Episode 59 – Meanwhile, at that time

I, Who Was Reincarnated as an Evil Character With Cheat-Level Stats in an Eroge, Will Live Freely in This Life

● Nanashima Tsubasa (side)

While Seito and Kana were talking with Kana’s parents, Tsubasa had come over to play at his best friend Seiya’s house.

“This manga is seriously awesome, huh?”

As Seiya played a game on my phone, I, sitting next to him reading the manga, said that with a laugh.

“Really? I didn’t like it. The protagonist was too much of a show-off to watch.”

“Oh? Personally, I think that’s part of what makes him cool? Well, everyone has different opinions, and it’s fine if you feel that way, Tsubasa.”

“You’re weird.”

“It’s a popular work, so I don’t think it’s weird… But more importantly, is it okay?”

Seiya tilted his head and asked.

“What’s good?”

“Well, today’s Kana-chan’s birthday, right? Every year we celebrated with Suzukaze-san and Hiiragi-san. I was wondering if there wasn’t one this year.”

I hadn’t felt right since morning, and that was why.

Normally, the four of us would have celebrated Kana’s birthday together, but this year was different.

I hadn’t spoken to Kana since that incident, and I had no intention of doing so.

We’d fought many times before, but this time, I couldn’t forgive her.

If Kana admitted her mistake and came crying to apologize to me, I might reconsider. But otherwise, I have no intention of dealing with her.

In my mind, I’m that disappointed in Kana.

She knows I hate delinquents, yet she fell for a guy like that. She prioritized him over me, the one who’d looked out for her all this time. It’s no wonder I’m this disappointed.

Before, whenever I saw her runaway face, I’d still think she was cute. Now, even that just irritates me.

Remembering all that suddenly made me feel irritable.

“It’s fine if I don’t go to that girl’s birthday party…”

“That girl… Even if you’re not blood-related, she’s still your sister, right? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you two talking lately. Did something happen?”

I haven’t told Seiya about Kana and that guy either.

Given how much I’ve bragged about Kana to Seiya up until now, there’s no way I could tell him about this.

If I just told him honestly, he might think I lost to that guy… If that’s the case, it’s definitely better to make him think I’m the one who decided to distance myself from Kana.

There’s absolutely no need for me to be considerate toward Kana now.

“Nothing… I’m just keeping a little distance myself. It’d be a problem if I never grew apart from my sister, right?”

“That might be true, but what about it? I’m not that close with Kana-chan myself, so I can’t really say, but I didn’t think it looked like you needed to grow apart? It just looked like a normal brother-sister relationship to me. No need to be so sensitive about it.”

“You can say that because you don’t know Kana at all, right? I feel this way, so that’s how it is. I’ve been looking after Kana all this time, so I know her well.”

Honestly, if you asked Seiya if he was really close with Kana, he wouldn’t say yes either.

“Well, it’s family stuff, so it’s not my place to butt in.”

“Then don’t ask me in the first place.”

“Yeah, yeah. Anyway, not about Kana-chan, but how are things with Suzukaze-san and Hiiragi-san lately?”

Seiya asked that, trying to change the subject.

“What do you mean, ‘how are things’?”

“I didn’t ask before because it felt awkward, but lately I’ve seen those two talking with Kisaragi in the classroom and stuff, so I was wondering…”

Hearing that, my heart skipped a beat, and I felt sick.

“What do you mean, ‘how’? Why are you asking me that?”

“Hmm, well, until now, Tsubasa was the only one who was close with those two, right? Suzukaze-san and Hiiragi-san are super popular, so there are tons of people wondering about their relationship with Kisaragi… I can’t ask Suzukaze-san or Hiiragi-san, and I definitely can’t ask Kisaragi, so I thought maybe Tsubasa might know something.”

It’s true I know they talk in class.

Miku sits next to him, so she knows even more. Not that they talk that much, though, and compared to Kana, it’s way better.

Besides, I was the only one who was close with those two… Seiya’s right about that, and that’s why I felt so secure… Why did that guy… Why did that guy have to butt in?

It’s not like I haven’t talked to Miku and Saki, but since the thing with Kana happened, the number of conversations has definitely decreased.

Since then, I’ve barely talked about Kisaragi with the two of them, but it’s not just Kana—my relationships with Miku and Saki have also been a bit strained because of that guy. That situation is another source of my irritation.

Honestly, I wish they’d cut ties with him completely, but saying that would just push me further away from them… that’s no good.

Anyway, it’s all that guy’s fault. Why the hell did that bastard Kisaragi suddenly start hanging around us three? He didn’t give us the time of day back in middle school!!!

Just thinking about Kisaragi… that guy… makes me even more irritated.

“I don’t know about that. He probably just had business with them. And as for Miku, she hates crooked people, so maybe she was giving him a warning. He is a delinquent, after all… But honestly, do you really think Miku would be friends with a delinquent like that?”

“A warning… Well, I guess that’s possible? Kisaragi has some pretty wild rumors going around… I don’t know if Suzukaze-san would be friends with him… But now that you mention it, maybe she would?”

“See? That’s the vibe.”

“But lately, I haven’t heard any rumors. In fact, I’ve heard good things lately—like Kisaragi picking up trash and putting it in the bin. I don’t think anyone in class is scared of him anymore. Some people even said he smiled back when they greeted him.”

“It’s just an act, right?”

“An act?”

“Of course! There’s no way he’s that normal! He’s probably scheming something bad. Everyone’s being fooled…”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“It’s not harsh!!!”

I finally lost my temper and yelled.

“Wh-what’s wrong…?”

“Haa… Anyway, don’t get fooled by him, okay? His mask will slip soon enough. It’s just a matter of time. Just a matter of time.”

“…Did something happen with Kisaragi?”

Did something happen with him? Nothing directly, no.

He didn’t do anything to me personally… But that doesn’t matter.

He’s trying to take Kana away from me and get close to Miku and Saki too. To me, that alone makes him nothing but a pest.

That guy who came between me and the three of them is nothing but a nuisance.

If I could, I’d want him to disappear right now.

That said, he’s big and strong, and it’s true I’m no match for him. Well, like I’ve said before, his mask will slip eventually and he’ll disappear on his own.

When that happens, Miku, Saki, and Kana will understand I was right all along.

Thinking about that calms me down a bit.

“Nothing.”

“Well, that’s fine then… Speaking of which, are you staying over tonight after all?”

Even if I go home, Kana’s parents will probably celebrate her birthday, and it’ll feel awkward.

Thinking about it, I guess I do want to stay. Plus, if I game all night, I won’t have time to overthink things, which is perfect.

“I brought a change of clothes and stuff, so I was planning on it. Is that okay? Let’s stay up late and game. You said you wanted to get some gear together, right? I’ll help you out.”

“Oh! Seriously? Thanks. Well, since we’re doing this, I guess we’ll be online, but should we invite two more people? It’s a day off tomorrow, so someone should be free.”

“Yeah, that sounds way more fun. Count me in.”

“Okay. I’ll go tell my mom again. Let’s grab ramen for dinner tonight.”

“Ramen sounds great.”

Maiban