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
The video Shinori brought out looked familiar.
Or rather, the people in it were none other than me and a certain man.
“Didn’t I tell you before? To stay away from Aoiko Kijima. Those weren’t just words meant for that moment, you know?”
“…Hah, ha ha! Just because you know a little bit about me, do you really think you can talk big like that? If I tell the old man, he can get rid of someone like you anytime.”
“You mean he can get rid of me? Well, I guess that might be true.”
“Right?”
“But what if it wasn’t me? For example—what if the potential match for that old man’s favorite grandkid stepped in? Whose side do you think would take priority?”
It was a scene from the sports festival.
The entire sequence of the negotiation—when I went to the restroom, Chagiri accosted me, and the engagement was called off right then and there.
It had all been recorded in its entirety.
The angle looked like a hidden camera shot, but Chagiri’s problematic remarks were clearly captured along with his face.
It was the very trump card I’d been waiting for—right at that very moment.
Seeing Yukimi grinning “ufufu” as usual, I realized something.
This girl had known about the existence of this video from the very beginning.
On the day of our strategy meeting, she’d been unusually eager to bring Shinori along—and that was probably because she’d known about this in advance.
Shinori also said it well: “You’d be better off with me around, wouldn’t you?”
I never imagined she’d set this up…
Realizing he was now being held hostage by yet another weakness right here and now, Yuzo knew there was no way he could negotiate, and the composure vanished completely from his face.
“I’m sure I made it clear last time that I have no intention of getting engaged. Besides, the fact that Kayaya Chagiri was murdered should, in principle, be made public. Despite my insistence that it be kept under wraps, you’re merely trying to forcefully cover it up behind the scenes. Given that, isn’t it completely illogical for you to demand further concessions in exchange for meeting our conditions? —Or do you truly want to lose everything?”
“……”
Faced with Yukimi’s words, which felt like the final blow, Yuzo Sayama laughed in resignation.
This was a final ultimatum.
It was a declaration of hostility, signaling that the Shichikajo family could no longer overlook this any longer.
At that moment, Yukimi suddenly smiled and turned her gaze toward us.
Yuzo nodded in agreement and spoke up.
“—Could I perhaps speak with Yukimi san alone for a moment?”
Hearing this, I hesitated for a moment.
I was worried—was it really safe to leave this man alone with Yukimi in this situation?
However, noticing my hesitation, Yukimi smiled.
“That’s true. It’s getting late. Let’s have my family see the three of you home.”
“…Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yes, nothing’s going to happen at this point. Besides, if anything were to happen to me, it would cause a scandal far worse than this one, and everything would truly fall apart.”
“Well, you’re right.”
If Yukimi says so, then I suppose it’s fine.
And so, we left the shop.
◇
“What a hassle. This is what happens when you mix in the blood of fools.”
For Yukimi, who remained behind alone, it was clear that Yuzo’s words were referring to her younger sister’s elopement with Yota Chagiri.
However, it was no longer any of Yukimi’s business.
“So you’ll accept all the conditions, then?”
“Ah, yeah. I couldn’t stand up to that kind of threat. Anyway, from the moment they presented me with the evidence, there was nothing I could do.”
“Hehe, for someone who says that, you were trying to talk Kyota into giving in right up until the very end.”
“Hahaha, that guy’s hopeless. He was really struggling just because I put up a little resistance. Besides, even if they have the upper hand, threatening us so aggressively is a bad move. …He should worry a little more about his own safety.”
“!? ——But I wonder. Probably… no, never mind.”
This time, Yukimi had been told everything Kyota planned to do.
He wanted to use the news about Chagiri to divert even a little of the hate directed at Ouka’s scandal.
That’s why he wanted to negotiate that matter as well.
She’d heard the whole plan, and since she thought they had the upper hand, she agreed.
Besides, Shinori had shown her that video beforehand.
It was the day Chagiri’s death was discovered, when Kyota had fainted.
Shinori had naturally rushed to his side when he collapsed, and that was when she’d told her about the video’s existence.
[Actually, um, I accidentally ended up recording this video the other day, but is this…?]
[..You know, going from stalking to secret filming—that’s really no joke, is it?]
[N-no, that’s not it! I just happened to see them, and since Chagiri-kun went into the bushes with him, I was worried he might be getting attacked, so I just filmed it.]
[Even so, this video looks like it could come in handy.]
[…?]
From that moment on, Yukimi had already run through every possible scenario in her head.
She was certain of victory.
However, seeing Kyota today made her revise her assessment slightly.
Yukimi had a vague sense that there might still be some foreshadowing she’d overlooked.
While she sometimes thought he was foolish, she didn’t believe he was reckless enough to provoke his opponent for no reason.
That said, for now, it was still just a suspicion in Yukimi’s mind, and naturally, Yuzo Sayama was also puzzled.
“As for this matter, the Shichikajo family has no reason to make it public.”
“That makes sense. Just as we need you, it’s probably useful for you to maintain a connection to the Sayama name.”
Yuzo lit a cigarette and smiled defiantly.
“Still, I didn’t expect you to bring a friend along. Your demeanor seems to have changed quite a bit over the past few months.”
“……I apologize.”
She realized it herself.
It was all that man’s fault.
The root of the problem was the presence of that cheeky younger male colleague who had changed Yukimi’s life—for better or worse—and kept lecturing her with preachy lines in an attempt to twist her convictions.
But Yukimi didn’t find that change unpleasant.
If anything, a smile slipped onto her face naturally.
“About the marriage proposal—are you seriously going to call it off?”
“I’ve already settled that with my parents. I expect I’ll be making a formal announcement soon.”
“…I suppose that’s how it’s going to be. From my perspective, that’s not very pleasant.”
It hadn’t been easy for Yukimi to turn down this marriage proposal either.
For the Shichikajo family, the connection between these two families was, of course, crucial.
To force the issue solely because of the whims of a single girl named Yukimi would have been, frankly, reckless.
But she pulled it off.
Since she had always been doted on more than any of her siblings, her parents were willing to listen to her—that was a major factor. After negotiating directly with her parents, she managed to secure an agreement on the condition that she herself would take the lead in maintaining relations with the Sayama family.
With that, Yuzo exhaled a thick plume of smoke and fixed her with an icy stare.
“By the way, about Yota Chagiri…”
“?!”
As the conversation turned to that scumbag whom the Shichikajo family had bribed behind the scenes to switch sides, Yukumi’s face tensed.
“For now, I won’t mention the actions your family took to get him under your control.”
“……What do you mean?”
“How about we handle it this way? Since our engagement is off, there’s no need for us to interfere with each other anymore. That’s why exchanging information through Yota Chagiri no longer benefits either family. From our perspective—having been betrayed—it would be better if that guy were already dead.”
“……”
“So, I’ll hand him over to you. Do with him as you please—boil him, roast him, whatever.”
It was a hostage negotiation.
To the Sayama family, he was someone they could do without.
However, to the Shichikajo family, he was considered a relative of the Sayama family.
To simply eliminate him without cause would certainly cause a rift.
For that reason, the Shichikajo family couldn’t take action either.
As long as he was alive, the connection between the two families would be maintained.
Now that the marriage talks had fallen through, he had become the perfect bridge for both families, who were eager to strengthen their ties.
“Haa… A talented woman as beautiful as you—I would have loved to welcome you as my son’s bride, regardless of your family background.”
“I’m flattered. …But still.”
Yukimi then glanced at the seat next to her, which had suddenly felt utterly empty.
Recalling how he had been sitting there just moments ago, she let a gentle smile flit across her face.
With that same expression—one she wouldn’t have shown to anyone until just last month—she declared:
“I’m sorry. I’ve fallen in love with someone else.”
That man is sharp, mature, and a master strategist.
But he also has many flaws and is rather reckless.
If no one supports him, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to break down at any moment, anywhere.
And that suspicion turned into certainty just the other day, when I touched upon his true vulnerability.
Because that day, in the nurse’s office, I witnessed his mask crumbling right before my eyes.
Yukimi smiles at the vulnerability that only she knows.
Yes, having touched upon his true nature—one even his childhood friend doesn’t know.
——Is it wrong for me to want to be by his side?
Lately, I’ve been dismayed by how increasingly mundane my own sensibilities are becoming.
But somehow, I find that side of myself even more endearing than ever before.
Yuzo couldn’t help but give a wry smile at Yukimi, who was flashing a shy, teenage-like smile he’d never seen before.
―◇―
[Yukimi Shichikajo]
Affection for Akito: 30% (→)
Affection for Kyota: 100% (♡)
Maiban