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 33 - Reika vs Hinano

Chapter 33 – Reika vs Hinano

“Master! Just give me a moment to eat, itadakimasu!”

As soon as she finished her breakfast, Hinano barked, banging on the table.

Here comes something troublesome.

“After Kohinata-san, now it’s Chiaki-san from your class?! Master!! Aren’t you being a little too indiscriminate?!”

See, trouble.

“Just because she looks a bit cuter now! No way, no way. I guess you like that type of girl, huh, Master. I’ll tell you, if you get serious about that type of girl, you’ll get into trouble.”

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden…”

“I think your relationship with Chiaki-san is a bit off. It feels like the distance between you two is more like two people of the same gender!”

This girl… She’s really sharp with strange things.

“I know what I’m doing. Chiaki’s just like that. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

“Huh? What’s with that ‘I’m the only one who understands her’ vibe…”

Hinano’s glaring gaze pierced me.

This is no good. There’s no point in saying anything more.

At times like this, it’s best to just put your brain into ignore mode and let it flow.

I’ll make use of the “phrases you should say to get a conversation going with a girl” that Chiaki taught me.

“I agree.”

“As expected of you.”

These two phrases. I just need to empathize and compliment.

“Actually, Master, how long do you intend to continue being Tsukishima-san’s fake lover?”

“I agree.”

“That’s right~ The rumor spread by Kuzushima-senpai has lost its influence, so surely it’s time to take some action to remove the fake lover status?”

“I agree.”

“That’s right! Fufu. Leave it to me, Master. I have a secret plan to solve this situation!”

“As expected of you.”

“Well? I’m your super super super excellent partner. It’s my job as your right-hand to support the incompetent Master.”

“As expected of you.”

“M-Master. You’re awfully honest today… Well, that’s fine~ So, about that secret plan, it’s simple! We just need to act all lovey-dovey in front of Tsukishima-san!!”

“I agree.”

“Then it’s settled!!”

“…Eh?”

What’s settled?

This is bad. I was just brainlessly answering, so I have no idea what she was talking about…

“Well then! I have some errands to run, so I’ll be going!”

“Yeah…”

I saw Hinano off, feeling uneasy at how motivated she looked.

The next day.

The bell rang to signal the end of class.

It was finally lunchtime, and the tired classmates took out their lunches and started to form groups.

For the time being, Hinano had instructed me not to leave the classroom, so I waited there.

“……”

From all around the room, I could feel subtle stares wondering when exactly I was planning to leave.

It’s strange… I’ve been in this class for quite a while now, but nothing’s changed since the first day I transferred here.

“Ishibashi, let’s go.”

Bang!

Reika opened the classroom door.

Ever since the incident with Chiaki, she had started coming to the classroom to pick me up.

Maybe since it’s become normal for Reika to come to the classroom to call me, the other classmates don’t make a fuss like they used to.

But no… this isn’t the kind of change I was hoping for.

Hinano had told me to stay in the classroom, but I can’t take it anymore.

“You didn’t make a bento today?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I woke up a little late.”

I didn’t tell Reika that Hinano was the one making my lunch. The reason was because it would be too much of a hassle.

“I see. Do you want to go to the store?”

“Yeah.”

Surely, even Hinano wouldn’t interrupt in this situation. Unless she’s some idiot who can’t read the atmosphere at all——

“Ah! Tsuyoshi-kun!”

Ah, the idiot who can’t read the atmosphere at all has arrived…

As expected, the classroom started to get noisy. All eyes in the class were immediately drawn to the carefree Hinano.

To be honest, Sakurai Hinano… She’s ridiculously attractive and incredibly popular, so much so that she’s basically a celebrity.

There are probably several guys in this very classroom who’ve already tried and failed to win her over.

Which means…

“B-by Tsuyoshi-kun, did she mean Ishibashi?”

“What? That guy, seriously… He even made a move on Sakurai-san?”

“What kind of relationship do they have?”

Hinano approached with a smile, ignoring the noisy atmosphere.

To be honest, I have a bad feeling about this, especially since she called me “Tsuyoshi-kun” earlier.

And right next to me is the person I least want to be here right now.

I cautiously checked on Reika.

“What? Tsuyoshi-kun? Huh?”

Tsukishima Reika must have been so shocked that she freaked out…

“Here, this is today’s lunch! Let’s eat together today.”

“What? Lunch? Eh?”

This girl, she’s done it…!! She’s given me the worst thing at the worst possible time!!

“Oh? You’re Tsukishima-san, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Tsuyoshi-kun’s childhood friend, Sakurai Hinano. Thank you for always taking care of my Tsuyoshi-kun.”

No way, we’re suddenly childhood friends. In the game, Ishibashi Tsuyoshi and Sakurai Hinano were never childhood friends.

“…Your Tsuyoshi-kun? Childhood friend? Ishibashi… What is this girl saying? Care to explain?”

This is ridiculous. I myself just found out…

The classroom buzzed with murmurs, my head throbbed, Chiaki stared at me with a blank expression, Hinano kept smiling, and Reika’s sharp gaze I had never seen before pierced into me.

What is this place… hell?

“We’ve been friends since we were little, and we’ve always been together. We’re really good childhood friends, right, Tsuyoshi-kun?”

It was Hinano who broke the atmosphere of confusion and chaos. She forcefully took my arm and pulled me close to her, as if to hug me.

“When we were little, we would bathe together. Tsuyoshi-kun even said he would make me his bride…”

That’s a memory that doesn’t exist…

“B-bathe together?! H-his bride?!”

Reika-san, please stop grabbing my tie. I swear I don’t remember any of this.

“That was probably around elementary school…”

Probably, yeah, probably around elementary…

“Ah, I-I see… Phew.”

Reika snorted, relieved by my random words. Good. She seemed to have recovered somehow.

“This contest is over then. In the end, a childhood friend is just that. As his girlfriend, I’m obviously far more special. Don’t you think so, Sakurai-san? Sorry about that!”

Reika puffed out her chest with a smug look on her face.

What on earth was the contest about? Well, I don’t need to know. More importantly, I wish this hellish conversation would end soon.

“Well, I’ve already slept with Tsuyoshi-kun. What about you?”

The classroom fell silent with Hinano’s words. Love triangle, betrayal, two-timing, and other ominous words floated around the room.

Reika, hearing this nuclear-level declaration, slowly turned her head toward me with a creak.

…I can’t stop sweating.

Hinano opened her mouth again with a smug look on her face.

Hey, stop it, don’t say anything anymore. Don’t make the situation any worse.

“And I spend every day with Tsuyoshi-kun, from ‘Good morning’ to ‘Good night.’ What about you?”

◇　◇　◇

T/N: There’s no comeback to this… Mission failed, try again next time Reika!

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I Reincarnated as the Overpowered Male Lead in an Erotic Game and Had Already Slept with One of the Heroines~