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 27: The Only One

Chapter 27: The Only One

It could have been a dream-like moment.

Being able to converse with Arisu as myself, not Akito Izayoi… although all I could really tell her was that I wasn’t truly Akito and that I had knowledge of this world, it was a bit difficult to say something like, “You’re a comic book character” to someone who was actually living and breathing in front of me.

“So someone else takes over… is that possible?”

“Well, I mean, it’s hard to believe, right?”

“What else can I do? As I said before, it’s an action that the real Akito Izayoi would never take. He would never be shy around me, you see?”

“That’s the mystery… I mean, Arisu is so beautiful, right? Any guy would be excited to have her around.”

“Ugh… you keep saying I’m beautiful.”

“But it’s the truth!”

“Hmph…!”

Arisu blushing was adorable… what? I knew that already!

But it was a relief, and it was nice not to have to worry about anything.

(Even if Arisu figured out I wasn’t Akito, I doubt she’d think she was a manga main heroine… )

Arisu showed an expression I had never seen before, and it was thanks to her that I could be myself and not have to hide anymore.

“Hey, Arisu…”

“Yes?”

“I really appreciate it… I’m glad I met you, Arisu.”

I truly meant it, from the bottom of my heart.

Of course, there was the joy of meeting the heroine of the manga I used to read, but more importantly, meeting her in this world and surviving here… that’s what this gratitude was mostly about.

“Ah, well…”

“I was all alone… I was scared… I couldn’t perfectly act like Akito, and I gave up on that idea pretty quickly… but you were the one who helped me the most. So, I really can’t thank you enough, Arisu.”

“So… so… that’s… um…”

If she already knew, there was no need to beat around the bush.

Being able to speak so honestly, like I was invincible, was a testament to how grateful I was to Arisu.

And also… it was a bit fun to see Arisu blushing like this.

“Hehe…”

“You laughed! Ugh! It was clearly going my way until now… hmpf, my weakness showed up here at the end, didn’t it?”

But Arisu was able to compose herself quickly.

With a deep breath, her expression became serious and she regained her usual composure.

“So that’s it. My desires haven’t changed, but I’ve developed a new one.”

“Arisu?”

“It’s nothing. But the more I hear, the more I think of your improvisational skills, or whatever you want to call it. All the things you said at the party, and the stories you told about your parents and brother… it was all just off the cuff, right?”

“Well… I mean, it was a matter of life and death for me…”

Of course, I told Arisu about the lies and bluffs I had been using.

She seemed to have predicted it from the flow of the conversation, but when I told her about how desperate I was, she was impressed and laughed for a while, thinking about the situation and how everyone around me reacted.

“Hey, Akito-san?”

“Yeah?”

“Can’t you really remember your name? Your real name, I mean.”

“……Yes.”

The atmosphere from before had changed, and a slightly more serious tone had settled in.

In fact, as I was talking about myself, I realized something… it was strange that I hadn’t thought about it before, but I couldn’t remember my own name from my previous life.

I had memories of this world, but the name I had used and been called by all this time, I just couldn’t recall.

“That’s too bad… I wanted to call you by your real name when we were alone, as proof that I knew your secret.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. I’m glad you said that, Arisu, but I’ve gotten used to being called Akito.”

So the name wasn’t that important, I laughed, but Arisu interrupted me, saying it wasn’t just about that.

“No, that’s not it—the reason I wanted to call you by your name… the real meaning is that I wanted to be a resting place for you, where you could take off your mask as Akito Izayoi and just be yourself.”

“Oh…”

“A name is the most important thing that represents a person… it’s not just a symbol to identify them. That’s why I wanted to know your real name.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It can’t be helped… but promise me? If you ever remember your name, you’ll tell me first?”

“I will. I promise.”

“Thank you, Akito… Akito-san.”

Why did she say it twice? And why did she sound so reluctant the first time?

(A resting place… and a name is the most important thing… )

Arisu was quite the poet, wasn’t she?

But even those embarrassing lines made me happy, and it was nice to know she was thinking of me like that.

(I’m so simple. When I know I have people supporting me, I think I can handle this situation and make the best of it.)

There were things I could only do in this position…

Becoming Akito Izayoi was my choice, and whether I ran away or stayed was up to me… but it wasn’t just my problem, it was a responsibility I had to everyone connected to Akito Izayoi.

“I guess I have no choice but to try my best.”

“Yes.”

Arisu gently took my hand.

“You can complain if you want, or you can try your best if you want. I’ll support you… as the only one who knows your secret, don’t forget. There’s always someone by your side who believes in you.”

“Thank you, Arisu.”

To be honest, my trust in Arisu had increased a lot through this conversation.

Of course, I had been relying on her and she had helped me a lot recently, so I trusted her, but after spending this time with her, her kindness had touched me so deeply that she seemed like a saint who could save me.

“I really wonder why Akito became like that…”

“I don’t know… but let’s just leave him be. The one who’s here now is you.”

“Yeah… you’re right.”

It seemed Arisu no longer had any feelings for the old Akito.

I thought it was a bit cold of her, but it was her opinion of him, so there was nothing I could do.

“Oh, but there’s one more thing… is that true?”

“What?”

“That I… well, that I don’t look like Akito?”

“It’s true. Your current appearance is your true self, I think.”

And then, there was something surprising—it seemed Arisu could see my true self, my original self.

It was a bit creepy, but the position of the black mark on my body seemed familiar from my previous life, so it was really shocking.

“We’ve talked a lot. Let’s go back to your parents for now.”

“Okay.”

For now, the conversation was over.

But I knew this day’s events would stay with me forever.

I didn’t know what the future held, but since Arisu had promised to support me, I couldn’t dwell on my problems forever.

So, as Akito Izayoi, I would do my best until the very end.

I felt strongly that I could do it.

(But Arisu, without the yandere, is like a goddess. I think I prefer this version of her, and if she had gone down this route, she would have been even more popular and it would have been a lot more work…)

(Hehe, I can feel it… Akito-san? No matter what choices you make, I will always support you. I will always be by your side, supporting you… ah♪ How wonderful… I want to know more… I want to know everything about you. How did you spend your time before? What did you like? What did you enjoy doing? Hey, Akito-san… Hey, hey, hey! I’ll help you… I’ll let you lean on me… I’ll do anything you want. Not just being served, but also seeing you work hard… I’m the only one in this world who knows the meaning behind that. So, Akito-san, please don’t reject me? I don’t know what I’ll do if you do…)