The Story of A Beautiful Girl I Rescued From An Attacker Who Became My Seatmate. - Chapter 30

Around the time dinner was finished, the phone call between our parents ended as well.

“Reina, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

As I’m washing the dishes in the kitchen, Kirishima is called by her father. She places the dishcloth she was using to wipe the table and heads towards the living room.

“Ah, I’m going to be busy from now on, so I probably won’t be able to see you for a while. I think I’ll still be able to respond to messages, though. Also, I’m currently looking for a place for you to live. I should be able to make arrangements within a week, so please pack your belongings just in case. And let’s go together to retrieve anything that’s still at the original house. Just in case anything happens.”

“Understood.”

“And there’s something I’d like to ask of Kurata-kun as well.”

Oh, it seems I’m being called too. I temporarily stop my work and also head to the living room.

“Thank you for taking care of Reina all this time. Well, it hasn’t been long, but…

As you can see, the situation is what it is, so I want you to protect Reina as much as possible. It’s a selfish request, I know, but please, I’m begging you.”

“I don’t mind. However, I hope you can make sure that neither your older brother nor Kirishima’s step brother harm us. I can’t always be with Kirishima, and I don’t want to see an outcome where they take advantage of that.”

“I’m well aware of that. I intend to do what I can on my end.”

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard. This is our problem too, after all.”

Kirishima immediately chimes in with support. I’m grateful for her words, but for some reason, I feel a sense of exclusion.

I find it strange that I feel this way, but unfortunately, I couldn’t explain it.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave here. I’ll let Reina know as soon as the house is secured. Well then.”

Her father picks up the bag that was placed in the corner and stands up from the sofa.

In order to see him off properly, we also head towards the entrance.

“Well, take care.”

“Stay safe.”

“Keep in touch.”

After her father opens the door and goes outside, he waves his hand. It was an unexpected gesture, given his appearance.

After a while, I hear the sound of a powerful engine from outside. It seems he rode a large motorcycle. Somehow, that seems fitting for him.

After her father leaves, I resume the dishwashing that I had paused midway. There wasn’t much left, so I’ll be finished soon.

“Kouji.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Kirishima comes all the way to the kitchen. It seems she still has something to say.

“Although my father said that, I actually don’t want to live alone. It just makes me feel even more anxious about when I might be attacked again.”

It seems Kirishima wasn’t convinced after all.

“In that case, why didn’t you tell your father?”

“I can’t do that! If I did, I’d definitely have to transfer schools.”

Kirishima’s voice becomes agitated. It may be the first time since the incident at the park that she’s raised her voice like this.

“…I’m sorry. It’s sudden. But I think my father originally intended for me to transfer schools. Besides, it seems like he knew that I hadn’t made many friends.”

“Then why didn’t you go along with it?”

“…I don’t want to say.”

Huh? Does she have some guilty reason? But as I think that, Kirishima’s face continues to redden.

“Well, if it’s embarrassing, you don’t have to say. But, man, this is tough. Once the discussion with your father is settled, it can’t be reversed.”

“You won’t let me stay?”

Kirishima (the beautiful girl) looks at me with a sad expression. The destructive power of that expression is something I can’t resist, no matter how hard I struggle. From my perspective, it’s actually a relief to be able to spend time with Kirishima, but…

“Ah, alright, alright. Please feel free to stay as long as you want.”

“No, if you’re that against it, then it’s fine.”

“No, please stay. I’m begging you.”

I, feeling somewhat provoked, responded defiantly. However, Kirishima’s face turns even redder.

“Hey, something seems off with you today, Kirishima. If you’re tired, you should go to bed early.”

“Kouji, the clueless one, never changes. I’m going to take a bath.”

With unhappy footsteps, Kirishima heads towards the bathroom. I didn’t intend to anger her, but perhaps I did something that bothered her.

Setting that aside, it seems that the only way to alleviate Kirishima’s anxiety is to live together. I wouldn’t want to move and risk being attacked either.

***

“Sigh…”

The sound of dripping water echoes. When I looked at myself in the mirror earlier, my face reflected in it and seemed terribly exhausted.

Of course, I know the cause. It’s because I made Kouji feel uncomfortable by being embarrassed.

Does Kouji not want me to live with me? From his words and actions earlier, that suspicion becomes stronger.

“Huh… I’m crying.”

My vision becomes blurred with tears. And the tears that overflow from my eyes fall onto the surface of the water.

I realize once again that I truly have feelings for Kouji. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be in a situation where I’m crying.

At the same time, I feel that I need to make more of an effort. Right now, I’m just someone who couldn’t be abandoned, like a stray cat picked up on the side of the road.

That’s why I want him to see me as a woman. Even if I look at my own body, I’m not inferior to those around me. In fact, I’ve been confessed to by boys in my class more than a few times.

“All right.”

With that determination in my heart, I get out of the bathtub.