I Want to Completely Avoid Troubled Girls, but It Seems I’ve Reincarnated as a Background Character in the Most Dangerous Yandere Academy - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Hatred Turns Into Love (Ruriko’s Perspective)

The world splits into countless branches. The elements are immense. If even one thing changes, a new timeline is born.

In my case—Kazuki Ruriko—it all comes down to a single factor that forces me to traverse multiple timelines.

The reason is a classmate named Shimizu Issei.

No matter what I do, he gets deceived by unsavory women, followed around, and eventually lured to his ruin.

It’s a curse. That’s how I see it.

Otherwise, there’s no explanation for why time rewinds every time Issei-kun meets his downfall, bringing us back to the same starting point.

The world branches out from this fixed point. Even if I manage to block one person, another will corner Issei-kun.

It’s like an endless game of whack-a-mole. Threats pop up one after another, and with only two arms, it’s impossible to keep up.

I’ve been through this dozens of times. My motivation is nowhere near what it used to be. Resignation follows me everywhere.

What keeps me going is Issei-kun himself. He’s both the source of my suffering and the one who gives me courage. It’s a contradiction that even I find baffling.

My resentment and anger gradually transformed.

Into love for Issei-kun.

Issei-kun and I are bound by fate. No matter the timeline, we end up together. This world exists for me and Issei-kun.

You might call it a twisted way of thinking, but my feelings right now are genuine.

I truly want to make Issei-kun happy.

If I can’t predict where the danger lies, then I’ll have to lock him away. That’s what I thought when I approached Issei-kun this time.

But this version of him was different. He carried memories of a past life and had experienced the harrowing trauma of losing his life.

I thought he would desperately want to drive away the threats. But instead, he said he wanted to understand others.

My initial reaction was disbelief.

From what I know about the possible futures, trying hard without reason will only lead to failure.

Yet Issei-kun chose to look at the possibilities.

This was clearly unlike anything before. The fact that he referred to us as “characters in a game world” suggests that this is the biggest turning point so far.

“A happy ending, huh.”

What is it that this version of him truly desires?

After Issei-kun left, I spent my time lost in thought.

How many times have I been sent back to this lifeless room?

The loops continue, and my records grow.

I picked up my “Issei-kun” notebook.

“Coma from an unexpected accident, expulsion due to Yu’s rampage, double suicide with Rukawa-san, mental collapse from overwhelming emotions from those around him… He’s really been through nothing but hardship.”

These aren’t the only bad endings he’s faced.

Any woman at school could become a threat—whether it’s a senior, a homeroom teacher, or anyone else.

Issei-kun has this strange charm that draws so many women to him. Sometimes, I wonder if he’s emitting some kind of pheromone.

He has a cute face, but would anyone call him the most handsome guy in the grade? Hard to say.

To me, he’s the brightest star, but from an objective point of view, who knows?

“This time, there’s Kurokawa-san…”

Kurokawa-san, who’s now unfairly (or perhaps not?) occupying one of the “Three Great Beauties” slots usually held by Rukawa-san.

Honestly, she’s so mysterious that I can’t figure her out. It’s like she’s possessed by the spirit of Issei-kun’s ex-girlfriend. It wouldn’t be surprising if that’s affecting her behavior.

What are the odds of achieving a happy ending this time?

While Issei-kun’s awareness of the situation lowers the difficulty, it also means we’re in an entirely unprecedented scenario.

Whether things are leaning toward the positive or negative side, I honestly can’t say.

As long as Issei-kun is looking forward, I can’t afford to dwell in despair.

Looking through the notebook, various versions of Issei-kun come to mind. Memories resurface. Even though they’re from alternate timelines, his core remains unchanged.

Before slipping out of my grasp, each version of Issei-kun shone brilliantly.

Perhaps, right before losing his sanity, he burned brightly with every ounce of strength he had left.

Remembering it makes my body feel warm. It’s strange.

If I were truly a game character, it wouldn’t be surprising if I were programmed to feel passion for Issei-kun.

Even so, I believe this fire is real.

The thoughts and feelings I’ve built up through these loops are mine alone.

I fill my head with Issei-kun. This blissful moment was interrupted by the sound of a notification on my phone.

“Seriously, just when I’m feeling good…”

It was a message in the class group chat.

The class’s self-proclaimed biggest weirdo, Tomokazu, had shared some shocking news.

“A transfer student is coming to our school soon!”

What? Who? Is it someone Tomokazu knows? A boy or a girl?

Messages flew back and forth, replies coming instantly.

“She’s moving nearby. A girl with a cool last name. I think it was Nagarekawa?”

The blood drained from my face.

Nagarekawa.

Rukawa.

It has to be Hyouka.

“This is bad, this is bad, this is bad, this is bad.”

If my trait is persistence, Yu’s is overwhelming jealousy, and Kurokawa-san’s is her unusual intellectual curiosity.

Then Hyouka is the embodiment of everything freezing cold.

She does outrageous things as if they’re completely normal.

Her lack of exposure to the world leads her to act in ways that defy common sense.

If the unpredictable Rukawa Hyouka is about to be introduced to this school,

It’s safe to say that Issei-kun and I are heading for a turbulent future.