About the Case of Me Being Reincarnated as a Side Character Who Got Kicked Out Immediately Of The Story, but the Heroine, Who’s My Yandere Fiancée, Won't Leave Me Alone

Chapter 20: Keeping a straight face is the ultimate strength

“Fufu, I never thought that I would have the chance to talk to you, Akito-san, just because of that light greeting we had…”

“I feel the same way. It was because Sophia was concerned about Izayoi-kun, who was being harassed, that we met.”

“The meal after that was also enjoyable.”

“…………”

I sighed and continued eating.

Thanks to Arisu, I’ve gotten used to the academy, but there have been so many things happening lately.

One of the recent big events was the bath with Arisu… but it seems that there are still events that put a strain on my stomach.

(It looks like… petals are dancing in the air…)

Arisu and I, along with Sophia and Filia, the Roland sisters, were facing each other around a table.

Compared to me, who only has a good-looking face, when they are all together, it feels like a sacred scene.

“…………”

It seems that the people around me are thinking the same thing, as they look at us with dazzling eyes, and they give me, the outsider, cold stares… but now, I find this unchanging attitude reassuring.

“?”

At that moment, I made eye contact with Sophia.

It was while Arisu and Filia were chatting amicably, and I, who was at a loose end, looked back at her.

“……!”

“……!?”

“…… Fu”

“…… Fufu”

Well… what is this? I’m waiting for a comeback, but Sophia’s reaction, which matches my eye movements, is a bit funny.

In manga and anime, this kind of cute reaction only happens at the beginning.

Of course, there were scenes where it was depicted everywhere, but because she hasn’t awakened as a yandere yet, I can feel her cuteness and purity.

(I guess she hasn’t told Filia about it after all.)

As Sophia said, it seems that she hasn’t told Filia about it.

I haven’t told anyone either, but if she keeps the promise, it will be a relief for me.

“By the way, Arisu-san.”

“What is it?”

“Do you believe in fate?”

“If it’s whether I believe in it or not, I do. Although, I would have thought that there was no such thing before, but now I believe in it.”

“If that’s the case, we might be similar. I also believe in fate.”

I thought that a philosophical conversation had begun, so I broke off eye contact with Sophia and listened to Arisu and Filia’s conversation.

“I think you know this, Arisu-san, but our family recently discovered a shocking truth.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about it.”

“But it was prevented by Sophia’s words and the person who told her about it. There is a benefactor who saved us all, including Sophia and me… I feel a sense of fate with that person.”

(I almost coughed, but I managed to hold it in.)

(I didn’t intend for it to turn out like this…)

I told Sophia about Kuroumi because I knew what would happen if I didn’t do anything.

Sophia also said that… Filia and her parents seem to want to thank me, but if I accept it, I will surely be questioned about why I knew about it.

Considering this, I am truly grateful that Sophia has not asked me about it and has kept the promise to remain silent.

“There was such a person… but I can understand the feeling, considering that they saved your family.”

“Right? Sophia knows that person, but she won’t tell us. But if it’s a promise she made with the person who told her the truth, I don’t think we can force her to tell us.”

Fuh… the soup is delicious.

I try to be careful not to make any noise, and I try not to react strangely so as not to be suspected… but this is really suffocating!

“Filia is persistent. But… I understand how you feel. But this is a promise between me and that person—I can’t break the promise I made with the person who saved us all.”

“Look, this is how Sophia responds.”

Filia sighed, and Arisu laughed.

“But the more I hear about that person, the more impressive they seem. They were able to approach the Roland family without being noticed, which means they were very good at hiding. Yet, they were able to warn about Kuroumi… Although it doesn’t directly concern me, as someone who is part of this world, I’m curious about that person.”

(I’m not that great…)

(But, as Arisu said, knowing information that I shouldn’t know makes me seem like that.)

“…… It’s delicious.”

I finished the soup, but to be honest, I couldn’t taste it at all.

I was so focused on not looking strange that I was impressed with Akito’s iron mask, which didn’t show any expression.

However, it seems that I can’t remain an outsider forever.

“Hey, Akito-kun.”

“…… What is it?”

At that moment, Filia called my name.

We had dinner together, and with Arisu joining in, the conversation flowed, and we started calling each other by our first names. But when my name was called at that moment, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“Do you know anything Akito-kun? The person who talked to Sophia at the venue… Do you have any information about my destined person?”

“…… I see.”

I have to answer when the topic is brought up…!

I put my hand on my chin and pretended to be natural as I opened my mouth, thinking “U~n”… but Arisu and Filia are fine, but Sophia is fidgeting…

“I’m sorry, but I may not have any useful information. When I went to the balcony to get some fresh air, I talked to Sophia there… that’s right. Arisu, you were also targeted by that Kuroumi guy, weren’t you?”

“…… Eh? Is that so?”

“That’s news to me.”

Sophia and Filia looked at me with wide eyes when I said that.

I managed to divert the topic well, and Arisu also nodded and said, “That’s right.”

“At that time, I was so nervous. It was not only because the man’s face was so close, but also because you were trying to protect me, and you looked so dashing.”

“Of course, I would protect my fiancée… also…”

“Also?”

“Well, it was kind of creepy to see him grinning at Arisu.”

I can still remember that face… it wasn’t because he was ugly, but because his expression of targeting Arisu was physically repulsive.

“There were many women who wanted to marry him.”

“It’s kind of funny to say that so bluntly.”

No, it was really creepy.

“But most importantly, I wanted to protect Arisu. As you said, Arisu is a dignified and admirable woman, but she also has her weak points.”

“Akito-san…”

If we stare at each other, Arisu will look away… fuh, I won.

After I changed the topic, the discussion about the person who told Sophia about Kuroumi ended, and the crisis was averted.

We were invited to have dinner together again, and with Arisu, we nodded and left the cafeteria.

“That conversation is intriguing, though.”

“About Kuroumi?”

“Yes—it seems that not only my brother and sister, but also my parents are concerned.”

“…… Huh?”

“That’s how good Kuroumi-san was at hiding… it was so difficult to even suspect him.” Therefore, the person who knew about him… I wonder how much information he has.”

“I see…”

N, no way I’ve become such an important person without my knowledge!

(But, of course, I don’t think they will reach me… most people would probably think that there’s no way I could know that.)

Rather, I don’t think my name will come up as a candidate… if I think calmly, lately I’ve been almost always with Arisu, and as for an alibi, Arisu is the best witness.

“Well, there’s no point in worrying about it, is there?”

“You’re right. Let’s go back.”

“Kyaaaaaaah!?”

At that moment, a scream echoed.

As we were about to cross the stairs just outside the cafeteria, the scream came from the top of the stairs… a woman was falling as if she had slipped!

“Why!?”

“Be careful!”

However, fortunately, I was the one standing under where the woman was falling.

When I braced myself to catch her, we ended up in a princess carry position, as if it had been planned.

“W, who…?”

“Are you okay…!?”

When I saw the woman’s face, my eyes widened.

She was Nagatsuki Ram—one of the main heroines who possessed the strongest maternal instinct among the Yankano.