Mob Character Reincarnation Loner: As a Result of Supporting the Heroine Who Had Been Rejected, I Ended up Being the Recipient of Her Heavy Emotions…
โN-Nanase? Are you okayโฆ?โ
I called out to Nanase, who was crouched down.
She was hugging her knees in a sitting position, trembling slightly.
Why was she even here in the first placeโฆ?
I glanced around the classroom.
Tenma and Ichika didn’t seem to notice; they waved at me with smiles.
I awkwardly waved back and sat down beside Nanase.
โโฆDid youโฆ hear what we were talking about earlier?โ
When I cautiously asked, Nanase nodded her head.
โโฆLet’s get away from here for now. Can you stand?โ
When I asked, she nodded again. Avoiding looking at Nanase’s face as much as possible, I grabbed her hand and led her away.
We ended up aimlessly at the back of the gym.
At this hour, no clubs use it, so it’s usually empty.
โโฆMind if I sit next to you?โ
โโฆYeah.โ
Nanase sniffed back tears as she agreed, so I sat down beside her for now.
โฆIs it okay to ask why she’s crying? No, maybe I should ask?
โThanksโฆ for being on my side.โ
โโฆHuh?โ
โโฆI know it myself. I know the best thing would be for me to try hard and get back to how things were with the two of themโฆ But even so, you still put me firstโฆ That made me so happy, I just started crying.โ
Nanase smiled awkwardly.
That was why she’d been crying.
โโฆWhat do you want to do, Nanase?โ
โIโฆโ
She was still unsure. Nanase kept her head down, saying nothing.
The choice was asked again.
She must know painfully well that Ichika truly cherishes her.
For Nanase, Ichika was also a best friend, someone precious.
But at the same time, someone she’d have to be careful around from now on.
โI want to properly celebrate the two of you, and I’ll miss not being involved with Tenma and Hana-chan anymoreโฆ But I’m scared.โ
The situation between the two who started dating would change going forward. The ABCs of relationshipsโฆ all sorts of things.
If she wanted things to stay the same as beforeโฆ she’d have to accept all of that.
That’s incredibly tough for anyone. I know because I went through something similar.
When I found out the girl I liked started dating my friend and they had s*x, my brain felt shattered. I seriously ended up bedridden.
โโฆIf I say I want to go back to being friends with the twoโฆ you’ll support me, right?โ
โYeah, I’ll support you. More than ever before.โ
โR-rightโฆโ
When I stated that firmly, Nanase flushed and looked away. Then she drop her head like a wilted flower.
โI’m really happy you said thatโฆ But honestlyโฆ I’m not confident I can do it. Frankly, I think it might be impossible for me. Asking you to support me like thatโฆ It’s so selfish. I can’t say itโฆโ
She must care about me.
She’s thinking about that โwhat ifโ โ what if, after trying so hard, it still doesn’t work outโฆ
โIt’s okay.โ
โโฆHuh?โ
Nanase looked up, startled by my words.
โYou can be selfish with me.โ
I smiled at Nanase.
โIf you try your best and it still doesn’t work outโฆ I’ll hang out with you anytimeโat the cafe, on the phone, at the movies, whatever.โ
โโฆ!โ
Nanase stared at me, her face looking like she was about to cry.
โBesides, I’m not the only one on your side. Tsukimi-san and Serizawa-san are here tooโฆ It’ll be okay. No matter which path you choose, no matter the outcomeโฆ We won’t let you regret it.โ
I don’t think I alone can support Nanase. Nanase is there, Serizawa-san is there, Tsukimi-san is thereโฆ and I’m a little bit apart.
That’s Nanase’s place right now.
โThat’s how it is.โ
Huh!?
I hurriedly turned toward the sound.
There stood Tsukimi-san and Serizawa-san.
โHonestly, I think it might be better for you not to get involved with those two anymore. But that’s for you to decide, Hiyori. No matter which one you choose, no matter what happens, we’ll support youโฆ Because we’re on your side.โ
โSame hereโฆ After all, we’re on your side, boo.โ
โโฆHoshino, Mi-chan.โ
Tsukimi-san crossed her arms and Serizawa-san gave a peace sign. Then, they glanced over at me with expressions that seemed to find it amusing.
โฆUm, could you please stop messing with my lines anymore? It’s killing me with embarrassment.
โHiyori, just go for it. Go all out. Crush them until there’s not a speck left.โ
โEh, uh, yeah.โใ
โThen, let’s properly face the two of them. It’d be nice if we could make up by Hiyori’s birthday party.โ
โโฆYeah.โ
โIf we do make upโฆ should we invite Shindo and Ayabe-san to the birthday party too?โ
โYeahโฆโ
Watching Nanase and Serizawa-san’s conversation end on a positive note, I quietly slipped over next to Tsukimi-san and whispered in her ear.
โUm, why are you two here?โ
I asked casually, whispering in her ear.
โHiyori messaged me saying it was okay for me to leave first. I was worried and headed back to the classroom, but I spotted you two moving around and followed you. You were dragging around a crying Hiyori.โ
Tsukimi glared at me.
No good. That look was the gaze of someone whose important friend had been hurt.
โWait, hold on. Tsukimi-san, you’ve got the wrong idea. It’s true I was dragging her around, but the one who made Nanase-san cry was meโฆโ
โฆwas me. Yeah. I was the one who made her cry.
I turned away, trying to escape Tsukimi-san’s gaze.
Ah, stop it, don’t grab my tie, don’t pull it.
โโฆYou two over there, stop flirting and let’s go.โ
โWe’re not flirting!!โ
We both blurted out in unison at Serizawa-san’s words.
Why do Tsukimi-san and I always end up echoing each other?
Serizawa-san raised an eyebrow sharply at us.
Ah, she’s probably a little annoyed right now.
While I was wondering what to do, Nanase timidly spoke up to us.
โUm, wellโฆ if it’s okay with you, I was wonderingโฆ would you all like to go somewhere? I’d like to talk things over with you guys about what happens next.โ
“Ah, well thenโฆ I want to go eat fruit tarts. There’s this place I’ve been wanting to try.”
Serizawa-san raised her hand while fiddling with her phone.
โHmmโฆ Well, I guess that’s fine?โ
โThen let’s go there. Is that okay with you too, Bun-kun?โ
โโฆHuh? Me too?โ
โNo, you’re the one who absolutely has to be there, right?โ
Tsukimi-san, with her narrowed eyes, nudged me from the side as if to tease me.
Huh, oh, r-rightโฆ Yeah, you’re right. Okay.
โฆFruit tarts with girls (beautiful girls).
It feels pretty out of place, but I can’t really say that now.
โโฆBun-kun?โ
โAh, sorry. I’m coming now.โ
I steeled myself and followed the three girls.
Ahhh the friends both see it. (โ โงโ ฯโ โงโ )