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…
The first day of summer vacation. I wake up to the smell of breakfast.
โYouโre finally up. Go wash your face quickly. Breakfast will be ready in a minute.โ
โOkayโฆโ
I wash my face in the bathroom while answering Tsukimi, whoโs in the kitchen making breakfast, yawning all the while.
โฆโฆโฆโฆWhy is Tsukimi in my room first thing in the morning?
I stare intently at my reflection in the mirror, trying to recall yesterdayโs events.
Thatโs right. I showed off the Switch 2 Iโd managed to snag, and Tsukimi came over to my room immediatelyโand we ended up staying up all night.
โฆโฆIt was quite a steamy night.
I never thought our friendship would actually be on the verge of falling apart. Seriously, video games are terrifying.
โBreakfast is ready, you know~โ
โO-okay.โ
Prompted by her, I head to the living room, sit down at the table, and eat breakfast with Tsukimi.
โOh, Iโm going back to my parentsโ house.โ
โHuh? Oh, yeah.โ
Sheโs starting to sound like a wife on the verge of divorce.ใ
Does she not like that I took away that legendary machine she worked so hard to buildโฆ?
โItโs just for Obon. Itโs only about three days, so donโt slack off on cleaning and folding the laundry.โ
โOh, I see. Got it. Have a good time.โ
When I said that casually, Tsukimi-san furrowed her brow and stared at me with a rather awkward expression.
โโฆThat exchange just now felt like something a married couple would say, and I donโt like it.โ
Youโre the one who started itโฆ
โUmโฆ have you told Hiyori and Misuzu too? About going back to your parentsโ house?โ
โI didnโt tell them. We havenโt made any plans to hang out during Obon, so thereโs no need for me to bring it up.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh? Then why did you tell me?โ
Iโve given Tsukimi a spare key to this room, and since she sometimes drops by here unexpectedly, honestly, thereโs no need for her to tell me this either.
โWhy? Well, thatโsโฆโ
Perhaps Tsukimi was thinking the same thing, because she fell silent, deep in thought.
โW-well, I just felt like I had to say something.โ
Tsukimi gulped down her miso soup, as if trying to cover something up.
โSpeaking of which, how are things with Misuzu lately? Are you two โpretendโ lovers now? It doesnโt seem like much has changed at school, thoughโฆโ
โAh, yeah. Weโre planning to go on a โpretendโ date soon.โ
โHuh? Where are you going?โ
โUmโฆ Weโre going to the โPoop Museumโ.โ
โWhat kind of shitty choice is that?โ
โJust because itโs โpoopโ?โ I thought to myself, but decided not to say it out loud. Iโd get kicked in the face.
โHuh? Did you suggest that?โ
โYeah. Misuzu was super happy about it.โ
โHuh? Thereโs no wayโฆ wait, actually, thatโs totally Misuzuโฆโ
Just to be safe, Iโd also suggested places like an aquarium or an amusement park, but the Poop Museum was her only choice.
โArenโt we running out of time?โ
โOh, youโre right.โ
After Tsukimi pointed that out, I hurriedly finished breakfast. I frantically changed into my uniform, grabbed my bag, and put on my shoes.
โWell then, Iโm off.โ
โHave a good trip.โ
With Tsukimi-san seeing me off, I opened the front door.
Come to think of it, Tsukimi-san is going back to her parentsโ houseโฆ Iโm going to miss her a little.
โฆOf course, Irie Bungaku has parents too. Weโve exchanged messages a few times, but we still havenโt actually met in person.
I wonder if weโll get to meet during summer break?
โOh, Bun-kun, good morning!โ
โGood morning.โ
I meet up with Hiyori at our usual spot, and we head to school together.
โBun-kun. Letโs do our best together starting today!โ
Hiyoriโs energy is unusually high. Usually, this kind of thing would make you feel down, Iโd thinkโฆ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆIf I happen to doze off during class, wake me up, okay?โ
โYou do look kind of sleepy, Bun-kun. Did you stay up late last night?โ
โI got so into a game that I didnโt notice the sun had risen.โ
Iโm not lying. Iโm not.
โHaha, donโt overdo it, okay? Oh, right. About that summer festival the library mentioned? Itโs happening right nearby on the last day of summer break! I heard thereโll be fireworks too!โ
โโฆโฆFireworks? A festival?โ
Iโm a tankobon fan of Tenichi, and the tankobon ended with Tenma and Ichika kissing against the backdrop of fireworks at the summer festival.
โฆโฆIf Hiyori happened to stumble upon a scene like thatโฆ wouldnโt her brain get shattered into pieces all over again!?
โUmโฆ maybe we should skip the festival after all? Itโll be crowded.โ
โEhh!! Letโs go to the summer festival!! I couldnโt go last year. Thereโs so much I want to eat, like candy apples and grilled beef skewers. And I really want to see the fireworks too!โ
Guhโฆ Hiyori, youโre totally set on going.
โWellโฆ but. Itโs the last day of summer vacation.โ
โMmm, whatever. Worst case, Iโll just go by myself.โ
โN-no way!! If Hiyoriโs going alone, Iโm definitely going with her!โ
โO-ohโฆ Iโm surprised you reacted so strongly. Anyway, Iโll go ask Mii-chan and Hoshino-chan.โ
โGot it.โ
Well, if the usual four of us go, there shouldnโt be any problems.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆHey, listen? What if Mii-chan and Hoshino canโt make it? Are we justโฆ going to go by ourselves?โ
โWeโre going.โ
โH-hey? Eh? Oh, y-youโre actually going? O-okay. Eh? Is it okay with Mii-chan? Wonโt she get mad?โ
โEither way, my fake relationship with Serizawa-san will probably end by the time summer vacationโs over. Worst case, Iโll do whatever it takesโeven if it means groveling on my kneesโto make it work.โ
โYouโreโฆ going that far!?โ
โIโm going that far.โ
Honestly, a third brain-shattering experience would be way too cruel. I have to do something to stop it.
Just as I was making a small vow in my heart, my phone rang.
The message was from Misuzu.
[Emergency help. Contact me as soon as tutoring ends.]
Huh? Did something happen?
[Mom and Dad are inviting Bungaku over for dinner tonight. In other words, the Serizawa family is hosting a family meeting and inviting Bungaku. Can you make it tonight?]