You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 27: I am…
“Sorry. Due to the current customer congestion, we are temporarily suspending reservations.”
“Thank you.”
Hiroki tried to call a taxi, but it seemed there weren’t enough drivers due to the rain.
(What should I do…)
It’s seven o’clock at night. Hiroki is in a room with girls his age. If this continues…
“…Stay over?”
“!?”
Suddenly, a small voice came from behind. Turning around, Hiroki saw Suzuko looking down shyly.
Yeah, that’s right, but…
(No, no! That’s not good!)
It’s dangerous for a man and a woman who just met today to stay in the same place. With a strong sense of common sense, Hiroki conveyed his feelings to Suzuko.
“That’s dangerous. We’ve just met. It’s out of the question by any standard.”
“…Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Thanks for your concern.”
Saying this, Hiroki placed his hand on Suzuko’s head. Though unspoken, Hiroki’s protective instincts were stirred by Suzuko’s presence, and she didn’t seem to mind.
“Then, let’s continue the game.”
“Yeah.”
Taking up Suzuko’s suggestion, Hiroki rebooted the computer. But before starting,
“Sorry, I’ll check how much it’s raining before we start.”
“!?”
Hiroki stood up to open the closed curtains.
“It’s like a guerrilla downpour; it might have eased off by now…”
“No!”
“Whoa!?”
Turning around, Hiroki saw Suzuko pulling on his clothes.
“Sorry… I’m scared of thunder.”
“Ah, but I don’t hear any thunder. It should be fine. I’ll just take a quick look.”
“Wait a little… I’m not ready yet.”
“Okay, got it.”
This stirred a strong protective urge in Hiroki. What’s with this girl trying to drown him?
The girl in front of Hiroki placed her hands on her chest, standing motionless as if concentrating.
(Is she that scared of thunder? Well, she is a girl.)
Hiroki smiled, discovering a new side of the girl. After a while, she spoke.
“It’s okay to open it now.”
“Alright.”
Confirming that the girl was ready, Hiroki opened the curtain.
Zaaaaaaa!!
It was still raining heavily. There’s no way they can go back now… huh?
(Is it not raining that much in the distance?)
No, it might be a mistake. Hiroki doesn’t know such weather.
“What’s wrong?”
As Hiroki pondered the strange weather, Suzuko asked with concern.
“Ah, no, it’s a downpour here, but it’s not raining much in the distance.”
“!…It’s just your imagination. That’s impossible.”
“Yeah, it must be. Let’s play the game.”
Following Suzuko’s words, Hiroki relaxed on the sofa.
“Do you not know where to go?”
“I don’t know, I’m sorry!”
Hiroki is being tortured under the name of intimidation, soaking in the rain. Of course, the other person is the tenth rank. He feels like he’s dying.
“Hiroki was going to stay at Haruna’s place, right?”
“No! I didn’t hear anything about staying! It was just for killing some time!”
After revealing everything he knows, Shiori appears to be deep in thought. It’s a bit scary, but Hiroki suggests to Shiori,
“Shiori, why don’t you give up and go home today?”
“…Why?”
“You see! If we keep searching unthinkingly, we won’t find it! So! It would be most efficient to go back and look for clues about Hiroki! Yes!”
“If it’s a clue, I have one. The only one.”
“If you have one, then use that as a clue.”
“A message saying he visits the principal once a week.”
“…”
“…”
“Shall we wait together for a week, then?”
(…Hiroki, I’m sorry. You and I might die.)
“Hiroki attends the senior high section, right?”
“Yeah, I started recently.”
“Recently? Did you transfer here?”
“Well… yeah, I did.”
Suzuko wanted to know more about Hiroki. He’s a first-year in the senior high section and has transferred recently. She guessed he must have been found to have combat abilities and brought here.
(Hiroki is different from me…)
“What’s wrong? You look so gloomy.”
“Nothing.”
It seemed she had a gloomy expression. That’s understandable. Hiroki is different from her. He’s so cheerful and kind even to someone like her who feels inadequate. He must have lots of friends…
“Yeah, but my class was closed recently, so I’ve been spending my time idly.”
“!”
His class was closed. So Hiroki has been spending his time at home, just like her now.
“And then…”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, just remembered a bad dream.”
“A bad dream?”
A bad dream? Like her earlier, Hiroki’s expression darkened as he sighed, recalling something. He seemed to be in pain. So she asked,
“Can I help with anything?”
“…”
“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just… a girl I met before said the same thing, and it reminded me of that.”
“I see.”
He is popular.
He cleaned the dirty room, cooked delicious meals, and played games with her.
Hiroki is so kind, always helping others. That girl must have wanted to help him, too. And she wanted to help as well.
“Isn’t there something?”
“It’s because of who the other person is.”
“The other person?… An enemy?”
“Yeah, an enemy.”
Popular people are often hated. There are bad people jealous of Hiroki. If so, she can solve it.
“I can deal with that enemy…”
“No.”
“!?”
It was the first time she heard him like this. A serious tone different from when they were in the bath. Someone Hiroki fears. But she insisted,
“I have combat abilities.”
“I know. But so does he.”
“I have good grades, and I’m strong.”
“Still, no.”
(Why won’t he believe in her? She’s really strong. Praised by the principal. Smiled at by researchers.)
She’s strong in combat studies.
Because she is ranked…
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Eh?”
“I don’t want to involve Suzuko in my problems.”
Saying this, Hiroki placed his hand on her head, like a father comforting a child.
………
(Hiroki is… too kind…)
(He acts for others but never relies on anyone for himself.)
That’s not right.
“Do you not need help?”
She knew the answer, but her mouth moved on its own. She would do anything if he just asked.
“Yeah. I’ll manage on my own.”
She knew it. Hiroki would say that.
So…
“Okay.”
For Hiroki,
To be relied on by Hiroki,
To be trusted by Hiroki,
Suzuko will change.
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