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
I finally told Akito and Ujiya everything.
Now that it’s come to this, there’s no turning back.
From this moment on, I’m going to stake everything on stopping Chagiri’s next attack.
However, if there’s one problem, it’s Shinori.
She’s the only one left who doesn’t know what’s going on.
She said she didn’t want to get dragged into this, but I can’t really keep saying that anymore.
Or rather, keeping this a secret from her alone in this situation would be dishonest, and given Shinori’s personality, that would probably hurt her more.
Earlier, when I ran into Kisa, I told her what I’d discussed with the two of them.
She gave a wry smile and agreed.
In fact, she even told me I’d waited too long to tell her.
But what’s on my mind is what she said next.
“Well then, I guess I’ll have to tell Shorin, too.”
It seems keeping it a secret had been hard on her as well.
That said, given the circumstances, we’re reaching the point where it’s becoming impossible to continue our relationship while keeping everything hidden.
I’ll have to steel myself, too.
Meanwhile, the sports festival continues.
“Your class is really strong, isn’t it?”
“Thank you.”
“You guys are pretty good.”
In the gym, I was being showered with praise by a girl who was pretending to be a plain, shy loner.
We’d just finished our first match, and we’d won by a landslide.
In tournaments like this, where club members and experienced players don’t get in the way, the team with the most athletically gifted guys usually wins. So, as long as we’ve got a lineup like me and Ujiya, we’re honestly unbeatable.
That said, I’m not really in the right frame of mind to be enjoying a game of ball right now.
“Still, you’re really spacing out. Your eyes were rolled back, weren’t they?”
“Ah, it’s a common glitch—just ignore it.”
Before she spoke to me, my brain was so exhausted that I’d zoned out—that must be why.
I’m so numb to Shinori’s constant pointed remarks by now.
Just then, right next to me, Ouka fanned herself at her chest.
“I mean, this is getting annoying. I’m sweating, and my hair’s in the way.”
“Just take off your mask and get your bangs trimmed.”
“Then everyone would find out I’m a model.”
“Well, then just give it up.”
“…You should try to enjoy the conversation a little more.”
I’d been responding on autopilot, and before I knew it, Ouka looked annoyed.
Since that day we went out, I’d been intentionally avoiding her, so come to think of it, it had been a while.
Even though Shinori’s glare was scary, I guess I might have been a bit harsh.
I smiled and spoke up.
“Come to think of it, didn’t your dad get mad at you for coming home so late that day?”
“…He did give me a little lecture.”
“See? I told you it was the right call not to come home in the morning.”
“Dad’s just overprotective.”
“No, I think that’s a perfectly normal reaction.”
Ouka said this with a sour expression, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her father.
I mean, it’s only natural to worry when your adorable daughter is out on the town like that.
Just then, Ouka lowered her voice a notch and murmured thoughtfully.
“I have a photo shoot this Saturday, too.”
“You’re so busy. Another magazine?”
“Yeah. The kind they post on social media, too. …Anyway, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Hm?”
Before I knew it, Ouka had closed the distance and was leaning against me.
Along with a hint of warm air, the strong scent of fabric softener—or something like that—touched my nose.
At that moment, her gentle body heat and softness seeped into me.
“You haven’t been looking at anything weird on social media, have you?”
“……”
I was about to tell her to back off, but I froze instantly.
Her words had left my mind completely blank.
This girl… no way.
I asked tentatively.
“You… are you maybe getting into comment wars with haters on a secret account?”
“Huh!? W-why did you—no, wait! I-I’m not doing anything like that!”
“For someone who isn’t, your reaction is pretty strange, young lady.”
Seeing Ouka’s reaction, I was certain.
It seems that, while she hasn’t caused a major scandal yet, she’s apparently been getting into comment wars even in this timeline.
If that’s the case, is it just a matter of time before a major scandal breaks out?
Lately, I’ve been too distracted by the Chagiri situation, but normally, I’d be swamped handling Ouka’s events this month.
After hesitating over what to do, I decided to give her a warning for now.
“Don’t accidentally post anything from your main account.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I haven’t even been doing that lately anyway.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
Ouka admitted she’d been casually engaging in online arguments.
However, as if it didn’t matter at all, she flashed a smile as bright as a blooming flower.
“Hmm… I mean, right. I see. Got it!”
“Huh?”
I felt like our conversation wasn’t clicking, and I was confused.
Yet, even though things were still all over the place, Ouka laughed as if she were somehow relieved.
What’s going on?
This is kind of scary.
Did I pick the wrong option again?
I can’t make heads or tails of this situation at all.
Ignoring my confusion, Ouka stood up and moved away from me.
Then she declared proudly,
“I’m going to a match right now, so don’t watch.”
“Why?”
“It’s obvious—I’m terrible at it. It’s embarrassing.”
“I actually think girls who aren’t good at sports are cute, though.”
Precisely because I know she works as a cool model on the side, I feel like that contrast is kind of nice.
However, at my words, Ouka’s face turned bright red as she glared at me.
“W-What do you mean by that!?”
“Nah, nothing really—just what I said.”
“C-c-c-cute? That’s not what I—Buh!”
Just as Ouka was about to say something, a ball that had accidentally flown off the court hit her squarely in the face.
Her beautiful face, hidden by her mask and bangs, contorted with tremendous force.
As she collapsed to the ground with a thud, I peered down at her while returning the ball to the court.
“…A-are you okay?”
“…Is that something you say with a half-smile?”
Seeing the beautiful girl crouching there—an inauspicious start—made me worry.
But I also found it slightly amusing.
My heart, which had been worn down by a string of troubles, recovered just a little thanks to this heroine who was, as always, a total mess.
◇
The problem arose after that.
During the break between matches, I’d popped out onto the field to check on things.
I went into the restroom due to a sudden urge to urinate, and that’s when he showed up.
The moment I stood in front of the urinal to relieve myself, I froze at a presence behind me.
Before I could go, I just stayed on guard and watched to see what was going on.
Given my experience of being stabbed by surprise last time, I certainly wasn’t about to expose myself defenselessly with an enemy behind me.
But since he just stood there behind me without saying a word, I had no choice but to turn around.
Sure enough, there stood Kayaya Chagiri.
Flanking him on either side were two boys who looked like first-year soccer club members.
After clearly confirming it was me, they started doing their business as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
—So they’re not planning to beat me up after all?
I’d assumed they’d come to beat me up using sheer numbers, so this was a bit of a letdown.
They finished up and walked right out of the restroom.
After watching them go, I was about to do my business myself—but stopped again.
Apparently, the conversation was about to begin.
Just when I thought he’d left for good, Chagiri parted ways with his friends and came back alone.
He looked at me and tilted his head.
“What have you been doing all this time?”
“I’m holding it in because I’d be in trouble if you suddenly attacked me from behind.”
“Nah, even I wouldn’t go for someone who’s peeing from behind. That’s gross.”
“…Fine, then.”
To be honest, I was at my limit, so I took him up on his offer and went.
Amid the tense atmosphere, I finished quickly.
It was the first time I’d ever had to be so on guard just to take a leak.
As I was washing my hands, Chagiri spoke up.
“Hey, how do you know about my family?”
“……What are you talking about?”
I knew it all along, but it seemed she was still hung up on something I’d said the other day.
Chagiri looked confused, and if anything, she seemed a bit more subdued than usual.
Though, she still doesn’t seem to know how to use honorifics.
Well, I guess that’s only natural.
Why would a background character like me know top-secret information about a family that’s completely hidden from society? Of course she’d be wary.
Even an idiot who plays around with women as he pleases seems capable of that much risk management.
Since she doesn’t know how much I actually know, she can’t afford to dig her own grave—she’s probably just unsure of how much to reveal.
Judging by the way he’s stumbling over his words, that’s exactly how it looks.
I’m relieved.
Just seeing this reaction confirms that the warning I gave him the other day was indeed effective.
“You haven’t laid a finger on Aoiko Kijima since then, have you?”
After coming out of the restroom, I ask him.
We’re in a spot a short distance from the public restroom—a thicket-like area where people don’t usually go.
He scratched the side of his head and glared at me.
“It’s not like you have any right to stop me, is it? It’s my business who I go after, right?”
“As long as you’re not planning to pursue a legitimate romantic relationship.”
If this guy were seriously in love with Aoko, that wouldn’t be a reason to stop him.
But that’s not the case.
And he has a history.
“But that’s not what you’re about, is it? Pouncing on women without consent just to satisfy your sexual urges is a whole different story. And use polite language.”
It’s a strange situation—me, who holds his weakness, speaking down to him.
When I pointed that out, he snorted derisively.
For someone who was so scared he came to talk to me like this, he doesn’t seem to understand his place.
…Or so I thought, but maybe not.
I noticed that Chagiri’s legs were trembling ever so slightly.
I couldn’t imagine his knees buckling over something as trivial as a recreational ball game—ah, so that’s what it is.
It seems he’s steeled himself as best he can and is putting on a brave front.
Well, what a pitiful guy.
Just as I was thinking that, Chagiri spoke up.
“But you’re the one showing off by having girls fawn over you, aren’t you? Isn’t that the same as hanging out with someone you have no intention of actually dating?”
“……”
That was, quite frankly, a completely baseless and offensive accusation.
And it would be easy to deny.
I don’t actually want that—they’re just coming on to me of their own accord.
But there was no way in hell I could say that out loud.
Why?
Simply put, because it’s just gross.
Saying something like, “I’m in a bind because women keep coming up to me…” is just too much.
These days, even if a light novel protagonist said something like that, it’d be a total turn-off.
Even if that were my true feelings, I couldn’t bring myself to make a remark that made me sound like some “oh, here we go again” type of protagonist.
Precisely because I’m an otaku, that kind of remark is an absolute landmine.
Plus, if I ever said something like that out loud, I’d probably be mocked for the rest of my life by this worthless junior as a “delusional, super-creepy otaku.”
I want to avoid being looked down on any further by this guy, because it would just weaken the effectiveness of my deterrence.
So, what should I say?
I was thinking about that when—
Suddenly, Chagiri wrapped his arm around me, and I reflexively tried to brush him off.
But—
“So, now for the main point, Senpai.”
Chagiri—who was calling me “Senpai” for the first time—leaned in close and flashed a wicked grin.
Then, without pause, he continued.
he said—
“…If you’re going to put it that way, I’ll let you join in too, Senpai.”
“—Huh?”
The moment I heard those unexpected words,
all the tension drained from my body—I’d been on high alert, ready to fend him off and pin him down at any moment.
Maiban