Iโve Been Reincarnated as the Childhood Friend of a Doomed Heroine. Since I Donโt Want to Get Caught up in Her Bad Ending, Iโll Make Sure She Ends up Happy
The sports festivalโwhich had its share of ups and downsโis finally over.
In the end, Chagiri never actually made contact with Aoiko, so Iโm relieved that everything went peacefully.
Also, our classโs basketball team ended up winning the championship.
Since Iโm pretty athletic, I stood out a bit in a casual tournament where the experienced players werenโt going all out.
But still.
โWell, we already know Kyotaโs good at sports.โ
โBesides, weโre not really interested in sports anyway.โ
โI get it.โ
And so onโthe two girls closest to me had pretty lukewarm reactions.
Even Shinori, who usually sticks to me like glue, gave me the cold shoulder, as if to say, โSo what?โ
It was a bit of a letdown.
โฆNo, itโs fine, really.
Itโs not like I wanted Shinori to like me any more than she already does, nor was I trying to show off in front of Kisa.
That said, itโs justโฆ well.
Hmm.
Just as I was thinking thatโฆ
โWhy are you making such a complicated face?โ
โWhat are you talking about?โ
I felt pretty embarrassed when Ujiya, who had keenly noticed my mood, teased me.
โ
The Saturday of the week after the sports festival ended.
While reminiscing about what happened the other day, I was zoning out, trying to escape reality.
Yes, escaping reality.
Iโm so reluctant to face my current situation head-on that Iโm immersing myself in a world of fantasy.
โI get the feeling youโre thinking something rudeโor is it just my imagination?โ
โItโs just your imagination.โ
A girl in civilian clothes spoke to me.
Even though itโs a day off, sheโs the kind of person who sets off alarm bells in my head for some reason.
For the first time in a while, Iโd been dragged out alone with her on a day off, and I let out a wry smile.
Sitting next to me was Shinori, the โdoom heroineโ who could scare even a crying child.
The excuse was that she was going shopping for clothes and wanted me to come along.
Of course, it wasnโt for my clothesโit was for Shinoriโs casual wear.
I donโt know if she wants summer clothes or not, but ever since she dragged me out this morning, Iโve been stuck carrying her bags.
And of all days, itโs perfectly sunny.
Even though itโs the rainy season, it feels like itโs been unusually sunny for about a week now.
โItโs because the moment I take my eyes off you, you start hanging out with some other girl.โ
โI donโt know what youโre getting at, but actually, Iโve never asked anyone out myself.โ
โWhatโs that supposed to mean? Are you trying to show off how popular you are?โ
โโฆโฆDo you really think Iโm that popular that I could pull that off?โ
โWell, itโs trueโeven when we won the sports festival, no one even gave you a second glance. While guys like Ujiya were taking pictures with groups of girls, you were the only one standing alone in the corner.โ
โโฆโฆโ
She has a knack for hitting on the exact spots that bother me the most.
โBut itโs not about quantity, anyway. Itโs about quality.โ
โWell, let me tell you this: I donโt think of every time I go out with someone as a date, so the โqualityโ isnโt an issue, right?โ
โYouโre doing it right now, arenโt you?โ
โHahaha. Letโs put jokes like that aside for now.โ
โHey. Iโve been wondering for a whileโwhy do you put them away every time? Youโre not actually throwing them away, so someday theyโll all come crashing down on you at once, and youโll be in for a world of trouble.โ
โโฆโฆโ
She said it with a straight face, and it sent a slight chill down my spine.
I realized she was right.
That said, even when I say Iโve been hanging out with girls, itโs really just Shinori, the one I skipped the middle school reunion with before, the amusement park and aquarium trips we all went on together, and watching the cherry blossom photo shoot the other day.
I donโt think there were any plans I could have turned down.
Besides, Iโm not even dating anyone to begin with.
I actually tried to turn down todayโs plans, too.
But it was Kisa who got in the way.
Thatโs rightโitโs all that girlโs doing.
[Come on, you should just go with her. Oh, or is it awkward because thereโs someone else you really like? You know, like, โActually, Iโm the one you really likeโ?]
[Huh? Is that so?]
[No, thatโs not it. If youโre okay with me just carrying your stuff, Iโd love to tag along.]
While Shinori and I were having our usual back-and-forth, Kisa came over to take Shinoriโs side.
When she put it that way, I just couldnโt say no.
Iโve said it many times before, but I canโt let Shinori get sick.
That said, Iโm in a situation where I canโt exactly go out with her either.
To most people, I probably look like an indecisive guy whoโs all over the place with different girls, but I couldnโt care less.
I just want to purge this rotten world as quickly as possible and escape to a safe place.
Next spring, when the โSakuchiruโ scenario ends.
Once thatโs over, my role will finally be over.
ใ
Or rather, Kisa is Kisa.
Even though weโve been close enough for me to give her plenty of advice over the years, she had the nerve to sell me out without a second thought.
Doesnโt she feel any sense of gratitude toward me?
Sheโs a completely ridiculous, outgoing gal.
โฆThough, I suppose the reality is a little different.
I guess the person she wanted to stay loyal toโbefore meโwas Shinori.
Guilt over all the things sheโd been hiding all this time.
Ever since then, the two of them have been talking as much as they used to, and since Iโve been watching them, I kind of get it.
She probably just wanted to be of some help to Shinori, or something like that.
Well, I wish sheโd put herself in my shoes for a secondโhere I am, having to deal with this situation because of feelings that shallow.
I donโt want to die.
โHey, did that dress I bought earlier really look good on me?โ
โWhy are you getting nervous after youโve already bought it?โ
โBecause I only listened to your opinion. There are all kinds of factors, like the color and my body type, right?โ
โWhatโs that supposed to mean?โ
When I tilted my head, she gave me a look that said, โIs this guy for real?โ
Hahaha, keep lowering your opinion of me on your own like this.
โWhoa, I really shouldโve come with Kisa-chan after all.โ
โHey. Youโre the one who asked me out, so donโt go regretting it on your own.โ
โSigh. Well, since youโre the one Iโm mainly showing this outfit to, I guess youโre rightโyour opinion is the most helpful.โ
โBut you really did look good in it.โ
Of course, I watched her try it on when we picked it out, but my impression was simply, โIt looked good.โ
After all, just like Shinori said before, I have absolutely no tact, so if it hadnโt suited her, I wouldโve dismissed it on the spot.
โD-does that mean Iโm cute?โ
โOf course it does. Even at school, Shinori is the โflawless beautyโ type. Thereโs no such thing as an outfit that doesnโt suit her.โ
Thatโs rightโShinori was that kind of heroine.
A nostalgic memory from my past life.
With Yukimiโs silver hair and mature figure, or Aoikoโs childlike aura, there might be clothes that suit them and others that donโt, but Shinori basically looks beautiful in anything she wears.
Mind you, back in my past life, I used to think that made her โboring.โ
As I was lost in thought, musing on this, I suddenly realized Shinori had been staring intently into my eyes.
โโฆโฆYouโre really weird, arenโt you?โ
โHuh? What do you mean?โ
โOh, nothing. Itโs just that getting you to say โI like youโ is starting to seem like a hopeless task.โ
โYouโre just realizing that now?โ
โHehe, ahaha. โฆYeah, Iโm just realizing it now.โ
It was a strangely suggestive way of putting it.
But still, the look in her eyes was mysteriously gentle.
Somehow, it also felt like the gaze of someone looking at something pitiful.
to bear it any longer, I looked away.
โCome on, letโs head to the next place.โ
โโฆThereโs some weird person over there.โ
โโฆYouโre right.โ
Just then, across the street where Iโd looked, there was a figure acting strangely.
With summer just around the corner, she was dressed in an odd outfitโblack sweatpants and a black hoodie with the hood up.
Her face was hidden by a mask, so I couldnโt make it out clearly.
However, from the curves outlined by the sweatpants, I could tell she was a woman.
She emerged from the convenience store, glancing around nervously.
She kept fumbling in her pockets for some reasonโshe looked incredibly suspicious.
โShould we call the police?โ
โNah, sheโs probably just a weirdo. Letโs leave her alone.โ
I replied that to Shinori, who had asked me.
The woman glanced at me for a split second, then hurriedly left the scene.
For some reason, from that gesture, I figured out who she was.
Or rather, that tracksuitโitโs that one.
Itโs the same one she was wearing when I first met her.
But Iโm left wondering.
Assuming that woman really was herโฆ
โDidnโt she say she had a photo shoot today?
Thinking maybe Iโd just misidentified her, I tilted my head in confusion.
โShe was acting kind of suspicious, wasnโt she?โ
โYeah. Itโs rare to see a pervert even though spring is already over.โ
โHahaha. You act like that sometimes, too, donโt you?โ
โPlease stop joking around.โ
I resolved to take a closer look at my own words and actions.
Maiban