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…
“…Alright, I guess all that’s left to buy is dinner.”
I’d come to the shopping mall to buy tonight’s dinner and some household items I needed to restock.
I tossed some ready-made side dishes into my shopping cart.
I cook for myself as much as possible, but today was exhausting—the sleepover, lugging that giant stuffed animal over to Nanase’s place… I’m drained and have no energy left.
“Well… guess I’ll head home.”
Still… I never imagined I lived in the same apartment building as Tsukimi-san…
She specifically told me not to tell anyone, but does she really dislike people knowing she lives in the same building as me that much…?
She said something like, “If Hiyori found out… it’d be a real pain.”
Huh? That’s…
As I walked toward the exit, I spotted an anime shop running a Ichiban Kuji lottery.
Ah, this anime. I watched it recently. Let’s see… Prize A is a swimsuit figure. It’s… quite a well-made figure, isn’t it?
I checked my wallet and went to draw a ticket.
The results were a patch and an acrylic stand.
…Not exactly thrilling, but apparently both were the last ones left.
“Uh, excuse me…”
Just as I was about to leave, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind.
“Haa… That badge and acrylic stand… Haa… Could you… possibly give them to me? Haa… Haa…”
Huh? What’s with this person… Acting suspicious, hiding their face with a mask, sunglasses, and a hat, plus breathing really heavily.
“I, I’ll pay for the lottery ticket, of course…”
“Um, y-yes…”
In situations like this, it’s best to just comply quietly.
“…S-sorry. Um, would that bench over there be okay? I was running just now, so I need to catch my breath.”
Huh? That’s way in the corner. Doesn’t seem very popular.
Sitting on the corner bench with the suspicious person who keeps glancing around, I hand over the acrylic stand and receive the money.
Transaction complete. Just as I’m about to leave quickly…
Ping.
Notification sounds rang out simultaneously from both my phone and the suspicious person’s phone.
I looked at my phone. It was a group message from Nanase, thanking us. As everyone replied, the notification sounds kept ringing from the suspicious guy’s phone too.
When I replied, the notification sound rang out again from the suspicious guy’s phone.
…The only one not replying was Tsukimi-san.
“………………”
“………………”
I opened Tsukimi-san’s private chat and spammed random stickers.
Ping
Ping
Ping
“…Um, what are you doing? Tsukimi-san?”
“…I don’t know anyone by that name.”
“No, that voice, it’s Tsukimi-san, right!?”
“Hey, you idiot, your voice is too loud!”
“Ah, s-sorry…”
Tsukimi sighed and took off her sunglasses and mask.
Her hair was straight, not in her usual twin buns, giving her a different impression than usual.
“So you collect anime goods too, Tsukimi… I mean, do you like anime?”
“…Well, it’s just a hobby I enjoy by myself.”
“For just a hobby, you’re pretty deep into it if you’re asking me to give you stuff.”
“W-Well… I liked the artwork on the patch and acrylic stand, and stuff like this is easy to hide…”
Hide? Oh, when Nanase and the others came over to my place.
“…Plus, it was my favorite character.”
Your favorite!! Nice!! Yeah, yeah. Having a favorite character is a good thing.
…Come to think of it, this character kinda resembles Nanase-san in her personality and vibe.
“You just thought my favorite character looks like Hiyori, didn’t you?”
“Um, Tsukimi-san likes girls with big boobs who are kind and cheerful, right? Guh!”
“Don’t say that out loud!!”
An angry Tsukimi-san jabbed me hard in the ribs.
“I, I also watched the compilation movie and thought this anime was interesting.”
“Huh? You watched the compilation movie?”
“Y-yeah. I have subscriptions to all the major services, so I can watch it on streaming… I’ve only seen the first part so far, I was planning to watch the second part when I got home.”
“………………… …”
“Tsukimi-san?”
“Hey.”
“Y-yes!”
“Room number. Tell me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just tell me already.”
Thud! Tsukimi-san pinned me against the wall so I couldn’t escape.
Even though there’s a height difference between me and Nanase-san, I was completely the hunted one.
“…Room 401.”
“Alright. Good job saying it. So, I’m coming over to your place tonight.”
“???”
I, I don’t get it. Why? What does this mean?
“You’re watching the compilation movie tonight, right? I haven’t seen it yet either, so let me watch it with you. I heard there are new cuts and a new opening sequence…”
“N-no… no, no way.”
“Well then, I’ll go buy dinner and snacks on my way home. Head back and get ready.”
“Huh? Wait a minute!?”
Tsukimi-san didn’t wait for my response and just briskly walked off.
…Seriously?
I headed home, confused and unable to process the situation.
Dinner and a bath… After finishing my movie prep, the doorbell dinged.
S-she really came.
“Hey there.”
When I opened the door, there was Tsukimi-san holding a big bag.
She was wearing glasses, dressed casually in a baggy white hoodie with straight hair.
“…What?”
“Ah, no… the glasses?”
“Oh, I usually wear contacts.”
Saying that, Tsukimi-san stepped inside the entranceway and started taking off her Crocs.
“Um, you really want to watch it here together?”
“Yeah.”
“I, I think it’s a bit much for a guy to have a girl come over to his place at this hour…”
“It’s fine. We know each other.”
Tsukimi-san plopped her bag down on the desk with a thud and sat down.
“What are you standing there for? Sit next to me.”
“Y-yes…”
Prompted, I sat down beside her.
No, too close, too close, too close… I can smell her nice shampoo too… This is seriously bad… I need to distract myself with something…
Ah, right… what did Tsukimi-san bring me again?
Checking inside the bag, I found snacks and a huge pile of energy drinks.
“…Um, are we… pulling an all-nighter?”
“Well, there’s the movie compilation in two parts, and then the main series has 13 episodes after that, you know?”
Huh? Not just the movie parts, but the main series too? That’s definitely an all-nighter.
“Yes.”
To my bewildered self, Tsukimi-san handed me an energy drink with the pull tab already open, smiling sweetly.
“W-Whoa…”
I could only take the energy drink while crying.