I’ve Been Reincarnated as the Childhood Friend of a Doomed Heroine. Since I Don’t Want to Get Caught up in Her Bad Ending, I’ll Make Sure She Ends up Happy
Monday morning.
Right after the closing assembly ended, I made eye contact with Hayase.
She’d spent the entire day looking pale, probably because of what happened over the weekend.
Seems she’s really scared of me.
At least she seems to realize how serious this is.
By the way, I had contacted her beforehand.
That Friday night, right after planning with Akito, I added her contact info from the class group chat and sent Hayase a message.
The content was simple: ‘After school on Monday, bring Kato Ami and the others to the back of the old school building. I have my own guilt, so I’ll swallow my pride as retribution. For now, I want peaceful negotiations.’
I deliberately played it down because I didn’t want to provoke her.
From here on, no violence, no threats, no coercion.
I intended to resolve this purely through discussion and proposals, so I sent a message deliberately worded to be almost overly polite to make that clear.
Honestly, I don’t feel guilty at all, but I wrote it that way, humbling myself with “I was wrong too, you know~,” to avoid over-exciting he.
Those guys are untouchable right now.
You never know what someone like that might do, so it’s best not to provoke them.
Well then, it’s finally time to move into action.
Before leaving the classroom, I deliberately muttered to myself loudly enough for Shinori to hear.
“Ugh, Kato Ami called me out for the first time in ages. Wonder what she wants…”
Pretty terrible acting, but hey, that’s part of the charm.
I confirmed Shinori staring at me in shock over my shoulder, then walked straight out.
…My prediction was that this alone would make Shinori follow me.
The plan I’m about to execute needs Shinori to see it, so I’m luring her this way.
Sure enough, I felt an intense gaze and presence following me from behind.
This aura is definitely Shinori’s.
There’s no way I’d mistake such an ominous presence.
Also, obviously, I’ve already contacted the other party involved, Yukimi.
I told her about the plan, and she’ll make time to come see it.
Feeling relieved as the stage was set, I headed for my destination.
◇
It had been since the Shinori pencil case incident that I’d visited the abandoned school building.
How ironic that I’d end up going there to face the same opponent again. Was this fate?
Hayase and Ami were already gathered.
Their gazes instantly focused on me.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Hmph. …You didn’t tell the police, did you?”
“Of course not. I didn’t whine to Senpai either, so relax.”
“…Oh, okay.”
Ami asked cautiously.
She must have been really worried; she was unusually subdued.
But there was no point in dragging this out.
This wasn’t a podium for me to give speeches.
I shifted my gaze to the guy I’d stationed here beforehand.
Just as planned, he’d arrived before me.
The window of the abandoned school building swung wide open, and a male student appeared through it, looking sharp.
The sudden appearance from behind made the girls’ eyes widen in shock.
“Long time no see, Kato-san.”
“…Akito?”
Ignoring the emotional reunion between former classmates from just a month ago, I quickly scanned the surroundings.
A place like this wouldn’t have many people around, but I still spotted two figures.
One was Shinori, who had been following me all along.
She stared at me, clearly confused about what was happening.
And then, standing apart in the shade of a tree, Yukimi with her composed expression.
Just as planned, it seemed I’d successfully guided both of them to the viewing area.
Finally, all the players were here.
When I urged him with my gaze, Akito nodded.
“Hey, let’s stop this already.”
Akito began speaking, as if to cut through the heavy atmosphere.
Ami interrupted, sounding surprised.
“Huh? What does this have to do with you, Akito?”
“It does. Hanesaki-san and Kyota… You’ve hurt two important friends twice now. Of course I’m angry.”
“N-no. I mean, why are you…”
“I happened to run into Kyota covered in blood on Friday. That’s where I heard the story.”
Akito stated the facts matter-of-factly.
That he’d met with me and was hiding him.
That he’d heard everything that had happened so far, starting with the Shinori incident, from me.
He laid out all the information he had, then proceeded to condemn them.
“What you two are doing is undeniably criminal.”
“……”
Unlike me, Akito and Aimi apparently had at least minimal acquaintance and interaction.
Thanks to that, they did listen.
It was a world of difference from when it was my turn.
Though, I could see this situation coming.
After all, Akito is the protagonist.
I don’t know how much influence ‘Sakuchiru’ has in this world, which only depicts events surrounding Akito and those close to him. But when it comes to villains tied to the main scenario, it’s only natural Akito’s words would hit home.
That’s just how stories work.
And the plan was going smoothly.
First, appeal to their emotions to get them to listen.
I was the main planner, but seeing Ami and the others fall silent, I had to admit it was a huge success.
Then, Akito spoke again.
“Please, don’t pile on more guilt.”
“Hah! Don’t you dare joke around! What the hell do you know?! We’re being forced out of school by that guy!”
“Yeah! I didn’t do anything, but because of my brother, they even took my study abroad money! If you’re gonna say that, then Suga-kun should pay us back!”
Akito stared at the girls, who were starting to lose their temper, with a cold gaze.
It was the first time anyone had seen such clear contempt from the usually gentle Akiro.
“Isn’t the reason Kato-san got expelled because she destroyed someone else’s property and hurt their feelings? Blaming that on Kyota is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”
“Huh!?”
“And Hayase-san. You’re wrong too. Sure, you’re unlucky and pitiful. But that doesn’t give you the right to hurt Kyota, does it? The one you should hate isn’t Senpai or Kyota, but your own brother, right?”
The group glared at Akito in silence at his perfectly reasonable words.
It hit home, but there was no way they’d just repent and apologize over this alone.
But it was fine.
The real point was yet to come.
Akito surveyed the group, their fighting spirit still burning, and sighed.
“Haa… If you insist on continuing this, I have an idea.”
“――Huh!?”
As everyone simultaneously raised questioning looks, Akito pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.
Seeing it, Hayase gasped.
Because it was an application for overseas study.
The wrinkled paper, clearly crumpled up, politely bore her full name: ‘Hayase Mikoto’.
“Just… all of you… disappear overseas.”
The abrupt proposal silenced all noise in the room.
Dead still. Not even breathing could be heard.
As if reading the air, not a whisper of wind, not a sound of club practice—nothing.
Only utter silence spread.
Yes. This was my—our—goal.
No matter what punishment we dish out, those bastards will find ways to get revenge.
The only option left? Killing them.
But is that really okay?
Sure, they bullied Shinori, tried to ruin Yukimi’s life, and even tried to stab me with a knife.
But they’re still human beings.
I told Yukimi.
Even the scum have human rights, and no one has the right to take the law into their own hands.
I heard it from Shinori.
That living with your eyes forward, without thinking of revenge, is what makes life enjoyable.
—Then, responding to that is what being a man is all about.
“Hayase-san, why did you withdraw this application you submitted a month ago?”
“Um, well…”
“You’ve already earned enough for the study abroad expenses, right? Sure, there might be shortfalls, but you should have enough saved to submit the application.”
“…”
“So why did you give up?”
Asked this, Hayase stammered.
He glanced around, clearly checking Ami’s expression.
At that moment, I chuckled softly.
…I won.
The next instant, Hayase’s face flushed bright red as she shouted.
“Th-that’s because! Ami-chan said that if I helped lure Toyono-kun out, Senpai would take ransom money from him and share it with me! And she told me not to go abroad until the plan succeeded!”
“Hey, Hayase! Don’t lie!”
“It’s not a lie!? You’re the one who kept giving me orders! You knew I was struggling financially and couldn’t refuse!”
It seemed the dam had finally burst, and they’d started turning on each other.
Ami was speechless as Hayase poured out her accusations like a floodgate had opened.
Almost simultaneously, her entourage started lashing out too.
“W-wait, I didn’t mean it either!”
“Yeah, yeah! A-chan just decided on her own to get back at Toyono-kun!”
“Exactly!? I didn’t want to do this either, honestly!”
“I mean, aren’t we just victims who got dragged into this!?”
It was exactly the same scene she’d seen before.
Yes, this was precisely why the plan had been devised.
These were the same people who had tried to abandon Ami so easily during the pencil case incident.
It was obvious they’d swing over to her side if she just showed a little sympathy.
Ami stood frozen, speechless and stunned.
Right now, she was probably facing the most dire adversity.
Betrayed by those she thought were allies, the plan exposed, she had nothing left to rely on.
And the fact that she’d drawn a knife on me clearly made this a criminal incident.
She had nowhere to run.
Honestly, it served her right.
Killing someone like her would be a waste.
Ignoring Ami’s despair, Akito looked around and shook his head.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course everyone’s at fault. …But precisely because of that, it’s fine now. All of you, just get out of this country.”
Even if it’s called studying abroad, it’s short-term.
With this plan, it’s at most about a month.
But still, it should be just the right amount of time to cool off.
Besides, there should be no reason left for them to bother with us anymore.
Hayase got to go study abroad as she wished, so she has no reason left to follow Ami.
As for Ami, she’s probably had enough by now.
She’s still crying, her legs trembling, and unlike last time, there’s no fighting spirit in her eyes.
And she’s technically gotten her revenge on me.
She even stabbed me in the arm.
Honestly, I’d be worried if she wasn’t satisfied by now.
“But… but…”
“If it’s overseas, you guys can’t do anything to us, and we can’t do anything to you either. No, we won’t do anything. Of course, that goes for Senpai too.”
“…”
“It should be a win-win for both sides. What’s the problem?”
“Hayase is one thing, but us going abroad for study? That’s no joke…”
“Is it really such a bad proposal? We’re letting everyone off the hook for past sins and even giving you the chance for language training. Besides, if we all go together, you won’t be lonely, right?”
As he spoke, Akito pulled out five new sheets of paper.
These were the application forms you could print from the internet.
“I prepared them for everyone. Here, take them.”
As long as it doesn’t escalate to police involvement, the Shichikajo family won’t get involved behind the scenes.
Our personal revenge is physically impossible anyway. Aside from the cost, it’s practically a dream come true.
And above all, this time it’s not a threat or anything like that.
It’s just a proposal.
Akito was simply offering a compromise for a peaceful resolution.
“…Alright. I’ll write it.”
“Ah, but shouldn’t we apologize to Kyota first?”
As the discussion neared its conclusion, Akito spoke up.
This was a development I hadn’t factored into my plan, so I was stunned.
However, the group, now fully in a mood of surrender, bowed their heads to me one by one.
Among them, Hayase said apologetically to me.
“Toyono-kun, um… I’m sorry. I’ll cover the medical bills.”
“You’re an idiot. You’re broke, yet you go and cause an incident that racks up expenses?”
“…I’m really sorry.”
“And it’s fine, really. Money doesn’t matter. Instead…”
“――Hii!”
I took off my blazer and exposed the wound.
The shocking sight made Hayase gasp, tears streaming down her face.
Right now, inside her chest, the regret of having done something irreversible and the stark memory of having stabbed someone with a knife must be etched vividly.
This is a kind of trauma.
I said I didn’t intend to punish her specifically, but this one will live out her days consumed by guilt towards me and self-loathing for her past actions.
In a way, it’s a punishment that will haunt her soul more than any revenge ever could.
“Don’t forget what it means to hurt someone.”
“…Ugh. Y-yes.”
Hayase sobbed uncontrollably.
Even if she was manipulated by Ami, stabbing someone and getting off scot-free is a bit much.
For the others, exile would be a significant punishment, but for this one, it’s practically a reward.
And so, with all that, the final apology remains.
“…Sorry. And thanks.”
After apologizing, Ami mumbled this last bit.
She seemed to grasp that we’d resolved this with maximum leniency, being the only one to add thanks at the end.
For my part, I could only hope that “thanks” contained genuine gratitude.
This one must have learned her lesson, after all.
And so it went.
The girls headed back, application forms in hand.
Watching them, Akito gave me a look.
Like he was saying, “Good work.”
Exactly.
Anyway, it was over.
For a while now, I could live without any dangerous movements.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”
At this point, I finally let out the biggest sigh I’ve had this year.
Maiban
I guess that’s the safest one ever~?
I was thinking of them “disappearing into the mariana trench with their feet on a bucket of concrete”~