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…
โThat wraps things up for now. Thanks for your hard work. Senpai, thank you for helping out.โ
โYeah, you too, Kirifuji-san.โ
After school, I’d been called in to help Kirifuji-san with student council duties.
The task was just organizing supplies, so it went smoothly without any issues.
My arms and back ached, but I tried not to show it.
โSorry about that. The president and vice president were busy with other matters today, so I ended up relying on you, Bungaku-senpai.โ
โNah. You should lean on me for stuff like this. I meanโฆ I am your senior, Kirifuji-san.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆThank you. Thanks to you, I’ve gained some variety.โ
โHuh? Variety?โ
โAh, no, it’s nothing. You really are dependable, Bungaku-senpai.”
Kirifuji-san, with her usual perfect smile.
What did she mean by โvariationsโ? It bothered me, but Kirifuji’s smile silenced me.
โBungaku senpai since you’re free, would you like to grab some tea in the student council room?โ
โAh, sorry. I, I actually have plansโฆโ
โAra, what a shame. I’ve been rejectedโฆโ
โHuh!? Ah, noโฆ well, actually, I already have plans with Tenma-kun. It’s definitely not that I’m neglecting Kirifuji-san!!โ
โHehe, it’s okay. I understand perfectly. Have fun.โ
โฆI’d been completely teased.
I left the empty classroom, watched by Kirifuji-san giggling softly.
Walking down the hallway, I checked my phone. Tenma seemed to be done with work too, and both Ichika and Nanase had responded to his message.
I sent a message myself and headed to the meeting spot.
Tonight, Tenma, Ichika, Nanase, and I had plans to go out for dinner together.
Wondering if I really belonged in this group, I walked along.
โHmmโฆ My bangs just won’t cooperateโฆโ
There was Nanase, intently adjusting her hair while looking at the mirror left at school.
She seemed to be struggling quite a bit.
โOkay, this looks good. Properlyโฆ cuteโฆ right?โ
โNanase-sanโ
โEek!? B-Bun-kun!? W-When did you get there!?โ
โUm, since you started fixing your bangs.โ
โT-That’s the part I least wanted anyone to see!โ
Nanase’s face flushed crimson.
โโฆIt’s okay. You look cute like that today too.โ
“Eh, ah, uhhโฆ Oh, I seeโฆ Ehehe, hehehe.”
โYeah. I’m sure Tenma-kun would think you’re cute too.โ
Even though she got rejected, Tenma was someone Nanase liked.
Wanting to look cute for him, even just a little, wasn’t strange at all.
โโฆPunch.โ
She delivered a cute punch right to my chest.
Huhโฆ? Did I maybe mess up the conversation choiceโฆ?
โI just want Bun-kun to think I’m cute, that’s all.โ
โEh, uh, yeahโฆโ
I wish she wouldn’t put so much stock in my opinionโฆ
As if sensing my feelings, Nanase sighed exasperatedly and nudged my arm with her elbow.
After that, we met up with Tenma and Ichika and entered a certain cafe.
That cafe was the one Nanase and I had gone to together on the day she got dumped.
Who would’ve thought the four of us would end up here again?
So much has happened since then. Feeling a little nostalgic, I sat down.
“Bun-kun, this place’s fried shrimp is absolutely amazing. The tartar sauce is especially delicious.”
โOh, really?โ
As I opened the menu to look, Ichika told me her recommendations. Come to think of it, the three of us used to come here often.
Alright, I’ll take the senior’s advice on this one.
โโฆWell then, I think I’ll go with the Hamburger Steak & Shrimp Fry Set.โ
“By the way, the wild grape juice is also recommendedโฆ Tenma-kun?ใWhy are you laughing?”
โWellโฆ seeing Ichika so excited just made meโฆ she was all giddy yesterday about teaching me all sorts of things about Bungaku.โ
โS-Stop it, Tenma-kun!! We agreed not to mention that!โ
Tenma-kun pats Ichika’s head gently as she puffs out her cheeks.
These two are flirting using me as a prop.
โBun-kun, turn the page for me.โ
โAh, sureโฆโ
I turn the page as Nanase, peering at the menu beside me, instructs.
Nanase is ridiculously closeโour shoulders are practically touching. Or rather, she’s practically leaning on my shoulder.
โIf you’ve decided, I’ll take your order.โ
The waiter came to take our orders, so we each placed ours.
I got the hamburger steak & fried shrimp set, recommended by Ichika, with mountain grape juice as my drink.
After chatting casually for a while, the waiter brought our food.
โโฆBun-kun, I need to talk to you about something.โ
โEh, y-yesโฆโ
Just as I was about to dip my shrimp fry in tartar sauce, Nanase, looking solemn, spoke up.
โBun-kun, we’re best friends, right? We’ve been through a lot together, and I think our bond has grown really strong. So, don’t you think it’s about time you stopped calling me โNanase-sanโ?โ
โโฆUm, I do call you by your name sometimes?โ
โThat’s only during petting time!!โ
โAh, yesโฆโ
I got scoldedโฆ
โBut why bring this up all of a sudden?โ
โโฆYou call me by my last name, but you and Kimura-kun, who you just met recently, call each other by nicknames, right?โ
โฆWhy does she care so much about this?ใ
โBungaku-kun. That’s not right.โ
An unexpected follow-up attack from Ichika.
โHow you address someone represents the distance between you, in a way. Plus, Bungaku-kun calls me โHana-sanโ and Tenma-kun โTenma-kunโ, but you call Hiyori-chan โNanase-sanโ. That makes it seem like you’re excluding her.โ
โWellโฆ you might be right about that?โ
โExactlyโฆ The four of us are going to be together for a long time from now on, so we have to be mindful of things like that.โ
Somehow, doesn’t that โlongโ nuance feel off?
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆBungaku-kunโ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆBun-kunโ
Nanase & Ichika glaring at me.
โฆThe pressure from the two of them is intense.
I look to Tenma for help, but he shakes his head as if to say give up.
โโฆAlright. Then from now on, I’ll call you Hiyori.โ
โโฆIt’s not a nickname. Like โHii-chanโ or something.โ
Hiyori mutters discontentedly.
Hiyori-san. That’s harshโฆ โHii-chanโ is harsh for a guy.
โBut isn’t Hiyori the only one called by just her name? I’m Tenma-kun, Ichika’s Hana-san, and Ryota’s Ryu-kun, right?โ
โโฆThat’s true. So, does that mean only Hiyori-chan is special?โ
โEh, wellโฆ I guess so.โ
It was true. But would Hiyori accept that reason?
โOh, I seeโฆ So I’m the only special oneโฆ Well, I guess that’s okayโฆ Ehehe.โ
Huh? She looks kinda happy about it?
Seeing Hiyori smile happily, Tenma & Ichika exchanged exasperated smirks and said in unison.
โBungaku really is a charmer, isn’t he?โ
โBungaku -kun really is a charmer, isn’t he?โ