Rabu kome manga no sekai ni haitte shimattanode - Epilogue

Epilogue

The day after our amusement park date.

After my confession succeeded, we went home like normal.

No… I guess it wasn’t exactly normal.

Sei-chan and I walked home holding hands!

Man, I was seriously nervous.

Even now, a whole day later, I still can’t forget the feel of Sei-chan’s small, soft hand.

No, more than that, I might never forget anything that happened yesterday for the rest of my life.

The cuteness of her outfit when we first met was downright shocking.

And we enjoyed the attractions together… no, don’t think about the haunted house.

I mean, I really… started going out with Sei-chan.

The corners of my mouth lift before I can stop them.

“…Onii-chan, why are you grinning while you’re eating breakfast?”

“Hm? Oh, I was just kind of laughing at a memory.”

“…I see.”

Sitting across from me was my little sister, Rie, eating breakfast with me.

“Thanks for breakfast again today. It’s delicious.”

“…Mm.”

When I said that, Rie’s hand paused for just a moment before she gave a vague reply and resumed eating.

But are her ears a little red, or is that just my imagination?

“I made you a bento too. It’s just leftovers from last night’s dinner, though.”

“Thanks. So that means nikujaga from last night? I love that, so I’m happy.”

“…Okay.”

Yeah, it’s definitely not my imagination—now her cheeks are red too.

The way she tries to hide it is so cute that my own cheeks loosen into a smile.

After finishing breakfast, Rie and I head back to our rooms to get ready for school.

Since today’s Monday, it’s a normal school day.

Come to think of it, yesterday Sei-chan told me…

‘P-please keep the fact that we’re dating a secret at school.’

That’s what she said.

It’s a common student thing, I think—some couples announce they’re dating, and others keep it secret.

I’m sure everyone has their reasons, but Sei-chan’s reason for wanting to hide it was…

‘B-because it’s embarrassing if other people find out…’

That was why.

When she said that, she was so cute I thought my heart might explode.

If I keep dating Sei-chan, I might actually die someday in a manga-style scene where my heart literally explodes.

I’ll try not to let that happen… try what, exactly?

Thinking that, I change into my uniform and leave my room.

“Onii-chan, let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s.”

Today again, Rie and I ride double on the bicycle to school.

We go down from the second floor to the first, change our shoes at the entrance, and just before heading out.

“You got your bento?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it. Thanks.”

“Mm… s-so, Onii-chan, how was your date yesterday?”

“Huh? O-oh… yeah, it was really fun.”

“I see… s-so, um… did you start going out…?”

Rie said that as she looked up at me worriedly.

It seems she’s worried I might have gotten dumped by my date.

Well, if your big brother gets rejected, that’s a little awkward for a little sister too.

Hmm… Sei-chan told me not to tell anyone else, but it should be fine to tell my little sister, right?

Rie’s not the type to go blabbing to other people anyway.

“Yeah, we’re officially going out, so relax.”

“—…I-I see…”

Huh… did she just look even more down?

Wait, did Rie want me to get rejected?

Was she that mean of a girl…?

That would be kind of a shock to your big brother, you know.

“That’s good, Onii-chan. You were the one who confessed, right?”

“Y-yeah… Huh? Did I tell you that?”

“After you left for your date yesterday, I asked Shigemoto-san.”

“Oh, Yūichi.”

Right, Yūichi was still at my place after I left yesterday.

“…Is your girlfriend cute?”

“Hm? Yeah, of course. She’s insanely cute.”

If anyone dared say Sei-chan isn’t cute, I’d knock them out.

“…Who’s cuter, me or her?”

“…Huh?”

Rie’s sudden question made me blurt out in confusion.

When I turned toward her, her cheeks were even redder than they had been at breakfast.

“N-never mind! Come on, Onii-chan, let’s go!”

Embarrassed, Rie left the entrance without me.

I never expected Rie to ask something like that…

Besides, even if she leaves first, we’re going by bike together, so what’s the point?

When I stepped outside and went to where the bike was parked, Rie was already sitting on the back.

“F-forget I asked that earlier. Come on, let’s go, Onii-chan.”

“…Haha, sure.”

“W-what are you laughing at?!”

“I was just thinking that you’re cute after all, Rie.”

“—…Idiot Onii-chan!”

As I straddled the bike, Rie smacked my back as if to hide her embarrassment.

Accepting it gladly, I started pedaling.

 

After about ten minutes of pedaling.

Just before reaching the usual spot where I drop Rie off before the school…

“H-Hisamura!”

“Hm? Eh, Sei-chan!?”

When I turned toward the voice calling my name, Sei-chan was standing there.

I slammed on the brakes, and Rie bumped her head into my back.

“Ow…!”

“Ah, sorry, Rie. You okay?”

“Y-yeah, I’m fine… but who’s that?”

“Uh, that’s Shimada Sei-chan, um… my girlfriend.”

“—…So that’s her…”

Rie said that with a hint of interest and looked toward Sei-chan.

Well, your big brother’s girlfriend would pique your curiosity a little.

Sei-chan walked over to where I had stopped the bike.

“G-good morning, Hisamura.”

“Y-yeah, good morning, Sei-chan.”

“Is that the little sister you mentioned before, Hisamura?”

“Yeah.”

Rie got off the back of the bike and stood in front of Sei-chan.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Rie.”

“Ah, nice to meet you. I’m Shimada Sei.”

“You’re Onii-chan’s girlfriend, right?”

“Huh… Hisamura, you told Rie-san?”

“Uh, well, sorry… I told her.”

“I-I see… Well, at least to your little sister… Um, to formally say it, I am… y-your big brother’s g-girlfriend.”

Gah… Sei-chan, stop it. Are you trying to make me die from flustered agony first thing in the morning?

“Um, thank you for always taking care of Onii-chan.”

“No, it’s the other way around. I’m always in your big brother’s care.”

…This is incredibly embarrassing for me.

I never imagined the girlfriend I just got yesterday would be greeting my sister right in front of me…

“But just as Hisamura said before, Rie-san is very cute.”

“—Onii-chan says stuff like that outside too?!”

“Yes, he said you’re his pride and joy of a little sister.”

“…Onii-chan, don’t say things like that outside.”

“I’m just saying what I genuinely think.”

“—I-I told you not to say stuff like that.”

“Fufu, you really are very cute.”

Sei-chan smiled as she complimented Rie.

“—S-Shimada-san, please stop too…”

“Sei is fine. It feels a little strange being called by my last name by Hisamura’s little sister.”

“…Then you can call me just Rie too, Sei-san.”

“Alright, Rie.”

Oh—Rie and Sei-chan are getting along already.

Good. In the original story, they didn’t interact much here, so I wasn’t sure how their chemistry would be.

It seems it’s not bad at all.

“…By the way, Sei-san, don’t you call Onii-chan by his first name?”

“Hm!? Ah, well, um…”

Sei-chan’s cheeks flushed, and she kept glancing over at me.

“Onii-chan calls you by your first name… and even adds -chan.”

“Ah, well, yeah, I guess so.”

Rie ended up asking a surprisingly bold question.

I’d actually been a little curious about what Sei-chan would call me too.

Of course, I’d be happier being called by my first name rather than my surname.

“Um… s-someday, once a little more time has passed, I’ll call you that… so please wait.”

“…Alright.”

If she looks up at me like that and says something like that, I could wait for decades.

But someday, if we ended up sharing the same surname… Wait, stop. If I keep going with this fantasy, I’ll die from happiness.

“…Onii-chan, Sei-san, could you not flirt in front of me?”

“W-We’re not flirting!”

“I question your standards if you can say that isn’t flirting…”

“Huh…? W-We’re not flirting, are we?”

“…I see.”

Apparently, Sei-chan and Rie have different standards for what counts as flirting.

Even I thought we might’ve been flirting a little just now…

But to Sei-chan, it didn’t seem that way.

Which means when Sei-chan seriously decides to flirt, it’ll be more than this… and I’m really looking forward to that.

“By the way, Sei-chan, it’s the first time we’ve run into each other here. What’s up?”

This spot… is where we parted ways after going to that café together after school before.

“Ah, well… I thought if I waited here, you’d come by, Hisamura…”

“Ghk… Sei-chan, your cuteness is piercing through the clouds this early in the morning…!”

“S-Stop, that’s embarrassing…!”

“…This is flirting, right?”

“I-I didn’t intend to flirt!”

No, I’m pretty sure she was the one who started that just now.

“Th-Then, Sei-chan, want to walk to school together?”

“T-That was the plan… but you’re going by bike with Rie, right?”

Right—I’d ridden double with Rie on the bike.

Well, in that case, I could just walk the bike instead.

“Then I’ll ride the bike by myself.”

“Huh?”

Saying that, Rie swung her leg over the bike I was holding.

“I’ll head ahead on the bike, so you and Sei-san can take your time together.”

“Rie, are you sure?”

“It’s fine. Besides, if I stay around you two together any longer, I might start throwing up sugar.”

“Huh? Rie, do you have some kind of illness like that? Are you alright?”

…Sei-chan took Rie’s words at face value and hurried over to her, looking genuinely worried.

“I’ve never heard of an illness where you vomit sugar… are you really okay?”

“No, Sei-chan, that’s not it. ‘Throwing up sugar’ is just, like, a figurative expression.”

“It just means the atmosphere between you two is so sweet that my body might start producing sugar.”

“Wha—!? Wh-What do you mean by ‘sweet atmosphere’!?”

Sei-chan could be surprisingly airheaded at times.

“Well then, I’ll get going.”

“Yeah, thanks, Rie.”

Rie started pedaling the bike.

“Thank you, Rie. Let’s talk properly together sometime.”

“Y-Yes.”

Sei-chan gave her a really cool smile, and Rie replied with her cheeks slightly flushed.

Then Rie stood on the pedals and rode off toward school as if she were fleeing.

“…Her face looked rather red—does she have a cold? Is Rie pushing herself too hard?”

“No, she’s probably fine. It’s your fault, Sei-chan.”

“M-My fault? Why?”

“Sei-chan, don’t go charming my whole family, okay?”

“W-What do you mean by that!?”

Come to think of it, in the original story, Sei-chan was the handsome type who was popular with girls.

Seeing that just now, I can understand why.

“Anyway, we should get going too or we’ll be late. Let’s go.”

“R-Right.”

And so, the two of us began walking together at a relaxed pace.

Compared to when we walked back from our after-school café date… the distance between us was clearly smaller.

If I moved my hand just a little, it would brush against Sei-chan’s.

No… maybe that’s exactly what we both want.

“…Sei-chan, can we hold hands?”

“…Yeah, that’s fine, but…”

With her permission, I took her left hand in my right.

“D-Don’t just grab it out of nowhere, you’ll startle me.”

“Huh? You just said it was fine.”

“I-I was going to finish. Holding hands is fine, but it’s embarrassing if people at school see us… so once we reach where there are lots of students, we’ll let go.”

“Mm, got it. Then about five minutes.”

Then I’ll treasure these five minutes.

Sei-chan’s hand was just as soft and warm as I expected.

I honestly wanted to keep holding it forever.

But if we did that, my sweaty palms would definitely become a problem… they might already be a problem.

I-Is it okay? As long as Sei-chan isn’t bothered, I guess it’s fine.

“Sei-chan, is the sweat on our hands okay?”

“! S-Sorry, is my hand that sweaty!?”

“Huh? N-No, not yours—mine, mine.”

It seemed my wording made her misunderstand.

“I-I see. Well, in that case it’s fine. I’m probably, um, sweating too…”

“If it’s your sweat, Sei-chan, it’s not gross, so it’s fine.”

“No, sweat is gross no matter who it’s from…”

Sei-chan’s sweat wouldn’t bother me at all if it were me.

No, actually, I’d be curious about it—the scent and all.

…There’s no way I’d ever tell Sei-chan that, though. She’d think I was a pervert.

For a while, we were both still a little embarrassed, so we walked along in silence.

…We held hands yesterday too, but maybe it’d be okay to go a little further today.

“Sei-chan, can we hold hands like lovers?”

“—…Y-Yeah, I don’t mind…”

After getting her permission again, I let go of her hand once—then immediately took it again.

This time, I laced our fingers together—the style known as lovers’ handhold.

It feels more intimate than just holding hands normally… and just like the name suggests, it makes us feel more like lovers.

We both got even more embarrassed than before and fell completely silent again.

But… even though it felt a little awkward, I was still happy.

I hope Sei-chan feels just as happy as I do… I wonder if she does.

 

A few minutes later, more and more students started appearing around us, so we stopped holding hands.

I would’ve wanted to stay like that forever—really forever—but I understood that Sei-chan felt embarrassed.

It seemed she didn’t want people at school to know we were dating.

I mean, a guy and a girl walking to school alone together might stand out a little, but without holding hands, it probably wouldn’t draw too much attention.

From other people’s perspective, they wouldn’t even know where we started walking together.

It’s not unusual for a close guy and girl who happen to run into each other on the way to school to walk there together.

“By the way, did you tell Fujise that we’re dating?”

“Yeah, I told Shiho. When I called her last night.”

“You two are really close, as expected.”

“Hisamura, did you tell Shigemoto?”

“No, not yet. After he fainted yesterday, Tōjōin-san’s been taking care of him the whole time.”

“Right, that’s how it was.”

Yesterday, Yūichi was confessed to by Tōjōin-san and Fujise, and after agonizing over it like crazy, he ended up fainting.

Seeing that, Tōjōin-san apparently overreacted and had him examined with the latest medical equipment while nursing him.

Or maybe it wasn’t overreacting?

If steam comes out of someone’s head and they faint on the spot, of course you’d worry like crazy.

It happens because this is a manga world, but in reality, he might’ve actually died.

Anyway, after all the tests, apparently nothing was wrong.

Well, nothing happening is the best outcome.

He’ll probably come to school like normal today too.

Yūichi has already been confessed to by both Tōjōin-san and Fujise.

From here on, things will probably unfold in ways I don’t know—different from the original story.

From now on, I’ll just quietly watch over Yūichi and the romantic situation with those two.

As his best friend, I’ll help out a little when I can, though.

“A-At school, don’t go talking about us dating, okay?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“That’s good… though Shigemoto’s probably going to ask a lot of questions. That’s just how he is.”

“Yeah… that’s the kind of guy he is.”

He’s the type who’ll ask about things you’d rather keep secret, even in front of other people, without any bad intentions.

Worst case, I’ll knock him out to shut him up.

 

After savoring that blissful time walking to school with Sei-chan, we arrived at school.

Since Sei-chan and I are in the same class, we naturally headed straight into the same classroom together.

“Ah, Sei-chan, good morning. Good morning to you too, Hisamura-kun.”

“Yeah, Shiho, good morning.”

“Mornin’.”

Fujise, who was near the classroom door, greeted us when she saw us.

“Fufu, did you two come to school together?”

Maybe because we entered the classroom together, Fujise said that.

“N-No, we just happened to run into each other on the way. Right, Hisamura?”

“…Yeah. We just happened to meet.”

“Fufufu, is that so?”

“H-Hey, Shiho, you know the truth, don’t you…!”

Sei-chan started talking to Fujise in a small voice.

But since I was nearby, I could hear everything just fine.

“I know. You were asking me for tons of advice yesterday, Sei-chan.”

“D-Don’t say that here! If someone hears you…!”

“It’s fine. No one can hear us.”

Fujise said that and glanced over at me.

She definitely knows I can hear her and is talking anyway.

Sei-chan, on the other hand, seems to think I can’t hear her.

“You were debating whether to message Hisamura-kun on RINE to set up a meeting so you could go to school together.”

“T-That’s true, but…”

“You said it was something you wanted to do once you had a boyfriend.”

S-So that’s how it was…!

I’d love to go to school together every day too, but knowing Sei-chan felt the same makes me incredibly happy.

And she even consulted Fujise about it last night—how is that not ridiculously cute?

“Sh-Shiho, you never know who might be listening…!”

“Fufu, okay, okay. And the part about wanting matching outfits once you got a boyfriend—that’s a secret too, right?”

“T-That’s why I said don’t say it here…!”

Just as Sei-chan said that, our eyes met.

Her cheeks were already flushed with embarrassment, but they turned even redder.

“Hi-Hisamura…! You heard that just now, didn’t you…!?”

“N-No, I didn’t hear anything…?”

“R-Really? What’s the truth?”

“…Would matching rings be okay?”

“So you did hear it!”

After that, I got scolded by a completely red-faced Sei-chan.

Why is it that Fujise isn’t getting scolded, but I am?

For now, I guess I need to prepare a ring worth three months’ salary… no, wait, that’s not right.

 

After that, we attended classes as usual, and then it was lunchtime.

“Yo, Yūichi.”

As usual, I decided to eat with Yūichi by the classroom windows.

I sat in the front seat, and Yūichi sat behind me as we ate our lunch.

“Yo, Tsukasa. Thanks for yesterday. We didn’t run into you at the amusement park even once, but you were watching over my date with Fujise, right?”

“Ah… about that…”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t told Yūichi that it was my fault Tōjōin-san showed up there.

While casually eating my lunch, I explained what had happened.

“Huh, really?”

“Yeah, sorry. It ended up interfering instead.”

“No, it’s fine. In the end… I’m glad I got to hear Kaori’s feelings too.”

“Just explode.”

“That came out of nowhere!?”

“Take a calm look at your situation. Your childhood friend since elementary school—a beautiful, refined, bombshell of a girl—and one of the most popular girls among the guys at our school both confessed to you at the same time… If you saw someone else in that situation, what would you do?”

“…Stab him from behind on a dark street.”

“See? You get it. Watch your back at night.”

“Hold on, I’m joking. I wouldn’t actually stab someone from behind, but I’d definitely be jealous.”

“Exactly. So be careful walking at night.”

“I said I was joking.”

“Ara, I’ll eliminate anyone who tries to stab Yūichi from behind, so you can rest easy and walk with me at night.”

“……”

As Yūichi and I were talking, a female voice suddenly came from right beside us.

We both looked up at the same time, and of course, Tōjōin Kaori was standing there.

“Good day, Yūichi, Hisamura-kun.”

“Y-Yo, Kaori.”

“G-Good day, Tōjōin-san.”

Does Tōjōin-san have some kind of ability to erase her presence?

I didn’t notice her at all until she spoke.

Her appearance was far more radiant than when she had resolved not to interfere with the date yesterday.

Just by entering the classroom, she had nearly everyone’s eyes turned toward us.

“Yūichi, I made lunch for you today. You’ll eat it, won’t you?”

“Huh, seriously? Wait, Kaori, you can cook?”

“Of course. There’s nothing I can’t do.”

In the original story too, Tōjōin-san’s cooking skills were said to rival those of a professional.

Yūichi took the bento and opened it, revealing a spread of incredibly appetizing dishes.

“Whoa, amazing!”

“Fufu, I’ll make it for you every day starting tomorrow. You can eat a lot, Yūichi, so that’s fine, right?”

“Yeah, this much is easy.”

“Wait, so Tōjōin-san’s going to come to this class starting tomorrow and eat with us?”

“Yes, that’s the plan. Would that be a bother?”

“N-No, I don’t mind.”

I didn’t expect Tōjōin-san to be this aggressive.

She’s probably planning to win him over through his stomach.

Meanwhile, the other candidate for Yūichi’s girlfriend…

“W-What should I do, Sei-chan? Should I start bringing a homemade lunch too…?”

“No, in your case, Shiho, I think you need practice first.”

Fujise looked over here a bit anxiously, while Sei-chan looked slightly pale.

That’s right—Fujise is… the classic terrible-cook heroine.

The kind of heroine in rom-com manga who creates dark-matter-like substances instead of food.

I seriously wonder how that even happens. Does she use some unknown ingredient or something?

She’s not clumsy at all in her normal behavior, yet somehow when she cooks, she makes basic mistakes like mixing up sugar and salt.

All of that combines, and apparently the final result is something like white stew that somehow turns pitch black.

Meanwhile, Sei-chan—who sometimes shows a bit of clumsiness—was, according to the original story, absolutely perfect when it came to cooking.

I’m curious about Fujise’s disastrous cooking, sure—but more than that, I’d die to eat a lunch Sei-chan made for me.

For my last meal, I’d absolutely want it to be Sei-chan’s homemade cooking.

“Sei-chan, will you teach me again sometime?”

“…O-Of course. But when we’re cooking, please follow all of my instructions exactly. Seriously, I’m begging you.”

“Okay, thank you!”

…That’s what they’re saying over there, but I’m really worried.

Fujise’s cooking is so bad that even Sei-chan couldn’t immediately agree to teach her.

Sei-chan cares so much about her friend that she could say she’d go alone to the amusement park just to watch over Yūichi and Fujise’s date.

Yet even over something as “just cooking,” she hesitates.

“Yūichi, Hisamura-kun, may I sit here?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Of course.”

Tōjōin-san sat near our seats and opened her own bento.

It appeared to have the same contents as Yūichi’s.

“Fufu, laying out the same lunch like this makes it feel like we’re a family, doesn’t it, Yūichi?”

“…D-Does it?”

“Yes, it does. I’d be the wife, and Yūichi the husband… ara, by your birthday next year, that might truly be the case.”

“…W-Who knows…”

…You’re coming hard, Tōjōin-san.

This is the classroom during lunch break at school, you know?

There are a ton of students all around us, you know?

Ever since Tōjōin-san walked in, everyone’s been straining to listen, you know?

“D-Did you hear that just now…?”

“So they’re already engaged after all…”

The students around us were all saying things like that.

…Shouldn’t you have that kind of conversation after the people involved are gone, or at least in voices they can’t hear?

We can hear every word of it over here, you know.

“Ara, we’re not engaged just yet.”

Naturally, Tōjōin-san had heard them too, but none of us expected her to respond, and both I and the surrounding students were stunned.

“Ah… I-Is that so?”

One of the boys nearby said that.

“Yes, that’s right. But… it’s true that I want to marry Yūichi.”

“Eeeeh!?”

Since Tōjōin-san said it so openly, not just that boy but everyone around us cried out in shock.

Some of the girls even let out high-pitched squeals of excitement.

“H-Hey, Kaori! Not in a place like this…!”

“Ara, isn’t it your fault for not understanding my feelings all this time, Yūichi?”

“I-I said I’m sorry about that…!”

Man, Tōjōin-san is strong.

At this rate, another rumor will probably spread throughout the entire school.

A rumor that Tōjōin Kaori loves Shimamoto Yūichi and wants to marry him.

And this time, unlike the lie Tōjōin-san spread before, it’s the truth—with plenty of witnesses.

It’ll definitely spread faster than the last rumor.

If that happens… there won’t be any room left for Fujise to step in.

“W-Wait a second…!”

Just as I was thinking that, a voice rang out across the classroom.

When I looked over, Fujise—who had been sitting far away until just a moment ago—stood up and began walking toward us.

With everyone in the class watching her, Fujise spoke, her face bright red.

“I-I do too…! I love Shimamoto-kun too! I won’t lose to Tōjōin-san!”

A moment of silence—then the classroom erupted in screams.

“Eeeeeeeeh!?”

“F-Fujise-san likes Shimamoto too!?”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!? The two girls who compete for cutest in the whole school both want Shimamoto!?”

“A showdown! A showdown! This is the best!”

What an absolute scene of screaming chaos.

The guys in particular were shouting in jealousy and despair.

Yeah, well, I get how they feel.

If I didn’t have Sei-chan, I might’ve been on their side too.

“H-Hey, F-Fujise too, why here of all places…!”

“B-Because if I didn’t say it now, the rumor that Shimamoto-kun is Tōjōin-san’s fiancé would spread again…!”

“Fufu, you’ve got some nerve, Fujise-san. That’s exactly what makes you worthy of being my rival.”

At some point, Tōjōin-san had stood up as well, and now she and Fujise were smiling as they glared at each other.

“I’m sorry to say this, Fujise-san, but I’ve never lost once since I was born into this world.”

“Well, that’s good then. Since I think this will be your first loss, you’ll grow stronger from it.”

“Even if I were to lose once or twice in my life, it certainly wouldn’t be here.”

“Who knows? You never know what life has in store.”

…You two are seriously sparking, aren’t you?

The classroom that had been in utter chaos moments ago fell completely silent as everyone listened to the two of them.

The fact that they’re smiling at each other makes it even scarier.

“Shimamoto-kun, Hisamura-kun, can I eat lunch with you too?”

“Huh? O-Oh… sure.”

“If Yūichi’s fine with it, I have nothing to say.”

“Thank you.”

“Ara, aren’t you going to ask me?”

“Ah, sorry, I forgot about you, Tōjōin-san. It’s fine if I join too, right?”

“…Fufu, I don’t mind.”

Scary. This is seriously scary.

Wait, I have to eat lunch while sitting in the middle of this showdown?

“Yūichi, starting tomorrow, can I just eat alone in the cafeteria?”

“Don’t. I’m seriously begging you, stay here.”

“….”

“Oi, say something.”

What should I do… should I abandon Yūichi…?

“Ah, Sei-chan! Sei-chan, come over here and eat with us!”

“…Shiho, I’m glad I wasn’t forgotten, but you’re calling me into this?”

“Yeah, let’s eat together?”

“…Sigh, fine.”

Wait, Sei-chan’s joining this group too?

Then if I stay here, from now on we’ll always be together…

“Yūichi, there’s no way I’d betray you. Let’s eat together.”

“Yeah, dude, you’re the worst.”

What do you mean I’m the worst? I’m staying for Yūichi’s sake.

So, since the five of us were eating together, we shifted the seating around a bit.

We pulled over nearby chairs and desks and pushed them together.

Yūichi sat in front of me, and on either side of him sat Tōjōin-san and Fujise.

And next to me… was Sei-chan.

“Sei-cha… Shimada, nice to see you.”

“…Yeah, likewise.”

That was close—I almost called her Sei-chan in front of everyone in class.

Sei-chan glared at me slightly, her cheeks flushed. Sorry.

“Yūichi, is my lunch delicious?”

“Y-Yeah, it’s good.”

“Fufu, I’m glad.”

“Shimamoto-kun, I’ll make a lunch for you next time—will you eat it?”

“O-Of course, I’m looking forward to it.”

Yūichi doesn’t know that Fujise can’t cook.

So he’s probably genuinely looking forward to it… but will he be okay?

“…Sigh.”

After hearing that exchange, Sei-chan let out a sigh quiet enough that the three in front couldn’t hear it.

Yeah, it seems like he won’t be okay after all.

It’s going to be tough for Sei-chan to teach Fujise how to cook all by herself…

I leaned closer to Sei-chan’s ear and spoke to her.

“Sei-chan.”

“! W-What is it…?”

Maybe because I suddenly spoke right by her ear, Sei-chan flinched.

“I’ll help watch over Fujise’s cooking too.”

“Hmph… you know? That Shiho’s… cooking is utterly disastrous?”

“Well, I can tell just by your reaction, Sei-chan.”

Though really, it’s because I know from the original story.

“I-Is that so…? It would help if you did. We once made a cake together before… but I still don’t understand why a shortcake turned black.”

“…I don’t know if having me there will be enough to fix that level of disaster, but yeah, I’ll do my best.”

It’s probably hopeless, but I’ll try not to die.

 

In front of me and Sei-chan, Yūichi was flustered, sandwiched between Tōjōin-san and Fujise.

Being popular with girls must be tough—and the looks the other guys are giving him are intense.

I seriously hope he’s careful not to get stabbed from behind on a dark street.

From here on out, the three of them will probably keep this rom-com going.

As Yūichi’s best friend—and as a fan of this story—I’ll just watch over it.

And… beside me, watching the three of them with the corners of her lips slightly raised, is Sei-chan.

Originally, she too was supposed to join those three in front of us and fall in love with Yūichi as a sub-heroine.

I changed that fate.

From now on, I’ll be the one to make her happy.

“…Hm? W-What is it, staring at me like that?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, I was just looking.”

“—D-Don’t say things like that in a place like this.”

“Fufu, sorry, sorry.”

Ah… I really do love Shimada Sei.

I couldn’t wait for the high school life ahead—spending it together with her.

<Chapter 4 | Index | Afterword>