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…
My first task as class president wasn’t just carrying papers.
After going to the staff room with Nanase, I watered the flower beds, took care of the chickens we keep, and so on.
โฆI kinda feel like what I was doing went beyond the scope of a class president’s duties.
Looking out the window, it was dusk, and club activities would be ending soon.ใ
โMii-chan and Hoshino. Sending them home first was the right call, huh?โ
โYeahโฆ took way longer than I thought.โ
So, that meant Nanase and I would be going home together todayโฆ
โฆIf that’s the case, maybe we should go to the shopping mall we promised to visit earlier today?
โUm, Bun-kunโโ
โNanase-san.โ
โHuh? Oh, wh-what is it?โ
โDo you have any plans after thisโโ
Huh? Wait, doesn’t this kinda sound like an invitation to a date?
โHuh? Umโฆ I don’t really have anything planned?โ
Nothing planned. Then it should be fine to ask her to the mall. So why this sudden nervousnessโฆ?
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โB-Bun-kun?โ
G-Gather your courage. This dithering is the worst part!!
โUmโฆ if you’re free, would you like to go to the mall together after this?โ
โโฆHuh?โ
โAh, no, I meanโฆ we made plans before, right? To go together. Since it’s just the two of us today, I thought maybeโฆ Nanase-san?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ.โ
There was no one beside me, so I turned around and saw Nanase standing there, looking completely dumbfounded.
W-Wait, does Nanase not remember!?
Huh? What? Did we make that promise? This is awkwardโฆ Is she thinking something like, โBut I’m not that kind of friend with Irie-kunโฆโ?
โโฆYou remembered.โ
โHuh? O-Of course.โ
โHehe, I see! I see! Actually, I was going to ask you too!!โ
โW-Well then, that’s good.โ
โNow that’s settled, let’s get going!โ
A wave of relief washed over me, and my tension melted away.
At least it didn’t turn into the worst-case scenario. No, seriously, I’m so glad she didn’t turn me down.
Nanase-san walked with a light step, humming to herself. She was in a better mood than I’d ever seen her. Did she really want to go to the shopping mall that badly?
โAh, Bungaku! Hiyori!โ
โHuh? It’s Tenma.โ
Tenma, who noticed us, waved and came over.
His usual sparkling protagonist aura was dazzling as ever.
โIt’s rare for you two to stay this late. Did something happen?โ
โWorking on class president stuff with Bun-kunโฆ What about you, Tenma?โ
โStudent council work.โ
โOh, right. Tenma’s the student council president. I forgot.โ
โHey, don’t forget. I’m working pretty hard at this, you know.โ
Sorry, I forgot that detail too.
โAre you guys heading home too?โ
โYeah. Since you’ve got your bagโฆ are you heading home too, Tenma-kun?โ
โYeah, yeah. I’m meeting up with Hana-chan right nowโโ
โTenma-kunโฆ Huh? Hiyori-chan! Bun-kun!โ
The moment she spotted us, Hana flashed an angelically bright smile. She came trotting over toward us.
โHana-chan~โ
โHiyori-chan!โ
Nanase and Ichika happily high-fived each other, shouting โYee!โ
Yeah. Yeah. They seem to get along so well, it makes me happy tooโฆ
โBungaku-kun!โ
โHuh? Me too?โ
โOf course!โ
โโฆUm, y-yeah!โ
When I clapped hands with her just like Nanase, Ichika smiled contentedly.
โAre you two heading home now?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆYeah. We were just about to leave school together.โ
During that pause, I was thinking about telling Tenma and the others we were going to the mall.
Well, if I told these two I was going to the mall with meโit’d probably lead to some weird misunderstanding.
โHey, how about it? Want to go hang out at the mall with us? We’ve never all gone out together like this before, right?โ
โSounds great! I’d love to go out with all four of us!โ
I never expected an invitation from the main character and heroine couple.
Just a moment ago, I’d agreed to go with Nanase.
โฆWait, maybe going out with all four of us isn’t so bad?
It’ll be four people, but we can still accomplish the goal of shopping at the mall. Plus, if it’s just the two of us, other students might see us and get the wrong ideaโฆ
[Want to come with us? Shoppingโฆ just the two of us.]
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ
โSorry, you two. It’s a nice invitation, but actually, we’re going onโฆ a date.โ
โWha-!?โ
Nanase flips out at my statement.
Yeah, right. Saying โdateโ out of nowhere would get that reaction.
But saying this should make Ichika and Tenma back off smoothlyโฆ I think. Probably, maybe, definitely.
โ!! Really!? Hiyori-chan!?โ
โEh, ah, u, uhโฆ y-yeah, actually~โ
โAh, s-sorryโฆ I said something I shouldn’t have, didn’t I?โ
โNo, no, not at all. Honestly, I was really happy you invited me, and I’d be happy if you invited me again.โ
โBungakuโฆโ
Tenma and I bumped fists, deepening our friendship.
โBungaku-kun!!โ
โY-yes!?โ
โI!! I believed in you!โ
What?
Ichika-san closed the distance excitedly. Why were her eyes shining so brightly?
โAhโฆ thank youโฆ?โ
โCome on, Tenma-kun, let’s go. We can’t keep bothering you two any longer!โ
โRight! See ya! Hiyori! Bungaku!!โ
โYeahโฆ bye bye.โ
โB-bye bye~โ
Well, the storm had passed, and once again, Nanase and I were alone.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
And then came the silence.
Sorry. It’s my fault for saying something weird, right? Honestly, I knew this would happen.
Someone, please help me.
Anyway, I need to properly explain this to Nanaseโฆ
โSoโฆ it was a date, huhโฆ Ahaha, I was kinda surprised.โ
โHuh? No, that earlier was just a tactic to smoothly get the two to back off. This isn’t a date or anything, I mean, wellโฆโ
โโฆIt’s not a date?โ
โAh, it is a date.โ
Shit. Seeing Nanase’s lonely expression, I reflexively went with calling it a date.
Suddenly, Nanase flushed and held out her right hand.
Even I understood what that meant.
โโฆIf it is a date, then I should at least do this muchโฆโ
โโฆAh, yes.โ
Steeling myself, I took Nanase’s hand.
My first real dateโฆ and with my favorite heroine, no less.
I might die tomorrow.