The Story of A Beautiful Girl I Rescued From An Attacker Who Became My Seatmate. - Chapter 8

After seeing my dad off, I finished shopping at the large supermarket near the station. By the way, I decided to cook at home. So, I’m quite hungry right now.

Man, it’s heavy. I bought all the groceries for the holiday period, so it became quite heavy. I should have brought my bicycle after all…

Regretting it won’t change the weight, so let’s hurry back home. By the way, the bags were so heavy that I couldn’t properly use my smartphone while waiting at the traffic light. Seriously, it’s heavy.

Sigh

The surroundings have become completely dark, and there are hardly any people around. If this were the southern side, it would be bustling, but it’s an undeveloped area.

While my arms were slightly groaning, I walked slowly. Suddenly, I saw the small park I noticed when I walked home from school earlier.

Come to think of it, I wonder if Kirishima is still there. It’s already 8 o’clock, isn’t it? Good kids should be at home by now.

It’s a bit dark, but I could see Kirishima in their school uniform. Does that mean she hasn’t gone home yet? Did she have a fight with their parents or something?

There’s no helping it, I’ll urge her to go home. It’s not good for a girl to be alone at this hour, even if she had a fight. Regardless, I think her parents are worried too.

“Hey, Kirishima. Do you know what time it is?”

“…Huh? Why is it Kurata-kun?”

In the darkness, Kirishima was sitting alone on a bench under a dimly lit street lamp.

Kirishima’s expression when she faced me was terrible. Where did that usual expression go?

“Well, it’s already 8 o’clock. I don’t know if you had a fight with your parents or anything, but isn’t it better to go home?”

Upon hearing that, Kirishima suddenly fell silent. Huh? Did I hit a nerve?

For now, I need to follow up on that.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude on your personal matters like that, Kirishima. Let’s just go home for today, okay?”

“…A home where no one cares?”

Kirishima muttered quietly. It was indeed a low voice, but I heard it clearly.

“A home where no one cares? Huh? What about your parents?”

Oops. I unintentionally blurted it out. Kirishima probably didn’t want that topic touched upon.

“My dad doesn’t come home from work, and my mom passed away when I was in elementary school. After that, my dad remarried, but it seems like my stepmother dislikes me.”

Oh… I heard quite a harsh story. No wonder she has that expression. In fact, I think it’s amazing that she could behave so brightly at school.

In that case, the only option seems to be staying at a friend’s house. Does she have a cell phone?

“But, Kirishima, why don’t you ask a friend if you can stay over? Do you have a cell phone?”

“…I don’t have any close friends like that. It seems like most girls dislike me.”

Wow. That’s another dark story. It seems like her relationships with other girls are also tough. Although I myself dislike such friendship dynamics.

“Or rather, Kurata-kun, you should understand a bit, right? The pain of not having a mother. Right?”

“Well, um, yeah…”

Sorry, but my mom is alive. She even came to visit me last week.

“Hey! Kurata-kun, are you fine with it!?”

“Kirishima, calm down for a moment.”

Kirishima had become hysterical. It’s scary.

Anyway, I took out a bottle of tea from the shopping bag. It was originally intended as a companion for when I go out, but oh well.

Kirishima took a sip of the bottled tea and regained their composure.

“I’m sorry, Kurata-kun. For showing you such a sight.”

“Well, it doesn’t really bother me. I understand that you are going through a tough time, Kirishima.”

Should I abandon Kirishima in this situation? Or should I help her? Even I couldn’t bring myself to abandon Kirishima in this state.

“Um… if you’re okay with it, I can treat you to dinner or something.”

When I said that, Kirishima raised their downcast face and looked at me.

“Huh. Is that okay?”

“Well, why not? I just bought a bunch of ingredients, after all.”

“Thank you!”

Kirishima, who had a gloomy expression earlier, suddenly transformed into a radiant smile. Yes, that’s it. This kind of face suits Kirishima.

“Oh, by the way, if I turn into a beast, please protect yourself. Kirishima, you are too cute, and I might lose control, you know?”

I made a joke to change the gloomy atmosphere. I probably had a mischievous expression on my face.

“That, that’s not cute at all.”

Huh? She seem unexpectedly embarrassed. I thought she would be used to hearing things like that.

Since it’s awkward, I forcefully bring the conversation to an end.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Yeah! Oh, I’ll hold one of the shopping bags.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Thanks.”

As I stood up, Kirishima took one of the shopping bags and happily followed me.