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
Several days passed since then, and Monday, April 21st, the start of a new week, arrived.
For now, I’m still alive and kicking today.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened during this period, but needless to say, it was mentally exhausting.
Since then, Shinori and I have become close enough to chat several times a day.
Mostly I just listen to her gushing about Akito or complaining about him, but if that’s what it takes to gauge her feelings, it’s a small price to pay.
It seems they went on a date together on Sunday, so things are progressing exactly as I planned (and as per the original scenario).
Incidentally, when I asked her for details about the date via chat, she dodged the question.
After her usual irritatingly sarcastic remark, she said it was a ‘secret’.
For me, this is vital information concerning life and death, so it’s no laughing matter, but Shinori has no way of knowing that.
Still, judging by her unchanged giddy state, I suppose I can consider it a success.
That’s the current situation, but right now I’m watching the awards ceremony in the gym.
“Soccer Club Captain, Saruwatari Daichi kun. Congratulations on winning the Spring Tournament!”
“Thank you very much!”
Some guy I don’t know is up on stage receiving some kind of award, but I don’t really get it.
Even if it’s the world of an eroge, it’s still real for us, so naturally, everyday life just flows along normally.
Even characters who appeared as mobs in the game have names, backgrounds, and distinctive appearances.
The fact that the prime example of this is my very existence is a bit complicated.
As I pondered this, the atmosphere in the gymnasium suddenly shifted.
It happened precisely as the next awardee’s name was called.
“Next, the award for the painting competition. Art Club, Shichikajo Yukimi san.”
The girl called to the stage had long silver hair.
Just watching her walk was breathtaking—her movements were so refined.
And the glimpse of her profile was startlingly pale, almost doll-like, yet her perfectly defined facial contours were striking.
She was a third-year senior, but I knew her well.
Shichikajo Yukimi.
She was, without a doubt, one of the heroines to be conquered in ‘Sakuchiru’.
The daughter of the Shichikajo conglomerate, a spoiled rich girl with a capital ‘S’.
As you could guess from her haughty, aloof attitude visible even from a distance, she was quite the high-and-mighty type.
Among students at the same school, she was admired to the point of being envied, bordering on being resented.
People say things like, “She might be pretty, but we’d rather not deal with her.”
But think about it.
She was originally an eroge heroine.
In other words, she was marketed to a diverse otaku audience with varied tastes.
She enjoyed immense popularity among certain segments.
Her reward scenes featured many “making you understand” situations, hooking countless people.
Her constant condescending tone stirred masochistic desires in some otaku while fanning sadistic urges in others—a pandemonium of chaos.
Yukimi is a heroine who won over two types of abnormal otaku!
…Huh? Me?
I’m normal, so I’m different.
…No, seriously, I swear?
Joking aside.
The entire student body started whispering and reacting as they saw Yukimi.
I was also staring blankly at Yukimi’s back when someone nudged my shoulder from beside me.
“Shichikajo-senpai is amazing, huh?”
“Ah, yeah…”
“Apparently, this is her third consecutive win at the same competition.”
The one whispering this to me was Suga Akito.
Somehow, after that incident, I’d ended up becoming pretty close with Akito too.
“Anyway, did you enjoy your date yesterday?”
Since I finally had a chance to talk, I asked him right away.
Akito gave a wry smile.
“It wasn’t a date. We just ate dinner and I tagged along for a bit of shopping.”
“That’s what people generally call a date.”
“Well, whatever it was, it’s all thanks to you, Kyota!”
“Nah, I’m relieved too.”
“?”
Akito tilted his head.
It wasn’t surprising he didn’t get it.
It was my story, after all.
I silently pumped my fist in my mind, celebrating alone.
The schedule I just heard—dinner followed by shopping—actually matched the game’s scenario flow perfectly.
In short, proof the date event progressed flawlessly.
Honestly, I’d been sweating bullets inside.
Even if I’d managed to set up the date as planned, I’d only forcibly corrected it after it started heading toward a bad ending.
The actual date event that followed might differ from the original.
If that happened, all my efforts would be for nothing.
But hearing from Akito wiped away that anxiety.
It seems I really did set the flag for the Shinori route.
Yesterday, I was so anxious I considered following her, but it was just worry for nothing.
Incidentally, I had things to do yesterday too, so I couldn’t waste time on pointless actions.
And that task was, quite simply, preparing for the next event.
Monday, April 21st.
Today, Hanesaki Shinori’s pencil case will be stolen.
The culprits are the usual bullying group, and this incident could become the decisive turning point.
she will be flustered by the sudden loss, but she’ll quickly realize intuitively.
It wasn’t mere forgetfulness, but someone’s deliberate act of harassment.
In the original story, Akito searches until after school, finally finding it in an abandoned classroom at night.
He brings back the battered pencil case and cleans it thoroughly with all his might.
The next day, he gives it back to her, completing the mission.
Shinori is moved that Akito acted for her sake and invites him on another date.
Agreeing to this maxes out her affection.
After that, just go with the flow and you’ll automatically enter the Shinori route.
…But.
“Shicikajo-senpai, she’s still incredibly popular, huh?”
Is it just me getting a bad feeling seeing the protagonist staring blankly at another girl?
◇
After returning to the classroom, I stayed talking with Akito.
Since Shinori was away, it became a conversation between guys.
And then, it happened.
“Yo, Akito. Don’t forget today’s promise, yo.”
My attention was snatched away by the tall guy who came over to talk.
His name is Ujiya.
He’s one of those male characters who shows up quite a bit in the original work, the so-called friend role.
Ujiya casually slung his arm around Akito’s shoulder. I asked him.
“What’s up?”
“Oh? Ah, Toyono. Yeah, that’s it. I made plans to go see a movie after school today with him and some other friends.”
“――Huh?”
Ahead laughed
“Well, I canceled yesterday’s plans at the last minute, you see.”
“He originally planned to go to the movies with us, but he said he had a date with Hanesaki san, so I had no choice but to reschedule for him? So today, I’m making you pay me back for that.”
“I know.”
I felt the sound of their chatting voices gradually fade away.
Huh?
Akito was going out to play after school today…?
Was there such a development in the original story…?
But I realized immediately.
Because he canceled last minute, they had to reschedule.
That last-minute cancellation meant a date with Shinori that wasn’t supposed to be on the schedule.
And the one who forced it in was me.
Because of that, the scenario’s balance got thrown off, causing another event to pop up where Akito goes to see a movie after school today.
Fine, fine, going out to play is whatever.
But today is a problem.
Because what if Akito doesn’t find Shinori’s pencil case?
Feeling cold sweat seep under my armpits, I try suggesting something to Akito.
“Um… does it have to be today? Like, what about the weekend? The weather’s supposed to be nice.”
“Doesn’t the weather matter for a movie? Besides, it’s sunny today.”
“No, see, there’s this teaching passed down in my family for centuries. It says if you go see a movie on a Monday, you’ll get the urge to pee during the screening.”
“Eww, what is that? That’s just gross.”
“Right?”
“Hey, Akito—don’t take that seriously, okay?”
Ujiya gave a wry smile as he teased Akito, who was listening intently to my little story.
Then he turned to me.
“First off, ‘for hundreds of years’—movies only came around a few generations ago, right?”
“……”
“Also, cut me some slack. I’m not putting up with getting stood up twice, okay?”
“Ugh.”
He was right.
Besides, restricting Akito’s actions might cause new problems.
In fact, the current issue was caused by my own actions.
Damn it.
As I pondered this, both of them had left their seats.
Reluctantly returning to my seat, Shinori came back in from outside just then.
As soon as she sat down, she reached into her desk drawer… and her expression clouded over.
“Huh? Why?”
Shinori muttered as she rummaged through the drawer.
Her composure gradually faded from her face, and she started checking her bag and locker too.
But the pencil case she was looking for was nowhere to be found.
Well, of course not.
Because it was in the hands of a girl in the same class right now.
“Pfft, ahahaha!”
“Ugh, A-chan, you’re the worst!”
Seeing Shinori like this, a group of girls at the front of the classroom let out an especially loud burst of laughter.
I knew it.
Those laughing girls were the ringleaders.
They were reveling in tormenting Shinori, laughing so hard they were practically crying.
“……”
I silently returned my gaze to Shinori.
Then, as if she finally understood the situation, she gave up searching.
A vacant expression crossed her face, a faint smile escaping her half-open mouth.
“Ah, seriously… Is this really happening?”
It seemed the event had begun.
My intervention apparently didn’t change the protagonist’s actions at all.
The scenario was diligently progressing only in this one aspect…
Maiban