Higashiba Hazuki Is Hated

[You’re the kid here!]

Nangou Rin, who had originally tried to slip away while we were talking, turned back around.

She was furious, looking as though she wanted to bite a chunk of flesh off Ichijou Rikou.

[Listen carefully.]

She raised her head arrogantly—though in truth she was straining to look at our faces.

She puffed out her completely unremarkable chest, making her look even more like an elementary schooler.

[My name is Nangou Rin.

First year, Class Twelve.

I’m in the same grade as you.]

[Eh——]

Kamizumi Tsuki let out a long sound of surprise, her eyes sparkling afterward.

[So cute.]

[Thanks, but I’d much rather hear “beautiful” or “sexy.”

“Mature” is acceptable too.]

She corrected her, emphasizing several words that had absolutely nothing to do with her.

[Nangou Rin… I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere.]

Ichijou Rikou fell into thought.

It took him a while before he reacted.

[You’re that “legal loli” Nangou Rin the boys in my class are always talking about, right?]

[Don’t just casually say the nickname those gross boys gave me!

It’s super embarrassing, okay!

What legal loli.

I’m a real sixteen-year-old girl, a first-year student at Sakurano High School.

I’m a mature high school girl!]

The moment Nangou Rin brought this up, she bristled like an angry kitten.

Her twin ponytails even twitched as if they had a will of their own.

If someone who loved this sort of thing were here, they’d probably be so excited they’d get a nosebleed.

They’d definitely shout something like—

Why does something this cute exist in the world.

In the original world, she also gained quite a bit of popularity and affection.

Of course, that didn’t include me.

Compared to everyone else’s passionate love for the five heroines during攻略, I felt nothing.

To me, this game was just a way to pass time when bored.

A force that accelerated decay.

Watching this scene, only boredom lingered in my heart.

But some people couldn’t handle it.

[Mmm, she really is cute.]

Kamizumi Tsuki’s eyes sparkled, and there was even a faint trace of maternal affection.

That reminded me of her setting—she completely melts whenever she sees children.

[Y-you, what do you mean.

Didn’t I already say it?

Not cute!]

[Alright.

Can you tell us now why you were following Higashiba-san?]

Fortunately, Ichijou Rikou, as the protagonist, didn’t have that setting.

He asked seriously.

[I—I—]

[I’m curious too, Nangou-san.

Even if we had a bit of an unpleasant exchange before, you didn’t need to follow me, right?]

I asked with the same confusion.

[It’s because of—because of your—]

Her gaze was full of resentment.

But more than that, it was jealousy.

It was fixed on a sensitive part of my body.

[Big boobs!]

[Eh——]

Kamizumi Tsuki cried out in surprise, then looked over.

She glanced at her own chest afterward and looked a bit deflated.

Ichijou Rikou was also led to look over before hurriedly turning his head away, awkward.

[I really don’t know how you grew like that.

When I asked you last time, you acted so casual about it, like you were looking down on me.

You even brushed me off with nonsense.

I drink milk every day too, you know!

So obviously you were lying to me.

Seriously, you’re just too awful!]

She launched into a continuous rant.

And then—

Her eyes turned fierce as she reached toward me.

[Those huge boobs must be fake, right!

You must be padding something in there!]

I didn’t react in time.

Or rather, at such a close distance, no one could have anticipated it.

Perhaps—

Nangou Rin’s suddenly lunging hands were caught.

[What do you think you’re doing?]

Ichijou Rikou frowned.

With one hand, he firmly grasped both of Nangou Rin’s wrists.

[Thank you, Ichijou-kun.]

I thanked him at that moment.

I didn’t really care, but basic courtesy still mattered.

[Well, I couldn’t just stand by and watch, could I?]

So was it really necessary to fire off that gentle beam of kindness at me?

Even so, the smile on my face deepened a little.

[Hey, hey, stop chatting back and forth over there.

Let go of me already, bastard.

It hurts, you’re grabbing too hard!]

Only then did Ichijou Rikou release her hands, looking apologetic.

[I’m very sorry.

But please don’t act so impulsively like that again.]

[—Apologizing so easily.

Looks like you’re not much of a man either.]

Nangou Rin still looked arrogant.

But she didn’t dare get any closer, her eyes fixed on Ichijou Rikou.

[But you’re the first man who’s ever treated me this roughly.

Oh right, you still haven’t told me your names!]

[My name is Ichijou Rikou.]

[Alright, Ichijou Rikou.

I’ll remember you.]

She finally seemed to look at him properly.

Ichijou Rikou’s action just now had hit her right in the heart.

She actually liked masculine men.

That was her secret maiden’s heart she couldn’t tell anyone about.

That moment alone had already raised her favorability a bit.

And that pleasant scent, too.

Well done, Ichijou-kun.

I felt a bit of pleasure as well.

[I’m Kamizumi Tsuki.

Rin, don’t be so impulsive next time, okay?

Otherwise Rikou-nii won’t be gentle with you.]

[Hmph—]

Faced with Kamizumi Tsuki’s advice, Nangou Rin was openly dismissive.

[As for me, Nangou-san, I don’t need to introduce myself, right?]

[Of course not.

Annoying girl!]

Such blatant hostility.

Though—

I didn’t care at all.

[So, Nangou-san, you followed Higashiba-san just to confirm—]

He didn’t finish the sentence.

It was a bit awkward.

It’s fine, Ichijou-kun.

This fake me doesn’t mind such things.

Noticing it at all already shows pretty good emotional intelligence.

Keeping it like this is fine too.

[Of course not.

I just wanted to see if Higashiba had some other secret method to make her chest bigger.

So I secretly followed her.]

[Then yesterday’s stalking was also you, right?]

[Of course.

But I only started yesterday.

Why was I discovered so quickly?]

Nangou Rin looked incredulous.

[Because your gaze was very obvious, Nangou-san.

And I just happen to be very sensitive to being watched.]

I kept smiling.

Inside, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.

It seemed the person constantly causing trouble behind the scenes had been found.

If it was just Nangou Rin, that was fine.

She didn’t seem like someone who had seen through my rotten nature.

[Then the person who deliberately stole and damaged Higashiba-san’s umbrella, and left those threatening messages, was also you, right?]

[Eh.

Tsuki went through something that awful?

Why didn’t you tell us?

And Rikou-nii, how do you know all that so clearly?]

[Ah, well, I once heard Higashiba-san mention it.]

[I didn’t want to trouble Tsuki and the others.

After all, it was my own issue.

I like whispering to books in the club room.

I guess I spoke a bit too loudly and Ichijou-kun overheard.]

[Is that so—]

She still looked half-convinced, but didn’t ask any further.

So troublesome, Ichijou-kun.

I was already starting to worry about the plans ahead.

This was the variable I least wanted to appear.

[I don’t get what you’re all talking about.]

Nangou Rin looked confused as I sighed.

[When did I ever steal Higashiba’s umbrella?

And threatening someone like that—how could I do something so awful?!]

[So it wasn’t you?]

[How could it be me?!]

It seemed the level of trouble had just gone up another notch.

[Higashiba-san, the real culprit still hasn’t been caught.]

Ichijou Rikou sighed.

[Yes, Ichijou-kun.]

[So someone really is targeting Higashiba.

Makes sense though.

You really are a pretty annoying person.]

Nangou Rin spoke gleefully.

But Kamizumi Tsuki immediately suppressed her, reaching out and roughly rubbing Nangou Rin’s head.

[Rin, you can’t say something that harsh.

How could Tsuki be hated?

You’re far too biased against her.]

[Ugh, let go!

What’s wrong with you, just touching people’s heads like that.

Are we even close?!

And how is Higashiba not hateable.

Girls with bodies like that, pretty faces like that, and acting all friendly toward everyone—

Seriously, I hate that the most!]

That sense of disgust was aimed at the persona I was playing.

After all, no matter how perfect someone is, it’s impossible to be liked by everyone.

So—

I smiled.

[Now that we know who was following me, I’ll head home.]

[That makes sense.

Rikou-nii, let’s go home too.

Rin, don’t follow Tsuki again, okay?

It really troubles people.]

[Y-you don’t get to tell me what to do!]

[Listen, listen, Rin, be good.]

[Where did you come from, you creep.

Hurry up and let go of me!]

In the end, Nangou Rin left with a belly full of resentment.

Her hair was a complete mess, as if it had been blown apart by a strong wind.

[So we actually walk the same route home, Tsuki?]

Kamizumi Tsuki asked curiously.

She squeezed herself between Ichijou Rikou and me.

With her added, the distance between us naturally grew wider.

[Looks like we’re pretty fated, Tsuki.]

[If we were really fated, there’s no way I wouldn’t have seen you on this road before.]

[We were bound to meet someday.

Didn’t we just do that now?]

[Hehe, that’s true—ah, I forgot to ask.

Tsuki, were you very familiar with Rikou-nii before?]

She clearly hadn’t let her guard down.

Toward any woman who might steal what belonged to her.

[If I had to say, we only met a few times.

Because we’re in the same club, Ichijou-kun took an interest in my situation.

That really surprised me.]

[Rikou-nii is that kind of person.

Like a hero from a story.]

[Tsuki, “hero” is a bit much for me.]

[For me, it fits perfectly!

Anyway, Tsuki, your trouble isn’t resolved yet.

From now on, you should walk home with us.

That way it’ll be safer.

Rikou-nii, remember to come pick me up at the kendo club every day.

Together with Tsuki.]

[Alright.

If that’s the case.]

Just like that, one more companion was added on the way home.

For me, that probably meant no more idle back-and-forth chatting with Ichijou Rikou.

Except during those leisurely lunch breaks.

That sacred resting space hadn’t yet been invaded by others.

—Higashiba-san, it seems I’ll be walking home with Tsuki now.

—Is that hard for you, Ichijou-kun?

—No.

I just wondered if it might affect Higashiba-san’s plans.

—It will affect them a little.

But it’s not a big problem.

—That’s good.

To be honest, I’m still not used to it.

After Tsuki showed up, it feels awkward talking to you, Higashiba-san.

It’s not as relaxed as before.

No matter how dull he was, even he could sense the danger.

—There’s nothing we can do about that.

—But listening to music together is still possible.

[——]

I fell silent for a moment.

Then, in the dim room, I smiled faintly.

—You decide then, Ichijou-kun.

—Okay.

—By the way, I didn’t expect you to be able to lie so naturally, Ichijou-kun.

—Lie?

—Being able to calmly lie in front of Tsuki.

That’s impressive, Ichijou-kun.

—I wasn’t lying at all, Higashiba-san.

An unexpected reply.

And it continued for several messages.

—I never lied.

Listening to Higashiba-san talk about her troubles, and wanting to help you—none of that was a lie.

—I just left out a lot of things.

Like how I’ve known Higashiba-san for a long time, and how we often walk home together.

Including the fact that Higashiba-san asked me for help.

When I thought about it carefully, that was indeed the case.

Kamizumi Tsuki had filled in a lot on her own, with a little push from me.

My fingers froze over the screen.

—You’re really sly, Ichijou-kun.