I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat
Despite various unexpected incidents, the shoot is progressing smoothly.
“…You really do have a beautiful face, China…”
Before the shoot, when Fumihiko appeared, China had gotten her face incredibly close to mine, and every angle was pure beauty.
It was so sweet it made the girl inside me flutter involuntarily.
As I was lost in thoughts of her from just a few minutes ago, Hina-san’s voice rang out.
“Well then, shall we wrap things up around here~? Everyone, great work today~♪”
Apparently, that meant the shoot had ended safely.
I hadn’t done much at all, but somehow I felt exhausted.
“I think I’ll go to the restroom one more time.”
“I’ll chat with the shop owner, so you two head back to the car, okay?”
After Hina-san said that, I thanked the shop owner and left the store.
“China-san, good work today. How was the shoot as a model?”
“Good work to you too, Watarai-kun. Well, it was really tough, but it was fun!”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Seeing her face break into a bright smile, a smile naturally spread across mine too.
And with that, China-san’s shoot ended safely without any trouble! Or so I wanted to think…
“—You again?! Seriously…!”
“…That’s what I should be saying to you, Fumihiko.”
Stepping outside the shop, there was Fumihiko’s face, as familiar as chewing gum you’ve grown tired of.
Why do we keep running into each other like this? Is it because Fumihiko has such strong destiny power, or is some kind of synergy happening between the three of us…?
Whatever the reason, it’s definitely nothing but a hassle.
“I never thought I’d run into you while looking for my dropped handkerchief…”
“We keep bumping into each other lately. Must be fate, huh?”
Gone was his usual condescending attitude toward me; he was glaring at me from the get-go.
Maybe yelling at Fumihiko last time had an effect.
“…Hey, Watarai Nozomu, come with me for a sec. It’ll be quick.”
“Hmm… Fine.”
I figured he’d probably say something stupid, but honestly, anything Fumihiko said right now would be entertaining.
he would probably say something sarcastic like, “You’ve got some nerve, you know!” But that’s just the kind of person I am. Alright, gotta try hard not to laugh!
As I started to follow Fumihiko, something tugged on my sleeve, stopping me in my tracks.
Turning around, I saw China-san clutching my sleeve.
“N-no, don’t go, Watarai-kun…!”
China-san stared at me with worried eyes.
She probably thought something might happen to me because of her.
Something definitely will happen, but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about that much.
“It’s fine. I’ll settle this quickly!”
“Bu-but…”
“I’ll be done in no time. Alright, I’m off.”
“Huh!? When did my restraint…!”
I quietly released China’s restraint and followed Fumihiko’s retreating back.
He stopped in a damp, dingy alleyway. Did he plan to have a so-called “discussion” that would likely turn into a fight?
“Watarai Nozomu. I’m gonna get this straight once and for all. What did you do to Hina san…!!”
Fumihiko spun around and demanded that of me.
Just looking at this scene, he seems like the protagonist getting angry because his friend got hurt, but honestly, it just looks like plain jealousy.
“What did I do… I just happened to run into Hina and helped her out with some work, that’s all.”
“Don’t lie to me! Was it a bribe? Or blackmail? There’s no way I wouldn’t be in that magazine unless you did something like that!!”
“Even if you say that to me… I really didn’t do anything like what you think. If anything, I ran away from Hina-san.”
He’s probably pissed off that his photo wasn’t used and only mine was printed.
And he doesn’t want to admit he lacked the skill, so he wants to make it seem like I pulled strings behind the scenes.
To convince himself he’s the best.
“Sigh… Give it a rest, Fumihiko. I didn’t try to undermine you behind your back, I didn’t do anything. Can’t you just admit it already? That you lacked the skill.”
“~~! You bastard!!”
My words seemed to trigger him. Fumiaki, consumed by rage, raised his fist.
I could easily subdue him right now, but getting hit once might make things easier to work with later. Alright, bring it on!
I braced myself, fully expecting to take the hit.
But no matter how long I waited, that fist never reached me. I slowly opened my eyes to see Sachiko-san standing there, having caught the punch.
“S-Sachiko-san!?”
“When China told me to ‘help Watari-kun,’ my heart nearly stopped. Lifting a hand against sensei is a crime worthy of death, you know?”
The fist Sachiko had caught was now used to grab Fumihiko’s arm and hurl him away.
“Gah! Y-you…!”
“Well now, what an ugly little brat. Hard to believe you’re the same age and race as him”
He didn’t even seem to have the composure to maintain his usual handsome aura, glaring at Sachiko too.
The standoff lasted a moment, but the arrival of a new figure broke the deadlock.
“Watarai-kun! Are you okay!?”
“China-san? Well, thanks to you, I’m managing.”
“I see… Really, I’m so relieved…”
China-san, who had arrived, took my hand. Her grip trembled slightly, revealing her state of mind.
Not only China, but her mother, Hina-san, had also come. Her usually shy face now bore a frown.
Fumihiko noticed Hina-san’s presence and spoke up.
“Um, Hina-san! About the magazine… You were threatened by this guy, right…? Or maybe he gave you some kind of bribe or something…? …Right?”
“…I categorically deny any such thing. You are Fumihiko-kun, correct?”
“Eh, ah, yes…”
“At the shopping mall, I said nothing to avoid hurting you.
But if you hurt Nozomu-chan, that changes everything. I will state this clearly.”
Hina’s narrowed eyes widened, her blue, predatory gaze piercing Fumihiko.
The air crackled with tension. Her voice, thick with suffocating fury, cut through the silence.
“You had nothing but a pretty face. Zero fashion sense whatsoever. And your personality shows in your expression. It seeped out—the darkness deep within you.”
“Wh-what? Wha—?”
“There were other reasons besides what I just mentioned why I didn’t feature you in the magazine. I did feel a little guilty.
But there’s no mercy for someone who tried to hurt my precious Nozomu. I want you to stay away from our family from now on…! This is your final warning.”
Hina-san, you’re incredibly intimidating. Getting torn apart like that would knock me out for days.
…Wait, what exactly does it mean that my name came before “our family,” Hina-san?
Fumihiko could only manage incoherent babbling like “Eh, uh, ah” now, his mind nearly blank.
No one reached out to help him; everyone simply walked away.
“Ah… w-wait… Ch-China! China… you won’t abandon me, right…?”
The fallen Fumihiko reached out, calling Chinato stop.
Like someone fallen into hell clinging to a thin spider’s thread.
China-san didn’t turn back, asking instead.
“…Why did you think that, Hikawa-kun?”
“Bu-but! China… you… you like me… or something… or whatever. I-I want you to tell me your true feelings!!”
Why does he still think she likes him when she clearly hates him this much?
He possessed an astonishing amount of confidence, but its collapse was imminent. China finally spoke.
“Hikawa-kun. I’m sorry for ignoring your advances and letting you misunderstand for so long. I heard everything from my family too. I think there are plenty of reasons to dislike you. So—from the bottom of my heart, I absolutely hate you.
…Does that convey my true feelings?”
“Eh, ah… uwa…!!”
Her sidelong glance pierced Fumihiko, and he finally began to cry.
She was an impregnable S-class beauty, yet kind to everyone—China-san. Being treated so coldly by her would make anyone cry.
I felt a tiny bit of sympathy for Fumihiko.
“Watarai-kun, let’s go.”
“Eh, but Fumihiko…”
“…Watarai-kun, you really are kind. But you know, kind people don’t need mercy for those who hurt them.”
A chill ran down my spine the moment I heard China-san’s icy words.
She took my hand and led me out of the dim alleyway onto the street bathed in sunset light.
Objectively speaking, I was the one about to get beaten up.
That’s probably why China-san got so angry for me.
I had to properly thank her.
“—Thank you. …Huh?”
Our voices overlapped. We looked at each other and laughed.
Fumihiko had been physically beaten up by Sachiko, and mentally beaten up by Hina and China.
He should be a little better now.
Maiasa