Chapter 11: It might not be a mob

My answer there was, of course, obvious.

“Please give me a little more time to think about it.”

Hiiragi-senpai nodded as if disappointed, but he still didn’t lose his composure. That smile felt like ‘I’ll wait anytime’, but my position was clear.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to. I just need more time to think.’

At first, I thought I was a mob, so I tried to refuse the student council, which is the role of the protagonist, or the seats next to Mizuki and Aya, but now I’m starting to realize little by little.

My entrance grades, the attention of the two, and the reaction of the student council members.

If there is no protagonist, maybe I’m not exactly a mob?

If I’m not a mob, I don’t need to act like a mob.

It was because I was late in grasping my position due to the shock after possession, but since there is no protagonist anyway, I didn’t seem to need to hide.

Besides… there was a personal reason.

‘Because watching youth romantic comedy was also an admiration.’

Of course, the thrilling scenes in the love part were good…

But more important than that was the ‘school life’ itself in the world of romantic comedy.

It’s not the boring daily life of eating, sleeping, waking up, going to school, and going to cram school every day, but an ideal school life that is different from reality unfolds.

Honestly, if I, who know everything that will happen in the future, open my heart a little, maybe I can become the protagonist in this world.

I could actually enjoy school life as I wanted before my past life… no, before I fell asleep.

If I’m not a mob, I don’t need to refuse to stand in the center anymore.

My heart felt much lighter when I made that decision.

***

As soon as I returned to the classroom, Aya quietly approached me.

Aya’s gaze was still warm, and there was a slight hint of worry.

Aya carefully held my hand without saying anything.

I was surprised for a moment, but I wasn’t flustered like before.

“Rina, you don’t look well. Did you get an upset stomach?”

Aya’s fingertips gently moved, slightly squeezing my palm.

When that warm warmth was conveyed, I felt my tension instinctively relax.

“Ah, no! I’m just a little tired.”

I quickly tried to pull my hand away, but Aya slowly rubbed my palm.

“It’s a method my mom taught me. If you gently press your palm, it will get a little better.”

Aya’s touch was delicate yet soft.

I felt a strange sense of stability in that soft movement.

‘In the morning, I would have broken out in a cold sweat just by holding hands… Me, if I change too much, wouldn’t Aya dislike it?’

Ugh, I wanted to hide for no reason.

Where did Kurosawa Rina, who was saying ‘Maybe I’m amazing?’ until a while ago, go!!

“…Where did you learn this?”

“My mom used to do it a lot when I was little.”

Aya’s mother, who is from Northern Europe, was portrayed in the novel only as an elegant and noble image.

But this is the first time I’ve learned that she has such a small and warm side.

Then Mizuki playfully intervened from the side.

“Ayarin~ Aren’t you being too kind to Rina? I think I’m going to be jealous~”

“Mizuki, what can I do if I’m worried about Rina.”

Aya answered calmly and smiled slightly, and I felt my heart warm for some reason when I saw Aya like that. The attention of Aya, which was only burdensome before, now felt a little comfortable.

I quietly clenched my hand and thought to myself.

‘…She’s really a goddess. This is why everyone falls for Aya.’

I stared blankly at the place where Aya’s touch had left.

Strangely, it seemed like my digestion was working.

The warmth that remained on my fingertips was warm, and that sensation did not leave my head.

‘Because she’s taking care of me like this… I keep being conscious of it.’

I quickly shook my head.

This is just the consideration of a kind friend.

Aya, who didn’t think of the concept of friendship as very important until now, simply accepted me as a ‘harmless friend’.

‘Yeah, I’m not a boy now, I’m Kurosawa Rina.’

But when I glanced at Aya’s side profile, the soft smile and warm gaze came to mind…

‘…This kind of atmosphere is too much of a foul.’

Maybe it’s because it was after I accepted that I was a great character than I thought?

I felt like something was slowly collapsing inside me.

Then, Mizuki intervened with a familiar playful voice.

“Rina, do you have any worries?”

I was startled and hurriedly waved my hands, saying, “Huh?! That’s not it!”

But Mizuki looked at me with a strange look, rested her chin on her hand, and said meaningfully.

“Hmm~ Really? But it looks like your face is red?”

“Th, th, th, there’s no way!”

I denied it and bowed my head deeply.

Mizuki looked at my reaction and giggled as if it was funny.

“Well, you were surprised to be gently held by Ayarin’s hand, right? Hehe~ I understand. Anyone would be heart-fluttered?”

“Pl, please stop…”

I desperately tried to deny it, but Mizuki’s teasing showed no sign of ending.

Aya, who was quietly laughing from the side, blinked and looked at me, then asked softly.

“Rina, are you really okay? Wouldn’t it be better to go to the nurse’s office?”

My heart started beating fast again at that clear and soft voice.

‘Ah… It seems to be getting more and more dangerous.’

“I don’t think I need to go to the nurse’s office.”

I answered, trying to smile and pretending to be calm.

Honestly, my stomach still felt uncomfortable, but I didn’t want to go to the nurse’s office and attract unnecessary attention.

Aya narrowed her eyebrows slightly and looked worried even after hearing my answer, but she nodded without forcing me any further.

“But don’t overdo it.”

Aya’s warm gaze wrapped around me softly.

At Aya’s kind words, I nodded my head without thinking, but I felt my heart beating even faster.

‘Ugh. No, calm down. Rina.’

Just then, the bell rang to signal the start of class.

I quickly turned my gaze and focused on the textbook.

The classroom… no, I calmed down only after class started.

‘It’s absurd that I’m more comfortable during class time.’

My emotions, which were fluttering until a while ago, calmed down like the atmosphere of the classroom that had suddenly become quiet.

Now, only the textbook and the blackboard were in my field of vision.

I took notes on the contents of the class and followed along silently.

I thought that if I concentrated, distracting thoughts would disappear.

But I didn’t even turn a few pages… the bell rang again.

‘Ugh, did I concentrate too much on class? Me?’

“Okay, that’s it. For the next class, review the last lesson.”

When class ended, the classroom became lively again.

“Ugh~ I’m tired…”

Mizuki lay down on the desk and yawned.

“I really thought I was going to die of sleepiness while listening to class. Rina, aren’t you sleepy?”

I smiled wryly and shook my head.

“Haha, well, me… It’s the first time, so…”

“I see, you haven’t adapted yet.”

Mizuki smiled at my answer and tapped my shoulder.

“You’ll adapt soon!”

“That’s right, I’ll help Rina adapt to Takamari.”

As Mizuki whispered playfully, Aya chimed in.

Just the gazes of the two beautiful girls made me feel happy.

However, that fluffy feeling didn’t last long.

It seems that the stomachache I had earlier is slowly coming.

“I, I, I’ll go to the bathroom for a moment.”

But the moment I tried to leave the classroom, Aya got up from her seat and said.

“Let’s go together.”

“…Huh?”

I was momentarily flustered and my mouth became an O shape.

Aya calmly came to my side.

Ah, right. Girls don’t go to the bathroom alone, right?

“I wanted to go too.”

Like this again, I ended up moving with Aya.

I didn’t hold Aya’s hand, but while walking to the bathroom, I kept making a vow to myself.

‘Just naturally… as if nothing happened… normally…?

But just walking side by side with Aya, I felt the gazes of the passing students.

Someone whispered softly when they saw us, and someone glanced at me and passed us.

Every time that happened, I shrugged my shoulders and my head became complicated.

‘Ah… Maybe it would have been better to just stay still even if I had a stomachache…

As my thoughts became more and more complicated, the bathroom finally came into view.

Without thinking, I walked forward with a familiar habit and tried to open the door…

“Rina, that’s the men’s restroom.”

“Huh?”

I froze and slowly raised my head.

In front of my eyes was a pictogram clearly indicating ‘Men’s Restroom’.

The male students who were walking from behind stopped and looked at me in bewilderment.

Aya looked at me with a face that seemed to be quietly holding back laughter.

‘…Ot?’

I broke out in a cold sweat in an instant.

My body automatically followed the habits of the past.

I hurriedly stepped back and smiled awkwardly.

“Ah, ahaha… It’s a mistake, a mistake.”

Aya put her hand on her mouth and said with a small laugh.

“Rina, it seems like you’ll need time to get used to it.”

I quickly entered the women’s restroom as if running away.

And I closed the door, leaned against the wall, and took a deep breath.

‘Phew, really… That was close…?