I Was Reincarnated as a Mob in a Completed School Rom-Com Manga, and When I Tried My Best to Cheer Up the Broken Losing Heroines, I Realized I Had Surpassed the Original Story - 8

Chapter 8: The Invitation

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When lunchtime came and I turned around, Konno-san’s figure was already gone from the classroom. She was quick and unpredictable, like a cat. Maybe she was on the rooftop again. Since I was worried about the awkward mood that had formed between us that morning, I decided to eat my lunch on the rooftop.

When I opened the door leading to the rooftop and peeked inside, Konno-san was leaning against the wall, peacefully asleep. I sat down next to her, leaving about two meters between us, and opened my bento. The temperature was pleasant, the autumn breeze felt good, and the weather was nice again today. Come to think of it, in the original story, rainy days in this world were always depicted as signs that the heroine would get rejected or that a dramatic confrontation was approaching.

I hoped today would be peaceful too, and that nothing would happen to the heroines. As I was thinking that, the Konno-san beside me stretched both arms and let out a sleepy little sound.

“Uu~n…”

While I was watching her adorable behavior, her eyelids lifted and our eyes met.

“O-Oh… G-good morning… Did you sleep well?”

She twitched like a startled cat for a moment, then sent me a damp, unamused look.

“Why are you here…?”

“Things felt a little weird this morning, so I thought we could make up…”

“Pff, I’m not mad or anything. You’re just overthinking it.”

Seeing Konno-san’s expression as she laughed through her nose, I felt relieved for the moment.

“I-I’m glad… um, Konno-san, did you eat lunch already?”

At my question, Konno-san’s face clouded as she shifted to sit hugging her knees. Her white thighs peeked out for a moment, and I quickly turned my face away. I felt pathetic for imagining the view in front of me right now.

“No… I don’t really have much of an appetite lately…”

At her barely audible voice, all my improper thoughts vanished to the far ends of the sky.

“But you should eat at least a little. If you want, you can have some of my bento?”

“What kind of side dishes?”

“Karaage, and I also have meatballs.”

“Then… Karaage…”

Facing me and muttering quietly, she opened her mouth with an “ah.”

“Eh…”

Was she telling me to feed her? Thinking back, Konno-san actually had a bit of a man-killer side in the original story too. She was the type who did things like this naturally, not as calculated behavior.

“Not yet…?”

Impatient, she got onto all fours, keeping her mouth open and eyes closed. This destructive cuteness was even stronger than in the original.

“H-Here you go…”

Making up my mind, I stuck the colorful toothpick that had been in the meatball into a piece of karaage and brought it to Konno-san’s mouth.

“Ahm. Mm, it’s tasty…”

…That was when it happened.

“K-Kurosaki-kun…!”

A clear, familiar voice echoed from the rooftop entrance. When I turned around, a beautiful girl with long, glossy red hair—the owner of that voice—stood frozen, her face filled with shock.

“A-Akaboshi-san, why are you here!?”

“I went to your classroom but couldn’t find you, so I searched all over the school… I’m sorry, it looks like I was intruding…”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned her back as if she were about to cry.

“N-No, you’re not intruding at all! R-Right, Konno-san!?”

“Eh, y-yeah…”

Having been overwhelmed by my intensity, Konno-san gave a half-hearted reply, and hearing that, Akaboshi-san turned back toward us. Her stiff expression softened just a little.

“R-Really…?”

“It’s a nice day today, so… Akaboshi-san, would you like to eat lunch here with us?”

“Y-Yes! I’d love to!”

Akaboshi-san’s expression brightened instantly, and I somehow managed to narrowly escape disaster. Then Konno-san poked my back and whispered in my ear.

“Hey, Kurosaki-kun… I don’t really want people to start coming to the rooftop often.”

“I’m sorry, just for today, please!”

“Haah… Just today, alright?”

When I put my hands together and pleaded, Konno-san sighed but agreed. We formed a circle and the three of us sat facing each other to eat lunch together. Akaboshi-san not only talked to me but also proactively directed topics toward Konno-san. Watching Konno-san respond awkwardly, I was reminded once again of the situation she was currently in.

In the original story, Konno-san held a lone-wolf sort of position, so her interactions with the other heroines—not just Akaboshi-san—were never depicted deeply. For Konno-san, her only truly comfortable friend was likely Shiratori, the original protagonist. It might be too much to ask, but if she had even one friend of the same gender, maybe things would feel a little easier for her.

“That’s why… I actually have a favor to ask the two of you…”

So I decided to invite the two of them to the manga research club that my little sister was trying to start.

“Heh… Sure, whatever. I’ve got free time.”

“If it’s a request for Kurosaki-kun, then yes! I would be honored to join!”

Both of them agreed. I couldn’t hide my surprise that even Konno-san accepted so easily—Akaboshi-san aside.

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When school ended, I called Moe and Kirari to my class to report the successful recruitment and to have them meet everyone. The classroom door slid open loudly.

“Onii-chan, we’re here~!”

“Seriously, Kazuto, calling us out of nowhere without giving a reason—what is it?”

Even though it was a classroom of upperclassmen, the two of them walked in without the slightest hint of nervousness.

“Hello…”

“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Nazuna Akaboshi, Kurosaki-kun’s friend. Please take care of me.”

Konno-san became quiet like a cat in daze, while Akaboshi-san bowed politely with her usual brightness during her introduction.

“No way… O-Onii-chan is with cute girls…!?”

“Eh—Hiyori-chan and… P-Princess Nazuna…!?”

Moe was stunned, and Kirari fainted on the spot with a dull thump. I had heard about how much she loved Nazuna, but I didn’t think it would be this extreme…

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