Volume 2 - CH 25

Posted on June 13, 2022by Soafp

Translator: Soafp

Some time had passed since they had disappeared.

I was shocked in many ways, but I finally recovered after accepting the reality. There are many things I want to think about and say after hearing what they just said, but let’s wait until I get out of the closet for a moment.

As I was about to reach out my hand, the door to the room suddenly opened.

It was Akazawa. This time, she was alone.

Entering the room, she quietly closed the door. Then, walking without making a sound, she arrived in front of my bed. She looked suspicious like a thief.

The idol of the school looked around in front of the bed.

–Poof!

Dived into the bed.

She wrapped herself in the futon and rolled around on the bed. Then she buried her face in the pillow and flapped her legs. She then hugged the pillow and made a motion as if she was patting the pillow on the head.

A glimpse of her face showed that she was in ecstasy. Drool was dripping from her mouth, and her behavior and face were not that of an idol, but simply that of a dangerous person.

“……”

What motivation am I supposed to have to watch this spectacle?

My former childhood friend, the idol of the school, the woman who treated me the worst, is lying on my bed. Let me also add that she was rubbing her own scent on the sheets of bedding and pillows.

A normal boy would be in a situation where he should be happy that a beautiful girl is in love with him.

In my case, however, it was not so.

In any case, this girl hates the old me to the level of erasing my existence. I had mixed feelings when I looked at the scene, including my past circumstances, my present situation, and various other emotions. Please understand that I have a blank expression on my face, which does not fit into any of the categories of joy, anger, sadness, or pleasure.

And so time passed.

Suddenly, Akazawa began to shed tears as if she remembered something.

……What’s wrong?

I have no idea why because she did not speak out loud. Akazawa, who suddenly burst into tears, lingered on the bed for a while and lovingly hugged my favorite pillow.

After a few minutes, when the tears stopped, she left the room as if regretting the loss of a loved one.

“……”

I would like to say something about what I just saw and what she did, but that’s okay.

I opened the closet.

But just at that moment, there was a knock at my door. I was startled by the sudden event and went back into the closet.

After saying the words about permission in front of the room as before, Shirase entered. Following behind her was Kuromine.

Apparently, they thought I was still out. If that’s the case, I can’t just go out there.

“……This is Nijitani’s room.”

I didn’t expect this girl to come into my room too.

Kuromine entered my room and sat down on the opposite side of Shirase.

After sitting down, Kuromine is looking around the room as well as Akazawa earlier. Kuromine may be flashy in appearance, but I know that she is not accustomed to men. Perhaps she is interested in men’s rooms.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“It’s about Shota Mukawa. You remember him, right?”

Again, that question at the very beginning.

Shirase must have been shocked by Akazawa’s response. I can understand why she would want to hear it. I was hoping she would ask about me too.

She was a fellow student with the same heartbreak of having her first childhood friend break her heart.

I will never forget those days in the library. At that time, Kuromine didn’t have many friends, and I’m sure she considered our relationship important.

Kuromine thought for a while and then said.

“…… who’s that?”

You as well?

I was the only one who thought we were friends, apparently.

“I’ve been told that he was the one who helped you, Kuromine-san?”

“……”

“U-uhm…”

“…………”

“I-I see.”

It was confirmed that I was also at the level of being forgotten.

The second person, the shock is a little lessened, but still shocking.

“T-then,……, what do you think, Nijitani-san?”

“What do you mean?”

“We went to the pool together, remember? I thought that Kuromine-san normally would have refused, but the fact that you came with me made me think that you might have a liking for Nijitani-san. Would you like to comment on that?”

I listened to the story with shock.

“….I think he is nice”

Ooh?

“He’s a nice. His appearance is fresh and clean, he’s not uncomfortable to be with, and unlike other boys, he doesn’t have a dirty look on his face. He’s fun to talk to, and I don’t dislike his meddling and kindness. I think he understands my feelings. So overall, I have a good feeling about him.”

It was a high praise.

“Is it correct to say that you like him?”

“HAA!?”

“You don’t like it?”

“I don’t hate him!”

“Do you like him or not?”

“……, well, I would choose I like him”

What the hell.

Kuromine said as she turned red.

I’m not dense. From the way she said it, that’s probably what she meant. This was surprising since I had heard Shirase’s story half-jokingly.

….I mean, what is the reason why your evaluation is so different from my past?”

You’re right that my appearance has changed, but I wonder if I’ve also changed a lot on the inside, too, I don’t think I have.

I don’t know. I have no idea.

The reason why my reputation has exploded so far is too mysterious. The only other contact I have with Kuromine is that we work at the same part-time job, but our contact at the school is thin because we are in different classes. Is it because she says I’m meddlesome and kind, or is it because the case that dispelled the rumor is resonating with her?

“……, I mean, what’s with all this talk all of a sudden?”

Kuromine’s voice took on a slightly sickly tone.

“The reason for this is, as I said earlier, to deepen our friendship.”

“Friendship, huh?”

“I thought it would be a good opportunity to ask you a few questions.”

“……I see. Well, I’m free until the kitchen is empty.”

It seems that the reason Kuromine was mature enough to agree to the discussion was because the kitchen was occupied.

“Please tell me why you suddenly became so combative with me.”

She asked another question, which should have been the main question.

“Again, suddenly.”

“I am curious about it. If I have done something to offend you, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize.”

“Unnecessary.”

“Then why is it?”

“That’s—-“

That’s?

“……, no particular reason.”

What’s that?

I felt that Kuromine was about to say something and then stopped. I don’t know what it is.

“Then do you know why the relationship between the goddesses has suddenly taken a turn for the worse?”

“Who knows.”

“Then there is no feud between us. Then let’s be friends. Kuromine-san and I went to the pool together, and I have a feeling we can get along.”

“……No”

“Why?”

“……”

“If there is something you don’t like about me, I will improve it. I want to get along with Kuromine-san. Please.”

Kuromine just said that he had no reason.

“……. I get it. It is my loss.”

“Then let’s shake hands to make up.”

Thus, Shirase and Kuromine also made up.

It’s good that Shirase is doing well, but it doesn’t clear my mind.

No, I’m honestly happy that she likes me. But I can’t overlook the fact that she hates me to the point of erasing my existence.

Or, perhaps, she simply forgot about me?

That would be a stretch. As for Akazawa, she is my childhood friend, so that line is impossible, and with Kuromine’s memory, there is no way she could have forgotten those days.

I’m getting more and more afraid of being exposed. I thought the whole anti-reversal thing was just a joke, but maybe it’s not a joke at all. I can’t help but feel that a terrible situation awaits me if my true identity is discovered. It is quite possible that I will go down the route of going crazy and being outraged.

But is there any chance of a counter-intuitive and acceptable development?

That’s too risky.

At the end, I would continue to breaststroke through the sea of thoughts until they left.

TL: We caught up with the raw now time to wait.