I Was Reincarnated as a Mob, and After I Kept Listening to the Losing Childhood-Friend Heroine’s Complaints, I Somehow Maxed Out Her Affection Rating - 45

Chapter 45: I Regret It, but It’s Already Too Late

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Shouma’s POV

Today had seriously been the worst day ever. Since morning, I’d had to watch Kaede walk to school with Fujiwara, then at lunch my friends started poking their noses into things, and even Mio had been cold to me…

“…Haah. Seriously, what the hell.”

Letting out my third sigh, I walked toward the entrance. Evening light was streaming in near the shoe lockers, and you could clearly make out anyone standing there just from their silhouette. It was at that moment….

“Huh…?”

I caught sight of two people changing their shoes. Mio and Kaede. Up to that point, well, that made sense. It happened often. Seeing girls chatting on their way home was a familiar sight to me, but…

Standing next to them was Yuuta Fujiwara.

“…Huh?”

The word slipped out of my mouth before I knew it. I thought my vision had glitched, so I blinked three times. No change. The sight remained the same. Mio was smiling and saying something to Fujiwara. And Kaede was trying to step between them. My brain couldn’t catch up with the scene, and—

“Huh? …No, huh? Huh???”

My mouth just kept spamming the same sound.

Why? Why the hell is Mio talking to Fujiwara? Why is Kaede just standing there like normal? Why are the three of them lined up together like it is the most natural thing to do in this world—

…Wait, hold on.

The moment my brain finally processed it, a sharp pain struck somewhere deep in my chest.

What are you doing… Mio?

It wasn’t like I minded Mio talking to other guys. Our relationship wasn’t heavy enough for me to show that kind of possessiveness….Or at least, it shouldn’t have been. But for some reason, now, it hurt so much it made my throat sting.

And the guy she’s talking to… It’s Fujiwara…!

The next moment, the worst possible hypothesis flashed into my mind.

…No way. Don’t tell me Mio likes Fujiwara too…?

Just considering that possibility made my stomach burn.

No, no, calm down.

Mio wasn’t that— No, was she? She’d been avoiding me lately. Even today she’d felt distant.

…I don’t know.

A mix of anxiety and discomfort churned inside me. But in the middle of that swirl, my reason resurfaced for a moment.

“…Calm down. One thing at a time.”

If I ran up now and confronted her, it would turn into a repeat of “that day.” Rushing in while driven by emotion had never ended well. That memory was still fresh in my mind. First… I should hear Mio’s side of the story.

Before anger melted my head, I’d at least reached that conclusion. I lightly hid behind one of the entrance pillars and watched the three of them. Eventually, Kaede tugged hard on Yuuta’s arm, pulling him away like she was dragging him out of her territory. Fujiwara glanced back over his shoulder.

I didn’t know what it meant, but it wasn’t a “running away” look—it was more like “I’m getting dragged into this.” Mio stayed where she was and let out a small sigh.

…I have to ask her now.

I clenched my fist and steeled myself. Seriously, what the hell was today? Kaede was acting weird. Mio was acting weird. Fujiwara was…Well, I never really understood that guy anyway. But—

A small voice inside my heart pricked me.

…Why does it feel like I’m the only one being left behind?

Swallowing that bitter feeling, I waited for Mio to be alone. After a short while, Mio finally stepped outside the school building.

…I have to go.

My legs moved on their own.

“Mio!”

“Eh? Shouma-kun? You surprised me…”

When she turned around, it wasn’t her usual soft smile. Her brows were slightly drawn together in a faintly awkward, uneasy expression.

“Wanna walk home together? You know… Just for a change.”

“…Yeah. That’s fine.”

I felt relieved. For the first time in a while, some of the weight on my shoulders felt lifted. We walked side by side out of the school. The evening breeze blew softly, making the sleeves of our uniforms sway. As we walked, I brought it up as casually as I could.

“Hey, Mio. Just now… What were you talking about with Fujiwara?”

“Eh… Ah, um…”

Mio’s steps faltered for a moment. One look at her face and I knew. She was completely shaken.

Why are you looking like that… Don’t tell me…

Heat swirled deep inside my chest. All the frustration from the whole day burst outward.

“You didn’t think I’d see you?”

“N-no, that’s not it! We really just talked—”

“…Are you gonna go to Fujiwara too?”

The moment I said it, I realized I’d screwed up. But I couldn’t stop anymore.

“Sh-Shouma…?”

“First Kaede and now you too…?”

“Shouma-kun, that’s not what this is—”

Before I realized it, I had grabbed Mio’s shoulders. Hard. Hard enough that even I was startled.

“I won’t let you go to him too…!”

It didn’t sound like my own voice. It was low, with some kind of threatening edge mixed in. Mio flinched.

“…Ah…”

She looked down at the hands gripping her shoulders, then up at me with eyes that seemed on the verge of tears.

“It hurts… Shouma.”

I snapped back to myself and let go.

“S-sorry! That’s not— I didn’t mean it like that—!”

No matter how much I tried to correct myself, it was too late. The expression drained from Mio’s face. She was scared. Even though she was looking at me, it was like her eyes weren’t focusing on anything.

“…That was cruel…”

Leaving only those quiet words behind, Mio turned and ran.

“Wait, Mio! That’s not—I didn’t mean—!”

I took a step to chase her, but my feet stopped. No. My feet froze. If I chased her, I felt like I’d hurt her more. But if I didn’t chase her, I felt like she’d go somewhere even farther.

…What the hell am I doing?

The evening sky blurred in my vision. The wind felt cold.

Ahh… I screwed up again… This is the worst…

Even though I knew this was a mess I’d made myself, my chest burned painfully.

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