Dullard Buddy-kun: Heading Reluctantly to School Again Today - Episode 39

“Mamiya-kun, penguins are really cute after all, aren’t they?”

“Ah, indeed… yes.”

I wonder what it is.

“Shall we take another photo together?”

“Uh, um. Yes.”

In my eyes, Yamamoto-san is once again handing his smartphone to the staff member, saying so himself.

The staff, accustomed to dealing with Japanese people and others, readily point their phones towards her and start a countdown with their fingers as soon as she gestures.

“Hehe, Mamiya-kun. You can come a little closer…”

“Ah, yes.”

And then, the sound of the smartphone shutter clicking.

Well, for now, what on earth is going on here…?

For a while now, I’ve been walking around this unexpected zoo, looking at giraffes, elephants, lions, and horses… Am I really moving around like I’m at a zoo…?

No, I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore, but this. Am I not just doing something that feels like a regular school trip?

Moreover, unexpectedly, with Yamamoto Saya from the same class.

The contrast between the me who was just killing time alone on the bench and the current situation is so stark that I feel like my mind is a bit foggy or confused.

I’ll send the photos later all together to Mamiya-kun’s Line.

Thank you…

I wonder why. Maybe because I ran into Yamamoto-san with just a little over 30 minutes left until the meeting, I haven’t seen any of my classmates at all.

Probably, most of them are already tired and have returned close to the meeting place. Honestly, that was quite helpful.

Just by being with someone like me, Yamamoto-san stands out weirdly and ends up being the target of gossip.

“Whoa, there’s only 10 minutes left until we meet!”

Indeed… is it already that time?

It seems like we should start heading back soon, or we won’t make it in time.

“Well then, Mamiya-kun, since we’re here, let’s buy that last thing and head back together.”

“Um, yes. Well…”

And then, when I looked in the direction she was pointing, there was a small kiosk.

The scene of drinks that look like shakes being sold.

“What should I get… Well, I’ll have a strawberry shake.”

“Well then… I’ll have a muscat shake.”

For now, after receiving the products, we headed straight to the meeting place, sipping on the shakes we just bought as we walked.

But, seriously, what is this situation…

After all, I don’t really understand it myself. Why am I nodding along to everything Mr. Yamamoto says?

Originally, as a loner, it is not wise to get involved with someone as prominent as her more than necessary. Especially when I don’t understand why she is being so nice to me, it is nothing but dangerous.

In fact, if it were the old her, I would have normally turned everything down flatly.

Just…

“But really, thank you so much for today. It was a short time, but thanks to you, Mamiya-kun, I had a really great time.”

This is how I’ve been seeing her a lot lately.

When I’m met with such a straightforward, genuine smile…

It’s not so much that I feel guilty about declining, but rather that I find myself naturally nodding in agreement…

What the heck is going on? She’s been acting so uncharacteristically lately… I don’t know what the right term is, but that feeling…

My condition is… how should I put it… a bit off…

Various things…

“Hey, Mamiya-kun…”

“Yes…”

And now, what will it be this time?

That slightly fidgety feeling, could it be that you need to use the restroom?

“Can I have a bite of that…?”

Huh?

That… means, this is the only thing, right?

Yeah. Right now, there shouldn’t be anything else in my right hand except this shake…

Um…

“I’m, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s not okay, right? Let’s just forget it. I’m sorry.”

“Well… it’s not that I particularly dislike it or anything… but if you don’t mind… go ahead.”

As expected.

My rhythm… is off. Really.

When I saw that naturally sad expression, my mouth moved on its own again.

“Oh, thank you.”

This is really bad… This is.

A bit, too many unexpected things have been happening, and my head… is going crazy.

I’m not going to say what it is, and I can’t put it into words, but it’s probably going in a direction that’s completely uncharacteristic of me…

Really…

For now, all that’s left is to return to the hotel.

So, let’s regroup for now.

Yeah. Let’s… get things back on track.