Episode 7 – The Doomed Heroine Laughs

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

By the time I finished my errand, the sun was already setting.

Still, I’d only completed one task for now. Next, I had to work on my alibi and scheme to transfer the credit for this.

In the original story, the flag is set when Akito finds the pencil case and returns it to Shinori.

Right then.

Enough meddling with the scenario. Let’s get back on the predetermined path for now.

I found it, but I’ll have Akito return it as per the original story.

Fortunately, neither Shinori nor Akito were still at school, and they were even moving separately.

At the very least, they won’t know I’ve been secretly dismantling the bullying behind the scenes.

The only problem is how I’ll hand Akito the pencil case while obscuring my own involvement.

Looks like I’ll need to devise another plan.

Or so I was leisurely pondering…

…when I suddenly realized there was another problem entirely.

Cold sweat broke out as I gripped my phone.

“…I’ve screwed up.”

On the way from the entrance to the school gate, I slumped my head.

I’d realized there was a flaw in my earlier plan.

Namely… the scope of the recording.

When cornering Ami and the others, I’d left the recording running the entire time.

Because of that, my own words were recorded too.

The problem was what I said then.

I threatened to upload the footage online and pressured them to transfer schools.

By any standard, this was blackmail or coercion.

“My weaknesses are probably clearly captured too… What the hell was I thinking?”

I’d taunted them with such confidence, but there was no way I could release this footage.

With this content, I’d likely face some serious consequences myself.

I thought I’d turned off the recording when I stormed into the classroom.

What a complete idiot I am.

Just as I was lamenting like that…

“Why so down?”
“Huh?”

A voice that shouldn’t have been audible reached my ears, making me stop in my tracks.

I looked up from my phone to find someone who shouldn’t have been there standing right in front of me.

It was Hanesaki Shinori

When Shinori noticed me, she grinned and approached.

“Such a gloomy face.”

“Well, um… more importantly, why are you here?”

It was already past 6 PM.

I’d seen her leave the classroom with her things about an hour ago.

So why? As I stood there confused, Shinori laughed.

“I lost my pencil case and was looking for it. It wasn’t in the classroom, so I was combing through places like the staff room and the gym.”

“…Seriously?”

“So, what were you doing?”

Her question made me panic.

I couldn’t tell her.

She absolutely couldn’t know I’d been secretly working behind the scenes to stop Azunori’s bullying until just now.

And at the same time, she couldn’t know I had her pencil case.

“Just some errands.”

“Hmm. Errands that required bringing out a smartphone, which is banned on school grounds.”

“Ah, no, this is—”

“What are you looking at? Hey!”

“Hey, wait— whoa!”

Shinorireached out playfully.
Trying to dodge her, I messed up.
What do I do?
My hands slipped because I panicked.
Because of that, I dropped the phone.

“Ugh, what are you doing?”
“Wait, that’s—”

“…What’s this video?”

By the time I panicked, it was already too late.

As Shinori crouched down to pick up the phone, she witnessed the incriminating footage I’d just recorded.

There was no stopping her now. All I could do was stand frozen.

Several minutes passed.

The recording of our earlier exchange echoed through the deserted school gate.

Shinori returned the phone after watching everything.

“S-sorry for acting on my own. I just thought…”

“No, that’s fine.”

It wasn’t Shinori’s fault.
She’d just gotten caught up in the moment.
I was the one who overreacted out of guilt.

Time froze because of this worst-case scenario.

What was Shinorithinking now?

A long, silent interval descended upon us.

“…”
“…”
“…Actually, you’re quite the fighter, huh?”

Just as I couldn’t bear the silence anymore, she spoke.
I thought she might be shocked, but Shinorisaid that.

“Huh?”

“You were protecting me, huh? But now I can’t tell who the bad guy is.”

“Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

“Heh heh, ahaha. You went out of your way to do this for me?”

“…Doesn’t it hurt?”

I blurted it out and immediately regretted it.

But Shinori just gave a wry smile.

“Sure, it sucks, but honestly, I’m more freaked out by how driven you are.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I knew it, but hearing it from the person involved really hit home.

Had I gone too far after all?

But looking closely, Shinori seemed to be enjoying my reaction as usual.

“Just kidding. I’m grateful. I’m freaked out in a good way.”

“Adding ‘in a good way’ doesn’t reverse the negative connotation, you know?”

“But I’m genuinely happy, so relax.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. You helping me quit school might’ve been a blessing in disguise. If I’d stayed in the same space as those people, who knows what I might’ve done.”

“Don’t say scary things.”

I didn’t know if she was serious, but when Shinori said it, it wasn’t funny.

Because this girl is a doomsday heroine who drags everyone down with her.

So, I apologized just in case.

“Sorry. Your pencil case got totally wrecked. You should go buy a new one with Akito sometime. Oh, I forgot to take the money, so I’ll cover it. I’ve got some allowance left over.”

“Huh? Oh… okay.”

From here on out, I have to leave it to him.

The guy Shinori likes is Suga Akito, so I’ll let her use this as an excuse to go on a date with him.

Or rather, I have to make sure she does.

“He’ll definitely not refuse, and I think he’ll keep helping you out in the future. Oh, and me too, of course.”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you getting so involved?”

Shinori suddenly asked in a low tone, and I hesitated.

I wasn’t sure how to answer.

But there was no point in pretending.

“Because I like seeing you smile. …So, if you ever need help, I want you to rely on me. I’ll do my best to help. I’m watching you.”

It was the truth.

Right now, these words held no ulterior motive like ‘Let’s just butter her up and get her together with Akito.’

I said it purely as a childhood friend.

At that, Shinori’s expression, which had been blankly staring at me, broke.

“—Huh? Ahaha! What was that? Am I getting counseling right now?”

“Huh?”

The momentary serious mood dissipated instantly.

Shinori started laughing like a dam had burst.

She then slapped my shoulder.

With surprising strength, it thudded hard against my bone and muscle.

“Seriously, you worry too much.”

“It, it hurts.”

“It’s because you say weird things, Toyono-kun! Ugh, stop making me laugh. I was actually feeling pretty down.”

“If you were down, wouldn’t laughing make you happier?”

I didn’t quite get it, but she seemed to find it funny.

Anyway, seeing her laugh pulled a smile out of me too.

“Haa… Thanks.”

“No, uh. Yeah.”

“Hehe… ‘You really did something big to my childhood friend.’”

“Hey, don’t copy me.”

“No way. I was just happy.”

“Oh, really?”

“You were so serious. ‘To my childhood friend!’”

“Stop repeating it. And my voice isn’t weird.”

“Ugh, worst. Okay, non-delicacy again.”

“Say whatever you want.”

“Non-deli non-deli deli deli non-deli~. …Huh, ahaha!”

The road in front of the academy, slightly dirty with fallen cherry blossoms.

I gave a wry smile at Azunori, who was laughing heartily.

―◇―

【HANEASKI SHINORI】

Affection for Akito: 80% (→)

Affection for Kyota: ?% (↑↑↑)

Maiban

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