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 - 52

Chapter 52: A Dejected Shouma and a Determined Kaede

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Shouma’s POV

The moment I woke up, the world looked gray. My body felt heavy, and my throat was dry, yet I couldn’t even muster the will to drink water.

“…Haha… What am I even doing?”

Still sitting on my futon, I stared at the ceiling for a while. Mio had broken up with me, the people around me had laughed at me, and to top it all off, Kaede had gone to school while looking all lovey-dovey with Fujiwara… No matter how much I searched my mind, I couldn’t find a single piece of salvation.

Absent-mindedly, I groped around and grabbed my phone. There were several notifications.

“……………”

I knew I shouldn’t open them, but I did anyway.

『Looks like Fujiwara is getting all cozy with Mio too. 』

『So even your ex-girlfriend? LMAO』

『Kaede got taken by Fujiwara, and now Mio too? What are you gonna do? lol』

“…Huh?”

My fingertips trembled.

“Ahh… That’s enough… That’s enough already…!”

Before I realized it, I had hurled my phone off the bed. It hit the wall with a dull thud.

“What the hell is this… What the hell is all this?!”

I clutched my head and screamed. Something messy, neither anger nor sadness, tightened painfully around my chest.

“Shut up! What are you yelling about?!”

My mom’s shout came from downstairs.

“…!”

I swallowed my breath and hurriedly lowered my voice. A little while later, I heard a knock on the door.

“Shouma? What about school today?”

“…I wasn’t feeling well, so I stayed home…”

The voice that came out surprised even me with how weak it sounded. My mom inhaled worriedly.

“I see… Don’t push yourself, okay? If it gets worse, go to the hospital.”

“Yeah…”

I kept my reply as short as possible. If I talked any more, I felt like I would fall apart. I heard the sound of my mom going back downstairs, and silence returned to the room. Slowly, I hugged my knees.

“…Where did I go wrong…?”

I thought I had treasured Mio. I thought I had kept my distance from Kaede so as not to cause misunderstandings. I thought I had made the right choices so no one would get hurt. And yet…

Before I knew it, I had lost everything. Mio, Kaede, and even my classmates. All of them had turned me into a complete laughingstock.

“…Fujiwara… Why did it have to be you…?”

It was frustrating. I was feeling bitter, but the fact that I couldn’t even bring myself to truly hate him made it hurt even more. A sharp pain throbbed deep in my chest. What was I supposed to do…?

☆☆☆☆

Kaede’s POV

The moment the after-school chime rang, I slung my bag over my shoulder and was about to leave the classroom briskly… Or at least, I was supposed to.

“Hiiragi-san, can I talk with you for a bit?”

I was stopped by the teacher. I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.

“Yes, what is it, Sensei?”

“Could you take these to Urawa-kun’s house? He was absent today. I’d appreciate it if you could.”

As I accepted them, my honest thoughts screamed inside my head.

This is suuuuch a pain!!!

But of course, my expression was a perfect smile. Adults were weak to smiles.

“Understood. I’ll deliver them.”

“That helps a lot.”

Holding the papers, I let out a small sigh and stepped out of the staff room. That was when I saw the school gate through the hallway window.

There he is.

Yuuta-kun was waiting for me in front of the gate. He stood there, lightly fidgeting with his uniform sleeve, looking a bit restless.

He’s so cute… Goodness.. I’m coming right now!

My cheeks loosened into a grin without me realizing it, but… A female student walked up to him.

“…Huh?”

The girl smiled and started talking to him.

Hey, wait a second. What are you saying to my Yuuta-kun??

A slow heat spread through my chest. It wasn’t just competitiveness. It was pure territorial instinct.

“…Seriously… Why are you talking to him…”

I found myself pressed up against the window. However, after several dozen seconds, the girl quickly walked away.

Phew…

“…Thank goodness… Jeez, that’s bad for my heart…”

I placed a hand on my chest and exhaled. As I calmed down, today’s events came back to me.

It’s about time… I need to properly say ‘I like you.’

Even though I’d been making it obvious with my actions, I still hadn’t said the most important words. Ever since yesterday, my chest had been fluttering nonstop, and I couldn’t calm down.

“…Hmm… How should I say it…?”

My cheeks felt hot. If there were a mirror, I definitely wouldn’t want to see myself right now. Oh, right. Maybe I should invite him on a date during the next break? While watching the nighttime illuminations, I could tell Yuuta-kun how I feel now…

As I thought about that, I felt my face growing even hotter. I was imagining something pretty intense just now, wasn’t I…? Imagining things like this with Yuuta-kun…

While covering my face in embarrassment, I then—

“Heh… ah-choo!”

I sneezed at the worst possible timing.

“…Is someone talking about me?”

Well, whatever.

Clutching the papers again, I headed toward the school gate, desperately suppressing the urge to skip.

Wait for me, Yuuta-kun.

The moment I made that declaration in my heart, a gentle warmth bloomed deep in my chest.

☆☆☆☆

Yuuta’s POV

While I was waiting at the school gate, I saw Kaede jogging toward me from a distance, waving her hand. Just seeing her face was enough to blow away about half of my day’s fatigue. 

Humans really are strange like that.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuuta-kun!”

“No, not at all.”

“Let’s go home together.”

Saying that, Kaede grabbed my hand like she always did.

“Hey, Yuuta-kun.”

“Hm?”

“Next break… Do you want to go on a date for the first time in a while? You know, maybe we can see a movie, go shopping… Anywhere’s fine.”

A date invitation at this timing?! But with her eyes sparkling with anticipation, there was no way I could object.

“…Alright. Let’s go.”

“—!”

Kaede covered her mouth, her steps bouncing with obvious happiness.

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course I am! It’s a date, you know? A daaaate!”

“You’re putting way too much emphasis on that…”

“Of course I am. It’s been a while.”

Our light banter flowed naturally back and forth. Before I knew it, even in the crowded area near the station, only Kaede’s voice seemed to linger in my ears. As we got closer to the station…

“…Achoo!”

Kaede suddenly sneezed. The way she sneezed was like it was optimized purely for cuteness.

“Hey, are you okay? A cold?”

“I-I’m fine! See? Totally fine!”

She raised her hand high to prove it. No, that movement absolutely did not look fine.

“Don’t overdo it, okay?”

“I won’t~ See you tomorrow then!”

Kaede smiled and waved, then lightly descended the station stairs. I stood there for a while, watching until her back disappeared from sight.

Is she really okay…?

While thinking that, I headed home.

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T/N: The author be making me anxious right now because I don’t want Kaede to get hurt (╥﹏╥) Shouma you little prick, you better not touch her when she gives u the handouts.