she suddenly grabbed my hand.

No, it’s not just grabbing… she’s holding onto it.

It’s so sudden that my head is in a state of confusion.

And then, she gently takes my hand and slowly intertwines her fingers with mine.

W-what is happening for real?

“M-Mamiya-kun…”

“…”

I quickly look around, but fortunately, I don’t see any familiar faces in my field of vision.

W-what is really going on?

Her actions are confusing my already chaotic mind, leaving me completely blank.

Unable to grasp the current situation, I turn my face towards her, for the time being.

And there, I see Saya Yamamoto with a face so red it looks like it’s about to explode.

And for some reason, my heart starts to ache when I see her face.

“W-what is happening?”

“…”

This time, she doesn’t answer my question and looks down… 

I’m at a loss for words.

W-what is really going on? I have no idea how to handle this current situation.

For a while, Yamamoto and I continue walking in silence.

Even now, her warmth is directly transmitted to my hand…

This is bad.

“I-it’s just for now… Please.”

Finally, she opens her mouth to speak, but… I don’t understand.

I shouldn’t understand…

And for some reason, her words make my heart ache even more.

My ears are burning…

My brain acknowledges that this situation is not good, but for some reason, my mouth won’t open.

My heart becomes even hotter…

“Wow, such a young couple, how enviable,” a white-haired old lady with a cane suddenly remarks as she walks past us.

I have no idea what kind of expression to make in response to those words…

It’s definitely not true, and I’m sure she wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a couple either.

But… for some reason, she doesn’t express any denial.

Instead, she blushes and looks down.

Why…?

Watching her like that… now I’m finding it hard to breathe.

What kind of face am I even making right now…?

For now, it’s bad.

I can only say it’s bad.

Today, I can’t seem to control my emotions properly.

If I make one wrong step, I feel like I’ll break.

I’m scared of my own emotions.

I’ve never experienced this kind of sensation before… my body feels so hot.

“Y-Yamamoto, w-we should let go of each other’s hands. It’s not only me, but you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a couple with me, right?”

Feeling that I really need to do something about this situation, I stop and desperately squeeze out my words.

“I-I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m happy…”

“…”

Unexpected words reach my ears…

I truly don’t understand their meaning.

But… her face, right next to me, is full of sincerity.

Unable to meet her gaze, I once again avert my eyes from her staring at me.

My mind goes blank, and no words come out of my mouth… 

Silence fills the air at this moment.

Could it be that she’s showing her bad habit again?

“Y-Yamamoto. I still think it’s wrong for us to be doing this.”

Something happened before too.

Habits aren’t so easily overcome, huh…

And then, she looks at me with a serious expression, her face bright red.

“I’ve said it before… I don’t do this kind of thing with someone who’s not interested. Only with you, Mamiya. So it’s not a mistake…”

“…”

My head feels hot…

What does she mean… Her words only confuse me further.

It’s really hot…

I don’t know where we’re heading, but fortunately, we’re still in an unpopular area.

There are a few people scattered in my field of vision, but I don’t see anyone from our school yet.

It’s suffocating…

Am I even breathing properly? I don’t even know anymore.

This is bad…

“Kento-kun, look this way…”

And then, from beside me, I hear Yamamoto’s voice calling out to me.

I freeze upon hearing her words…

Because I’m currently feeling her breath directly on my skin… 

Her face must be that close to me.

My heart feels like it’s burning, so hot.

I don’t know what to do anymore.

W-why… do I have to turn my face towards her?

And now… what will happen if I face her, or rather, this devil?

My brain feels like it’s about to explode.

Will I be able to maintain my sanity?

I can’t… I can’t think anymore.

Seriously, what should I do?

M-my heart feels like it’s about to explode…

Her breath… it’s dangerously enticing.

My mind is no longer functioning properly.

I might react instinctively to the next words.

This is really bad.

“Hey… Mamiya-kun,”

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud… Crash!

Huh?

Suddenly, her voice overlaps with a loud noise that reaches my ears.

Instinctively, both she and I turn our faces in that direction.

And there, under the stairs, was Tanaka-kun, fallen to the ground with an anxious look, staring at us…