The Beautiful Girl I Accidentally Helped Who Has Somehow Become Attached To Me. - Chapter 46: The Season of Changing Clothes.

The Season of Changing Clothes.

June.

Neither fully spring nor summer, but the days are undeniably growing warmer.

The midterm exams at the end of May are behind us, and here we are stepping into June. It feels like time is slipping away so quickly. It’s hard to believe that nearly two months have passed since I started high school.

“…W-What is it? Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face?”

“Oh, uh… sorry.”

“Suspicious. Confess at once.”

“…I was just thinking how much time has passed since I first met you.”

It was mid-April when I met Mikami-san. From that moment, my solitary life began to unravel at an astonishing pace. Now, having her at my house feels so natural that I barely question it anymore.

Time really flies. If I could tell my old, lonely self from before meeting Mikami-san that the best spot for solo lunches would be half-stolen by an incredibly cute girl, and that this same girl would essentially invade my home and we’d spend almost every day together… well, I’m sure he’d think I’d lost my mind.

But here I am, and this “normal” has turned out to be nothing short of miraculous.

“True, it has already been that long, hasn’t it?”

Mikami-san, who had been interrogating me with a serious expression just moments before, broke into a reminiscent smile after hearing my thoughts.

Though it’s been less than two months, whether that feels like a long time or not depends on perspective. Judging by her tone, it seems Mikami-san feels it’s been a meaningful amount of time too.

“Spending time with you, Kirishima-san, has made every day so fun and fulfilling. It’s been such a whirlwind. If it’s not too much trouble, I hope we can continue like this.”

“Don’t go saying embarrassing things with a straight face. And… there’s no way it’s a bother.”

“That’s a relief to hear.”

Mikami-san might be a bit selfish, forceful, and does things her way, but the fact that I’ve accepted all that must mean I don’t really mind.

If I truly felt inconvenienced, I’d refuse her demands outright—so firmly that even her stubbornness couldn’t break through. Then again, whether she’d actually back down is another matter entirely… But I can say no to things I dislike, or that cause me trouble—or at least, I think I can.

“Out of curiosity, though, what would you do if I said you were a bother?”

“I’d cry my eyes out for three days and nights in front of your house.”

“…Rest assured, you’re not a bother.”

Honestly, I can’t tell if she’s joking. With Mikami-san, it feels entirely possible she might actually do it. Her dead-serious reply caught me off guard, and I found myself slipping into polite speech.

Well, regardless of everything, I’ve been completely swept along by Mikami-san. The boundaries of what’s normal between a guy and a girl who aren’t dating have all but disappeared, and the idea of turning her away feels almost unthinkable. If anything, I’m the one constantly worrying about whether she’ll decide to reject me.

“By the way, on another note, today marks the start of the summer uniform transition period.”

“It’s not quite summer yet, but hot days definitely feel hotter. Today’s nice and cool, though. So, are you in your summer uniform today, Mikami-san?”

“Yes, this is my brand-new summer uniform! Well? How does it look? I’ll accept one or two comments… or better yet, how about thirty?”

“That’s way too many, come on.”

Now that I think about it, something did feel a little different today. So that’s it—Mikami-san is in her summer uniform. Unlike the winter one, it’s short-sleeved and shows more skin. When I take a good look… there’s something about it that makes it hard to stare directly.

That said… I’m already used to Mikami-san’s shockingly casual outfits. So, a little more exposed skin, like her arms, shouldn’t faze me anymore. Well, okay, that’s a lie. It does get to me a bit. But considering how accustomed I’ve become to her, this level of fluster is probably the least of what I’d feel otherwise.

“You’re not going to say anything?”

“Cute.”

“One more time.”

“…Cute.”

“Once more.”

“…”

“Okay, twenty-eight more times, please.”

“Do you really want me to say it thirty times?”

“Yes. A man never goes back on his word, right?”

It’s not like I actually agreed to her absurd demand for thirty compliments, so “going back on my word” doesn’t apply. But knowing Mikami-san, her mind has probably already twisted the narrative to make it seem like I eagerly accepted.

As for my thoughts on Mikami-san in her summer uniform, “cute” is honestly the only word that comes to mind. Still, if I had to elaborate…

“Well, joking aside, Mikami-san, you are really cute. The summer uniform suits you perfectly—it’s incredibly charming.”

“Fweh?! Y-you’re suddenly praising me so much…”

“But, because of that, you’re bound to catch other people’s eyes too. You’re a bit careless sometimes, so you should be careful, alright?”

“Hmm… I see. That’s a fair point. I’ll keep it in mind. But… I’m only careless in front of you, Kirishima-san.”

Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed. It feels selfish to think so, but Mikami-san’s summer uniform is a treat for the eyes. I imagine there’ll be plenty of guys at school who get excited seeing her like this.

And when I think about how carefree she is most of the time, I can’t help but worry. Sure, I tell myself it’s just concern, but deep down, I know there’s an element of possessiveness mixed in.

I don’t want others to see her like this.

But as much as I feel that way, summer uniforms will soon become the norm, and there’s no stopping it.

Still, as if to reassure me, Mikami-san responds with words that I didn’t expect, words that feel like a gift. She offers me a kind of exclusivity—something special—despite us not even being in a relationship.

And that warmth… it means everything.

“Ah-choo! …Excuse me.”

“That was such a cute sneeze.”

“I wore my summer uniform because I wanted you to see it, Kirishima-san… but it’s a bit chilly today, isn’t it?”

Her reason for wearing the summer uniform is unbearably adorable.

Still, it doesn’t look like the temperature will rise much until later this afternoon. Wouldn’t it be better to switch back to her winter uniform?

“We still have time; want to head back and change?”

“…No, I’ll just use you to warm up, so don’t worry about it, Kirishima-san.”

“I am worried, though?”

“Don’t be.”

“No, be worried!”

“I said don’t worry about it, so don’t worry about it.”

With that, Mikami-san stood up, pointed to the sofa, and looked at me expectantly.

I could already guess what she wanted. It was shaping up to be yet another shameless situation, and it was still morning.

Yet, despite my exasperation, I found myself standing up and heading in her direction. Which means… yeah, I’m not exactly resisting.

“Alright, here.”

“Excuse me.”

Without hesitation, Mikami-san settled herself right down on my lap, using me as a backrest. It seems she really liked this arrangement from last time.

She shifted around a bit to adjust her position, and once she found a comfortable posture, she relaxed completely. Her freshly worn summer uniform shirt was already threatening to wrinkle.

“This is so nice. Maybe I should ask our homeroom teacher if I can officially make Kirishima-san my chair?”

“…Can you not suggest crazy ideas like that?”

“Hmm, it’s a tough ask, isn’t it? Then how about a reversal—I’ll apply to be your lap blanket instead?”

“Yeah, that’s going to get rejected too.”

“You won’t know unless you try, will you?”

“I do know! Humans cannot be lap blankets!”

What kind of “reversal of perspective” is that? You just spun 360 degrees and ended up right back where you started.

Anyway, our classes are different, so give it up already. Besides, there’s no way I’d have the guts to pull something like this at school. Worst-case scenario, I’d get expelled.

“The school allows lap blankets as long as they’re in subdued colors, right? I don’t think I’m that flashy.”

“True, but… you’re not a lap blanket, Mikami-san.”

“I could become one if I try hard enough.”

“No, you can’t.”

“…I see. I’ll give up for today.”

For today? Just give up entirely. Using me as a chair or you turning into a lap blanket—both are impossible.

“By the way, Kirishima-san, your hands have been slacking off. Please warm me up properly. I won’t move from here until you do. I’m even prepared to be late.”

“…You little delinquent.”

“Hiya! Not the ears! They’re already warm!”

“Oh? Should I check to make sure they’re really warm?”

“That’s unfair! Guard up!”

She said my hands were slacking, but she didn’t specify what I was supposed to do.

So I decided on my own to warm Mikami-san’s ears, but she immediately covered them with her hands. With no other choice, I gave up on warming her ears and crossed my arms in front of her instead.

Noticing my hands in her line of sight, Mikami-san seemed reassured and moved her hands away from her ears, placing them on top of mine. It was as if she was silently ordering me not to move them.

And so, she clung to this position until the very last minute before we’d risk being late. At this point, I guess it’s just par for the course.