Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 20

Is this what they call a cursed day…?

I, Kento Mamiya, have had an absolutely terrible day today.

Somehow, I got caught up in something incredible, and it all ended up happening just like that.

I’m not going to get caught, right…?

It’s okay, right? I was wearing a helmet too, so it was indirectly a legitimate act of self-defense… I was confused and didn’t know what was going on either.

But if you suddenly get a message like that, and then suddenly those sketchy guys show up, anyone would react like that.

Fortunately, not much time had passed, and since I was heading there with the intention of making a complaint, my part-time job hasn’t found out. It also helped that I returned just in time for my shift to end.

For now, after that, I passed by a police car on my way back to my part-time job, so she must be okay.

However, it’s a complete mystery why my name came up in that situation. I managed to deny it somehow, but it still gave me a chill. That was close. Safe… right?

Even if, by some chance, it got found out, please, for the love of God, don’t let the police know my name.

It doesn’t matter if I get suspended or expelled from school, but I absolutely don’t want to get fired from my part-time job. It’s urgent.

Well, it’s true that you’re the one who’s really worried right now, but I’m facing a different problem at the moment.

Really, today is a bad day. In real-time…

Yeah. Until just a moment ago, I was walking down this dark night road, pushing my bike.

The reason is that, on my way home after finishing my part-time job, the engine of the bike I was riding suddenly stopped and wouldn’t move.

That too, quite soon after starting to run…

I tried looking up various causes online, but since I have absolutely no knowledge to begin with, I couldn’t understand anything at all.

Could it be that the lifespan has come to an end because it’s second-hand? I thought about that, but I still don’t understand.

For now, pushing this heavy bike all the way home like this is just too exhausting.

I never thought I’d come back here again, but here I am, just a few days after I thought I wouldn’t.

Well, if they’re not there, then that’s the end of it, and even if they are, I thought there was a higher chance they wouldn’t take it seriously…

“Hmm, it moved.”

“Oh, thank you very much. It really moved.”

Right in front of me is the woman who effortlessly started the engine of my bike that wouldn’t move.

Yeah. I’m at the gas station right now.

And the woman standing in front of me is Arisa Shibuya.

It’s about the cool beauty from the next class who works part-time at this gas station.

“Look, see here. This part is messed up.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. That’s really helpful.”

Saying that, she immediately pointed to a certain part of my bike, showing me the place that was broken.

I also check the relevant part, peering closely at her fingertip, but I really don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t get it, but I make sure to express my gratitude for her fixing it.

Mr. Shibuya still maintains his cool demeanor, but in reality, he is incredibly kind.

I can’t help but feel grateful that you listened to my sudden request without making a single unpleasant face.

What….

I wonder what it is. Right next to my face, which is peering at the tips of her fingers, is her face as well…

Somehow, I feel like she has been staring at my face intensely for a long time. Is it just my imagination?

No, I don’t think it’s just my imagination…

“Wh-what happened?”

“Hey, isn’t your cheek a bit swollen?”

Cheek? Ah, that time…

“N-No, it must be your imagination…”

Yeah. It’s just my imagination. Just my imagination.

“Also, why is the base of your finger so red?”

“Uh, um, whoa, it’s true. I wonder why.”

W-Why is that…

Then, at this close distance, she quietly stares at my face directly in front of her…

Why would you do something like that…?

As expected, I’m not used to being stared at by a woman from this close distance, so I quickly look away from her. And she’s such a beautiful woman too.

“W-What is it?”

“Well, if you don’t want to say it, that’s fine.”

Safe.

And then she stepped back from me a bit, walked around to the other side of the bike, and seemed to be checking something else again.

“By the way, what are you coming back from today?”

“Oh, I was just working part-time until a moment ago.”

Yeah. I’m not lying.

“Oh, the hamburger place?”

“Yes, yes. I’m working part-time at Documald.”

Wait… how do you know where I work part-time?

Ah, I see. You saw the discount card when I dropped my wallet the other day.

I understand.

“Hmm, I see. Well, for now, I think this will be fine.”

And in front of me was her, telling me that the bike inspection was finished.

“Thank you very much. How much do I owe you…?”

“Well, I don’t really need it, but…”

Huh? You don’t want it?

“Don’t you want it…?”

“Yeah, I don’t need it, though.”

But, as expected, that’s something…

“Well, but that’s a bit…”

It’s not so much guilt, but rather…

“Hmm, well then, treat me to a hamburger next time.”

Then, words from her come at an angle I hadn’t quite expected.

“Uh, yeah, sure. If that’s all it takes…”

“Well then, that’s that.”

I wonder what it is.

I felt like her cool expression softened a bit, but as long as she’s in a good mood, that’s all that matters. Thanks to that, my bike got fixed. And for free, too.

I can only express my gratitude.

For now, while thinking about all those things, I got on the bike she had fixed for me and thanked her one last time.

And then, leaving the place, I safely returned home.

I had finished the tumultuous day that was today…