I, Who Reincarnated as the Villain in a Romance Game, Somehow Became Doted on by the Heroine. And That Heroine Turned Out to Be a Yandere Stalker - Chapter 17: The Tale of the Odd Couple Getting Along

Episode 17: The Tale of the Odd Couple Getting Along

After completing the tests safely, the results came back. Thanks to intense studying, though mostly thanks to Hiyono-san, the scores were barely passing.

If I fail a year, that would be certain doom.

It would be painful to be separated from the friends we’ve built up.

Hiyono-san remained calm. There seemed to be no problem. And I nervously looked at Rinka, who was sitting two seats away.

She had said something unbelievable during the study session. Does she actually get good scores…?

“Mi-kai! Look at this, it’s math!”
“Huh… Rinka-san…”

She’s showing her test answers. Mi-kai’s expression looks stiff, so it’s scary to ask what happened. Could it be at the level of failing a year? I hope not.

“Woah, perfect score!?”
“Isn’t it amazing! I’m just good at understanding!”

“Why you…!”

In the classroom, I end up standing up involuntarily and shouting.
“Hey, what’s wrong with Toudou?”
“I don’t know… It’s scary…”

The classroom falls silent.
Suddenly, a guy starts shouting something incomprehensible.
No, it’s actually true.

“Fujitou-kun, please don’t say incomprehensible things, just sit down.”

With a light assist from Sensei Nanchara Rin, everything is resolved.

What’s a perfect score? Isn’t it the score that someone who was asking “What’s three times four equals?” would get?
Is it an issue of understanding?

Well, now that I think about it, Rinka was supposed to be smart in the original work.
But I wouldn’t have noticed because she’s the type of girl who’s in this school.
It’s a common trope in romance games and anime, but clearly her appearance doesn’t match her intelligence.

“It’s all thanks to Mi-kai, thank you, squishy!”
“R-Rinka-san, your grip is strong…”

While happily nuzzling her cheek, Rinka hugs Mi-kai.
Her ample chest presses against Mi-kai’s cheek. The feeling of happiness can be felt, probably because she likes yuri stories.

But people are surprisingly complex. Sometimes, those with different types get along better.
Like Rinka and Mi-kai in front of me, the odd couple actually has good chemistry.

People are sometimes compared to jigsaw puzzles.
Maybe these two fit together perfectly.

But unlike actual jigsaw puzzles, human rough edges change.
Work, relationships, places, fate.
People separate and come together, and relationships with friends and lovers change.
It’s both the beauty and the difficulty of it.

Putting aside such complicated matters, the two are simply good friends.
Watching them warms the heart, and many people around us smile genuinely.

I feel so happy because it was thanks to me that their relationship deepened.
In the original work, Mi-kai was bullied by me and became a recluse, and Rinka was a lone wolf who didn’t interact with anyone. Looking at it now, that’s just not possible.

“Juu-kai! Let’s go home!”
“Sure… together…”

After school, it’s rare for just the three of us to be alone.
Hiyono-san is busy with the student council, and Chiu has chores at home.
Akuto-kun is going to eat pancakes with BL-kun. I’m a little… jealous.

“Hey! Since we have time, why don’t the three of us go out and have fun together?”
“I-I can… go…”

With her arm linked behind my head, Rinka suddenly suggests.
Mi-kai glances at my face for a moment before answering.
Her eyes seem to say, “I want to go, I want to have fun.”

“Sure. I was actually thinking of going out too.”

In response, the two of them beam with joy.

◇

“This strawberry juice is so delicious! Amazing!”
“Hehe… it’s delicious. Delicious…”

“Just as Rinka said, this is really good…”

We’re at the food court of a nearby large shopping mall.
It’s not too crowded since it’s just before evening.

In Fujitou Mitsu’s memory, it’s been a long time since he came here.
Recently, his memories from his past life have been mixed up, so he often gets confused.
Sometimes, he’s scared not knowing who he is.

But when he looks at Rinka, Mi-kai, and his friends, he feels relieved.
I am… allowed to be here.

“Hey Mitsu, why the serious face? Something happen?”
“Well… if it’s okay with me, I can listen to your problems.”
“…Thanks. But you two seem close. Do you hang out together sometimes?”

I can’t help but smile. When I ask, the two of them exchange glances and smirk.
At the same time.

“Hehe! Actually, Mi-kai and I have been watching ‘When I Was Reincarnated into a Carabiner’ at her house! We’ve borrowed manga and other stuff too! Novels might be a bit too early, but anime is the best!”
“Huh, that’s surprising. It really is interesting.”

Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.
Rinka doesn’t have any prejudices. She’s bright and has a good personality.

But she was different when I first met her.
She blamed her life while stomping around.
The reason for that… only I know.

“Ah, isn’t there an Almight store here? Let’s go!”

“Eh!? I-I want to go! Let’s go!”

Rinka shouts as she looks at the map, and Mi-kai stands up without hesitation.
She grabs the sleeve of my shirt and pulls me along like a little girl.

But even I… am getting excited.

“We can’t just ignore that.”

After finishing shopping at Almight, we exit the store with our hands full of goods.
It seems like my allowance is about to run out.
If only Fujitou Mitsu would save more money for me…

“That was fun! Oh, can we check this out too?”
“Ah, sure… wait, huh!?”

Rinka enters a brightly colored store. I follow absentmindedly, only to realize it’s a lingerie shop.
Mi-kai also looks down, seemingly embarrassed.

Of course she would be. It’s not exactly calming with me around.

“Sorry. I was thinking about Tenkara and ended up here unconsciously. I’ll wait outside.”

As I try to leave, Mi-kai grabs onto the sleeve of my shirt.

“P-Please stay… it’s embarrassing.”
“Hey, how about this!? I think it would suit Mi-kai!”

“Eh, uh, yeah. Definitely.”

While blushing furiously, she somehow manages to hold me back.
Rinka doesn’t seem to notice, and she’s naturally showing Mi-kai a cute light blue ribboned underwear.
I might be a pervert for approving of it, but…

“Then let’s try them on!”
“Y-Yes… huh!?”
“Mi-kai, let’s go together!”

Mi-kai is taken away before I can say anything.
It’s getting dangerous, so I try to leave, but I’m stopped with, “Please don’t go.”
W-What am I supposed to do!?

“Manager,

is that person okay? The girls, they’re not being threatened, right?”
“They seem to be having a friendly chat… But being sold into the night… No, that’s probably not happening. They look like high school students.”

I feel like something terrible is being said, but I’ll ignore it for now.
They’re high school students, after all!

As I wait, the curtain of the fitting room opens.
Huh? Is this a joke? But when I saw who came out, it was Rinka wearing red underwear, and Mi-kai wearing pale blue underwear.
Their ample and modest chests complement each other perfectly, adding just the right accent.
Their thighs look pleasantly soft, and Mi-kai’s skin is undoubtedly smooth.
Is it because she doesn’t get much sunlight? Is it okay if this isn’t paid for?

Wait, didn’t they feel embarrassed during the indirect kiss? What kind of standard is this?

“How’s this!? Does it suit me?”
“Uh, yeah… I think it’s beautiful.”
“Hehe! What about Mi-kai?”
“Ah, yeah, it looks good…”

I’m starting to feel embarrassed. Why does underwear, which has almost the same surface area as a swimsuit, make me excited?
It’s strange.

“Thank you for your purchase!”

In the end, I was forced by Rinka to buy two pairs of underwear.
But if it means I get to see them, isn’t it worth it?

“Thanks! I found my favorites!”
“Ah, yeah. But it’s troubling how you react…”

While Rinka is happily smiling, Mi-kai seems mature.
Maybe she was just going along with it? If that’s the case, then I feel sorry for everything.

“Mi-kai, I’m sorry—”
“Hehe… hehe… cute… happy”

No, that’s not it. She seemed genuinely happy.
After all, maybe Rinka and I really do get along well.

She’s clumsy and introverted, but Rinka leads the way.
And Mi-kai covers the delicate parts.
I see, they’re a good odd couple.

“Well, let’s go home! Oh, Mi-kai, here you go!”

Then, Rinka and Mi-kai give me a smirk.
It’s a bit more ominous than usual. What’s wrong, what on earth is going on?

“H-H-Here…?”
“That’s for you…”

With a faintly pleasant smell.

…gulp.

No, I won’t do something so perverted.
Seriously, who do they think I am—

At that moment, the door opens.

“Mitsu-nii! What… what’s this… underwear!?”
“Eh, w-wait, this is—!?”
“Mom, Mitsu-nii—!”

“W-Wait a minute, Yayo…”

For a month, I was called “Pervert Underwear Mitsu-nii” by Yayoi.
By the way, I returned the two pairs of underwear the next day, but when Hiyono-san saw the scene, it became a big mess. But that’s another story.