I Will Do Everything In My Power To Bring Happiness To The Enchanting Beauty Who Can No Longer Smile. - Chapter 8: The Beautiful Girl Who Toppled a Nation and the Public's Reaction.

The Beautiful Girl Who Toppled a Nation and the Public’s Reaction.

Friday, the End of the Week

Normally, Fridays bring a sense of excitement, but this morning, I was feeling nothing but gloom.

“What are you going to do, Shigure?”

“…Even if you ask me that, I’m not sure.”

The reason for my mood was a certain online article.

“The Enchanting Beauty of the Nation—Rumors of a Man?! A Childhood Friend No Less?!”

The content was incredibly shallow, yet it said exactly what the headline suggested. Someone must have leaked it.

Of course, the article was referring to me.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

“Don’t worry about it. She’s not an idol, and it’s well-known that she doesn’t have die-hard romantic fans. I doubt this will impact her work.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that this might affect her career in some way.

“Besides, she was the one who spoke to you first, wasn’t she?”

“…Well, yeah.”

“Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. If it bothers you that much, just ask her at school.”

With a light pat on my back, Shirao urged me forward. Sighing, I set off for school, my steps heavier than usual.

***

“The usual article. That site always publishes strange stories whenever I work with male colleagues.”

“…Really?”

When I asked Tsubame whether she was okay, that was her response. I searched online for past articles but found none. Instead, I found multiple reports stating that her agency had handled such situations before.

“Yeah, it’s all for page views. Don’t worry about it. The agency will take care of it again. Besides, my contract doesn’t have strict rules about dating.”

“I see.”

“Apparently, my fans aren’t the type to fall in love with me. It seems they just want to keep me close instead.”

She spoke casually, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. As I tried to push that feeling aside, Tsubame leaned in closer, peering into my face.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Huh? Why are you apologizing?”

Her sudden apology made me tilt my head in confusion. I met her gaze, and after a brief silence, she murmured:

“For causing you trouble. I’m sorry.”

“…Causing trouble, huh.”

I understood. From her perspective, she must have felt responsible—like she had dragged me into this just by speaking to me.

But that wasn’t quite right.

“I was happy, Tsubame.”

Even now, I was attracting attention, and it would likely continue. Articles would keep coming, and people would keep watching—not just at school, but everywhere.

I couldn’t say it didn’t affect me. I couldn’t lie to myself.

But still—

“I was happy that you reached out to me.”

That was the truth.

“I was happy that you relied on me. That you still remembered me. Maybe it was nothing special to you, but it meant a lot to me.”

Maybe I was just the most convenient option. If I had refused, she might have just turned to someone else.

But she had chosen to rely on me first, and that made me happy.

“So don’t worry about it. I’ll get used to this eventually. In fact, I think I already have—just a little.”

Even now, countless eyes were on us. Some were likely eavesdropping.

Yet compared to Monday, it didn’t feel as overwhelming. Humans adapt.

In a month, I’d probably be even more used to it. No matter what happens, I’d find a way to manage.

As I spoke lightly, Tsubame didn’t avert her gaze. Her lips parted slightly, and she whispered:

“Getting used to it isn’t always a good thing.”

“…What do you mean?”

“The deeper the unseen wounds grow, the less you realize they’re there. And before you know it, you break.”

Her expression remained unchanged, her eyes like a bottomless abyss.

But this was unusual. She rarely stared so intently. Even her blinking seemed slower than usual.

I had a feeling I understood why.

“Tsubame… are you worried about me?”

“…”

A brief pause.

Then, for just a moment, her eyes widened ever so slightly—as if caught off guard.

By the time she blinked, the moment had passed, and she returned to her usual demeanor.

“Probably.”

“I see… So you are.”

The first words were my response to her. The second were my own realization, spoken under my breath.

A small smile formed at the corners of my lips.

“You’ve always been kind, Tsubame.”

I recalled when we were kids—when I fell and scraped my knee, or when a ball hit my head. She had always been there, worrying about me. Like any child, she would chant, “Pain, pain, go away!” while holding my hand.

Not just for that one day, but until my wound had fully healed. Every single day.

“Thank you for worrying about me. But I’ll be okay. I won’t push myself too hard. …After all, I have people I can rely on.”

Glancing to the side, I saw my friend, holding a rice ball from his delayed breakfast, giving me a thumbs-up. It was such a brief moment that hardly anyone noticed.

“You made a friend.”

“Yeah. …He kind of latched onto me after a lot happened.”

The early days had been tough, but that was a story for another time. Tsubame looked at him for a second before turning back to me.

“But, Shigure-kun.”

“Hm?”

“…”

“What is it?”

She hesitated. That was unusual. I waited for her to continue.

After a pause, she slowly spoke.

“If you ever need someone to rely on… I’d like to be the first.”

“…Huh?”

A dumbfounded sound escaped me.

Did I mishear her? But judging by the reactions around me, I hadn’t.

“After all, I relied on you first, didn’t I?”

“…”

I opened my mouth, but no words came.

She kept her gaze locked on mine, waiting for a response.

“O-Okay.”

At my answer, she finally averted her eyes, seemingly satisfied.

For a fleeting moment, the thought of jealousy crossed my mind—but that was surely just me overthinking.

Her personality… no, if she were the same as before, jealousy might have been likely. But this time, it felt different—more like she simply wanted to repay a favor or keep things balanced.

At least, that’s what I told myself as I tried to calm my racing heart.