Episode 24 – The blonde, arrogant young lady has arrived
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622174787862558
It’s been a month since the new students enrolled.
They’re getting used to things and settling in. That’s the vibe at school right now.
Most of the friendships are set, so I’m relieved. It’s pretty much the same in the second and third years.
“Okay, that’s it for today, class representative.”
“Stand up, bow.”
Homeroom is over, and the class atmosphere instantly relaxes.
“Ren. Let’s go home together for the first time in a while.”
“Oh, okay… but what about club activities?”
“Today is off. We had practice matches on Saturday and Sunday.”
“I see.”
Our soccer club is one of the strongest in the prefecture, so that makes sense.
“What were the results?”
“We played four matches in total, with scores of 3-1, 6-2, 2-0, and 1-0.”
“Wow, you won all of them. That’s amazing.”
“…If you had been there, we would have won all of them by a landslide.”
No way. I would have just held you back.
“Well, I guess I’ll be going now.”
I stood up with my bag in hand.
Unusually, I was planning to go home alone today. Shiramine had left early on business.
“Oh, in that case, can I make a little detour? I have some errands to run.”
Come to think of it, it’s about time. I remember.
“Huh? What is it? Is something going on?”
“The latest volume of my favorite manga came out.”
These days, there are e-books, but I’m definitely a paper person.
“I see. Then let’s make a detour on the way home.”
“Sure.”
It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from the school to the station. We’re heading to the adjacent commercial facility.
“Still, I was surprised, Ren. About that rumor the other day…”
After leaving school and walking through the residential area for a while, Aota says.
“Oh, that? Well, it was just a late April Fool’s prank article.”
Externally, that’s how the article is presented.
“Still, Ren, don’t you have anyone you like?”
“No one.”
“Haha, I see. We’re both far from love, aren’t we?”
“Ah, haha…”
Who are you to say that? Depending on who hears it, that comment could start a war.
“Hm?”
I felt a gaze, or something like that, and turned around.
“What’s wrong?”
“…No, it’s probably just my imagination.”
Hmm. It was a strange feeling. …Oh, just to be clear, it wasn’t like the feeling you get when you’re piloting a humanoid robot, like “ping!”
“Then let’s get going. I’m hungry.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
I’m sure I’m just being sensitive because of what happened the other day.
Anyway, we arrived at the station. We passed through the square filled with students and office workers and headed toward the commercial complex.
“Well, I’m going to look at sports equipment, so let me know when you’re done shopping.”
“Alright, see you later.”
Aota also wanted to buy new guards for soccer, so he went to the sports shop next door.
“Well, well,”
Hehehe, this is quite convenient. After all, what I was planning to buy was, in terms of genre, a “romantic comedy.” The illustrations are pretty cheesy, so I’d feel a bit embarrassed if someone else saw me buying it.
I decided to just get it over with, so I slipped past the shelves of reference books and magazines and headed toward the manga section.
Then.
“…W-What. That suspicious person.”
A strange person was standing right in front of the manga I was looking for.
wearing a black hat, sunglasses, and a mask. covered head to toe in a long coat, looking like the epitome of a suspicious person.
“Um, customer? Are you looking for something?”
Oh, she must have looked suspicious, because the clerk approached her.
“Ah! Eh! That! Um!”
flustered. Really flustered. From the sound of her voice, she seems to be a woman.
“Um, it’s bothering other customers…”
“No, no! I’m just…”
Ugh, my chest hurts so much. It’s like when I read that picture book about the crying red ogre when I was a kid.
“Um, I’m sorry. Did my companion cause any trouble?”
“Oh, you have a companion with you. Well, this person’s outfit is a bit…”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that. She has a sun allergy.”
“Oh, I see. I apologize.”
The clerk bowed apologetically and hurried back to the register.
“…Who are you?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’m just a passing manga fan.”
I didn’t want to get involved, so I decided to buy it quickly and meet up with Aota. With that in mind, I reached for the bookshelf.
But then…
“W-What…?”
In the space where the new releases should have been, there was a gaping hole.
“Too bad. This is the last new release of ‘This Romantic Comedy Has No End.’”
“What!?”
What the hell? This one… she’s quite the expert!
“…Hahaha, you can’t buy the first edition anymore, but it’ll be reprinted soon anyway.”
“Damn it! Who are you!?”
“I’m not someone worth mentioning…”
A suspicious person… or rather, judging by the quality of their voice and their aura, they must be around the same age.
“Hey, Ren. Where are you?”
“!? Why are you here!?”
Aota’s voice echoed. At the same time, Long Coat-san (tentative name) let out a strange cry.
“Aota. Are you done already?”
“Hey, you! Do you know Hasezawa!?”
“Eh, well…”
“Damn it! Over here! Come on!”
“What!?”
Suddenly, I was pulled by the hand….?
“Wait, wait! This is bad!”
Behind the curtain, it was…
…the 18+ section.
“Haaahaaa, this should be okay, right?”
The girl took off her sunglasses. Then, her red eyes met mine.
“Ah, you’re…”
I recognized her. Or rather…
“Eh… What about that uniform!?”
It seems that once she took off her sunglasses, she realized which school my uniform was from.
“—Nishimiya Aira, right?”
“Huh!? How do you know!?”
“You’re famous at our school, aren’t you?”
With her rare appearance, golden hair, and red eyes, it’s no wonder she stands out regardless of gender.
“…What…what’s your purpose?”
“Huh?”
“W-What are you going to do now that you know I’m an otaku!?”
“Well…”
I don’t really have any plans…
“Right, I understand. … Ugh, I understand.”
Nishimiya took off her mask and hat. Her hair, which had been tied up under her hat, fell down onto her shoulders.
“Wait, there’s been a misunderstanding…”
In an instant, Nishimiya’s face contorted with a look of regret, and large tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
“—I’ll do anything… I’ll do it, so please don’t tell anyone about this.”
“…Eh, Eeh.”
What should I do? What should I do? It seems like I’ve gotten myself into a really complicated situation.
Honestly, I wanted to run away right now.
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