The Reason Why The Cool Beauty Who Repeatedly Ignores Messages Replies Only To Me. ~The Lonely Beauty Wants To Know The Lonely Me〜 - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: The Protector and the Protected

“Hey, you’re really beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?”

Disgusting…

While walking along the road towards the fireworks festival like everyone else, I was suddenly pulled into an alley by a tattooed hand that reached out to me.

“You’re wearing such a beautiful yukata. If you don’t have a boyfriend, it looks like you’re just waiting to get picked up, you know?”

“Our girl couldn’t make it, so we’re free now. How about hanging out? We’ll pay.”

A blonde guy in a red aloha shirt and shorts touched my shoulder.

I had noticed the Lime message from Okami-kun on my phone… but I didn’t want to drag him into this situation.

As usual… I should just run away.

As I tried to escape, another guy in a patterned shirt grabbed my hand.

“What a hassle. Let’s just strip off the yukata, take some pictures, and blackmail her.”

“…You guys, your life is over.”

“My life is already over, and I have a criminal record. I’m not scared.”

Is this what happens to people when they lose their pride and everything else?

If you lose the people you love, your dreams, your interests, and everything else… will I someday become like these people too?

I absolutely refuse to become like that…!

“…O—”

“Oh?”

“Whoa, did you get scared—”

“Okami-kun—!”

I was about to scream for help, but what came out of my mouth instead was his name.

What am I saying… I left him on read to avoid involving him, but in the end, I’m calling for him, I’m—.

“Did you call for me? Saeki.”

I was so shocked that I lost my words.

The moment I called out, he appeared right in front of me.

It was like he was a hero.

“Why are you here?”

“If you suddenly leave me on read, of course I’m going to worry.”

“B-But. How did you find this place?”

“I checked every alley between your apartment and the station.”

Leaving someone on read is supposed to be a way to show that you’re not interested in them.

But I left him on read to protect him.

And yet…
“Hey, boyfriend. We weren’t hitting on her; this girl came onto us, saying she wanted to spread her legs.
“I already called the cops patrolling the festival, so they’ll be here soon.”

““What?””

Okami-kun spoke to them boldly, without any hesitation.

“Y-You’re bluffing!”

Okami-kun wasn’t looking at them with his usual lazy eyes, but with a sharp gaze, like he was ready to kill someone.

“T-That’s enough. It’s not worth getting caught when we haven’t even done anything yet.”

“…Damn.”

The two thugs ran from the alley toward the main street.

“…I’m sorry, Saeki.”

“Why are you apologizing…? I’m the one who made you worry by leaving you on read.”

“Wasn’t that because you didn’t want to bother me?”

“……”

I didn’t want to reply.

In the end, I was protected by him and ended up asking for his help.

“Thank you, Saeki… and that yukata looks really good on you.”

“……”

As the fireworks exploded in the sky, I couldn’t stop my tears.