I Reincarnated as a Mob Character in a Romcom Manga—After I Kept Comforting the Third “Fanservice” Heroine When She Got Dumped and Cried, I Feel Like She’s Started Directing Some Seriously Heavy Feelings at Me - Chapter 47 & 48

Chapter 47: The Childhood Friend Who Melts Hearts

“Look, I’m basically just an outsider to you guys, right? And that outsider keeps sticking his nose in, telling you what to do… It feels arrogant. Like—who do I even think I am?”

I let out a small, self-deprecating laugh.

“No offense to Nikaido, but honestly… the advice I just gave her is probably a huge pain for Miyuki Hitotsuba. I mean, it basically adds another serious rival, doesn’t it?”

Yeah.

What I’d just suggested to Kanade Nikaido would be a lightning strike out of a clear blue sky for Miyuki Hitotsuba.

If things continued as they were, Miyuki was almost guaranteed to win.

And yet here I was, interfering from outside the ring and shaking up her near-certain route.

There was no denying it.

At my words, Chloe and Nikaido exchanged glances.

“I keep wondering if this is really okay. I haven’t even been deeply involved with you guys for that long. Do I really have the right? If Hitotsuba had come to me first instead, maybe I would’ve given her advice that hurt Nikaido instead. That’d make me a total bat—switching sides depending on who talks to me first. When I think about that… I start feeling kind of guilty.”

That’s right.

At the end of the day, I was just a background mob in this world.

And yet, I had already messed up the original plot of Schrödinger’s Love pretty badly.

Originally, it was supposed to be Nayuta Yaohara who saved Chloe Mitsushima during that attempted assault incident.

That event was meant to push Chloe back into the heroine race.

But instead, I barged in and destroyed that route.

Because of me, she had completely given up on returning to the heroine race—

And somehow ended up falling for a mob like me instead.

Did I really have the right to interfere in their love stories any further?

While I was still spiraling in that thought—

Chloe suddenly reached her hand toward my face.

My eyes widened.

Her slender, pale fingers pinched my nose firmly between her thumb and index finger.

“Eh!? H-Hey, ow ow ow…!”

“Jeromiya, that was going too far. Listening to you just now honestly annoyed me a little.”

With narrowed eyes, she began lecturing me.

“What kind of rude nonsense are you saying? Do you seriously think one piece of advice from you decides whether we get chosen or not? We’re not that fragile. And Yaohara isn’t that shallow either.”

“Huh?”

I blinked.

“Yeah, he’s indecisive. And yeah, he’s unbelievably dense. But he’s not the kind of guy who’d betray us just because something nudged him a little. I know that. Nikaido-san knows that. Hitotsuba-san knows that too. That’s why we all fell for him in the first place.”

“Right?”

Chloe looked to Nikaido for confirmation.

She nodded firmly.

There was absolute trust in Chloe’s voice when she spoke about Nayuta Yaohara.

So much that something stirred in my chest.

“We don’t know who Yaohara will choose in the end. Nobody does. But whoever he chooses, there won’t be any grudges. At least, that much all of us understand. We’re friends, after all. Sure, getting rejected would hurt. Of course it would. But we’d still congratulate whoever gets chosen—and Yaohara too. So you don’t need to carry all that weight alone. Feeling guilty for us is just unnecessary drama… got it?”

Still having my nose pinched, I gave a stiff little nod.

“Good.”

Chloe finally released me.

After being properly scolded like that, I scratched my head awkwardly.

“Y-Yeah… I can’t argue with a single word. That was totally unnecessary worrying on my part…”

“Hmph. It’s fine. Anyone would think that if they looked at our situation right now.”

“Ahaha, that’s true, Chloe-chan. It’s understandable that Jeromiya-kun would feel that way.”

“Hey, Chloe. Nikaido.”

“Yeah?”

“What?”

“You two are… seriously good friends. I’ve never really had friends before, so… honestly, I kind of envy that.”

—No grudges. No hard feelings. Whoever gets chosen, we celebrate.

That kind of resolve—like some pure-hearted maiden samurai code—genuinely moved me.

Chloe and Nikaido exchanged a knowing little smile, as if to say, Of course we are.

Then Chloe clapped her hands lightly, shifting the mood.

“Alright then! Now that we’ve settled on our battle plan, how about we move on to lunch? Jeromiya’s long-awaited omurice is ready, you know?”

Omurice.

The moment that word reached my ears, every cell in my body reacted.

“O-Ohhhhhh! Omurice, omurice!! I-I can finally eat it…!!”

“Ahaha, Jeromiya-kun, you’re way too excited. Chloe-chan told me, you know? You were hospitalized for so long that you’ve never had it before, right?”

“Yeah! Yeah! I’ve never had it! H-Hurry, hurry—!!”

“Hey, calm down. If you breathe that hard, your stomach won’t be ready. …Here you go.”

The moment she handed it to me, I looked inside the container—

And froze.

There it was.

A glossy, golden-yellow masterpiece.

I stared at it in silence, tilting the container this way and that.

It looked exactly like the omurice in photos. Not the flat, fully-cooked kind either—this was the soft one. The kind you slice open and it spills out, gooey and melty over the rice.

The famous… what was it called again?

Tanpopo-style omurice. Yes. That one!!

“H-Hey, don’t stare at it so much. You’re making me embarrassed for cooking it…”

“But look at that shine! It’s glowing like a jewel! Of course I’m gonna stare!”

“Y-You’re exaggerating. Here, Jeromiya—your spoon.”

Like a parent humoring a child, she gently placed the spoon in my hand.

I eagerly opened the lid all the way.

Instantly, the sweet-and-sour scent of ketchup rose up, mixed with the rich aroma of egg soaked in butter and oil.

My head spun.

I couldn’t wait anymore.

I scooped up a trembling spoonful of that half-cooked, fluffy omurice and brought it to my mouth—

—And then.

“I-It’s amazing—! It’s amazing!! It’s amazing amazing amazing!!”

That was all I could manage.

The moment it touched my tongue, I understood.

It shattered every idea of “food” I’d built from years of hospital meals.

It was rich.

It was warm.

It tasted like nutrition—and like someone had poured their heart into it.

When I ate fried chicken the other day, I almost cried.

But this omurice?

It was so overwhelming it blew even the tears away.

“Nfufu. I’m glad you like it. So? How’s your very first omurice?”

“It’s amazing! That’s the only word I’ve got! I didn’t know food could taste this good when you’re healthy!! It’s amazing—seriously amazing!!”

“Ahaha, I’m glad. Waking up at five in the morning to make it was worth it.”

We were laughing and making a scene like idiots when—

“Hehe…”

A soft, gentle laugh drifted over.

“I see now, Chloe-chan. No wonder you bounced back so quickly after getting rejected by Naa-kun. You and Jeromiya-kun both look really happy right now…”

Nikaido smiled warmly, like she had just figured something out.

“Huh?”

At that moment, she gave us a soft, melting smile—

The kind of smile a mother gives while watching her children toddle around.

“I’m glad for you, Jeromiya-kun. I’m really happy Chloe-chan’s omurice turned out so delicious for you.”

And then—

Whoosh.

It felt like some invisible wave radiated from her.

Both Chloe and I were completely overwhelmed.

This strange aura—like a mix of clean soap and warm skin.

Soft.

Comforting.

Nostalgic.

Like being wrapped in sun-dried sheets.

There was no way a girl our age should have that kind of overwhelming, motherly presence.

“Mama…”

The word slipped out before I even realized it.

Nikaido blinked.

“Hm? Jeromiya-kun… did you just call me Mama?”

“Eh—!? N-No, no! I mean, that’s not what I meant! I mean—it kind of is, but not like that!”

“H-Hey, Jeromiya. What are you even saying? Calling Nikaido-san ‘Mama’…!”

“B-But you felt it too, didn’t you!? That overwhelming warmth just now!”

“E-Even so, you don’t call your classmate ‘Mama’! That’s just—k-kind of creepy—!!”

“H-Hey, what’s with that look!? Stop it! Don’t look at me like that, war buddy!!”

“Ahaha… I don’t really mind. I’m kind of happy, actually.”

Saying that, Nikaido reached out and gently patted my head—while I was still holding the container of omurice.

In that instant, my already-softened brain—melted by the omurice—completely dissolved under her overwhelming motherly aura.

All the strength drained from my face.

I went totally slack.

“Really? Do I look that much like a mom? I’d be happy if Naa-kun thought so too. Jeromiya-kun, if you’d like… want to become my child?”

“Y-Yes, Mamaaa… I’ll be Kanade Mama’s little boyyy…”

“H-Hey, hey! That’s seriously creepy! Like, seriously!! Jeromiya, snap out of it! Nikaido-san isn’t your mom!!”

“Nooo… I’m gonna live with Kanade Mama… I’ll get spoiled lots…”

“Nooooo!! That’s so gross! The way you’ve completely lost your mind is gross!! And Nikaido-san, don’t encourage him like that! Jeromiya is mine, okay!? You can’t have him!!”

“Hmm? But Chloe-chan, Jeromiya-kun doesn’t seem to mind at all. Look at that face—he’s completely melted.”

“Jeromiya! Get it together already! If we’re talking motherly vibes, mine are better, right!? Look! My boobs are way bigger, see!? Look over here, you idiot!!”

After that, with my reason completely melted by the taste of omurice and Kanade Nikaido’s overwhelming motherly presence,

I spent the rest of lunch break drifting in a strange, fluffy haze.

Chapter 48: The Fanservice Heroine Who Makes You Say “I’ll Do Anything”

After that, I practically devoured the omurice—licking up every last drop of ketchup like my life depended on it.

I spent the rest of lunch break blissfully sandwiched between the fanservice heroine and the childhood-friend heroine.

But then Chloe casually said, “I’ve got something to take care of after this,”

So we wrapped things up a little early.

Nikaido waved goodbye and headed off.

Once she was gone, Chloe let out a soft sigh while still sitting on the stairs.

“I wonder if Nikaido will be okay. I hope she manages to tell Yaohara how she feels…”

“She’ll be fine. She might look gentle, but she’s braver than I am. Once she makes up her mind, she follows through.”

“Yeah… that’s probably true. Honestly, both you and Hitotsuba were kind of wary of her, weren’t you? Like she might be the first one to cross the line with Yaohara…”

“Unbelievable. You even know that? Is that another one of your reincarnation powers?”

“Yeah, I guess so. I definitely didn’t have anything like this before I died. Maybe it’s some kind of bonus God gave me when I reincarnated.”

“Huh. So things like that really do exist, huh? Reincarnation, Akashic Records… If we told Monthly Mu, they’d show up with a full interview crew.”

“Yeah, I’d become an overnight celebrity— …Hey, Chloe.”

“What?”

“…Didn’t you just casually say something insanely important? R-Reincarnation—!?”

Wait—How!?

How does she know I reincarnated!?

Did I let something slip somewhere—!?

As I stared at her, frozen stiff, she narrowed her eyes again.

“What’s with that reaction? Why are you panicking now? You died once and got reincarnated, right? And your heart disease was from your previous life.”

“W-Whaaa—!?”

“I heard it from your little sister at the hospital. She said Onii-sama was never actually hospitalized for heart disease in this life. And that you told her you remembered your previous life as a seriously ill patient.”

Eru.

That little sister of mine—!

She told Chloe something that important!?

Cute as always, but what a little devil!!

Well… I was the one who told her first, but still—!!

I scrambled to defend myself.

“N-No, that’s not made up or anything—I swear it’s not a lie—!!”

“I know. Your sister said Onii-sama isn’t the type to make up some elaborate story like that. And honestly, you’re not clever enough to invent something that detailed anyway. Plus, if the heart disease thing were fake, you wouldn’t start crying just because you ate fried chicken.”

Chloe’s expression softened from her usual sharp glare into a small, wry smile.

“I don’t think you’ve been acting or lying at all. I don’t doubt you. So relax.”

At her words, a huge wave of relief washed over me.

“I-I see…”

I let out a long breath and slumped forward.

So she knew I was reincarnated—

But at least she believed me.

If she had thought I was lying and started hating me for it, I honestly didn’t know if I could’ve faced tomorrow.

As I was finally starting to calm down—

“Hey, Jeromiya.”

She called my name.

I looked up—

And before I could fully lift my head, she leaned in close and wrapped her arms around my neck.

Ah.

So this was the “thing” she said she had to do.

Our daily hug had already become routine.

I smiled faintly—

But then her arms tightened.

When I wrapped my arms around her back, the overwhelming scent of her—sweet, warm, unmistakably feminine—grew stronger.

“Jeromiya.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t go dying so easily this time, okay?”

“I won’t. I’m healthy now.”

“Hey… did you really die in your previous life? What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Nothing dramatic. Nothing mystical. The last thing I remember is being lifted onto the operating table.”

As I answered, I gently stroked her back.

“The patient’s in critical condition. Hurry.”

That was the last thing I remember hearing a doctor say.

I didn’t meet any cute pantyless goddess who sent me off to another world.

Before I knew it, I had simply become Reiji Jeromiya.

“I see… that’s kind of disappointing. Maybe there’s no God after all?”

“No, I think there is. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d be getting hugged by such a cute war buddy right now.”

I said it half-jokingly.

Chloe let out a soft laugh right beside my ear.

Just hearing that tiny sound brush against me made my head spin with happiness.

It was such overwhelming warmth that I wanted to melt into her completely—skin and bone and all—until we became one.

“Yeah… I think God exists. I’m happy I get to be here like this with you, Jeromiya. I’ll thank Him for that.”

It had probably been about a minute now.

Ever since that first time, we’d hugged like this every single day.

And we always kept it to exactly one minute.

Any longer, and neither of us would be able to keep our self-control.

Besides, our guerrilla war had only just begun.

We couldn’t afford to get completely lost in romance yet.

Beep, beep, beep…

Her phone alarm rang.

Reluctantly, we let go at the same time.

“Ehehe… I’m so happy. I got to hug Jeromiya again today…”

“H-Hey, cut it out. Don’t get all shy about it now. I’m embarrassed too, you know…”

“But I really am happy. I look forward to this time every single day so much that sometimes I can’t even sleep at night.”

“S-Seriously? Well… I guess I’m kind of the same.”

“Ahh… I’m so happy. I wonder if Nikaido-san imagines herself like this with Yaohara someday. If she does… I almost feel a little bad.”

Saying that, she packed my empty container back into her bag.

So this happy lunch break was already over.

I was feeling a little lonely when I suddenly remembered something.

“Oh—right, I almost forgot. Chloe.”

“What?”

“I’ve got a favor to ask you. Something only you can help me with…”

When I said that, she suddenly perked up.

“Oh? Perfect timing.”

“Huh?”

“I actually have a favor only you can grant too. So how about this—we agree to hear each other’s requests?”

“O-Oh, sure. You’re my precious war buddy. I’ll do anything.”

“Really?”

“Yeah?”

“Like… really, really anything?”

In that instant, Chloe Mitsushima’s eyes turned glossy, and her expression shifted into something dangerously seductive.

She pressed herself against my chest as if clinging to me.

“Hm?”

I tilted my head.

Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she let out a slow, heated breath.

“I might ask you for something outrageous, Jeromiya. Are you really—really sure you’ll grant any wish I make?”

And the moment I heard that—

Strangely enough, I felt myself calm down.

Ahh.

This was that classic rom-com setup.

The whole “You said you’d do anything, right?” trap.

The kind that makes readers imagine something super lewd is about to be requested—

Only for it to turn out to be heavy lifting, organizing documents, or some ridiculously annoying favor instead.

Watching the fanservice heroine pull such an obvious seductive move,

I became oddly composed.

“A-Ah, okay… but just so you know, even if I said ‘anything,’ I’m still just a gloomy mob character. I can help with heavy stuff, my strength has limits…”

“Mmm, I don’t need strength at all. The only thing I need is you, Jeromiya.”

“Oh. That’s… reassuring. So what exactly do I have to do?”

“I’ll tell you later. If I explain now and you refuse, then you won’t grant my request—and I won’t grant yours. So I’ll treat it as post-approval. You agree first, details later.”

“H-Huh? Post-approval…?”

“Just promise me. You’ll definitely grant my request, okay?”

“U-Uh… okay…”

I didn’t fully understand what I’d just agreed to, but somehow she had coaxed the promise out of me.

All I could do was nod.

Later, I would learn something important.

When the fanservice heroine leans in close with that dangerously seductive look and says, “I have a request”…

Sometimes it really is something lewd.

And when that truth hit me—along with a massive nosebleed—I would once again be reminded that the rom-com world is wildly unpredictable.