After Starting a Thread as a Reincarnated in an Unknown Otome Game, I Got Caught in a Battlefield of Beauties - Chapter 35 & 35.5

Chapter 35: Itchi With No Allies

692: Former Earthling

[Bad News]

I helped Aria, and she promised to treat me to a meal in the cafeteria as thanks… But before I could tell Leticia, I ran into Aria and now the atmosphere is awful. 

Can anyone tell me how to get out of this situation?

693: Anonymous Earthling

You’re out of luck!

694: Anonymous Earthling

This is totally Itchi’s fault.

695: Anonymous Earthling

It’s always Itchi’s fault.

696: Anonymous Earthling

I don’t know the details, but it’s probably Itchi’s fault.

697: Anonymous Earthling

Itchi is never not at fault in these situations. 

So this time, it’s definitely Itchi’s fault again.

698: Anonymous Earthling

Itchi, to summarize the situation:

↓

① Itchi helps Aria.

② Aria, being kind and earnest, wants to repay Itchi.

③ Itchi asks Aria to treat him to a meal in the cafeteria.

④ Leticia sees Itchi and Aria in the cafeteria.

⑤ Chaos ensues. ← Right now

699: Anonymous Earthling

Yeah, it’s 100% Itchi’s fault. 

I’m relieved it’s self-inflicted. LOL.

700: Anonymous Earthling

Didn’t you tell Leticia you were going to eat with Aria? 

You should’ve told your fiancée first.

701: Anonymous Earthling

Itchi has zero allies, lol.

702: Former Earthling

>>698

It’s mostly correct, except I helped Aria yesterday and we didn’t go to the cafeteria together. 

I swear on my honor… I tried to tell Leticia.

But just as I was about to, Aria found me, and it looked like I was hiding it.

703: Anonymous Earthling

If anyone else said that excuse, I wouldn’t believe it, lol.

704: Anonymous Earthling

Exactly. It’s rare for things to be exposed so perfectly… almost never happens.

705: Anonymous Earthling

But when it’s Itchi, suddenly it sounds believable, lol.

706: Anonymous Earthling

More surprising is that Itchi had any honor to swear by. 

I thought he’d discarded that long ago.

707: Anonymous Earthling

True that. LOL

708: Former Earthling

You guys are saying whatever you want… So, what should I have done?

709: Anonymous Earthling

You should’ve told her first thing in the morning.

710: Anonymous Earthling

You should’ve told her yesterday.

711: Anonymous Earthling

Same as above.

712: Anonymous Earthling

>>710

Same here.

713: Anonymous Earthling

Trying to have a meal alone with another girl when you’re engaged is already a problem.

714: Anonymous Earthling

True. 

If you didn’t tell Leticia, she has every right to be mad.

715: Anonymous Earthling

For once, everyone is absolutely right, lol.

716: Anonymous Earthling

>>715

Of course! We said we wouldn’t forgive anyone who makes Leticia sad.

717: Anonymous Earthling

That’s right! 

It’s our mission to protect Leticia’s smile!!

718: Anonymous Earthling

Speaking of which… didn’t we say we’d deal with Itchi if he made Leticia sad…?

719: Anonymous Earthling

…Deal with him.

720: Anonymous Earthling

Yeah. 

It’s a shame we won’t see Itchi’s mess-ups anymore, but we have to protect Leticia’s smile…

721: Anonymous Earthling

Alright, I’ll get the rope.

722: Anonymous Earthling

Then I’ll prepare the gallows to hang him.

723: Anonymous Earthling

Guess I’ll bring the shotgun…

724: Anonymous Earthling

Leave the rusty knife to me. 

I’ve got plenty at home.

725: Anonymous Earthling

I recently got an Iron Maiden… should I bring it?

726: Anonymous Earthling

Please do.

727: Anonymous Earthling

Do people often call you a genius or a psychopath?

728: Former Earthling

You guys just want to deal with me even if it has nothing to do with Leticia, right?

729: Anonymous Earthling

N-No way…?

730: Anonymous Earthling

Of course not… (pushes up glasses)

731: Anonymous Earthling

Oh, come on… Itchi, you’re so funny.

732: Anonymous Earthling

…We like you, Itchi. 

We wouldn’t think that way.

733: Former Earthling

Bullshit! 

You still hold a grudge because I was the first to lose my virginity! 

That’s why you can’t get a girlfriend!

734: Anonymous Earthling

Oh, he said it! 

He uttered the forbidden words!

735: Anonymous Earthling

Alright, Itchi is sentenced to death! 

I’ll turn him into ground meat right now!

736: Anonymous Earthling

The grudge of us loveless folks is terrifying! 

Prepare yourself, Itchi!

737: Anonymous Earthling

Anyone here not wanting to punish Itchi? 

No one, right!?

738: Anonymous Earthling

Absolutely not!

739: Anonymous Earthling

Death! Death! Death! Death! Death!

740: Former Earthling

Bring it on! 

With all my blunders, I’ve powered up immensely! 

I’ll take you all on! 

Get ready!

741: Anonymous Earthling

Oh, lol.

742: Anonymous Earthling

But Leticia has already caught you. LOL.

743: Anonymous Earthling

Sorry, Itchi. 

Seems like we didn’t need to do anything after all.

“—What are you doing?”

“N-nothing, nothing at all.”

I slowly averted my gaze from Leticia, who was glaring at me suspiciously while I sat on my knees.

She let out a small sigh.

“Fine… So, Aria, you were trying to treat Alto to a meal in the cafeteria as thanks for helping you yesterday?”

Leticia had me kneel in the formal position and left me there while she summarized the story Aria had told her. 

Aria nodded repeatedly, looking very apologetic.

“Y-Yes! I thought it would be wrong not to do anything after he helped me so much…”

“That’s the right mindset. It’s always best to repay favors quickly.”

Ah… nobles are especially like that. 

They tend to repay favors later in ways that seem completely disproportionate.

While thinking this, I was terrified of what might happen to me. 

Leticia, with a frightening smile, said to me:

“And Alto, you stay like that until after school. Even if class starts, you can’t move.”

“But… if I do that, the teacher will be mad—”

“Oh, weren’t you good at skipping classes?”

“…”

Completely out-argued by Leticia, I stayed kneeling for five hours, doing nothing. 

Of course, the teacher got really mad, and my legs are still numb, but I thought it was better than being punished worse. 

And I definitely decided not to make Leticia angry again.

—————————————————————————

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Side Story: Leticia’s Side

“—…Alto…”

I—Leticia Freezing—whispered the name of the boy who has been asleep for five days. The boy, Alto, was lying still in front of me, breathing quietly and steadily.

The doctor said, “His body has already returned to its normal state, but an excessive amount of magical energy inside him is preventing him from waking up.” He also remarked, “It’s a miracle that with such a vast amount of magical energy inside him, his body hasn’t exploded or that he hasn’t died.”

Hearing that made me scream in shock…

“Alto… when will you wake up?”

There was no answer to my question. 

It was doubtful if he could even hear me. He was alive, but it felt like he was dead, and it made my chest ache.

“What should I do…?”

I thought hard. If there was anything I could do for him, I would do it.

Oh, I remembered that my father and the king were discussing it with the doctor. 

They said that to release the magical energy, either he has to expel it himself using his magic control or… engage in intimate relations.

I felt my cheeks heat up as I glanced at Alto.

“…Such a silly yet dependable face…”

He hasn’t changed at all—the person I love. 

Yes, my first meeting with him wasn’t at this academy. 

Alto doesn’t seem to remember, but we first met at my very first social event, an annual party attended by all the nobles of the country.

I was only seven years old, overwhelmed by the grand event and all the nobles outside my family. 

That’s when I noticed a boy who stood out because he was unfazed by the nobles’ stares and whispers, focusing solely on devouring the food.

I felt drawn to him and wanted to talk.

“Hey, why are you eating so fast?”

“Huh? Who are you?”

When I spoke to him, he glanced at me briefly and responded bluntly. 

Normally, a noble would be furious at such rudeness, but for me, who was always treated with utmost respect, his behavior was refreshing and piqued my interest even more.

“Why does it matter?”

“Are you here to bother me during my rare fancy meal? If so, go away! If I don’t eat enough now, I’ll die soon despite God’s blessing. So, shoo, shoo, if you’re just going to bother me.”

“I’m not bothering you!! …By the way, people have been watching you a lot… doesn’t it make you nervous?”

This was a genuine question. 

He looked to be about my age, and his clothes seemed new, so it was probably his first time at a social event too. 

Yet, he didn’t seem to care at all. Why?

That was my intention when I asked him.

“Are you an idiot?”

He replied to me with a look of disbelief. 

I was about to retort when he continued speaking.

“Look… it doesn’t matter what people think. No matter how much you try to hide, eventually they’ll see the real you, and some people will dislike you for no reason. So, just act how you want and cherish the ones who approach you positively. It’s easier that way. Well, I don’t care because worrying about it would kill me.”

With that, he resumed shoveling food into his mouth. Watching him, I couldn’t find any words to say.

But—I felt like I had found the way I wanted to be.

I decided to live true to myself.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

I asked the boy who gave me advice. 

He blinked a few times in surprise.

“Being asked my name by a pretty girl… feels like fiction.”

“Eh?”

As I let out a confused sound, the boy quickly shook his head and smiled.

“My name is Alto Bersac. I’m the busiest noble’s son in the world, always working hard to pay off debts.”

“—Really, you haven’t changed at all… not then, not now.”

I said, remembering the past with a small smile. 

At the same time, I made up my mind.

I gently slid the strap of my nightgown off my shoulder. 

The other strap followed, and the nightgown fell to the ground. 

I removed my underwear as well.

“…〜〜”

Even though I knew no one else was here and no one would come, exposing myself in front of someone of the opposite sex was still embarrassing. 

But I wasn’t going to stop.

He had been the light guiding me through dark times.

Without him, I might not be here today.

So now—I’ll be the light to guide him back to the path he’s lost.

“—Alto, I’ve loved you for a long time… and I’m sorry.”

I softly pressed my lips to his sleeping ones and slipped my hand under his clothes.

That night—we both gave our innocence to each other.

—————————————————————————

It’s short, but please forgive me, everyone. 

I have a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and feel very tired. Hopefully, I’ll be better tomorrow. Hopefully, right?

Thank you for reading up to this point! Your support keeps me motivated, so if you enjoyed this, please leave a rating and follow for more updates!