Mob Character Reincarnation Loner: As a Result of Supporting the Heroine Who Had Been Rejected, I Ended up Being the Recipient of Her Heavy Emotions…
After school.
I, Kirifuji Sena, was preparing to receive a visitor in the student council room.
Our student council is working to resolve a certain rumor.
It concerns the vicious rumors circulating about Irie Bungaku-senpai, a friend of President Kamito.
Currently, we’ve identified the culprit and gathered evidence; only the final steps remained.
Just as I finished preparing, a knock came at the door.
โCome in.โ
โUmโฆ Excuse me.โ
The one who hesitantly opened the door was the victim of this incident, Irie Bungaku Senpai
โThank you for coming. The president told me about you. Please, have a seat.โ
โAh, yesโฆโ
I spoke reassuringly, and Irie-senpai sat down at the guest table with a look of relief.
โHere you go.โ
โAh, thank youโฆ very much.โ
I handed Irie-senpai a freshly brewed cup of tea.
โMy apologies for not introducing myself sooner. I’m Kirifuji Sena, the Student Council Treasurer. Since I’m a first-year, you don’t need to use honorifics with me, okay? Irie-senpai?โ
โUh, sorryโฆ I made you feel awkward, didn’t I?โ
I smiled politely at Irie-senpai’s words.
โNot at all. For some reason, everyone who comes here seems nervousโฆโ
โOh, I seeโฆ So, you called me here today about the rumors about meโฆ?โ
โYes. We asked you here to hear the perpetrator’s side of the story and then let you, as the victim, decide what to do next.โ
I drank my tea straight, without sugar or milk. Then, as if following my lead, Irie-senpai added sugar and milk to his tea and drank it.
โIt seems we acted quickly, so rest assured the rumor itself hasn’t spread too far yetโฆ Soon, the president and the others will bring the culprit who spread the rumor here.โ
According to the plan, they should be here any minute now.
The moment I checked the time, the student council room door opened again.
โBungaku, thanks for your time. Sorry to take up your time.โ
There stood President Kamito and Vice President Kimura. And the culpritโBasketball Club Captain Sasahara-senpaiโwas there too.
At first, Sasahara-senpai looked completely bewildered. But as understanding dawned, his expression gradually hardened.
โUmโฆ so Sasahara-senpai is the one who spread the rumorโฆ?โ
Irie-senpai, still looking confused, asked for confirmation.
โNo point in denying it, Sasahara-senpai. I have a recording of the rumor you told me about Irie-senpai.โ
I smiled and flashed my phone, where the recording was stored.
โโฆWh-when did youโฆโ
โI’m pretty good at this sort of thing.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ.Yeah. I spread the rumor.โ
He looked at Irie-senpai with a resigned, self-mocking smile.
โI never imagined the Student Council would get involvedโฆ After Nanase, how exactly did you get it?โ
โSasahara-senpai. Literature is the benefactor who kept โmy beloved personโ and โmy precious friendโ connected. She’s my precious friend. Please stop talking like that.โ
Rarely, truly rarely, that Kamito-senpai was angry. Quietly, but definitely.
โWhyโฆ why did you do thisโฆโ
โMostlyโฆ it’s revenge for getting thoroughly rejected by Nanase senpaiโฆ I suppose.โ
When I answered Irie-senpai’s question instead, Sasahara-senpai said nothing and fell silent.
โUghโฆ what a petty little guy.โ
Vice President Kimura made an unmistakably disgusted face as he said this, and I couldn’t agree more.
โโฆWell, sorry about that, Irie-kun. I won’t do anything like this again. I promise.โ
A hollow apology, completely devoid of sincerity.
As if to make sure he understood, President Kamito drove the point home to Sasahara-senpai.
โโฆSasahara-senpai, we’re watching you.โ
โ!! Ahโฆ I know.โ
Sasahara-senpai, visibly shaken by Chairman Kamito’s pressure, fled the student council room as if escaping.
I too thought his attitude was questionable, but seeing his back, which seemed smaller than usual, made me lose the will to speak.
โWell, the rumors have calmed down somewhat. I suppose this wraps things up?โ
โI suppose so. Fortunately, we were able to act early on this rumor, and everything meshed together smoothly for a quick resolutionโฆ It’s good it didn’t cause any direct harm to Irie-senpai.โ
โโฆWell, I didn’t like Sasahara’s attitude, though.โ
“Trueโฆ But we did make our point clear, so it should be fine. Let’s get ready to head home.”
With President Kamito’s words, everyone began packing up. We stopped by the staff room to handle some urgent tasks the teachers had asked us to do, then left the school.
As usual, President Kamito and Vice President Kimura were chatting happily, so I spoke to Irie-senpai.
โIrie-senpai, thank you for helping with the tasks.โ
โAh, no problem. It’s the least I could do.โ
โโฆActually, President Kamito thinks very highly of you, I hear?โ
โHuh? Really?โ
โHe says you’re dependable, matureโฆ and carry yourself with great dignity.โ
โโฆThat’s an overestimation.โ
โBrilliant intellect, athletic prowess. A superhuman excelling in both academics and athleticsโฆ that’s the reputation you have in the student council.โ
โOverrated!?โ
Teasing Irie-senpai as we walked along,
โWhoa, this pond. It’s seriously filthy.โ
Kimura-senpai muttered, glancing at a pond we happened to pass.
The filth was so bad that trash floated on the surface, and though it couldn’t be deep, the bottom was completely obscured. Probably poorly maintained.
โโฆHey, isn’t that Sasahara-senpai?โ
Where President Kamito pointed, Sasahara-senpai was frantically searching for something in the filthy pond.
โProbably dropped something? Ha, looks like he’s getting covered in mud. Serves him right.โ
โSorry. Tenma-kun, can I leave my bag with you?โ
Saying that, Irie-senpai took off his blazer and started rolling up the sleeves.
โHuh? Irieโฆ you’re not seriously going to help him, are you?โ
โYeah. I mean, he’s searching so desperately. It must be something important.โ
โNo way. That guy’s the one who spread those nasty rumors about you! Just leave him be!โ
โThat doesn’t matter right now.โ
We were stunned by how casually Irie-senpai said it, as if it were nothing.
โWell then, I’m off!”
Leaving us gaping, he ran off toward Sasahara-senpai.
We couldn’t take our eyes off himโhow he plunged into the ditch without hesitation, how he searched desperately, mud splattered across his face.
โTenma cchi, what is that? That excessive do-gooderโฆโ
โAhaha, he sure is a do-gooder. But I can’t just leave a do-gooder like that alone. I like him. You feel the same, Ryota, right?โ
โHuh? Hey! Tenma cchi!?โ
The president also dropped his bag and followed after Irie-senpai.
โโฆAh, damn it, those guys are seriously idiots!โ
Saying that, Kimura-senpai set down his bag and started running toward the muddy pond.
I headed toward the shallow bridge over the muddy pond, carrying everyone’s bags.
โFor now, please put everything you picked up on the shallow bridge. I’ll check it.โ
โThanks.โใ
I stared intently at Irie-senpai’s face.
His mud-stained profile somehow looked cool.
And above all, seeing Irie-senpai’s desperate expression made me realize.
Ah, I see. This is the kind of expression he can make for someone else.
My heart was stolen by those earnest eyes.
After searching until just before sunset, the lost item was found safely.
The lost item was an earring. Apparently, it was a precious memento from his late mother.
Seeing how reluctant he was to explain why, it was probably something involving a romantic entanglement.
โIrie, thank youโฆ reallyโฆ I’m sorry.โ
Sasahara-senpai’s heartfelt words of gratitude and apology to Irie-senpai.
โHuh? Ah, ahโฆ don’t worry about getting covered in mud.โ
โNo, it’s not just thatโฆโ
โHuh? So it’s because it got so late?โ
โNo, it’s not that eitherโฆ!โ
โYou really don’t need to worry about it. Oh, right. Then why don’t you treat everyone to some croquettes?โ
โNo, that’s not it! It’s not about that!! Ah, no, I’ll treat croquettes, thoughโฆ!!โ
Somehow, the conversation between Irie Senpai and Sasahara senpai just wasn’t clicking.
โTenmachi. What’s with this exchange?โ
โโฆI dunno? Well, they’re getting along, so isn’t that fine?โ
โโฆI guess so.โ
We laughed at the banter between Irie Senpai and Sasahara senpai, which sounded like a comedy routine.