I Was Reincarnated as a Stepping-Stone Character in an Eroge, and by Breaking the Heroines’ NTR Flags in Place of the Protagonist, They Ended Up Falling for Me - Chapter 3 - Lonely Heroine During Lunch Break

Chapter 3 – Lonely Heroine During Lunch Break

“Isshi, you’re free after school today, right? Help out with the student council’s work.”

During lunch break, while eating lunch together after being forcibly dragged by the heroine, Tsukishima Reika, she suddenly started asking me some troublesome questions.

“…Why?”

“One of the student council members is absent today for some reason. That means there’s more work than usual. Oh, it’s just chores that anyone can do, so you’ll do just fine.”

“No.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’m busy with my own stuff too.”

“What are you even talking about? It’s not like you have plans, Isshi.”

“You… I have to unpack my things after moving.”

“Wow. So you’d prioritize yourself over a friend asking for help? No wonder I’m your only friend, Isshi.”

“…Wait a second. I didn’t want to ask, so I ignored it, but what do you mean by Isshi? You don’t mean me, right?”

“Of course I do. You’re Ishibashi, so you’re Isshi.”

“…Why are you calling me Isshi?”

Reika sighed in exasperation after hearing what I said.

“You really don’t understand anything, Isshi.”

Huh? What’s wrong with this guy…

“It’s common sense for friends to call each other by nicknames, you know? Don’t you know that?”

This coming from someone who eats lunch alone.

“Well, you can call me Reipyon, or… Rey-chan, if you’d like.”

What, absolutely not.

“Before we even talk nicknames, we’re not even friends.”

“——Eh?”

Reika was speechless when she heard what I said.

“We’re friends who eat lunch together…”

Isn’t that a low standard for friends?

“In the first place, if it’s that much work, you can just ask the other student council members.”

“I can’t do that. Everyone already has their own responsibilities.”

“Don’t you feel bad for me, who’s not even a member of the student council?”

“Well… you’re the only one I feel comfortable asking, Isshi.”

“…Why me?”

“Because… yesterday, you didn’t just stand by. You helped me. And after that, you did so much more for me.”

So, unlike the others… I guess I can rely on you.

Apparently, the events two days ago left a very strong impression on Reika.

Well, Reika was pretty scared at that time… She must have been really scared. A senior forced himself on her, so it’s only natural she felt scared…

“There are a lot of people you can rely on around you, isn’t there? Is there anyone in the student council who’s your age?”

“…There’s Mayu, but… Maybe Sasaki-kun.”

The Sasaki Reika was referring to is probably the protagonist of the game, Sasaki Yuuma.

Like Reika, he is a member of the student council and works in general affairs.

He’s a shy, reserved loner by nature, but as with all eroge protagonists, depending on the player’s choices, he can either stay a wimpy pushover or become a brave man who takes on any challenge for the heroines.

This is my chance to break my “helping flag” and set up a “helping flag” for Sasaki instead.

“Then you can ask Sasaki to help you, right?”

“That’s… true, but… I…”

“Alright, then this conversation is over.”

Perhaps because I cut her off without asking, Reika looked annoyed.

“Fine… I won’t rely on Ishibashi anymore.”

“Ah, I see. That’s a relief.”

“…By the way, if you’re going to apologize, now’s the time. I might forgive you if you say, ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong. Rey-chan and I are friends, so I’ll help you with the student council work.'”

“Oh, the warning bell just rang. Time to head back to class.”

“Ishibashiiiiiii!!”

Even as Reika furiously swung a plastic bottle at me, I successfully broke the flag.

Well, the student council’s business and Sasaki Yuma’s storyline have nothing to do with me.

…But I guess I’ll at least check how things turn out after school.

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T/N: Reika’s so cute~