The suggestive girl

Having finished our ramen, we hopped on the train to head home. The train was pretty empty. I glanced at my watch and noticed it was already past 11:30 p.m. Even though we only had the one gathering, it had gotten quite late.

“I’ll walk you home.”

“Thanks.”

At this rate, if I stopped by her place, I might miss the last train.

I knew that, but I still chose to walk her home. Letting a girl walk alone on these late-night streets felt a bit uneasy.

Kasahara thanked me so readily, so deep down, she must’ve been a little scared too. I mean, she’s pretty cute, after all.

The train passed by my home station.

We reached Kasahara’s station about ten minutes later.

This was my second time walking to Kasahara’s house.

The last time, Hayashi was with us. So, this was the first time it was just the two of us walking like this.

“Hey, Yamamoto-kun?”

“Hm?”

“…I might be a little drunk.”

“Really?”

“Carry me?”

We hadn’t even been drinking. Yet, Kasahara pleaded like a spoiled child.

“Sure.”

I hoisted Kasahara onto my back, just like before.

Kasahara entrusted herself to me, resting comfortably as I carried her.

“Sorry about today, okay?”

The apology came out of nowhere.

“For what?”

“It was Irie-chan who suggested inviting you to the mixer today. I only found out about it this morning. Honestly, I didn’t even want to go to the mixer. I was planning to make some excuse about a last-minute work shift or something.”

“Why’s that?”

“…Not interested, I guess.”

“I see.”

“You’re not gonna pry deeper, huh?”

“You don’t like that kind of thing, do you?”

“…Yeah.”

Somehow, I pieced together the situation from her words.

It seems Kasahara, despite being in the same group, doesn’t have the best feelings toward Irie-san. That’s probably why she reluctantly joined the mixer to keep Irie-san and me from getting too close.

If that’s the case, the perfectly timed drunken commotion makes sense too. Even without the other girls’ help, she likely planned to drag me out of there right after the first gathering.

“Why don’t you like Irie-san?”

“…You’re asking that?”

Kasahara’s cheek brushed against the back of my neck.

“She’s like Megumi.”

She said it hesitantly, as if it was hard to admit.

“Is she?”

“She is. She’s so similar.”

“…I see.”

Well, if Kasahara, who’s closer to both Hayashi and Irie-san than I am, says so, it must be true.

“She’s not a bad person. But she’s not Megumi.”

“You like Hayashi way too much, don’t you?”

If that’s why she’s disliked, I feel a bit bad for Irie-san. Though, it’s probably not outright dislike—more like, because they’re so similar, Kasahara wants to keep her distance. Something like that.

…But then, that’s what’s strange.

If that’s the case, why would Kasahara care if I got close to Irie-san?

Could it be…?

Nah, with her, that’s probably not it.

“Still, I was surprised. I never thought you’d show up to a mixer, Yamamoto-kun.”

“Huh? …Oh, yeah. I couldn’t say no.”

“Feeling some kind of obligation?”

“More like she’s my lifesaver.”

I couldn’t exactly say it was because she’s the hero who protected my precious cleaning supplies.

For a while, we fell silent.

I kept walking, carrying Kasahara on my back. It was nighttime, but still hot outside. After stuffing ourselves with food, my stomach felt heavy, and sweat beaded on my forehead.

I was starting to feel a bit worn out.

If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve kept up my gym routine even after starting university.

I felt a twinge of regret.

…Back in high school,

I’d go to school, study,

hit the gym to sweat it out,

and then walk home with Kasahara.

Looking back, that time was almost too precious for someone like me.

Talking with Kasahara.

Smiling with Kasahara.

I’m usually so cynical, but… during those moments, I was genuinely happy from the bottom of my heart.

“Hey, Yamamoto-kun?”

“Hm?”

“You okay with missing the last train?”

“…Probably not.”

“I see.”

We fell silent again.

It was nighttime, but still hot outside. After stuffing ourselves with food, my stomach felt heavy, and sweat beaded on my forehead.

I was starting to feel a bit worn out.

And yet, I was… just a little, enjoying this moment.

Was it because it reminded me of the past?

Or maybe because of some lingering attachment?

…Or perhaps,

“The last train’s already gone, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

It felt like Kasahara was deliberately emphasizing the last train.

Was she inviting me?

…She never speaks her true feelings outright.

“Hey, Yamamoto-kun?”

With a breathy smile, Kasahara spoke softly.

I can’t stand these two flirting like this after eating ramen.

What’s their deal?

Were they dating before or something?

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