Being the Best Friend in a Romantic Comedy Isn't Easy! - Chapter 4: Reo Tsukinose is the Perfect Heroine

Episode 3: Reo Tsukinose is the Perfect Heroine

During lunch break, amid classes…

Attempting to chat with Tsukinose or me during breaks between classes… was an utter failure.

Due to a barrage of questions from our classmates, Nagisa, Renmi, and I were left out in the cold.

Tsukinose was bombarded with numerous questions.

About her previous school, hair care methods, cosmetics, and so on.

Among them, when it came to questions about romantic relationships—

—”It’s not the kind of relationship you all might imagine. Really, this morning, she just helped me a little… that’s all.”

That’s how we denied any special relationship.

After homeroom, various questions about me and Tsukinose were flying around, but mostly Tsukinose deftly dodged them.

In the end, whatever I had been meaning to say to Tsukinose this morning remained a mystery, and there was nothing more to say after homeroom.

But still, Reo Tsukinose…

—She was just too perfect in every way.

Perfect in answering questions in class, and in the third period of P.E., she excelled in basketball to the astonishment of the girls’ basketball team.

Her manners were polite, and so far, there was nothing that could make anyone uncomfortable.

Beautiful, intelligent, athletic, and enjoys beef bowl. Oh, wait, there’s a foreign object mixed in.

Anyway, she was already at a level where you’d take your hat off in awe.

Our student council president is also quite the perfect person, but she might be on par with her… a prodigy, perhaps.

“Ah! It’s lunchtime! Food!”

As the chime announcing lunch rang, I felt a sense of liberation.

Man, those classes were seriously tough. I couldn’t get any of the content into my head because of this morning’s incident.

“Hey hey, Tsukinose-san! Let’s eat lunch together!”

“Tsukinose-san! Let’s eat together!”

“Ah, unfair! What about me!”

Ruckus from behind.

This transfer student sure knows how to capture the hearts of our classmates on her first day.

Well, after showing off such perfection, it’s no wonder… anyone would admire her.

Tsukinose-san, Tsukinose-san—yadda yadda.

Tsukinose was completely surrounded by classmates.

“Um, I…” 

While smiling, a troubled expression was visible.

Just the stress of her first day at a new school would be enough, but being bombarded with questions like this would surely be troublesome.

Hmm… what to do.

Should I, the humble Aoba Subaru, step in gallantly?

“Miss, are you in need of assistance?”

Hah, this is getting interesting. Alright.

I slowly stood up from my chair and addressed the classmates crowding around Tsukinose—

“Sigh… this is hopeless.”

Just as I was about to say something, Tsukasa stood up looking annoyed.

Huh? Oh, is this… starting?

“Tsukinose-san, let’s go to lunch.”

Oh, it’s starting.

While scratching his head, Tsukasa hesitantly called out.

Subaru’s Charisma Plan, failed!

No, I don’t really care about that!

I was quite surprised by what was happening right in front of me.

“Seriously…? Tsukasa… asking a girl out…!?”

“Eh, Aoba-kun. Is something wrong with that?”

Renmi and Nagisa looked at me with curiosity.

“You guys…”

My words left them speechless, silently shaking their heads left and right.

That’s right.

Tsukasa is indeed popular, but he’s not a smooth talker.

In fact, Tsukasa isn’t even aware that he’s popular.

He doesn’t unnecessarily talk to girls, and unless invited, he eats with us.

For Tsukasa to invite a girl to lunch… it’s the first time I’ve seen it.

Oh… really?

Who on earth is this transfer student that makes Tsukasa do such a thing?

“Morning… are you okay?”

Tsukasa seemed surprised by his own move this time.

She asked with wide eyes.

“Sure. We’re running out of time, so let’s get going quickly. Did you bring your lunch?”

“Yes!”

Tsukinose hastily took out her lunch bag from her bag and stood up.

After making sure she was ready, Tsukasa turned his face towards us, who were dumbfounded.

“Are you guys coming too?”

…

…

The three of us exchanged glances.

And then, we turned our faces back to Tsukasa—

“Of course, Tsukasa!”

“I-I’m coming!”

“Me too.”

× × ×

We arrived at the secluded lawn behind the school building, and we sat in a circle, each opening our lunch boxes.

Except for me, the other four had colorful bento boxes, while mine had a high ratio of brown… the typical manly bento!

But it’s delicious, so there’s no help for it.

Now then.

I glanced around at the four of them and spoke up.

“We were busy this morning, so how about we do some introductions? We don’t really know much about Tsukinose.”

“Y-yeah! Since I was surrounded by everyone…”

“Oh… yeah, that’s right.”

“…”

Only Nagisa nodded modestly without saying anything.

She’s probably nervous being in front of Tsukinose.

I’ve been teasing her a lot, but Nagisa Rui is somewhat socially awkward.

Even Tsukasa and I didn’t talk much at first…

Now she attacks me whenever she opens her mouth.

She’s just attacking with her mouth! She’s good at it!

“…Hey, aren’t you thinking something rude?”

“N-no, not at all?”

Is she an esper?

“Are you too nervous…? It’s embarrassing.”

Don’t pull back! That’s rude!

When I looked at Nagisa sitting on my left, she was calmly bringing the rolled omelette to her mouth.

“Um… are you all friends?”

I heard Tsukinose say that while watching our interaction.

Tsukasa nodded with a wry smile.

“Yeah, well. We’ve been classmates since last year. Aoba Subaru is always thinking about weird things. He’s my childhood friend.”

“Weird things…?”

“He’s basically always saying weird things, but he’s funny and a good guy.”

…?

Renmi and Nagisa laughed quietly at my introduction.

I put my hand on Tsukasa’s shoulder sitting next to me on the left.

“Hey, old friend. Can you stop with the introduction that doesn’t convey any of my charm? What if Tsukinose remembers something weird about me?”

“Really? I didn’t lie, did I?”

“No no no… Renmi, Nagisa. Can’t you say something too?”

“Eh… um… um…”

“Something.”

Oh, these guys won’t work.

Renmi seemed confused, looking up, and as for Nagisa, she was out of the question.

It’s over. My introduction is over.

“Hehe, Aoba Subaru-san… right? I understand that you’re a fun person. Nice to meet you.”

“Uh… I like you.”

High school boys are simple.

The three of them looked at me in amazement as I blushed.

Oh boy, and just like that, the story of Aoba Subaru ends.

× × ×

No no no, it’s not over!

Close one, close one, it was about to end.

After that, it goes without saying that I gave my all with a heartfelt apology to Nagisa.

How many weird sights did I show just today?

Tsukinose seems to have recognized me as a comedy act by now.

—And now.

“Man, seriously, I was really scared this morning! Like, is this a rom-com or what!”

“Y-yeah! I was so flustered like, ‘You know such a beautiful person!'”

“Flustered? Why is Renmi flustered?”

“Eh!? Ah, um, don’t worry about it, Asahi-kun!”

“So, is it true…?”

“Haruka, that’s just self-sabotage.”

We had completely bonded and were chatting cheerfully.

Even though Nagisa could only participate in the conversation with a nod of agreement, she did well.

Tsukinose also seemed to be enjoying herself, and it was good to create a pleasant atmosphere.

This was also thanks to Tsukasa inviting us to lunch.

As expected of the protagonist… that’s how it goes.

If lunch break ends smoothly like this—

“Ah—! I finally found you, senpai!”

“H-Hinata Hinata…! You’re going to bother me…!”

The energetic voice of a girl resounded.

This familiar voice… probably shouting towards our group.

I shifted my gaze to the voice’s owner.

There.

Let me say one thing first.

These girls are also heroine candidates for Aoba Subaru.