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…
I wake up in the morning, still half asleep.
I get up, thinking I have to go to schoolโฆ
โHiyori~, breakfast is ready.โ
โOkay~.โ
I respond to my mother’s words and head to the sink.
I eat breakfast, change into my uniform, tidy myself up, grab my bag, and head to school.
It’s been a month since I was rejected
Since being rejected, I think I’ve been slowly recovering.
They say that time heals the wounds of heartbreak, but in my case, I think Bun kun’s presence has been a big factor.
โBun kun, good morning.โ
โNanase-san, good morning.โ
As soon as I enter the classroom, I talk to Bun kun, who is sitting alone.
โThanks for yesterday’s lunch break. Hana-chan was really happy too.โ
โWellโฆ yeahโฆโ
Lately, Bun kun-kun has been dressing up as a girl, and the four of usโme, Hana-chan, and Tenmaโhave been spending our lunch breaks together.
โSpeaking of which, Hana-chan seems to be really attached to Bun kun, doesn’t she?โ
โHmm, I guess soโฆโ
โYeah, she always happily calls out to him, โFumika-chan, Fumika-chan.โ Maybe we should increase the number of lunches we have together?โ
โPlease spare me that.โ
Hana-chan tends to become very attached to someone once she opens up to them.
I think Bun kun-kun has become as important to Hana-chan as I am.
Well, that’s just my conceited opinionโฆ
The bell rang, and I sat down at my desk to prepare for homeroom.
It was the same day as always.
Lunchtime.
After finishing my lunch in the classroom, I wanted something to drink, so I left the classroom.
Tenma’s back was reflected in the vending machine.
โฆI probably wouldn’t have been able to take that step before, but now I’m okay.
โTenma~โ
โOhโฆ Hiyori.โ
I tap Tenma on the back and call out to him.
Yeah. It’s okayโฆ Seeing Tenma’s face doesn’t hurt anymore.
โI’ll have a milk tea.โ
โI’m not buying it for you.โ
โBut I’m 10 yen short, so I want you to buy it for me~โ
โWhy the vending machineโฆ?โ
โI was planning to buy water until I got here. I just suddenly felt like having milk tea.โ
โWhat’s that supposed to mean?โ
Tenma laughs heartily.
Good, good, we’re talking like we used to. We’re slowly getting back to being good friends.
My usual self isโฆ back.
โThen let’s do this. In exchange for the milk tea, I, your best friend, will give you advice on your movie date with Hana-chanโฆโ
โHiyoriโ
โHm? What?โ
โActuallyโฆ I’m going to start dating Ichika.โ
โโฆEh?โ
That one sentence shattered the normal me that I had worked so hard to build up in an instant.
โAh, eh, soโฆ I see. Ah, ahaha. So, that’s how it isโฆโ
My head went blank. It was painful. I couldn’t breathe properly.
โUmโฆ I need to use the restroom! Don’t follow me!โ
Without waiting for Tenma’s response, without looking at his face, I ran off.
I just wanted to get away from there as quickly as possible.
โHaaโฆ haaโฆโ
After running, I ended up behind the gymnasium. I probably came here because I remembered the romantic movie I saw the other day.
The moment I arrived, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang.
โโฆForget it. I’ll skip class.โ
To be honest, I didn’t want to go back to class. I didn’t have the energy to go back. If the teacher or students found out, then so be it.
I sat there alone.
โฆTenma. He confessed to Hanachan.
I didn’t know. When did that happenโฆ
โโฆโ
Tears slowly welled up in my eyes.ใ
Don’t give up, Nanase Hiyoriโฆ Keep going, keep going.
I have to overcome this, move forward, and make it a memory.
Besides, I knew it. I knew it, right?
When I was rejected, I knew this would happenโฆ I was prepared for it.
Butโฆ
โโฆ Ugh, ughโฆโ
It’s painful.
โNanase-san, are you okay?โ
โโฆHuh?โ
When I looked up, there was Bun kun, out of breath.
โEh, wh-whyโฆ?โ
โBecause Nanase-sanโฆ you didn’t come back to class even five minutes ago, so I thought something might have happened.โ
Bun kun sat down next to me, taking a breath.
โWhat about class?โ
โI skipped it.โ
โEh, butโฆ if the teacher finds out, you’ll get in trouble, right?โ
โThen we’ll get in trouble together.โ
He laughed and handed me my favorite milk tea.
โฆReally, that’s just like him.
After that, Bun kun didn’t say anything, he just sat silently next to me. Just that alone made my tears stop flowing.
He’s such a mysterious person.
โโฆTenma and Hanachan. They’re dating.โ
โโฆI see.โ
โI thought I had gotten over it, but now that they’re dating, it’s painful and difficultโฆ It’s the worst.โ
โโฆI understand. And the fact that I can’t honestly congratulate them makes me feel like a ugly person.โ
โThat’s rightโฆ!! As expected of a veteran who’s lost more than ten times in a row. You get it.โ
โShut up.โ
Bun kun turned away sulkily.
I’m sure Bun kun has also fallen in love with someone, been unrequited, and suffered like I have.
Maybe that’s whyโฆ I end up spilling my feelings to you, even the ones I didn’t intend to share.
โHey. Doesn’t this situation remind you of that movie we saw the other day?โ
โWell, just the situation, anyway.โ
โNo way! You’re definitely my savior, Fumio-kun.โ
It’ll take a little time, but if I can come to terms with my feelings for Tenma and get ready for a new love, thenโฆ
โโฆMaybe my new love is right around the corner.โ
โโฆHuh?โ
He tilts his head, looking confused. I laugh and drink my milk tea.ใ
Behind the gymnasium, the two of us skip class alone.
There’s no particular conversation, and all that can be heard is the chirping of birds.
But for some reason, there’s no awkwardness. It feels somehow comfortable. In fact, I even feel reluctant to let the time pass.
Something is beginning to sprout inside me.
I don’t know what it is yet, but I’m sure it will grow from here on.