I Was Reincarnated as a Creepy Fat Guy, Then Trained Myself Without Sleep. And Then, for Some Reason, the Heroines Start Approaching Me - Chapter 43: Can't Afford to Lose

Kanna’s Side

Having finished her chores, Kanna was studying while awaiting her mother’s imminent return when suddenly, she received a call from Marin.

Marin’s words were like a bolt from the blue.

“What… did you say?”

[I told you not to bother me because I had sex with Itsuki-chi.]

“Marin… you would go to such lengths… me…”

[Well, there’s only one guy I like, right?]

“…”

[If you, Kanna-chan, weren’t so unappealing, I wouldn’t bother calling. So, don’t get close to Itsuki-chi. If you do, it’ll get even uglier.]

Hearing Marin’s unilateral declaration, Kanna, looking frustrated, tightened her grip on her phone and bit her lip even harder.

That the man she loved would be involved with her childhood friend…

“Marin, you are always selfish. Always, only concerned with your own feelings…”

She tried to protest with a trembling voice, but Marin remained unmoved.

[If you start caring about other people’s feelings, you won’t get what you want. You won’t gain anything unless you put yourself first.]

“…So, that’s the kind of person you are.”

[Yes. That’s exactly it.]

With that, Marin hung up.

Calling out of the blue and then abruptly ending the call.

It was truly typical of Marin.

Up until now, Kanna found strength in Marin because she had always been on her side. However, now turned enemy, she seemed an insurmountable mountain to Kanna.

Wearing a troubled expression, a sudden anguish tightened around her chest.

She and Itsuki were just classmates. So, even if Itsuki had a relationship with Marin, it shouldn’t be a problem.

But the pain in her heart was overwhelming, and involuntarily, tears streamed down her face.

Could this be all her fault?

In an attempt to separate Itsuki and Marin, she had revealed Marin’s true identity to him. It was her words driven by malice that had caused this tragedy.

“It’s all… my fault…”

But she absolutely didn’t want to give up Itsuki.

Absolutely, unequivocally, she wouldn’t yield.

Although it wasn’t even hers to begin with, Kanna considered herself repulsive for displaying such blatant possessiveness.

Tears like crystals fell onto her textbook, dampening the pages.

She hated Itsuki for making her feel this way.

Though a part of her deeply regretted and mourned that she shouldn’t have gotten involved with him from the start, Kanna knew well.

This hatred was an emotion she could feel because she loved him so much.

But to fulfill her own wish, she would have to confront Marin head-on.

Thinking about that made her feel despondent.

“What should I do…”

She sighed in distress as she slumped over her desk, but then heard a sound from the entrance.

Relieved that someone supportive had returned, Kanna let out a sigh and left the room.

“Mom… welcome back.”

In Tamaki’s hands was a paper bag filled with delicious desserts and high-quality wine, but as soon as she saw her daughter’s face, her hands lost their strength, and she dropped the bag.

“I’m… What’s wrong!? Did something happen!?”

Wide-eyed, she asked, hastily removing her shoes and approaching her beloved daughter.

“It’s nothing, I-I’m fine…”

Seeing her daughter’s uncertain expression, Tamaki narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

Wearing a flashy suit, her ample bosom drawing even Kanna’s attention, her mother called out, 

“Kanna.”

“Y-Yes!”

Overwhelmed by her mother’s mature demeanor, Kanna unintentionally responded politely. 

“I told you before, didn’t I? Kanna, you’re my only precious daughter.”

“..Yeah.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“I knew you’d figure it out.”

“Isn’t that obvious? We’ve always been together.”

Seeing her mother’s mature demeanor, Kanna couldn’t help but reaffirm her gratitude for being born to her.

After Tamaki changed into her casual attire and settled on the living room sofa, Kanna disclosed everything that had happened between her and Marin.

She spoke about how she and Marin ended up liking the same guy, and today, how Itsuki got involved with Marin, along with Marin’s behavior.

While enjoying dessert and wine, Tamaki listened attentively to her daughter’s story, not missing a beat.

“I see… So that’s the kind of person Marin is…”

Seeing Tamaki’s wry smile, Kanna looked down, nodding slightly. Then she spoke up.

“I… I don’t know what to do…”

Kanna’s moments of distress over such matters had arrived. In her mind, Tamaki sighed in disappointment, but there was no time to dwell on sorrow.

Her daughter, whom she had given birth to, was looking melancholic right in front of her.

“Do you really need to worry?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Raising her head, Kanna stared at her mother with her clear blue eyes.

Tamaki, in turn, directed her own blue eyes back at Kanna.

“Well, she hasn’t said a word about being together with Itsuki.”

“Oh, right.”

“With Marin’s personality, if they were together, she’d definitely have mentioned it first.”

“R-Right…”

Kanna was in awe of her mother’s insightfulness within her mind. Tamaki, diverting her ample bosom away from her daughter, continued.

“Marin is just a child, after all. Even more so than you, Kanna.”

“She’s a year younger, though.”

“Nah, that’s not what I meant. In many ways, You have always been more mature.”

“…No, I don’t have more relationship experience than her, and even in terms of personality…”

“The difference between adults and children isn’t solely determined by relationship experience, personality, or knowledge.”

Kanna was mesmerized by her mother’s habitual serious expression and found herself speechless.

Seeing her daughter in that state, Tamaki beamed with a full smile and continued.

“So, just do what you want to do. Whether you end up with Itsuki depends on you determination, but if anything happens, I’ll fully support you.”

“Mom…”

Looking at her mother, her eyes moist, Kanna’s face no longer held any sadness.

As for Tamaki, perhaps because of the alcohol, her cheeks were slightly flushed as she furiously started speaking.

“Still, for Itsuki to lay hands on Marin… What a scumbag! Well, I kind of understand the reason, though.”

“Yeah! Seriously! He kissed me, and then…”

“What! Itsuki kissed you!? That brat! Without even dating my daughter! How dare he, a child, how dare he!! My Kanna!”

“M-Mom… please calm down.”

“Kanna! I’ll call Itsuki out and give him a good punch next time! Acting like a child… acting like a child!! To my Kanna!”

Watching Tamaki passionately rant, Kanna suddenly narrowed her eyes.

“You did something similar without dating him either.”

“Gah! Ah, I can’t hear anything because of the alcohol! I’ll go back to my room!”

“Mom…”

Initially looking up to her mother in admiration, Kanna now sent a glance mixed with a hint of disdain, thinking, “Who is this person?”

Yet, it was a fact that, thanks to her mother, Kanna felt a sense of relief.

Beautiful, mature, kind, charming, capable, and a bit clumsy but reliable – that figure was undeniably her mother.

And then,

“The alcohol is surprisingly strong…”

A small fib, perhaps.

She wasn’t a girl with a personality like Marin’s.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t become like Marin.

But maybe, she thought, she could become an adult like her mother.

Suddenly, she felt that way.

One thing was certain,

Her determination was unwavering.

She would never yield Kondo Itsuki.

She would definitely confront Kondo Itsuki someday.

As she thought this, she suddenly recalled what Tamaki said earlier.

[Still, for Itsuki to lay hands on Marin… What a scumbag! Well, I kind of understand the reason, though.]

“Somehow understand… ah.”

Kanna raised the corners of her mouth. However, she quickly adopted a downcast expression and sighed.