The Plot Begins
I let out a long yawn and leaned back against my chair. The creak of the seat grated on my nerves, but I ignored it and stared blankly ahead.
I'm so sleepy… That dream from earlier kept me from getting any proper rest. And on top of that…
“W-what are you staring at?”
The constant chattering from Yua sitting right next to me was annoying too. She sounded like a baby bird chirping for food.
“……Natsumoto-kun, I think you just had a really rude thought, didn’t you?”
“No way.”
When I answered, Yua puffed her cheeks out with a buu—— and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
When I read about this kind of thing in novels or manga, I always thought it looked impossibly embarrassing. But seeing a pretty girl do it… it actually suits her. Not like many people actually act that way in real life anyway.
“W-why are you laughing?”
I was about to brush it off with a casual “just because,” but I paused, then flashed her a grin.
“Because Suzuki-san is just too cute?”
I wasn’t sure what possessed me to say it, but I felt like it in the moment. At my half-joking remark, Yua’s clear blue eyes widened and her face flushed bright red.
“W-what… what are you even… saying…?”
Psssh. Okay, mission accomplished. I watched for a moment as she practically sank into her seat, white steam practically rising from her head, then turned my gaze away. I stared blankly at the desk again.
“W-why did you make that a question…?”
“……Huh?”
“Die! You idiot!”
Thump. Thump! Even if she attacked me with those tiny hands like fluffy cotton swabs, it wouldn’t do anything. I silently let Yua pound on my shoulder, then leaned back in my chair and half-slumped down.
“Ugh… uuu…”
She’d be the one to tire out first anyway.
“Kataaamuraaa——!”
When Yua finally gave up on my lack of response and turned toward Daiki—my left side was Yua, my right was Daiki—I could finally let out a small sigh of relief. I’d tried to sink her into silence, but it was nice that she moved on by herself.
“Ugh—— Suzuki-san?!”
“You should probably step back a little…”
“Nooo… I need to be healed by Katamura-kun’s pure reactions…”
“W-wait a second!! Your chest! Your chest is touching meee!!”
It really was the kind of conversation you’d expect from a love comedy. Listening to Daiki’s group chatter, I let out a small snort and glanced at Yua, who had returned to her seat (or rather, the seat she’d stolen from someone else) with a much lighter expression.
“…What?”
“Nothing at all!”
She made that cute little hng sound and covered her legs with my coat. I stared at her for a moment before looking away.
Maybe I should try to nap a little.
Even though I’d grown somewhat close to Yua and Daiki’s group, I still kept a certain distance on my own. That made sense. This novel revolved around Daiki, after all. It was best not to mess with the plot too much. Changing the present… would change the future.
……Then what exactly do I want?
The heroines’ happiness? Or at least making sure they don’t suffer NTR?
I still wasn’t sure.
As I lay there blankly, lost in thought, a voice reached my ears.
“Ehh——? Today?”
“Yeah. They said they’re inviting Suzuki too, so everyone’s really looking forward to it. Can’t you make it?”
It wasn’t a familiar voice.
——It was just a familiar line.
I cleared the thoughts from my head. I quietly opened my ears and focused entirely on their conversation.
“U-um… what should I do…?”
At this moment, Yua was probably looking at Daiki. Even without seeing it, the scene played out naturally in my mind.
“…I’m counting on you, Suzuki.”
“O-okay… I got it for now!”
“You promise? Both me and the others are really ‘looking forward’ to it.”
He dumped a heavy burden on the clearly flustered Yua and then left.
“See you later, Suzuki.”
“Y-yeah. Takahiro-kun.”
Takahiro.
The moment I heard that name, I sat up and stared intently at the retreating figure’s back. He was definitely a delinquent. That cocky stride, those decent-enough looks. Even from just his profile, it was obvious he was one of the big shots during his school days.
……Though he was still just a student.
Still, just how many guys at that level could Daiki actually handle?
So it’s finally starting…
Today was the beginning of everything.
“Everyone, make sure you get home safely.”
“Thank you for your hard work!!”
It was supposed to be a cheerful time to head home… or so it should have been.
In the end, between the dream and all that thinking, I couldn’t sleep even for a second. I packed my bag, stood up, and headed out first. I leaned against the school gate and waited for Daiki.
Today was probably one of those days when Daiki would come out a little later. Just like the novel described…
I pushed random thoughts out of my mind and stood quietly. I could feel people’s eyes landing on me.
“Ehh…? Who’s that?”
“They say he’s Natsumoto-kun from Class 3.”
“A second-year?”
“Yeah! He’s been really popular lately!”
“…That guy’s just showing off.”
Among the people passing by, I glanced at the group of guys staring at me with hostility. It was probably Takahiro’s crew. The way they whispered and snickered among themselves wasn’t exactly pleasant, but I decided to ignore them.
After all, their role today would be over soon.
With an indifferent expression, I avoided their gazes and crossed my arms.
……Come to think of it, I never got my coat back from Yua.
“…Ryu? What are you doing there?”
“Ah, Daiki.”
Daiki was heading home alone today. It wasn’t because he’d fought with Akane or anything. Those two got along too well for that to happen often. Black hair, pale face. A boy who was smaller and thinner than even the average student, except compared to me. I looked down at him quietly and spoke.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Talk?”
Let’s walk. I told Daiki as I started moving. The sun was beginning to set, and I walked calmly while watching it.
Back to the main point—why was Daiki going home alone today?
“…You talked with Suzuki-san, right?”
“Huh? How did you know that, Ryu?”
Instead of answering “because I read the novel,” I simply shrugged. Daiki looked puzzled, but I ignored it and asked again.
“What did you tell her?”
“…Um, well…”
I already knew it would play out exactly like the novel. Even so, I wanted to ask him. I wanted to know what the hell he was thinking.
In the novel, Suzuki says this to Daiki:
“No.”
I turned around. Daiki, who had been awkwardly following me, stopped and looked up. Without realizing it, I asked him in a cold voice, my eyes chilled.
“Why did you answer like that?”
“…Just how much do you actually know?”
Ryu really is amazing. Daiki spoke as if he had no clue about anything. I looked at him and desperately held back the anger rising inside me.
“Well, they said they’re good friends… What could possibly happen?”
It’s all your fault too.
I liked the story between you and the heroines. But your indecisiveness ruined everything.
Of course I know. That it was nothing more than a story written by one reader who became the author. That it couldn’t have turned out any other way. That you, who were merely a character in a novel, couldn’t do anything about it.
But.
Even so.
“What if something does happen?”
My voice cracked from putting too much strain on my throat. Daiki’s eyes widened as he stared at me.
“What are you going to do if something happens?”
“W-what do you mean…?”
Daiki stammered, clearly flustered. I swallowed down the surging anger with everything I had and tried to speak calmly.
“If those guys try to get Yua drunk and do terrible things to her, what are you going to do?”
I only spoke the truth. At the pressure radiating from me, Daiki took a step back and opened his mouth.
“T-that couldn’t possibly happen. Suzuki-san said so herself. They’re all good friends… so…”
“How can you be so sure?”
Grind. I clenched my teeth.
“That’s because Suzuki-san…”
“She likes you!! Don’t you like her too? Then you should have stopped her!!”
How stupid. Both me, pouring out my anger like this, and Daiki, who was trying to awkwardly gloss over the situation while thinking positively, were utterly stupid.
No matter how much it was the author’s intention. If this had become reality. If everything right now was real. If you were also a living, breathing human being.
“Then why aren’t you doing anything!!”
Why doesn’t Daiki do anything? Just what the hell did he show us across four hundred chapters?
Katamura Daiki is frail and indecisive. But he was the kind of guy who stepped up when it counted. He had such a strong sense of justice that he’d jump in without hesitation when he saw Yua being harassed by delinquents. He might be oblivious, but he was kind and upright.
So why, even after I’ve said this much, does he still not understand?
“Ryu… you’re way too worked up right now. Calm down. I told her I’d reply to her messages right away… Nothing like that is going to happen.”
Haa… haa…
After venting my anger, all I could do was stand there blankly as I listened to Daiki.
“Haa…”
A heavy sigh escaped my lips. Just as I was about to say something, Daiki spoke first.
“Besides… Suzuki-san and I aren’t like that, so…”
“Go.”
I didn’t want to hear any more. I curled one corner of my mouth up into a smirk and said,
“H-huh?”
“I said go. Just leave.”
Growling the words, I turned and started walking back the way I came.
“O-okay… See you tomorrow.”
Listening to Daiki’s footsteps as he walked away, I paused for a moment before speaking one last time.
“It’s the abandoned house behind the school. That’s where Suzuki and those guys are meeting.”
I thought that was all I could do. The novel’s plot couldn’t be helped. But for the real Daiki to act this way even after knowing everything…
I walked away without any lingering attachment. I felt Daiki stop behind me, but I didn’t slow down. And no answer came.