Volume 2 - CH 26

I am standing alone in front of the water clock.

There is still about an hour to spare before the scheduled meeting time.

After eating lunch with Anri, we looked around the arcade for a bit, but I told her that I would go to the meeting place alone first, and we parted on the way.

It was selfish of me to want to be at the meeting place as soon as possible as a man rather than going to the meeting place together.

“Sorry, did you wait for me?”

“No, I just got here.”

“Great, let’s get going, shall we?”

Like that, Isn’t it a very nice scene?

But I have no time to wait alone.

I am standing alone in front of the water clock.

There is still about an hour to spare before the scheduled meeting time.

After eating lunch with Anri, we looked around the arcade for a bit, but I told her that I would go to the meeting place alone first, and we parted on the way.

It was selfish of me to want to be at the meeting place as soon as possible as a man rather than going to the meeting place together.

“Sorry, did you wait for me?”

“No, I just got here.”

“Great, let’s get going, shall we?”

Isn’t it a very nice scene?

But there is still plenty of time to wait alone.

One girl caught my eye unexpectedly. She has been looking at me since a while ago.

She is a pretty, neat-looking girl with her hair up.

Her eyes are bright and she is wearing a cute shoulder bag with a cord.

Is she meeting her boyfriend? She seemed to have been standing there for a long time before I arrived.

Does she have a thing for me? But I have Anri. I’m sorry, but I wish she would find someone else.

I was a little conceited.

However, her style is beyond my imagination from her neatness.

Her breasts are beautifully emphasized. I don’t know if she wants to hide them or not, but even though she is wearing a cloak, the shape of her breasts is visible through it.

Perhaps they are even bigger than Anri’s.

I couldn’t stare at her, so I passed the time by surfing the Internet with my smartphone in hand.

After a while, however, I heard two men’s voices coming toward her.

“Come on! You have time anyway, right?”

“Oh yeah, you want to go out with us to the arcade or something and play around?”

“I’m troubled. I’m waiting for someone…”

“Don’t worry! I’m sure he’s not here yet.”

“Look, there’s a fun place right there!”

The guy’s eyes were on the hotel area. Is this the only way to pick up girls nowadays?

But it’s none of my business, and I’m sure someone will do something about it.

“I’m really troubled!”

She looks at me for some reason.

What is it? Do you want me to help you?

Two men who look like they are fit. I, on the other hand, have no fighting experience.

If we got into a fight, I would lose for sure. I don’t fight fights I can’t lose.

I’m sorry.

“Come on, let’s go!”

Just as the man was about to forcefully grab her arm, she started running toward me.

Wait a minute. You’re not coming for me, are you?

Then she took my arm and hid behind me.

Wait a minute. I’ve got plans later. I don’t want to get caught in the middle of it.

“Tch, what are you doing? Are you going to get in our way?”

No, no, not at all.

“No, I’m not up to anything in particular.”

To be honest, I don’t agree with what these guys are doing.

But if they are angry at me to my face, my legs will stiffen a little.

“Then get out of the way. We’re in the middle of something.”

I look at her hiding behind me.

What? What’s this strange feeling? Do I know her?

“I’m sorry. I’m meeting up with this guy. Please take her back.”

The sudden change in attitude must have angered them.

Suddenly, they grabbed me by the chest and strangled me.

“You’re getting carried away!”

I quickly swatted to the spot where he had grabbed me with my arm.

“Aah! Officer!”

I shouted and waved my hands in the air to make them look the other way.

They quickly shifted their eyes in the direction I was facing, diverting their attention from us.

The next thing I know, I’m taking her hand and running.

The two stunned men followed us a few seconds later and started running toward us.

Yes. There are no policemen that conveniently.

Holding her hand, I ran through the arcade.

Oh no, it’s only a matter of time before they catch up with us.

“By the way, Sugimoto-san. I didn’t know who you were when you dressed like that.”

“I’m sorry. I came a little early…”

I came early, but it was only for an hour. That’s too early.

“But that outfit… Your image is very different from usual.”

She usually wears pigtails and glasses. She is dressed according to school rules and is full of plainness.

Now, however, she is a neat girl without glasses. And she looks cute, too, and will attract the eyes of those around her.

“That’s right. I dress according to school rules, but when I come to town in my regular clothes, I always get approached by someone…”

If she came to school dressed as she is now, she would be regarded differently by the people around her.

I am sure everyone will see her as a pretty girl. If I had to use an analogy, I’d say she’s a hidden beauty.

We both run through the arcade and look back.

They are still chasing us. What a pain in the ass.

“Sugimoto-san, we need to hurry.”

I take Sugimoto’s hand and we enter a game center at the far end of the arcade.

I then decided to hide in a large video game machine that they didn’t seem to mind hiding behind.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”

“No, I’m sorry too. I should have seen it sooner.”

I let go of the teasing once.

This was my mistake, too. I’m sorry, Sugimoto.

We hid together in a closed room and waited for a while for time to pass.

I hope those guys will be gone soon…

“Haa, I guess we’ll be okay for a while.”

“Is the time okay?”

There is still plenty of time to meet up.

It will be okay for a while.

“I still have some time left, so let’s stay here for a while. If you want, we can play this game.”

I’d like to escape right away, but it might look suspicious if I’m in a machine that doesn’t have a game running.

I also thought that if by any chance someone peeked in on us, we could just run away again right then and there.

“There’s quite a bit of time…”

“No, not at all. I’m thrilled.”

If it were two against one, I would lose for sure.

I really want to be on time and get to the meeting place as soon as possible.

“I’m nervous too… It’s the first time in my life that I’ve run with a boy holding my hand…”

Needless to say, I was still holding her hand like that and I hurriedly let go.