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…
I woke up parched.
Checking the faintly visible clock in the darkness, it was 2 a.m. The date had long since changed by now.
I could hear everyone snoring softly.
In the end, Nanase’s birthday party got really lively, then we dove straight into a game tournament, and carried by the mood and momentum of the moment, it ended up becoming a sleepover.
Taking great care not to wake everyone who had fallen asleep in the living room, I drank mineral water from the fridge when the living room door opened.
“Nanase…?”
“Huh…? Bun kun? You were awake?”
“Just a bit thirsty…”
Nanase… was probably heading to the bathroom.
I finished my water and was about to go back to sleep when Nanase sat down on the living room sofa, looked at me, and patted the spot next to her.
After a moment’s hesitation, I sat down beside her.
“…Today was really fun. Though I was definitely surprised by that huge stuffed bear.”
Nanase chatted happily, as if reliving the memories.
By the way, Serizawa-san and I got scolded by Tsukimi-san: “Huh? How do you plan to get this thing to Hiyori’s house?”
Tsukimi-san, who agreed to help us carry the stuffed animal tomorrow despite complaining, is kind.
“Bun-kun, thanks… I would’ve definitely run away if I’d been alone.”
Today… no, continuing from yesterday, I’m getting thanked a lot.
“This is all thanks to Nanase-san’s hard work.”
“Hard work… huh?”
“…Nanase-san?”
“I worked pretty hard today, didn’t I?”
“…Huh?”
Today? Worked hard?
Ah, maybe… she means she worked hard despite it being painful watching Tenma and Ichika flirt?
“Even when Bun-kun was talking with Tenma and Hana-chan, I held back. And even when he was flirting with Mii-chan, I waited until they finished talking before saying anything.”
“Huh? Uh, yeah…?”
“So, pat my head while telling me ‘Good job’.”
“…Huh?”
I was speechless at this unexpected request.
“Pet me.”
Ignoring my frozen state, Nanase urged me on.
H-hey, why are you pushing so hard? C-could it be… she’s being affectionate?
Resigned to Nanase pressing her head against my shoulder, I gently stroked her hair.
Ah, wow… Nanase’s hair is incredibly silky smooth. And it smells nice too…
“…♪”
For some reason I couldn’t quite grasp, Nanase seemed in a great mood.
Um, so now I’m supposed to compliment her?
“Um, Nanase—”
“Call me Hiyori.”
“Eh, no, that’s a bit much…”
“Hana-san”
“Hiyori, you did great again today.”
“Ehehe…”
Stroking her head while calling her name and praising her.
Somehow, it feels like I’m doing some kind of special play. The sense of transgression is crazy.
“…Hey, about this… Shouldn’t we make it our own daily routine?”
“Huh? So I’m supposed to stroke Nanase-san’s head every day from now on?”
“I’ll stroke Bun-kun’s head too…! ‘You’re so great for coming to school!’ and stuff…”
“Isn’t my praise point way too arbitrary?”
But… stroking my favorite heroine’s head?
…Maybe it’s okay. It does ramp up the special play vibe though.
Besides…
“We can only do this for a little while longer.”
“…Huh? Wh-what do you mean?”
Nanase-san overreacted to my sudden words.
“I think… Nanase-san has probably put a period on her feelings for Tenma. So from now on, I think she’ll start looking toward a new love.”
“…That’s… definitely true.”
“You’ll probably meet a guy you like, work up the courage to confess, and end up with someone I don’t know…”
And that’s how you’ll weave a new love story.
“So, I guess it’s only a matter of time before we can’t be together like this anymore. You’ll probably get a boyfriend soon, and Nanase-san will move away from me.”
After all, Nanase’s popular, so she’ll have plenty of suitors… My role as her place to rest will likely end in the near future.
So. If Nanase finds someone she likes…
“I’ll have to find someone I like too…”
“…Ha?”
Just like Serizawa-san said, to truly like someone, to seriously fall in love. Seeing Nanase like that made me want to fall in love again.
“If I get rejected, you’ll have to comfort me, Nanase-san. Oh, and if my confession works, I’ll tell you first.”
“………………”
“Yeah. We could meet up at a family restaurant or something, and have a strategy meeting about how to approach the people we like, how to confess…”
“…No way.”
“…Huh?”
Both shoulders grabbed, her weight pressing me down onto the sofa.
“H-Hey!? Nanase—”
“Shhh… If you make such a loud noise, everyone will wake up. Is that okay?”
Nanase smiled, placing her index finger on her lips.
I fell silent without thinking. Because if everyone saw us here like this…
“…I don’t mind, though.”
Nanase spoke as if reading my mind. Her cheeks were flushed somehow.
“Wh-why are you doing this…?”
“Bun-kun doesn’t understand anything.”
“…Huh?”
“Without you, Bun-kun… I just can’t…”
“Eh, um… N-Nanase-san?”
“Hey.”
“Y-Yes!”
“What do I have to do… for you to only see me?”
Nanase’s eyes fixed on me were incredibly beautiful, clear, yet somehow shadowed.
“You’re… my Bun kun. I absolutely don’t want to give you up. To anyone. So, if someone’s going to take you away… I’d rather just… right now…”
Nanase’s face drew closer… At this rate, our lips would…
“…What are you two doing?”
Startled, I looked toward the voice. There stood Tsukimi-san, staring at us suspiciously.