This Girl Is A Delinquent!, Vol. 1

Chapter 2: This Girl Is A Delinquent!

A lukewarm air rustled the trees as the setting sun sent waves of violet splashing across the evening sky. While the sounds of crickets began to rise, the rhythmic pounding of footsteps against the sidewalk could be heard as Ken continued his trek towards the train station landing. His chest heaved as his underutilized muscles, that had remained stationary for much of the last week, were now becoming reacquainted with exercise.

With the lights from the platform now in sight, he began to reevaluate if all of his effort was worthwhile. A girl he had never met before dropped her pass card and he had, without much thought, endeavored to return it in hopes that he would reach her before the final train left. As he approached the walkway to the platform, his pace slowed to a halt and his current thought escaped from his lips.

"This is... insanely creepy!"

Placing a palm to his forehead, Ken tried to see things from her perspective. He was an older student that had collided with her and after a curt exchange he was now covered in sweat after chasing her. Judging by her attitude earlier, Ken could only expect the worst if he confronted her directly. While he considered his options, the voice of the girl in question rang out from the platform.

"What! Where did I put it? It has to be here somewhere..."

Walking back from the platform, the flaxen haired girl was frantically pawing away at her backpack. The electric train used an unmanned swipe system, so without an ID it was impossible to board. It might have been possible to ask someone to let her on, but at this time there were no other students heading home.

Not sure of his own reasoning, Ken darted off the sidewalk and hid behind a tree. There would be no explaining his situation if he was caught now as his actions seemed shady at best, he thought. He must have mistook someone else for Lucas earlier, as his friend did not appear to be at the station. Ken lamented this fact as Lucas could have easily let the girl on the train but Ken did not have his train pass with him today. His thoughts went wild as he heard the rustling of grass. It appeared that the girl was now checking the area next to him with a light from her cellphone. Ken gulped as an idea dawned on him and he pulled her pass card from his pocket and with a well timed toss sent it twirling to the sidewalk near where the girl was still searching. He held his breath as the girl slowly made her way closer and eventually her voice filled the air again.

"Ah ha! Gotcha!"

Ken straightened his posture as he assumed that the girl was picking up the pass card and he would be able to go back to the dorm in a few short minutes. However, his dreams of relaxation were interrupted by a bright light that sprayed out from behind the tree.

"As if I would fall for that! Now come out from behind there you p-pervert! I'm calling the police!"

The girlish voice from before was now seething with anger as it crescendoed into a roar. Ken knew if he waited any longer, he would definitely be arrested as a stalker. Faced with the worst possible outcome, Ken slowly sidestepped from behind the tree and turned to face his accuser.

"I-it's you... you followed me? Are you... stalking me!?"

Still holding her phone light as a shield, the girl's voice seemed to lose intensity but Ken could tell that she was still on edge as he replied in a panicked tone.

"That's not it! I swear! You dropped your pass card when you ran into me earlier! I was just returning it!"

As Ken took a step forward during his explanation, the light blocking his view moved back before dimming. He could now see the same emerald eyes from before were now filled with distrust. The girl broke eye contact to look at her phone before shaking the device and pressing the power button a few times.