Episode 8 – My favorite heroine’s best friend

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…

“…Oh, good morning! Bun kun! What a coincidence!”

As I was walking to school alone in the morning, Nanase gently tapped me on the back. Her voice was as cheerful as usual, but I sensed something awkward about it.

“Oh, good morning.”

I replied, feeling a little confused by her behavior.

“You were so late, I was worried you weren’t coming to school today.”

“What, were you waiting for me?”

“Eh…!? No, no… I wasn’t waiting for you! It was just a coincidence that we met here!”

“Oh, I see…”

You don’t have to try so hard…

“Thank you so much for yesterday.”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t do anything special. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

“That’s not true!! I was happy that you skipped class to find me. And you stayed on the phone with me until late at night, right?”

“…Well, I just listened to you.”

“That’s what matters. It’s really important to be able to vent your feelings.”

“…I guess so.”

“That’s how it is.”

After the conversation ended, for some reason, Nanase quietly turned her gaze toward me.

“Is something wrong?”

“Eh, what?”

“No, you’ve been staring at me for a while… If there’s something you want to say, I’ll listen.”

Nanase hesitated for a moment, then began to speak timidly.

“…You know. I’m confused.”

“Confused?”

Nanase nodded slightly.

“Should I try to get back to the way things were with Tenma and Hana chan, or should I just stop interacting with them altogether…”

Once, she had struggled with her relationship with Tenma after being rejected and chose to become friends with him again. But that was probably because Tenma wasn’t dating anyone else at the time.

But the situation has changed.

“So, no matter what choice I make… I want Bun kun to stay by my side. I don’t want him to leave me.”

As she said that, Nanase gripped my sleeve tightly. It was the first time I had seen her look so anxious.

“…I understand.”

When I replied, Nanase smiled as if she had been relieved from the bottom of her heart.

I don’t think this relationship with Nanase will last forever.

…Someday, she’ll fall in love with someone new and leave me. I’m just a temporary refuge for her.

When that time comes, I’ll give her my blessings. I’ll probably go crazy when I’m alone, though.

Thinking about that future, Nanase and I walked to school together.

　◇

During lunch break, as I was heading to the school store, I heard footsteps running up behind me.

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

“…Huh, me?”

“Yeah, you.”

I turned around and saw Tsukimi Hoshino standing there.

Tsukimi Hoshino. Her nickname is Hoshino. Nanase Hiyori’s best friend. A girl with long brown braids.

“You’re going to the school store, right? I’ll come too. I want to talk to Irie for a bit.”

“…Huh?”

Tsukimi wants to talk to me? What on earth is she going to say?

She’s petite, but there’s something intimidating about her.

“You skipped class with Hiyori the other day, didn’t you? Did something happen?”

…She found out. I left a little later than Nanase, and everyone was so focused on Nanase that I thought no one was paying attention to me.

…How should I respond? Do Tsukimi and the others even know about Nanase’s breakup?

“Ah… I heard from Hiyori herself that she was dumped by Kamito, so you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Oh, I see…”

Well, if that’s the case…

“Kamito and Ayabe-san. They’re dating, apparently.”

They didn’t seem to be hiding the fact that they were dating, so it shouldn’t be a problem to say it. Everyone will find out eventually anyway.

“Ah… I see.”

Tsukimi understood everything with that one word.

We arrived at the school store and bought our lunch.

Well, the conversation is over, so let’s call it a day.

“Well, I’ll be going then.”

“No, the conversation isn’t over yet.”

Just as I was about to leave, she grabbed my hand and stopped me.

What… It’s not over yet?

“…To be honest, I think it would be better if Hiyori didn’t have anything to do with him anymore.”

…Could this be the real issue?

“There’s no need to go through all that pain just to go back to the way things were before.”

Tsukimi said, looking a little sad.

She probably doesn’t want Nanase to get hurt any more than she already has.

“You’re a good friend, Tsukimi.”

“H-Huh? No… That’s not it… It’s just… gross.”

Tsukimi blushed and turned her head away.

“Actually, as Tsukimi-san said, I don’t think it’s wrong to avoid Kamito. Of course, it would be better if they could go back to being friends, but… if that happens, Nanase will definitely get hurt.”

“…That’s right. So there’s no need to make a choice that will cause pain.”

“But it’s not up to us to decide.”

“…………”

“In the end, there’s no right answer to this problem. We’ll do our best to support Nanase no matter which choice she makes. That’s all.”

“…Huh. You’re actually thinking about Hiyori. Even though you’re a pervert.”

“Wait, what do you mean by ‘pervert’?”

I couldn’t help but react to the unexpected words. If there was any misunderstanding, I had to clear it up.

“A pervert who dresses up in Hiyori’s skirt and ribbon.”

What the hell. I can’t deny a single thing.

“To be honest, I didn’t understand why Hiyori liked you so much… but I guess I kind of get it now.”

“…Everyone says the same thing, but I’m sure Nanase doesn’t really think anything of me.”

“Huh? You don’t know this, but lately Hiyori has been talking about Bun kun whenever she gets the chance…”

“Huh… Bun kun and Hoshinon? That’s an unusual combination.”

As I tried to enter the classroom, Nanase was standing in the doorway, blocking my way.

Tsukimi made a face as if to say, “Oh no.”

“Um, I was just going to the school store with Irie.”

“Huh? Were you two that close?”

Nanase looked unusually upset.

“”We’re not that close…””

Without thinking, Tsukimi and I harmonized perfectly and looked at each other. Seeing us like that, Nanase looked even more upset.

“Anyway, it’s not like that with him. Come on, let’s eat lunch.”　

Tsukimi-san walked away from me.

I thought Nanase would follow her, but she spoke to me instead.

“…Bun kun, are you eating lunch with anyone today?”

“Well, actually…”

“No lying.”

“…………………………….I’m eating alone.”

“Oh, I see… Well, then! Why don’t you eat with us?”

“Eh?”

“It’s a good opportunity to introduce Bun kun to everyone again! Come on, come this way~”

“Eh?”

What’s going on? This is happening too fast for me to keep up…

As usual, I was grabbed by the hand and dragged along.

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