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…
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆPhew, that was fun.โ
After spending some time at the Un-Museum, the Serizawa familyโincluding Bungakuโwas taking a break on the buildingโs rooftop garden, holding souvenirs.
โMisuzu, Iโm sorry. I tagged along on your date today.โ
Mom, sitting next to me, said as she swung her legs back and forth.
Itโs not really for me to say, but Mom has always been expressionlessโI can never tell what sheโs thinking. Or maybe she isnโt thinking about anything at all.
By the way, Bungaku and Dad had gone to Starbucks to buy Frappuccinos for us.
โI didnโt mind, but Bungaku kept sneaking off to take stomach medicine.โ
It was kind of funny to watch, though.
โThatโs funnyโฆ no, wait, maybe I did something I shouldnโt have. But I just really wanted to see it. Misuzu going on a date with Bungaku.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆHow was it?โ
When I asked, sounding a little anxious, Mom replied with a smile that seemed to blow my worries away.
โYou looked like you were having a really great time.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆI see.โ
โJust as I expectedโthatโs the โfake boyfriendโ Misuzu found, all right.โ
โYeahโฆโ
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh?
I couldnโt help but look at Momโs face. A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth, and she had a look of certainty on her face.
โMom, wait a second. How do you know about that?โ
โA motherโs intuition, I guess. You could call it a sixth sense. Oh, and by the way, Dad knows too.โ
So thatโs why Dad took Bungaku earlierโฆ
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆOh (I get it)
โOh, and by the way, the engagement is completely off the table now, so you donโt have to worry about that.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆIs that okay?โ
โDad cares about you more than anything tooโฆ Besides, watching you over the past few days, it was clear to me that youโre in love with Bungaku.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh? Am Iโฆ in love with Bungaku?โ
โYou are. Without a doubt.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆSeriously?โ
โSeriously, seriously. You just donโt realize it.โ
Mom looked at my face, seemed to sense something, and gave me a exasperated look, as if to say, โHere we go again.โ
Itโs trueโI think I do like Bungaku. Heโs the only one who enjoys the things I like with me.
In other words, Bungaku is one of a kind. Thatโs what I thought.
Thatโs why I was interested in him, and I thought I could fall for him.
โWell then, what ifโฆ today. What if we came to this museum just as a family, and happened to see Bungaku-kun here with another girl?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh?โ
Reacting to those words, I couldnโt help but picture it in my head.
Today, we came here just as a family, and happened to see Bungaku having fun with Kirifuji Sena.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆThat might be a bit too much to handle.โ
Just imagining it sent a chill down my spine. Even though itโs supposed to be midsummer, Iโm so cold I canโt stop getting goosebumps.
I see. Hiyori must have felt the same way.
โYeah. I donโt know, just a hunch, but I think I get it. Hey, Mom, thereโs just one thing I want to ask youโhow did you win Dad over?โ
โHuh? Thatโฆ I donโt really remember. I think I was the one who went all out. Like, I confessed right away and then locked him down immediately.โ
โI see. So speed is justice, huh?โ
โHehe, just like my daughter. You catch on fast. But maybe it really is better to be quick. Dadโs probably grilling Bungaku right now, trying to get him to stop this โpretend datingโ business.โ
โYeahโฆ Dad would totally do that.โ
Probably, Dad doesnโt like that โpretend boyfriendโ kind of thing. Heโll probably make it clear that the engagement is off for now and that we should go back to a healthy relationship (friends).
And as for what happens after thatโwhether we become a couple or notโthatโs up to me andโฆ Bungaku. I think thatโs how Dad sees it.
โOh, Dad and Bungaku. Theyโre back.โ
Mom pointed to Dad, looking his usual self, and Bungaku, who looked a bit haggard.
Yeah. Heโs definitely been grilled.
โMisuzu, Sanae. Sorry to keep you waiting.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆWeโve been waiting.โ
I took the new matcha frappe from Bungaku.
โCome to think of it, this rooftop walking path is part of a famous garden. Why donโt the two of you take your tiiiime and stroll around?โ
Mom threw us a nice pass right there.
โThatโs a good idea. We still have plenty of time. Weโll take our time exploring the grounds, so feel free to go ahead.โ
Dad agreed, shooting Bungaku a meaningful look.
โUm, well then, since youโve both said soโฆ shall we go, Misuzu-san?โ
โโฆYeah.โ
Nodding at Bungakuโs invitation, we parted ways with Dad and Mom for a moment and walked along the rooftop garden path.
โBungaku. Listen. About us being โpretend loversโโฆ maybe we should just stop.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆYeah. Youโre right. It seems like the two of them had already figured out we were โpretend loversโ anyway.โ
โBungaku, so Dad really gave you a hard time about it?โ
โHahaโฆ Well, not exactly โgave me a hard time,โ but I donโt really like that approach. He just told us to go back to being friendsโa healthy relationship.โ
Bungaku laughed, looking a bit flustered.
ใ
This โpretend boyfriendโ thing was actually my idea, but heโs probably pretending it was his suggestion to protect me.
Iโm sure Dad understands that, too.
Weโre surrounded by couples, and Iโm sure normal couples spend special moments here chatting or sipping fancy drinks. Or so I imagine.
But for me, a special moment isโฆ doing silly things and having fun at a fun, exciting place like the Poop Museumโjust like we did earlierโand laughing together while sharing that joy. Thatโs what it means to me.
But I guess thatโs a sensibility thatโs a little out of step with everyone else. Thatโs what I think.
In fact, there werenโt any couples at the Poop Museum at all; it was mostly families with small children.
But BungakuโBungaku is different.
He has the same sensibility as me, and he really sees me for who I am.
Soโฆ I think Iโd like to try being his real girlfriend next time.
I take a deep breath, trying not to let it show.
โThere are couples everywhere around us, arenโt there?โ
โHaha, yeah, youโre right.โ
โBungaku, tooโsomeday youโll fall for someone, confess your feelings, get rejected, get rejected, get rejected, and go through cycles of dating and getting dumped, right?โ
โI get dumped all the time. I canโt deny that.โ
โThenโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆHuh?
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆUm, Misuzu?โ
Well then, you should just go out with me.
I canโt bring myself to say those single words out loud.
Why?
Why, why?
Why is that simple phrase stuck in the back of my throat, refusing to come out?
โBungakuโฆโ
โU, uh-huh.โ
No good. Bungaku is staring at me with a worried look on his face.
I have to say it, I have to say it.
โThe time I spend with Bungakuโฆ is so much fun, so, um, I feel lonely, so, um, I don’t want to be apart from you, soโฆโ
Soโฆ
โI, I donโt want you to date anyone for a whileโฆ I donโt want you to get a girlfriend.โ
What a pathetic confession this is.
No, this isnโt even a confession. Itโs just me being selfish.
โHaha, itโs okay, itโs okay. I donโt think I could even get a girlfriend anyway. Iโm the kind of guy who doesnโt know if Iโll get one in high school, or even in my whole lifeโฆ ha, ha, ha.โ
Bungaku was sinking deeper into a funk.
โBesides, I have a proven track record of getting rejected over and over, so I think you can trust me on thatโฆ u, uuโฆโ
“F-fufu. Whatโs that supposed to mean?โ
Seeing Bungaku shed a single tear, I found myself smiling a little and finally calming down.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆBungaku, you were really amazing, werenโt you?โ
Even more so than Hiyori.
โHuh? You mean itโs amazing that I keep getting rejected?โ
โNo, thatโs not it. I realized that putting your feelings into words takes a lotโa lot of courage.โ
Seeing Bungaku look puzzled at my words, I couldnโt help but laugh as we walked along the garden path.