The Beautiful Girl I Accidentally Helped Who Has Somehow Become Attached To Me. - Chapter 14: A Coincidence.

A Coincidence.

After waiting for Mikami-san to slowly finish her coffee, we head off to school together.

“Hey… are you really going to walk with me?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“Well, walking to school with you will make us stand out… Can we maybe separate and pass through the school gate at different times? You know, like that thing in marathons where someone promises to cross the finish line with you but ditches you right before.”

“Oh, yes, I remember those friendship-wrecking moments.”

“So, what do you think?”

“Hmm… let’s just say I’d rather not.”

“Oh, really? You’d rather not, huh.”

I thought it was a pretty good suggestion, but she flatly refused with a straight face. Yesterday, I was running to avoid being late, so I hadn’t had time to think about it, but walking calmly to school today, I can feel the overwhelming “beautiful girl” aura radiating from Mikami-san, who’s walking with a quiet dignity by my side.

I don’t mind that part, really. After all, whether I like it or not, Mikami-san has made it her mission to intrude on my solitary existence. I’m hoping that someday I’ll get used to her blinding aura.

But we’re attracting attention. For someone like me, practically invisible in class, walking with Mikami-san, who’s at the top of the social ladder, must look strange to others.

Mikami-san may say she doesn’t care about people around us, but as a loner, I’m sensitive to people’s gazes and can’t just ignore them completely.

“Oh, come on. If anything, flaunting it a little will probably keep others quiet.”

“…Please, don’t. My heart might end up being silenced, too.”

I sidestep a little as Mikami-san scoots closer to me, creating some distance. This girl has a bit of a broken sense of personal space.

“It’s really not something to worry about. It’s no big deal for students in the same grade, from the same school, to run into each other and just happen to walk to the school gate together.”

“What an incredibly refreshing lie.”

Coincidence, huh?

Showing up at my door in the morning and calling it a coincidence is a stretch.

“Oh, it’s fine! The fact that I showed up at your place in the morning, or that we’re about to make a stop at the convenience store together—it’s all a happy accident.”

“Look up the definition of ‘coincidence’.”

Mikami-san turned away with a little pout.

Oh, well. Sometimes you just have to give up. Yes, we’re attracting attention, but… fortunately, by the time we reach school, we’ll be just on the brink of being late.

There should be few students around to witness us arriving together… I hope.

“By the way, you’ve come by in the morning, but what about after school?”

“Would it be okay if I dropped by then too?”

“No, I didn’t mean that exactly… but if you’re going to come, maybe let me know in advance so I can be prepared.”

“…And by ‘prepared,’ you mean?”

“Maybe… having some snacks to go with the coffee?”

“That sounds lovely. Now I simply must come over.”

Well, then.

Guess it was good that I asked.

To be honest, I expected her to visit after school. I didn’t think she’d show up first thing in the morning, and since it was just yesterday, I don’t have any snacks ready.

Still, looking at this conversation alone, it feels like Mikami-san’s just coming over to a guy’s house for snacks.

If all those guys who’ve confessed to her and been turned down saw this, they’d probably be furious, ready to come after me.

Not that they’ll find out, but the bigger issue is how this might affect my school life.

“Are you lost in thought? It’s dangerous if you don’t look where you’re going.”

“…Ah, sorry.”

Mikami-san tilted her head up to look at me, her gaze making my heart skip a beat.

She’s just too stunning. No matter what she does, it’s hard not to feel a little dazzled.

I kind of understand, maybe for the first time, why some guys might confess to her, even if it seems hopeless.

I used to think it was foolish for guys to confess to someone they thought was out of their league, but… to all the guys she’s turned down, I get it now. My bad.

“By the way… do you still get a lot of confessions?”

“Well, here and there. I’ve turned down quite a few already, so word has spread, and the number has dropped a bit. But it hasn’t stopped entirely.”

“Doesn’t it get exhausting, responding to each one?”

“Not so much now. After you helped me last time, I’ve learned to ignore requests to meet in isolated areas, so most of the time, I don’t even have to respond.”

Huh, I was a little worried because she has a loose sense of personal boundaries, but it looks like she’s careful in her own way.

“I’ve even got help from my classmates so I’m not alone as much as possible.”

“…Then, what about being alone in my favorite quiet spot before I get there?”

“T-That’s… not a problem if you’re there with me. We won’t be alone then.”

Yeah, right.

Or maybe… she just doesn’t count me as a guy?

“…Are you worried about me?”

“Well, you know… in a way.”

“Thank you. I’ll be careful, but… if something does happen, please just ‘coincidentally’ help me again.”

“…Got it.”

‘Coincidentally’ help her, huh? I kept that thought to myself.

I guess, being so popular comes with its own set of troubles, and it seems like she’s taken measures to stay safe.

I was worried about her sense of personal space, but it looks like she’s more cautious than I thought.

“Oh, mind if we stop by the convenience store? I need to grab something for lunch.”

“Of course! Coincidentally, I wanted to stop by the store too. Isn’t it funny how we ‘just happened’ to run into each other and end up walking to school together, Kirishima-san?”

…Maybe she should really look up the word ‘coincidentally’ again.