Chapter 46: Self-Deprecation Saves the Gyaru
Self-Deprecation Saves the Gyaru
Having escaped Urui-san’s honey trap, I went off in search of the gyaru Mia.
“Hey, come on, it’s just a little chat.”
“Yeah, yeah, no need to be so scared.”
“No, I mean, I’m really just not into that kinda thing~”
Mia was being approached by two college guys.
In other words, it was the classic pickup attempt.
This one’s on me…
Considering I’d made sure to have one guy in each group precisely to avoid this kind of situation, I could only blame my own carelessness.
Now then, what to do… Hm?
As I looked at the two pickup artists, I noticed something.
Both of them had brightly colored hair and looked trendy at first glance, but their builds weren’t impressive, and their faces were average.
I didn’t even have to guess. It was obvious what this was.
With a certain conviction, I took off my rash guard just in case, then walked over to Mia.
“Um…”
“…Satoshi-cchi.”
As I stepped between the three of them, Mia immediately moved to hide behind my back.
“Hey, what’s your deal, man?”
“We’re in the middle of a conversation with her, you know.”
If they’d just assumed I was her boyfriend, that would’ve made things easier. But of course, since it was me, that didn’t happen.
Damn it, guess I’ve got no choice.
Bracing myself, I looked straight into the eyes of the two guys and spoke.
“W-What business do you have with my girlfriend?”
““Huh…?””
“Eh, Satoshi-cchi?”
All three of them gave me puzzled looks at what I’d just said.
“Lying’s not a good look, man.”
“Yeah, no offense, but there’s no way someone like you…”
After a brief pause, the two naturally shot the idea down.
Still, I took a step forward, puffing myself up with false bravado.
“O-Obviously it’s because I worked hard!”
““…!””
The two flinched slightly. Not missing that opening, I pressed on, looking desperate.
“I mean, just look at me… That’s why I studied so hard and trained my body, and finally managed to get a girlfriend!”
I emphasized my not-quite-toned-but-still-more-developed-than-theirs muscles.
Then, drawing on my experience from the election, I appealed to their emotions.
“You two would understand, right? How hard I worked…!”
““Ugh (damn it)!””
The two of them faltered, took a step back, and exchanged glances.
Their expressions were full of sympathy and understanding.
Just as I suspected.
They’d dyed their hair, changed their hairstyles, maybe started some light workouts, and now, like this time, were testing the waters by trying to talk to girls.
These guys had just recently started trying to be popular.
“Hey…”
“Yeah…”
With a bit of unspoken communication, the two turned their backs to us. Then…
“F-Fine. Just this once, we’ll let it go.”
“Not like I’m jealous or anything!”
Leaving those small-time lines behind, they disappeared into the crowd.
That settles that for now… or so I thought.
Now that it was over, I turned back to check on the gyaru’s state. That was when I realized something.
This situation might actually be really bad…
“U-Um…”
Turning around nervously, I saw Mia staring at me in shock. As expected, she was completely frozen.
Even if it was to save her from being hit on, pairing someone like me with the genuine sunshine soul that is Mia-sama as lovers was a bad move.
I might’ve seriously offended her.
“Hey, Satoshi-cchi.”
“Y-Yeah…?”
I was about to apologize when she beat me to it.
“Anyway, thanks for helping me out.”
She just thanked me like it was the most natural thing.
“…? Y-You’re welcome?”
“Why did that come out like a question?”
“No, I mean, well…”
“I’m not bothered about the whole girlfriend thing, you know?”
“…Th-That…”
Thank goodness. Looked like I was worrying over nothing.
As I let out a small sigh of relief, Mia’s expression turned just a little more serious.
“I mean, did you really think I’d care about something like that with you, Satoshi-cchi?”
“Well, I mean, you and I live in totally different worlds, or like, how should I put it…”
“Hah, that’s hilarious.”
No, I’m not joking at all…!
Without realizing it, I must’ve said something that upset her in a totally different way.
“Hey, Satoshi-cchi.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“Why don’t we actually start dating for real?”
“…Huh…?”
Just when I thought I’d made her a little mad, now this!?
For real? Me and Mia?
“Haha, kidding. The way you took that seriously is hilarious~”
“…Y-You little…!”
“But now you get it, right?”
“G-Get what…?”
“The kind of dynamic you and I have.”
“…!”
Ah, I see now.
Apparently, the reason she got upset was because I didn’t understand the kind of friendship we had.
“Sorry. I was overthinking things.”
“As long as you get it now~. And hey, one more thing.”
Mia gave her usual loose, unreadable smile.
“Satoshi-cchi, thanks again for earlier~!”
Saying that, she stepped up beside me. Then…
“Still, those two guys? Thanks to you, I really was saved~”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m still in high school, remember?”
“…”
College students can’t go after high schoolers.
If I’d just explained that, those two would’ve backed off immediately.
Which meant my whole self-deprecating act wasn’t even necessary.
“Haha.”
I let out a dry laugh, thinking about the pain I could’ve spared myself.