The Beautiful Girl I Accidentally Helped Who Has Somehow Become Attached To Me. - Chapter 39: "Don't Worry About It" Is Just For You.

“Don’t Worry About It” Is Just For You.

It seemed even Mikami-san was getting tired, as after drinking some juice at the break area, she started to play more quietly. We enjoyed activities like karaoke, darts, billiards, and crane games, taking it easy. By the time it was getting late, we were ready to head out.

“Shall we go home soon?”

“Ugh… just eight more hours… just twenty-four more hours…”

“That’s too long, and you’re done for, Mikami-san.”

“I’m not that tired.”

“Then… can you let go of my arm?”

“Why are you being so mean? Are you going to abandon me?”

“I didn’t say anything like that.”

Even though I suggested we leave since we still had to travel by bus, Mikami-san seemed reluctant to stop playing, still eager to keep going. I was impressed by her persistence with her reverse door-in-the-face technique, but her body seemed to be giving out after all the fun.

Her legs wobbled like a newborn deer, and she clung to my arm to keep herself from falling as we walked.

Seeing such a cute sight actually made me feel relieved. After all that intense exercise, if she were still perfectly fine, I’d be questioning if she was even human.

As expected, though, she didn’t show superhuman abilities and was now on the verge of collapsing like any typical high school girl.

But still, don’t go saying things like “abandoning” her. The combination of her teary eyes and upturned gaze was really getting to me. So cute.

“But with that, you can’t do anything, can you?”

“Tch… the consequences of the bet for the punishment game have caught up with me…”

“That’s how your power-up system works?”

It seems the power-up effect works under certain conditions, but it comes with a backlash.

Well, if that were her baseline, that would be dangerous. She should definitely join a sports club at this point.

“What should we do?”

“I guess there’s no choice… we’ll go back for now.”

“Just so you know, it’s not a two-night, three-day trip, so I’m not coming tomorrow.”

“…That’s too bad.”

Though she looked a little disappointed, Mikami-san finally agreed to head home. However, there was still some resistance, but with how weak she was now, her protests were nothing. Before I could even feel sorry for her little groans of “Ah” and “Ugh,” I led Mikami-san out to head back.

***

After getting on the bus and being rocked for a few minutes, Mikami-san began to doze off.

Well, after all that excitement, it’s no surprise she’d be tired.

“Mikami-san?”

“Mmm, I’m awake.”

“I’ll wake you up before we get there, so it’s fine if you sleep.”

“Then… I’ll take you up on that…”

Her voice gradually became softer, and her eyelids started to droop.

Right after that, as the bus made a turn, Mikami-san leaned against my shoulder, her head gently resting there.

With the physical distance between us shrinking, I could hear her regular, soft breathing.

It didn’t seem like she was waking up anytime soon.

(Sheesh… She looks so comfortable.)

She played a lot, got tired from all the fun, and now she was sound asleep, like a child.

I was tired too, but not enough to fall asleep. Not that I was thinking about the return trip, but if we both fell asleep, we’d be in trouble, so conserving energy was probably the right choice.

(Feels warm…)

As a reward for that, feeling the warmth of her shoulder resting against mine… that much, I think I’m allowed to enjoy, right?

***

As I opened my eyes to the gentle swaying, I realized that I wasn’t in the bus anymore. Instead, my view was slightly higher, and I noticed that I was being carried on Kirishima’s back.

“Eh…?”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“What’s going on…?”

My head was still fuzzy, and my thoughts weren’t quite coming together.

But… it felt so warm, and his back was reassuring.

“I tried waking you up a few times, but you didn’t budge, so I had to do this. Sorry for taking the liberty. Also, it might be a bit sweaty, so don’t mind that.”

Now that I think about it… I must have fallen asleep on the bus and hadn’t woken up, which must’ve caused some trouble for Kirishima…

Sniff sniff sniff.

It doesn’t smell sweaty at all. Rather… it’s a comforting scent that I can’t get enough of.

“U-um… It’s a little embarrassing when you keep sniffing me like that.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“I do worry about it. We had been playing all day, after all.”

“Really, don’t mind it.”

“Ah, I see… Well, I’m the one who decided to carry you, so I guess it’s fine. If you’re awake now, I can put you down… can you walk?”

“No.”

“I’m getting an immediate response… and a refusal, huh?”

I’m being carried by Kirishima, so there’s no way I’m getting down. I’m going to cling to him with everything I’ve got.

“Um… Mikami-san?”

“What is it?”

“It’s kind of hard to breathe when you’re holding on so tightly.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Could you at least adjust your position a little so it’s not so close?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…My chest…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Kirishima-san is such a gentleman.

Even now, as he’s carrying me on his back, I can tell he feels a little guilty, as if he’s apologizing for doing something without my permission, even though it was unavoidable.

But… I don’t mind at all.

If I didn’t like being treated like this, I wouldn’t go out with him, I wouldn’t trust him, and I wouldn’t do these careless things.

It’s because it’s Kirishima-san… So, I don’t have to worry about it.

And… well, maybe he could misunderstand just a little longer.

***

In the end, I ended up taking Mikami-san back to her apartment.

Well, it’s on the way to my place too, and since the elevator ride would only take a little longer, it wasn’t a big deal…

“I’m going to put you down.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“What are you going to do? Live on my back forever?”

“That’s a great idea.”

“It’s a terrible idea. Enough with the jokes, get down.”

I don’t think Mikami-san is heavy at all, but I’m also a little tired from all the playing. Carrying someone like this is still a bit tough.

Actually, considering that I brought Mikami-san all the way back, I’m glad I conserved my energy. If I’d gotten as tired as she did from all the playing, we might have both fallen asleep and never made it back.

After dropping Mikami-san off my back, I turned to face her, who was now slightly pouting.

“Well, thanks for today. It was fun.”

“I had fun too.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Yes, well… see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you.”

After saying my goodbyes, I got into the elevator.

As the doors closed and I waved back at Mikami-san, I suddenly thought…

Wait, did I just say “see you tomorrow”?