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 night after our strategy meeting.
We four were about to head out for a dinner with the Sayama family.
Our contact this time was Yuzo Sayama.
He was the father of Yukimiโs prospective match and a powerful figureโthe current prefectural governor.
โฆAnd he was also the uncle of Chagiri, who had died the other day.
Since he knew we were coming as a group, Yukimi had said the other side was probably onto something.
It seemed he hadnโt mentioned the specific purpose of todayโs meeting, but given the timing, there was a possibility heโd already figured out the gist of it.
That said, right now, I was more drawn to the black luxury car parked right in front of us than to any of that.
After weโd all changed into our outfits that night, we were waiting in front of the school for the car Yukimi had arrangedโand there it was.
I couldnโt help but gasp at the posh vehicle that emerged from the darkness.
It wasnโt just me; Kisa and Shinori were equally captivated.
โWow, that looks sooooo expensive.โ
โIt seems like itโs in a whole different league from any car weโve ever seen.โ
It really was the kind of private car youโd expect from a conglomerate.
As I stood there staring in awe, Yukimi poked her head out of the open window.
โWhat are you standing there for with that dumb look on your face? Get in already.โ
โUh, Iโm just a little nervous.โ
Hearing that, my face flushed at my own pettiness.
Itโs a strange thing.
Iโm supposed to be considered wealthy by most standards, but when faced with someone whoโs truly rich, I seem to revert to acting like a poor person.
And as I climbed into the back seat as urged, an eerie sense of oppression intensified even further.
I always get a little nervous when riding in someone elseโs car, but this was a different kind of tension.
I suppose you could call it the fear of barging into a realm far beyond my reach.
What would happen if I accidentally made a mess?
The thought sends a chill down my spine.
Also, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eyeโthe driver wasnโt a parent or anything like that, but just a servant.
Come to think of it, since this was the first time Iโd met anyone from the Shichikajo family other than Yukimi, I started worrying about whether Iโd put my foot in my mouth.
I at least managed to say hello, but since heโs Yukimiโs attendant, thereโs no telling what might set him off.
Just as I was thinking thatโฆ
โโฆโฆI, uh, think I might be feeling a little sick.โ
โโฆโฆShinori, donโt you dare throw up. Try spewing your vomit all over the place here? Youโll be guaranteed a lifetime of servitude in this lifetime.โ
Seeing Shinoriโs pale face as she sat next to me, I shuddered.
Maybe I wonโt make it back alive today.
Just saying that made me feel the urge to pee tooโthis is the worst.
โโฆโฆDoes that mean a slave contract under Senpai?โ
โโฆโฆYeah. Iโm sure youโll be made to do all sorts of thingsโthis and that.โ
โโฆโฆLike what?โ
โโฆโฆBeing stripped naked, wearing a collar, getting whipped, and stuff like that.โ
โโฆโฆAh, so youโre talking about being a โpetโ in a sexual sense. Good for you, Kyota-kun.โ
โโฆโฆWhy do you think Iโm the type whoโd enjoy being treated like a masochistic dog?โ
As always, sheโs so rude.
Besides, I actually know.
I know that Yukimi really does own collars and whips for SM play.
And I know that in the original story, Akito finds them, and thereโs even a scene where he ends up being the one forced to wear them during the playโฆโฆ
Following that train of thought, I now picture Shinori in that same outfit.
Sheโs not exactly the type to make you daydream about her bust size, but her figure from the waist down is absolutely perfect.
That tight skirt I saw her in before was pretty good, too.
โฆโฆYeah.
Iโd better stop thinking about this for now.
ใ
Leaving Kisa asideโwho seemed surprisingly unfazedโas Shinori and I were trembling uncontrollably, Yukimi turned around and gave us a look of utter exasperation.
โYou twoโฆ please donโt go talking to the other party looking like that, okay?โ
โOf course we get it.โ
That was just a light-hearted joke.
Plus, weโd been speaking in very hushed tones.
Itโs a mystery how Yukimi managed to hear us.
โ
In front of the agreed-upon restaurant, I kept my eyes averted from Yukimi.
When she got out of the car, I got my first look at her outfitโand it was much more revealing than usual, which made me feel awkward.
Or rather, to put it bluntly, there was way too much skin showing.
To take it a step further, it was sexy.
She was wearing a tight dress with a plunging neckline, which made her look even more mature than usual.
Combined with her beautiful silver hair, I couldnโt believe she was the same high school student.
Even though she was wearing a jacket over it, glimpses of her cleavage kept catching my eyeโit was a real eye-catcher.
Just then, my childhood friend, who had quickly noticed my reaction, stepped in between Yukimi and me.
โHehe, itโs fine if you look, though.โ
โโฆโฆAs a gentleman, that sort of thing is a bitโฆโ
โWell, thatโs true, Hanesaki-san.โ
โWhy are you passing the buck to me?โ
Me, looking away, and Shinori, half-angry.
The young lady, thoroughly delighted as she teased those two underclassmen, was back to her usual self.
Seeing that, a smile also appeared on Kisaโs face, and the atmosphere was excellent.
Her expression was so relaxed youโd never guess we were about to have an important meal, but I suppose thatโs for the best.
After all, if Iโm too nervous, I might end up making a fool of myself.
Besides, for Kisa, today might be the decisive day when all the incidents that have been tormenting her for the past year are finally resolved.
Although she was afraid of facing those intimidating adults, she also felt a sense of relief that it was finally coming to an end.
A moderate level of tension is just right.
Seeing the restaurantโs faรงade, which suggested a dress code, she straightened her clothesโif only to reassure herselfโand took a deep breath.
She exchanged glances with Yukimi beside her, who gave her a slightly stiff smile.
โAnd just as she was about to step inside the restaurantโฆ
โIโd only ever say โitโs okay if you lookโ to you, you know?โ
โโฆโฆโ
She whispered it in a deliberately suggestive way, and before she knew it, her gaze was drawn once again to that cleavage.
Sheโs a devil.
Right when Iโd steeled myself to stop fooling aroundโit was utterly malicious.
And this woman might actually be serious about killing me today.
I mean, just imagine being told something like this right next to you.
โโSeriously, youโre gross.โ
โDonโt say that to me.โ
I grimaced at the doomed heroine as she spat out those words in a freezing tone.
โ
Yuzo Sayama was in a private room at the very back of the restaurant.
That said, since the place had been reserved exclusively for us, of course, there was no one else there besides us and the staff.
Weโd used a high-end traditional Japanese restaurant before for a secret meeting between Yukimi and Kisa, and just like that time, it seems this place is under the Sayama familyโs direct control.
In short, I was completely on foreign turf.
Inside the private room was a man Iโd seen countless times on election posters and on TV.
Surprisingly, Yuzo Sayama was alone.
Iโd assumed other dignitaries, Yukimiโs potential suitors, and bodyguards would be there too, so I was a bit taken aback.
He glanced at us for a moment, then immediately turned to Yukimi and offered a gentle smile.
โThis was supposed to be a regular dinner to strengthen the bond between our two families, but the atmosphere feels rather tense.โ
Right off the batโperhaps realizing that we werenโt just there as chaperonesโYuzo said that.
Yukimi laughed and brushed it off lightly while gesturing for us to take our seats.
โHehe, I suppose youโre aware of the situation, which is why Daiki san didnโt join us, isnโt that right?โ
โHe really seems enthusiastic about this match with you, though.โ
โThatโs quite flattering.โ
โโฆBesides, you were the one who suddenly said you wanted to invite a friend. You, of all people. Itโs only natural to be wary, isnโt it? Especially given what you said the other day.โ
As he said this, Yuzo looked at me for some reason.
Confused, I tilted my head, but he paid no mind and snorted derisively.
What on earth was that about?
In the end, without getting an answer, Yukimi flashed a defiant smile.
โBut thatโs not what Iโm here to discuss today.โ
โHm?โ
โToday, Iโd like to talk about the murder of Kayaya Chagiri, who happens to be your nephew, Yuzo san.โ
Yukimi cut straight to the chase without hesitation.
The transition was so smooth that for a split second, I didnโt even realize what sheโd said.
And when I did realize it, I was so taken aback by her bluntness that my eyes widened.
Apparently, I wasnโt the only one who reacted that way.
Upon hearing her words, Yuzo Sayama instantly wiped the smile off his face.
He didnโt react dramatically, but the atmosphere in the room clearly shifted.
Yukimi, on the other hand, kept her smile as she took several envelopes out of her bag.
Inside were strands of hair, fingerprints, and forensic reports.
Needless to say, these were pieces of evidence pointing to the culprit of the case in question.
โTraces of a person who shouldnโt have been at Kayaya Chagiriโs home on the day of the incident were detected. Furthermore, upon investigation, it appears this person was a colleague of the victimโs father, Yota Chagiriโin short, someone who worked for the Sayama family. Fingerprints from the same individual were also found on the victimโs clothing. โฆSo, why exactly was this case ruled a s**cide, and why hasnโt it even been reported in the news to this day?โ
He was asking the question, but he wasnโt actually seeking an answer.
It was simply a matter of him slowly devouring his prey, just as a snake slowly digests the prey it has already swallowed.
Yuzo propped his chin in his hand with an air of boredom, his furrowed brow growing even more stern.
โI see. So that guy sided with them. Hah, this is exactly why I told him to disown him right away. Itโs all ruined because of that old man who gave in to his stupid little sisterโs whims.โ
โThat guyโ was likely Yota Chagiri.
His brother-in-lawโan incorrigible delinquent who was impossible to handle.
He made no attempt to defend himself or run away.
Yuzo simply said that, then let a faint smile spread across his face.
And without a hint of remorse, he said:
โSo, just as you said, the real culprit must be one of Yota Chagiriโs coworkersโsomeone under Sayamaโs thumb. So what? Huh?โ
And just like that, Yuzo Sayama casually admitted the Sayama familyโs involvement in the murder of Chagiri.
Maiban