CH 8

The moment when the main character first recognizes a mob character



TL/ED: Bogdi

Oh, he didn’t even know who I was.



The protagonist didn’t even have mob characters in his field of vision.



(TLN: Bruh he be playin life in 4:3)



I was so frustrated by this that I then became …… annoyed.



“Don’t you know my name? It’s been over a month since the entrance ceremony, and you don’t even know your fellow classmate’s names?”



My voice became agitated.



I couldn’t control myself. I’m sure I’ m trying to stab Ryuzaki to death with the barbs of my words.



I was about to say something I shouldn’t have, when I couldn’t control my frustration.



“I know you, don’t I? You’re Ryoma Ryuzaki, right? You’re the one who’s good-looking, gets good grades, cooks well, and has lots of friends.”



I know the protagonist-sama, because I’ m a mob character.



Or rather, he’s my classmate. I know his name regardless of whether he’s a protagonist or a mob character.



We’re on equal footing, he and I. We’re the same people, freshmen in high school.



“Can you at least remember their names? It’s rude to your classmates,” I nearly said something I wouldn’t have said under normal circumstances.



It’s not that I’m trying to pick a fight with him.



But I feel like saying something unnecessary to this guy.



That’s how much I dislike Ryuzaki.



But the one who stopped me from doing so was that girl.



“Hai!”



As if to step in between us.



Despite her obvious shyness, it was Shimotsuki, who was standing next to me watching the scene, who mustered up the courage to speak up loudly.



She seemed to have noticed that something was wrong with me.



She interrupted me and then squeezed something into my hand.



“I’ll give this back, okay?”



What she gave me was the handkerchief I had lent her yesterday.



I remembered, that I had lent it to her because she was drooling in her sleep.　 Then she said something to me in my ear.



“Calm down. You’ll get miserable, if you act like that. Here, I’ll share my feelings with you. …… I’ll see you later, okay?”



With that, she went back to her seat.



Watching her go, I clutched the handkerchief and …… felt the faint warmth of Shimotsuki. The warmth soothed my rough heart.



Through the handkerchief, I felt as if her kind feelings were flowing into my body. ……



That’s right. There’s nothing to be solved by venting my frustration.



It”s not like I can get anything by being angry here.



“…… Uh, what do you mean?”



I guess he doesn’t know what’s going on. Ryuzaki was looking at me and Shimotsuki alternately with a puzzled look on his face.



I was about to get annoyed again when I saw his face, but I took a small breath and regained my composure.



Yeah, I’m okay. There’s no point in fighting here.　



I’m just a mob character anyway. It’s not like anything is going to change if I stand up to the protagonist.



So, as usual, I’ll just play it off.



With a fuzzy smile, I’ll become a part of the …… background like a mob character.



And that’s okay. It’s all right, because my feelings for the people I loved will never be reciprocated.



“I lent her my handkerchief yesterday. I just got that back, nothing special.”



I say something appropriate and shrug my shoulders.　



Then, this time, I spoke a little more firmly.



“My name is Kotaro Nakayama. I’m a part of the same class as Ryuzaki. …… It would be great, if you could remember me.”



I proclaimed this and glared at Ryuzaki.



It was at this moment that he finally recognized my existence.



He glared back at me strongly.



“Oh, I memorized it……. I’m looking forward to working with you, Nakayama.”



With that, Ryuzaki went back to his seat. I looked at his back and took a breath.



It was a close call, and I almost exploded.　



It’s very misplaced to get angry with Ryuzaki in the first place.



I’m just a loser.



I should have been a mob character and kept quiet.



Besides, I almost caused trouble for Shimotsuki.



I’ll have to thank her later for helping me out.