Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Papa (1)
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Completely unexpectedly, I ran into the heroine Harumi, and the moment our eyes met—
I was instantly sucked back into a memory from the past.
.
.
.
.
The end of August, summer.
Around the time the cicadas screaming their heads off started to lose their voices.
Ding-a-ling… Ding-a-ling….
As I approached the school gate, I heard the sound of a bicycle passing on the nearby road. Unconsciously, I turned my head toward the noise, and there she was.
Golden twin tails fluttering in the breeze. A fresh, thin-lined mouth.
She'd rushed out to match my after-school timing, and the red ribbon tying her hair was a bit disheveled.
Her shoes tapping impatiently on the ground. Stiletto heels that didn't suit her petite frame at all.
I didn't know why she wore those, but I remembered her saying they were something precious to her…
I raised my hand, and only then did she notice me, pretending to be annoyed for no reason.
A sharp, pointed voice.
She might act all prickly on the surface, but without me, she got anxious right away.
Her feelings were so pure and fragile that she didn't know how to face the world without the mask of haughtiness.
Her usual arrogant, prickly tone. But contrary to her words, her small, delicate fingers were unconsciously clutching the hem of her skirt. She was trembling at the fact that I was looking at her.
The screen vividly conveyed her small fist turning white and shaking.
I reached out and straightened the ribbon tying her golden hair. She, who had been scowling fiercely, suddenly widened her eyes in surprise.
Her voice clearly flustered.
Harumi hurriedly turned her flushed face away.
But at the same time, her slightly pouted lips were quivering. She was forcing back a big grin.
She was always like that. Whenever something good happened, those thin lips of hers trembled like this.
A delighted expression. But midway through her words, Harumi's face suddenly hardened.
The choices popped up right away.
> Convey sincerity: [I want to be with you… Can’t we?]
> Get angry: [Why do you always treat me like this? Is money all that matters to you?]
> Say nothing: […]
> Change the subject with praise: [You’d look super cute in a family restaurant uniform.]
I’d already tried the top three choices.
And the result was predictably the A-route ending: the fallen lady sold at an underground auction…
This time, let’s pick the last one.
An obvious flattery.
No girl hates being called pretty or cute, and Harumi especially melted at straightforward compliments like this.
But contrary to my expectation that her mood would soften, Harumi's face went pale.
She mumbled something tiny and looked up at me.
Her haughty tone was gone, replaced by a small, fragile voice like her most shameful secret had been exposed.
I’d just complimented her that she’d suit a family restaurant uniform, so why was she reacting like this all of a sudden?
And what did she mean by "see"?
As I was about to ask, Harumi lifted her head again and shrieked.
A louder voice than before.
Her chin thrust up even higher than before.
Yet Harumi's eyes were brimming with tears for some reason I couldn't fathom.
What was her deal?
Frustrating that our hearts couldn't connect.
In that moment, I caught myself mindlessly brushing Harumi's golden hair on the screen with my fingertip.
As if my warmth, which couldn't possibly reach through the screen, wished to touch her.
"Haa…"
My mind was wearing thin.
How could I save that girl?
…After exhausting every dialogue that way.
I could only clutch my head again this time.
In the end, even after checking every choice… I hadn’t been able to save Harumi.
As I stared at her in shock and confusion, she glared back at me like we were having a staring contest.
"…"
Why was she out here already?
Did the scenario glitch?
No, no.
Get a grip. I’m not playing a game right now—I’m living in reality.
This wasn’t a game world following a script, so of course it wouldn’t align perfectly.
Even at points where she didn’t appear in the story, as a living person, she’d been spending her own time.
"Not gonna answer? Hey, commoner!"
Hya… Even looking again, she looks exactly like her in-game illustration.
"Ah, sorry. You just look so much like someone I know."
"Hah? There’s no way someone as noble as me resembles some random person."
The same gilding she always did in-game. Guess she wasn’t embarrassed boasting about her own looks like that.
"Ahaha… Anyway, are you waiting for someone here? A friend?"
Harumi just seemed feisty, but she was actually kinda airheaded somewhere.
Pure beyond appearances.
If I slipped in a casual question like this…
"A fr-friend… not exactly… Ju-just eating… Huh? Why do I have to tell you? Anyway, it’s none of your business!"
Why complain about having to answer while spilling it all? Puhuhu…
I barely held back my laugh as I replied.
"Ah, I’m waiting for a friend too. Mind if I wait with you?"
Anyway, seems like she has a dinner appointment. I should at least check the guy’s face. I wasn’t planning to block all her social life and relationships with the heroines, but I needed to confirm he wasn’t some creep.
"What? No way. Why would I wait with some stranger—"
"Ah, then let’s introduce ourselves? I’m Yu Sanghyeon. From Korea. Call me whatever’s comfy, miss."
A boldness rare in Japan. As I extended my hand gently like grasping a baby’s, Harumi stared blankly and unwittingly took it.
"Uh, uh. Okay. I’m Kanemochiru Harumi… Wait!? Why are you introducing yourself so casually, you sly fox!! Get lost!!"
She stomped her little feet in anger.
Yep, total airhead.
If Ren’s beauty felt sacred and close to ‘divine gorgeousness,’
Harumi was packed full of the kind of cuteness that made you want to take her home and raise her.
I had to protect her.
"Ah, got it… We’d be awkward right in each other’s sight, so I’ll step away. Pardon me."
I bowed exaggeratedly as if greeting a princess, and Harumi, apparently pleased again, thrust her chin way up.
"Heh… Ahem! It’s only natural for a commoner to yield to me. Off with you!"
Yes, yes.
Catering to this rich girl’s whims was nothing after doing it so much in-game.
I turned the corner of the building right by the bus stop and pressed tight against the wall.
Couldn’t see, but I could eavesdrop. Harumi was the type to blurt out her thoughts, so maybe I’d get some useful info.
—"Hmm…"
Sure enough, she started muttering something.
—"He’s really giving 100,000 yen just to eat together?"
…What?
What’s that about?
100,000 yen—which is about a million won—just for eating together?
No such deal exists.
You’re no popular streamer; who’d pay for a meal date like that?
In my common sense, guys meeting college girls under pretense of money for food were all old trash without exception.
But the problem was why Harumi accepted such an offer.
—"Ugh… This is why commoners are… Can’t even keep time properly!"
She was ranting haughtily about commoners, so didn’t seem forcibly threatened.
Why?
Was she seriously waiting for this of her own volition?
100,000 yen was a fortune only to those short on cash.
Harumi was the daughter of a family with zero to envy.
I’d heard those mismatched shoes she was wearing cost hundreds of thousands of yen alone.
What could a rich daddy’s girl who wore millions-of-won heels daily possibly lack to do something like this?
"Damn…"
…Just like with Ren, there was definitely something about Harumi I didn’t know.
I steeled my resolve.
This needed nipping in the bud.
Whatever it was… If the guy was an NTR villain as I suspected, I wouldn’t screw up this time. No way.