Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094471724561/episodes/16818792436686211819
“Have you reflected?”
“…Yes, I realize I did something incredibly foolish.”
“…Just stop it already.”
“…I won’t do it again.”
On the way to the club room, I’m getting lectured by Niiro and Hisada-chan. I’m truly a worthless person. I’m someone who can’t do anything right.
I can’t lift my face. I’m ashamed to show such a pathetic expression. I want to go back—I want to time slip back before I made that face. I want to go back before the original story changed, before I made that face.
“Nah, I thought it was funny.”
“…You.”
Saotome… You’re a genuinely good guy. That’s why you’re popular, and why I’m not even that jealous when you get attention.
But it’s because you didn’t draw Niiro and Hisada-chan’s attention that my guaranteed-to-make-you-laugh-your-ass-off ugly face got exposed. You should’ve made Niiro and Hisada-chan’s eyes turn into hearts. You should’ve made Niiro and Hisada-chan fall head over heels for you. It’s because you didn’t that I got yelled at.
“Don’t coddle him.”
“I’m sorry.”
Saotome got scolded just for covering for me. Sorry, but this happened because you didn’t make Niiro and Hisada-chan fall for you. You really need to reflect on that.
The two guys trudged along behind the two strong-willed girls. Having allies is reassuring. Thanks for getting scolded with me.
My slow walk wasn’t just from being scolded. I also hated getting involved with the original work again.
Ugh, why does the original work like me so much? No, wait, maybe it actually hates me intensely.
Ah, look, we’re already at the club room.
“Ah, hello.”
“…Hello.”
“Hey there.”
“…Hey.”
Fumi-senpai was already in the clubroom, so we each greeted her. Me and Saotome were clearly lacking energy.
“Well, you’re here. Blacker than the invited black, jet-black goldfish.”
…Goldfish? Question marks appeared above the heads of the other three.
This! This is Fumi-senpai’s offbeat, delusional-teenage-speak! Because they’re just common goldfish, you know? It’s just that “jet-black” sounds cool.
But that’s what’s great! That’s what makes Fumi-senpai so cute.
Yesterday I made that huge mistake of forgetting her character. If she’d just been a normal girl in that outfit, she’d have been nothing more than a cute cosplay sister. …Not that I’d have minded that, mind you.
“Hello. Thank you for coming again today. I thought you’d just join the club and never come back.”
Switching from middle schooler mode to club president mode.
That’s some quick switching. Doing that makes me suspect you have a split personality. I’m starting to lose faith in girls.
“Um… what exactly does this club do?”
Joining via original work power was a given, but asking this question after joining is a bit late, don’t you think?
“Nothing in particular, I guess?”
“””Huh!!”””
You’re thinking, “No way, right?” But it’s true. This club was created by the creator of Tokidoki just to give me a way to interact with Fumi-senpai. Who cares what we actually do?
Well, if I want to meet the usually quiet Fumi-senpai, the club is the only way. I could meet her in the library too, but since I went with a cliché setting, being the president of the Occult Research Club just felt more fitting.
So this club was created solely for Saotome and Fumi-senpai to meet.
“But we do have stuff to do sometimes. For today, just relax. We’ve got tons of board games, so feel free to play.”
“Yay! Let’s all play together~!”
I’d never played board games or multiplayer games before, so I really wanted to try them.
I didn’t have friends, so I’d play by myself, taking on five roles. But Ryuji and Takuya always ended up fighting, and the game would fall apart. Then I’d have to break up their fight, and I’d just think, “What the hell am I doing?” That was my board game experience.
So I really wanted to try playing a normal board game with a bunch of people.
I was feeling kinda down earlier, but the thought of playing board games perked me right up.
“♪〜”
Ah, Hisada-chan’s in a good mood.
You can tell she’s in a great mood just by looking at her, no words needed. She’s bouncing around. Her movements are lighter than usual, so she’s making a lot of unnecessary motions. She’s moving faster than anyone else to get ready for the board game, and her excitement is totally contagious.
Maybe since Hisada-chan is one of us, this is her first time playing a proper board game? If she’s been playing with her dolls as friends, I think that’s cute. …But she probably hasn’t.
“Well, if we’re doing this, let’s just get it over with.”
Hey, hey, don’t act like you’re doing me a favor since I’m the one who wants to play so badly, even though you’re the one who’s been looking forward to this the most. Anyone can see you’re the one who’s been most excited.
“Now then, can everyone keep up with my Lightning Heaven ~Beyond Speed~?”
Even if I say that, I’m the one looking forward to it second most after Hisada-chan. I just got swept up by Fumi-senpai and my inner middle-schooler came out.
Oh, and I’m doing the pose properly too.
“Hmph, fine.”
She was smiling. She’d normally give me a look of utter exasperation, but she was smiling. Not a mocking smile, but one that found me amusing as a rival.
“This isn’t some board game where we race for speed, you know.”
…Apparently not.
“Well, whatever. Maybe I’ll play too. Faster than trains, wider than rice paddies, tastier than steamed dishes. Den-da-mushi!”
That’s so lame I can’t defend it.
“As expected of Haruka-chan. Senpai. You two are the only ones who can keep up with my Lightning Heaven.”
“Of course.”
“I’m surprised too, that you pushed me to my absolute limit.”
The game was nearing its end, but the heat between me, Hisada-chan, and Fumi-senpai hadn’t cooled. Even when it’s just for fun, a battle where two all-outs collide head-on is exhilarating.
“Well, you three are just fighting for last place.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
Don’t say that~. Hearing that suddenly makes me feel embarrassed. After building up that whole climactic showdown vibe, we’re just fighting for last place?
“Let’s settle this. To end this contest.”
“…You got it.”
“Anytime.”
Hisada-chan, Fumi-senpai, and I pretended we hadn’t heard that last comment and started the board game again.
You probably get it by now, but these three were the group without friends. That’s why they find playing board games with a big group like this so incredibly fun.
So~ who’s gonna be dead last?
“Hmph. So this is the view from the summit… huh?”
The victor of this battle was, of course, me Mizuno Shota.
It was an incredibly tough fight. Either side could have won, but my desire to win was just a little bit stronger.
Well, that tiny difference is what creates the huge gap between winner and loser.
“Because the three of them were just fighting over last place.”
Saotome and Niiro had pulled way ahead of us, taking first and second. This world’s messed up when the unpassionate ones win.
…Ah well, let’s just ignore the inconvenient truths.
“So this is what losing feels like…”
“This is defeat… This will make me stronger.”
The other two are ignoring it too.
“No, our fight has only just begun!”
And I prepare to start the game over from the beginning.
We exchange glances and nod. It seems we’re all feeling the same way.
…Saotome and Niiro, don’t look at us like that.
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