The Charm of the Popular Beautiful Succubus in Class Doesn't Work on Me ~ For Some Reason, This Beauty Keeps Trying to Hold My Hand ~ - 22-23

Chapter 22: I Hope One Day I Will Find Someone Special to Me

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“Somehow… I tend to think about a lot of things on rainy days.”

She said before she stepped out in front of the umbrella and kicked up a puddle on the road. After that, she started humming happily. Her voice rang with a cheerful “Pichi pichi, chap chap, ran ran ran.”

“Hey, you’re going to get wet.”

“It’s fine.”

“What’s with that song though?”

“Don’t you know ‘Old Man’s Umbrella’?”

Sarashina suddenly turned to face me. Her eyes were sparkling with curiosity. 

“You’re even making an old man buy an umbrella for you? How shameless…”

“Now you’re just ruining this nice rainy evening.”

“You’re the one who was glaring at the sky just now, so I don’t think you should be saying that.”

I knew ‘Old Man’s Umbrella’ from our Japanese class, so of course I recognized the song she had been singing. If I remember correctly, it was about an old man who refused to open his umbrella because he didn’t want his umbrella to get wet. But on one rainy day, after hearing children singing, he finally decided to use his umbrella.

“Upon steeling myself and opening my umbrella, I find a new world spreading out before me, one I never knew existed. A world I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for the children’s song and if I hadn’t steeled myself and opened my umbrella, this new world would have stayed hidden from me.”

After that, Sarashina paused, as if she was lost in thought. Then, she asked again, almost like she was asking herself. 

“Hey, what do you think is the trigger for stepping into a new world?”

I tilted my head slightly, unsure if she was asking me or not. 

“For me… I think it’s the existence of someone precious to you. Someone you could die for, someone whose words you can trust, someone to whom you could entrust everything. It doesn’t matter who it is—whether it’s a parent, a teacher, a boyfriend, or anyone, really.”

She swallowed, and then, in a voice so faint it seemed as though it might disappear, she added.

“I hope one day I will find someone special to me.”

With that, Sarashina gazed up at the rainy sky.

Someone special to you, huh…

Suddenly, I remembered the time when I was walking home with Sarashina.

Maybe, just maybe… Maybe she’s a much weaker person than I thought.

“Hey, do you think I’m relying on others too much? Do you think I should try harder on my own without relying on someone else?”

I pondered her question for a moment before answering. 

“…I don’t think so. People can’t live alone. If you need help, you should ask for it.”

“…I see.”

“At least, that’s what I believe.”

“Then… What if you don’t have anyone to rely on? What should you do then?”

At that, Sarashina showed me a lonely, almost hurt expression. As I watched her, I felt like my own chest was tightening from sadness. It was as if the sadness buried deep in her heart was reaching my heart. 

“…Do you need help, Sarashina?”

Finally, I mustered up the courage and asked her that. Upon hearing my question, Sarashina looked at me and repeated. 

“Do I need help…? Well… Not quite…”

She chose her words carefully, taking a small pause before continuing.

“It’s not that I need help… It’s more like I’m waiting for a prince to come and save me someday.”

“I didn’t expect the word ‘prince’ would come out of your mouth, Sarashina.”

“It’s just a metaphor. You could replace it with ‘rich person’ if you like.”

“…Ah, I get it now. You’re really not honest with your words, huh?”

“…Girls are complicated like that.”

After that, a silence stretched between us. Meanwhile, Sarashina was still casting her gaze downward as she continued walking, like she was lost in thought. 

What is this… It’s hard to put into words, but I become certain of something. Sarashina must be carrying a heavy burden in her heart. And at the same time… I also become certain about my own feelings. 

The words Akanashi had said to me the other day flashed through my mind. 

Akanashi, I’m sorry… Despite what you’ve said to me… I can’t betray Sarashina just because of that. I… I want to protect Sarashina…

“Hey, Michihito-kun…”

I snapped back to reality at Sarashina’s call. When I looked at her, I saw that she had a serious, almost solemn expression on her face.

What’s going on? Why does she look so serious?

“What’s up? Why the serious face?”

“…I think I’m going to ask something weird, but is it okay if I ask it anyway?”

“…Hm?”

“Michihito-kun… If I said ‘help me’… Would you come and protect me?”

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Chapter 23: Adios Is Spanish, You Idiot

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Kisara Sarashina’s POV

(Screech―――――!!!)

By the time I realized it, the car’s headlights were right in front of me.

What… What is this? Am I going to die…?

“Kyaaaa-!”

“Sarashina! Get away!”

Michihito-kun jumped in front of me and shoved my body from the road to the side of the street. The umbrella was thrown into the air, and with a splash, we both fell hard onto the ground with a loud sound. Despite that, the rain still poured down relentlessly. Gradually, I could feel my backside getting wet. I stood there dazed, watching the taillights of the car as it sped away. When I snapped back to my senses, we were soaking wet, as if we had been tossed into a pool.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

Somehow, I was able to respond to Michihito-kun’s question, but my mind was still in a daze. It was really a close call. If Michihito-kun hadn’t come to my rescue, I would’ve been run over by that car. The flash of the car’s headlights kept replaying in my mind. At the same time, a chill ran down my spine, and I shivered uncontrollably.

C-Cold…

The rain soaked through my uniform, making my body feel heavy.

Ugh… This is the worst.

I didn’t have any plan on using my ability today. In fact, I had been consciously trying not to use it. Sure, a part of me had almost given up, convinced my ability wouldn’t work on him, but… Today, I just wanted to interact with him like a normal ‘girl.’ And yet…

God is really cruel. God won’t let me become a ‘normal girl.’ Well, of course. I’m a terrible woman who toys with people’s hearts. I’m basically like those ‘succubus’ from the myth. So? What was I expecting, walking with him under the same umbrella? What words did I expect from him? I’m really an idiot…

“Are you hurt? Do you think you can stand up?”

Michihito-kun said as he smoothly extended his hand to me. I took his hand and stood up with his help.

Ah… I’m holding his hand right now. But… I guess it doesn’t matter at this point. My ability won’t work on him anyway.

For some reason, I ended up remembering the first time I met Michihito-kun. Back then, I reached out to him to use my ability on him. 

But now… Michihito-kun’s hand… What should I do? His hand… His hand feels so warm… 

He picked up the umbrella that had been blown away and held it over my head.

Thank you… Michihito-kun, but if you do that, you’ll get wet instead. I wonder what’s this feeling? For some reason, I can’t look at him directly. 

I lowered my head and my gaze fell to my soaked uniform. My wet uniform shirt was clinging to my body and beneath the drenched fabric, my bra was completely visible. 

This is bad… My bra’s showing…

I didn’t bring my blazer today and why of all days… Why did I have to wear such a flashy bra?? Flustered, I quickly crossed my arm over my chest to cover myself, but to be fair, my arms offered little to no protection. I was practically naked at this point. 

No, I don’t want him to see me like this! Michihito-kun, please! Don’t look this way!

(Fwap~)

“…Huh?”

My shoulders were trembling. I was on the verge of tears when suddenly, something was being wrapped around me, offering a comforting warmth. Startled, I looked up to see Michihito-kun, now in just his dress shirt. It turned out he had taken off his blazer and raped it over me. 

“It’d be bad if you catch a cold. Use that.”

Upon hearing those words, the emotions I had been holding on desperately came flooding out like a broken dam. 

What’s this… This isn’t fair… I can’t hold back anymore, I’m going to burst into tears at this rate…!

“Well then. I will run back home. Sorry, but I don’t think I can walk you all the way home.”

“Wait a minute! Michihito-kun, you’ll get soaked by the rain then!”

“Like I said before, British gentlemen don’t use umbrellas. Umbrellas are lame.”

“Tha-That’s…!”

“Bye then. Adios.”

After he said that, Michihito-kun took off running into the pouring rain that only seemed to grow heavier. I stood there, staring blankly at his retreating figure.

If you’re going to be a British gentleman, then walk more gracefully. If you’re going to be a British gentleman, then escort me all the way home. And most importantly…

“Adios is Spanish, you idiot…”

Gracias, Michihito.

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