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…
“…Ah, this croquette. It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, freshly fried is the best.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste since it was recommended.”
We were on our way home, eating the croquettes that Sasahara-senpai had treated us to. All three of us were eating in a friendly atmosphere, but Vice President Kimura alone had a vacant look in his eyes.
“What’s wrong, Ryota?”
“What’s wrong?! I’m covered in mud! I stink! This sucks! Seriously, this is so lame!”
“It’s not lame.”
Irie-senpai flatly contradicted Kimura-senpai.
“Huh? Somewhere on this muddy mess? Are you being sarcastic?”
“But, no matter the reason, you got covered in mud just to search with Sasahara-senpai, right? People who get dirty for others are cool and amazing.”
Saying this, Irie-senpai smiled at Vice President Kimura.
“H…!? Wh-what!? N-no, no way!! I don’t get happy when guys compliment me, okay?!”
“Oh, what’s up, Ryota? You’re blushing, which is rare for you.”
“Bah…!! It’s not like that!! It’s just… throws me off, or makes me feel all tingly… I don’t know… Ah, forget it!!”
Vice President Kimura, his face red, eats a croquette in a fit of desperation.
Yeah, yeah. I get it, Vice President. Usually, you get complimented on your looks and abilities, but now you’re being complimented on yourself, so it’s embarrassing, right?
And above all, it’s nice. It feels like someone is really seeing you for who you are.
“Kirifuji-san? What’s wrong?”
I seemed to have been staring at Irie-senpai without realizing it, and asked with a puzzled expression.
“No… I was just… kinda jealous of the Vice President. That’s all.”
“?”
“Well then, Ryota and I will be heading this way.”
“Yes, President, Vice President. Thank you for your hard work today.”
“Tenma, Kimura-kun, thank you for today too.”
“…Just call me Ryota. I call you Bunchin too.”
“Eh, ah, well then… Ryo-kun. See you next week.”
“…………”
“Ah, sorry… I just thought it’d be nice to call you by a nickname too. Did you mind?”
“Huh? I didn’t say I minded, did I? Call me whatever you want. See ya, Bunchin. Next week.”
Well, well… The Vice President using a nickname… He never does that with anyone but the President.
It seems Irie-senpai is quite the charmer.
Watching the two walk toward the station, I meet Irie-senpai’s gaze.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
We started walking in the opposite direction from where President Kamito and the others had gone.
“………………”
“………………”
Silence.
Now then, what topic should I bring up? Just as I thought that, it was Irie-senpai who broke the silence.
“Kirifuji-san. Thanks for everything today.”
“No, but… I was really surprised you jumped into that ditch pond. Being too kind-hearted might not be the best thing…”
Saying this, Irie-senpai smiled awkwardly.
“Sure, I might get taken advantage of or hurt sometimes. But it’s not just that. Someone sees me. Tenma and Ryo-kun. And Kirifuji-san, like you.”
As Irie-senpai spoke, his eyes held a certain charm.
“So Kirifuji-san. Thank you for seeing me.”
My breath caught involuntarily.
“Ah, I’m going to get drinks. Is black tea okay? Since you helped me out so much today, let me treat you.”
“…If you say so, Irie-senpai… Since you’re offering, I’ll gladly accept.”
“Got it.”
…Ah, damn. I forgot to say no sugar.
Honestly, I don’t really like anything besides straight tea without milk, lemon, or sugar… Oh well.
“Here you go. Unsweetened was fine, right?”
“…Huh?”
The tea Irie-senpai handed me was unsweetened.
Wh-why…?
“Oh, I saw you drinking tea in the student council room without sugar or milk, so I figured unsweetened might be better. Was I wrong?”
“…No, thank you… fufu.”
“Huh? Wh-what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m sure it’s nothing to you, Bungaku-senpai.”
“Huh? Wait… that name…”
“Bungaku-senpai, may I have a sip of your milk tea?”
“…I already added another sip, but is that okay?”
“Yes, well, it’s not exactly a replacement, but I’ll give you a sip of my tea.”
“Eh, no… it’s fine!”
“Is that so… You probably don’t want an indirect kiss with me… right? I’m sorry.”
While taking Bungaku-senpai’s milk tea, I deliberately made a show of sobbing sadly.
“Eh!? N-no, that’s not…!! Ah, it’s not like I wanted an indirect kiss or anything—”
“Fufu…”
Watching Bungaku-senpai flustered, I touched my lips to the rim of the milk tea cup.
It was sweet, as expected.
But. Maybe a little sweetness now and then isn’t so bad.
[Bonus]
“…Phew.”
I collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted.
I’d eaten, bathed, and taken care of my hair and skin—all that was left was to sleep.
Today really had… been eventful.
“…Bungaku-senpai”
The face that suddenly came to mind was Bungaku-senpai’s.
“……………….”
I put on my earphones and operated my smartphone.
Beep
[Kirifuji-san. Thank you for seeing me.]
“Bungaku-senpai…”
Beep
[Kirifuji-san. Thank you for seeing me.]
“………………………… Haaaaa~~~~… I love it.”
“Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I love him! I love Bungaku-senpai!! That serious expression!! So cool!! I love him! And above all, I love those eyes!! W-what should I do?! I fell in love with his muddy profile at first sight!! Well, it’s not just his face!! I can’t help but love his kind-hearted side too!! I also love the way he looks at me!! Oh!! Bungaku-senpai is so great! I love him, I love him, I love him ♡ I love him ♡”
Beep
[Kirifuji-san. Thank you for looking at me.]
“Ah… why does Bungaku Senpai’s voice feel so calming… It’s definitely 1/f fluctuation, right? Yeah. Definitely. It has to be… Maybe I’ll just set it on loop and fall asleep…”
Setting it to loop, I thought as my consciousness drifted off.
“I need… more… variety… in my… repertoire…”
HOLY SHI- another freak has joined the hunt XD
That’s the fourth one, folks.
(yes, it definitely slipped from my radar that the kouhai is female)