My Popular-as-Hell Best Friend Is Annoying, So I Want to Get Him a Girlfriend and Shut Him Up - Chapter 161 & 162 & 163 & 164

Chapter 161: The Maidens’ Chat 9

“Alright, good night, everyone!”

“Good night!”

“Sleep well.”

“See you tomorrow!”

After wrapping up the impromptu late-night study session, Izumo and the others exchanged goodbyes and headed to their rooms. Uryu was with Yukiya and Shoki, Haruka, Miharu, and Mayoi shared one room, Izumo and Akari another. Tsuyu was supposed to stay in her own room, but her fierce insistence—call it sheer willpower—landed her with the first-year duo.

“…Exhausted.”

Before entering her room, Izumo let out a sigh. After focusing on her own studies all day and then teaching the group, she was understandably drained. Though it was her idea, she felt so worn out she could fall asleep the moment she lay down.

But she couldn’t crash just yet. Izumo had pushed through her fatigue to start the study session for one reason: to give her best friend Akari and Yukiya some alone time.

Since hearing Akari’s feelings in the sauna, Izumo had wanted to create such an opportunity. When Tsuyu’s slip-up about Yukiya came up, Izumo used the mock trial farce to successfully separate Yukiya and Tsuyu.

During the study session, something must have happened between the two in that room. Izumo wasn’t planning to pry excessively, but she hoped for some return on her efforts.

“…Huh?”

Eager to hear from Akari, Izumo opened the door, but the room was dark. It was quite late, so were they still together?

She decided to turn on the light and contact Akari, but—

“Wah!?”

Izumo yelped in surprise.

—Because in the pitch-black room, Akari was crouched on the floor.

“Oh, Izumo-chan, welcome back.”

Reacting to the light, Akari slowly looked up with a smile.

It was immediately clear the smile was fake.

Her usually cute smile looked dulled, with stark tear stains under her eyes.

“…What happened?”

Izumo’s excitement vanished. The situation, Akari’s appearance—it was obvious something serious had occurred. A heavy, negative aura radiated from her.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t dodge! Weren’t you with Hirose Yukiya!?”

Dumping her study materials haphazardly, Izumo pressed Akari, who kept her expression neutral. Though she asked, Izumo already had a sinking suspicion.

If Akari had confessed to Yukiya, the outcome was painfully obvious.

“Oh, yeah. Well, I got rejected.”

Akari said it so casually it was hard to gauge her emotions. Had she already cried herself out? Still smiling, she continued.

“With Tsuyu-chan’s thing, I felt I had to tell him how I felt. So, I chose my words carefully and confessed to Hirose-kun.”

Pausing for a breath, Akari shared what happened next.

“It was a disaster. I said I got rejected, but I don’t think he even took me seriously. Which makes sense—I was deceiving him all along.”

By “deceiving,” she likely meant pretending to like Uryu while talking to Yukiya. Izumo had heard about this in the sauna.

“No, it’s probably less about deceiving Hirose-kun and more about deceiving Aoyagi-kun. They’re close, right?”

“Akari…”

Akari’s voice started to waver. She’d been speaking as if nothing was wrong, but Izumo’s worried gaze began to break her composure.

“Getting rejected didn’t bother me. I didn’t expect him to say yes. I just wanted him to notice me a little, get closer than before, and… and… maybe, eventually, we could date… I thought…”

Finally, tears spilled from Akari’s eyes again. Not wanting to be seen, she buried her face while still crouched.

“Now it’s even less likely than before! I can’t even stay friends with him! This… this wasn’t supposed to happen… ugh…!”

Watching her best friend sob, Izumo felt her anger boil quietly.

She knew Yukiya wasn’t the type to handle things gently. Since their first year, she’d seen him push people away harshly and had been on the receiving end of his sharp words whenever she called him out.

She could handle it. She could stay positive and keep fighting.

But ignoring her best friend’s pain was utterly impossible.

Standing from beside Akari, Izumo headed for the door without a word.

“Izumo-chan, stop!”

But before she could leave, Akari grabbed her arm. Seeing her trembling, tear-filled eyes, Izumo’s fury flared.

“Why!? You’re suffering like this, and I’m supposed to let it slide!?”

Izumo couldn’t rest until she gave Yukiya a piece of her mind. She had no intention of demanding he date Akari—she knew she had no right to meddle that far.

But she couldn’t believe this was the best way things could’ve gone.

“Let it slide? I’m the one who messed up! I know I’m at fault, and that’s why it turned out like this!”

“…!”

“Sure, I wish he’d been kinder about it. But this time, it’s my own fault. I don’t really think Hirose-kun’s to blame.”

Hearing Akari’s words, Izumo bit her lip hard. Despite the awful outcome, Akari didn’t blame Yukiya—not out of bravado, but sincerity. That left Izumo unable to argue back.

“I used that situation to talk to him, so it’s my fault. If I’d been upfront, this wouldn’t have happened… Though, being upfront, I might not have even had a chance to talk to him, haha.”

With a self-deprecating laugh, Akari forced a smile, clearly not wanting to worry Izumo further.

“…Fine, then. Forget Hirose Yukiya and move on. You’re cute, Akari—there are tons of great guys out there.”

Denying Yukiya as Akari defended him, Izumo tried to comfort her heartbroken friend. If it was over, there was no need to dwell. She genuinely believed Akari should forget him and find new love, but—

“Thanks, Izumo-chan. But I think I’m done with romance for a while. This has drained me so much, it’d mess with my daily life.”

Though polite, Akari’s heart wasn’t ready to move forward. She clearly stated she’d rather do nothing than think about new love.

“And besides, I can’t just forget him that easily.”

“…!”

Seeing Akari’s lonely smile, Izumo’s heart ached deeply.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want love—she had no intention of moving on to the next love. Izumo understood that clearly.

“…Okay. I don’t know what to say, but tell me anything. I’ll stay up all night with you.”

“What!? That’s sweet, but you’ve been working so hard…”

“Forget that! If I can’t even listen to you now, what kind of best friend am I?”

“Izumo-chan…”

Hearing Akari’s words, Izumo made two resolutions. First, she’d listen to Akari until she was satisfied.

“Really, thank you. Just a little bit would mean a lot.”

“Bring it on.”

The second was to talk to Yukiya without telling Akari.

Chapter 162: Unstoppable Harsh Words

The next morning, thanks to my usual habits, I woke up earlier than anyone else. Uryu and Horimoto Shoki were still snoring peacefully.

Grabbing clothes from my backpack, I headed out of the room. Toritani-san had mentioned the large bath was available from 5 a.m., so I figured I’d enjoy a morning soak. Yesterday was too crowded to relax, so today I hoped to quietly watch the sunrise.

That’s what I was thinking when I stepped outside.

“…Morning.”

Misono Izumo greeted me in a listless tone. In the dim emergency lighting, her silhouette was faint, but her expression seemed angry.

“Morning. You’re up early.”

“Couldn’t sleep much. Took a two-hour nap and studied in the lobby. Just taking a break now.”

“…You’re gonna collapse.”

Even I was momentarily speechless. I wondered why she was in the hallway, but studying all night? I want her to beat Uryu, but at this rate, she’ll burn out before the fight. Can she keep this up for four more days starting the day after tomorrow?

“…Can’t help it. I couldn’t sleep because of you.”

“…What?”

“I was going to find a chance to talk later, but this works.”

With that, Misono Izumo directed blatant hostility at me.

“What did you do to Akari?”

—Oh, that kind of talk.

I’ve endured her lectures and complaints before, but this opening might be the most exasperating yet.

“…What’s that? Did Kirita Akari cry to you or something?”

“She didn’t cry to me, and she didn’t say you were at fault.”

“Huh? Then why’re you mad? I’m not the bad guy, right?”

“—But Akari was crying.”

For a split second, a sharp pain pierced my heart like a needle. But it was so brief, it had to be my imagination. That’s what I told myself.

“It wasn’t just crying over a broken heart. She said she didn’t mind being rejected, but to sob like that—what did you say to her!?”

Izumo’s voice rose, her calm facade cracking. She must care about her friend so much it kept her up.

Honestly—so noble it makes me sick.

“Hey, Misono Izumo, you said ‘broken heart.’ Did you know Kirita Akari liked me?”

When I asked, Izumo faltered. Her reaction told me she’d only learned recently.

“Well, I heard yesterday, but—”

“Yesterday? Some friend—she didn’t trust you enough to tell you sooner.”

Izumo’s brows shot up, as expected. I said it to provoke her.

“And what did you think when you heard?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you think, ‘Weren’t you supposed to like Aoyagi Uryu?’”

“…!”

Izumo didn’t respond. Taking her silence as agreement, I pressed on with a twisted grin.

“Exactly! That’s what I thought too! A girl so obsessed with Uryu—why me? So I said it: ‘You just think anyone you can date is fine, huh?’”

“What!?”

Izumo, who’d been holding back, finally spoke. She couldn’t stand the verbal daggers I was throwing.

“How could you say that to someone who cares about you!? Akari really likes you, and she worked so hard to confess…!”

“I’m saying I can’t trust that! I was deceived before she even confessed!”

“But that’s…!”

“Oh, I get it. That’s fine with you, huh?”

“What’s that mean?”

“If Kirita Akari hooks up with me, that’s one less rival for you, right? No wonder you’re cheering her on so hard.”

Words honed over four years poured out of me. Just like with Akari, I couldn’t hold back.

“Haha, what a lovely, practical friendship. I’m so moved, I might cry.”

“Stop it! I’m genuinely worried about Akari—”

“Huh? Why’re you using your friend to flaunt your sense of justice?”

“!?”

“This is what Kirita Akari wanted, huh? She didn’t say I was at fault, did she?”

Izumo fell silent again. Her eyes, once burning with anger, now seemed on the verge of flickering out.

“You’re annoying, butting in when no one asked. I don’t care if you wanna play class rep, but it’s a nuisance.”

“Nuisance…”

“Yeah. Not every problem needs your input. You might feel good sticking your nose in, but the rest of us are sick of it. Get that through your head.”

Izumo stopped reacting to my words. Her energy seemed drained, her gaze fixed somewhere distant.

Thinking the conversation was over, I shot her one last glare and headed to the bath.

—There it was again, that needle-like pain from nowhere. Saying what I want is supposed to be routine, but each time, I’m hit with this unfamiliar, inexplicable ache.

Ignore it. Ignore it. Ignore. It was just a moment—it’s not like me to dwell on something like that. I’m about to enjoy a nice bath; I can’t let this ruin it.

Yeah, a long soak will make it vanish. Feeling the bath’s effects will take care of it in no time. I hurried to the changing room.

But despite believing the pain would fade in the hot water, even after my bath, the sudden stabs didn’t stop.

T/N: Damn, he finally became a cynic.

Chapter 163: A Delicious Breakfast

After my bath, I returned to the room to put away my clothes. It was already light outside, a time when others might be waking up.

Incidentally, Misono Izumo was no longer in the lobby. The lights were off, so I assumed she’d gone back to her room. If she really only slept two hours, I hoped she’d rest to recover some energy.

“Yo, Yukiya, morning.”

As I entered the room, Uryu, who’d changed from his yukata to casual clothes, greeted me. The room’s lights were on, but Horimoto Shoki was still asleep. Was that on purpose?

“What, you went to the bath?”

“Does it matter?”

“…”

“What?”

My cold response made Uryu stare at me silently.

“Just thinking, that’s so Hirose Yukiya.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I didn’t say it to make sense. You don’t want to be understood, right?”

Grinning after his cryptic remark, Uryu strode toward the door.

“Well, Toritani-san went out of her way to prep the bath. I’m gonna take a dip.”

With that, Uryu left. The conversation ended, leaving only Horimoto’s snores echoing in the room.

“…What’s that supposed to mean, ‘Hirose Yukiya’?”

His smug muttering got under my skin. I’m the one who knows myself best, so what’s he acting all high and mighty about?

Such a trivial thing had me irritated from the morning.

*

As breakfast time arrived, people trickled into the dining room. While exchanging morning greetings, some noticed a few absences.

“Where’s Zuu-chin and Shuririn?”

Kamishiro Haruka’s question was answered by Tsukikage Miharu. Wait, Shuririn’s Kirita Akari? Same vibe as Ururun.

“Akari-chan texted earlier. Izumo-chan’s not hungry. It’s not a cold, but Akari-chan’s staying with her to be safe.”

“Aw, is Zuu-chin okay?”

“It’s just no appetite. Worrying won’t help, so let’s eat.”

“I’ll bring food to their room. Kirita-san must be hungry.”

“Tsuyu-san, I’ll handle that.”

“No, no, leave it to me. You focus on your work here, Toritani-san.”

Tsuyu flashed a quick smile, loaded her breakfast onto a tray, and left the dining room. Her relentless energy almost made me sigh, but it’s a hundred times better than me going. Not that I had any intention of doing so.

“Mmm! Breakfast is as delicious as ever!”

Once Tsuyu returned, we started eating, savoring a menu perfect for morning. To be extreme, the miso soup and pickles alone were so high-quality I could keep refilling my rice indefinitely.

“More rice and miso soup, please!”

Moving her hands fastest, Haruka beamed brighter than the morning sun, requesting seconds.

Rando Sora watched her with a hint of envy.

“Kamishiro-senpai, you eat so much and don’t gain weight…”

True, Haruka’s appetite was staggering, like she was storing up for hibernation. If she doesn’t gain weight, girls might see her as enviable.

“Hey, I exercise properly! Gotta burn the calories I take in.”

Flexing a not-so-impressive bicep, Haruka winked at Rando Sora. With a sports drink, she could star in a commercial.

“Well, in Haruka’s case, the nutrients go to her chest, so she doesn’t gain much weight.”

“Pfft!”

Natori Mayoi’s shameless follow-up made Haruka spit out her freshly refilled miso soup.

“Hey!? What was that!?”

“Are you okay!? Toritani-san, a rag, please!”

“It’s just—cough—Mayo-nee said weird stuff in front of the guys!”

While Miharu rubbed her back, Haruka glared at Mayoi, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Weird? You’re the only one making a big deal out of it.”

“No way! Because of you, Holy’s eyes were all over me!”

“Huh!? Me!?”

Horimoto Shoki visibly panicked at the sudden accusation. Girls are sensitive to guys’ stares, so he should avoid being obvious. He’s not some middle school kid.

“They’re guys, it’s normal. What’s wrong with looking at big boobs?”

“Yukki and Ururun didn’t react! They’re just eating!”

“Well, those two’s ecosystems are too mysterious to figure out…”

Hey, don’t talk about me like I’m some cryptid. I’m not like Horimoto, squirming from embarrassment. I’m not driven by reflexes or instincts. Uryu’s the cryptid here.

The breakfast talk got pretty crude, and I realized the person who usually reins it in was missing.

Right, without someone to keep things in check, the vibe gets this chaotic. It’s an exaggeration, but if this piles up, it might not be so far off.

Half-listening to the unending banter, I sipped my miso soup. The dashi and miso blended perfectly, not too strong but impossible to stop drinking.

Delicious. Undeniably delicious. Toritani-san’s cooking is flawless.

Yet, for some reason, I found it less flavorful than yesterday’s lunch.

Chapter 164: The Face from Our First Talk

After breakfast, it was time for the final study session. We’d study all morning, then take the bus home. The mind-numbingly boring time was finally coming to an end.

Misono Izumo and Kirita Akari joined us when the study session started.

“Izumo-chan, you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine. Worry about yourself.”

“Haha, I’m good as long as I keep moving.”

I watched Izumo and Tsukikage Miharu talk from a distance. Izumo’s complexion didn’t seem off, so maybe she wasn’t as unwell as she claimed.

But our eyes never met. Same with Akari—we didn’t make eye contact either.

I couldn’t tell if they were avoiding me or just didn’t care. The thought annoyed me, so I stopped dwelling on it. Why should I care about them? There’s no need.

“Aoyagi-senpai, can you go over where we left off yesterday?”

“Sure, let’s head to that space over there.”

“Aoyagi, my math’s next.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

This is what matters to me. Supporting Rando-dono and Natori Mayoi’s crushes on Uryu from the sidelines. Once someone wins Uryu’s heart, the girls’ chaos will settle, and I’ll finally have peace.

No need to overthink. Just do what I want—that’s it.

*

After the study session, we finally left the Aoyagi family’s villa.

I was wondering about lunch when Toritani-san handed each of us two onigiri as we boarded the bus. She really took care of everything.

“Thanks for the two days.”

When I thanked her sincerely, Toritani-san gave me a warm smile.

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Huh?”

The unexpected question caught me off guard. If Uryu or someone else had asked, I could’ve answered instantly, but with Toritani-san, the words didn’t come. Instinctively, I knew I shouldn’t say them.

“…Did you not enjoy it?”

“No! The food was delicious, thank you.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.”

Seeing her smile again, I let out a relieved breath.

In the end, I couldn’t answer her question about enjoying myself and parted ways with Toritani-san.

*

On the return bus, things quieted down about twenty minutes after departure. Everyone, chatting while eating Toritani-san’s onigiri, had apparently fallen asleep. The hum of the highway drowned out their snores.

Occupying a two-person seat alone, I stared at the passing scenery. Not studying, I wasn’t sleepy despite the dull situation.

“You’re not sleeping?”

A voice suddenly came from the seat behind me. Naturally, it was Aoyagi Uryu.

“Horimoto passed out instantly, using my shoulder as a pillow.”

“Take a pic and send it to all the girls who like you.”

“What’s in it for me…?”

Who cares about your gain? It’d be hilarious for me.

“Seriously, you sleep. You’ve been playing teacher nonstop.”

“Why sleep if I’m not tired?”

“Fine, fine, the study monster’s stamina is monstrous too.”

Studying late last night, waking early, and still going strong—his endurance is terrifying.

Ending the conversation, I looked back at the scenery. A big shopping center caught my eye when Uryu muttered, “Hey.”

“What’s up with you?”

Him and Horimoto Shoki—why do they keep asking that? What’s the point?

“Why do you ask?”

“Why? You seriously don’t notice?”

“Notice what?”

“Of course you wouldn’t—nobody sees their own face.”

Chuckling to himself, Uryu paused before explaining.

“Right now, you’ve got the same face as when I first talked to you.”

“…Huh?”

I didn’t get what he meant. Same face? My face hasn’t changed, past or present. Maybe I’m more handsome now, but that’s not what he’s talking about.

“Like, a face screaming ‘I don’t want to deal with anyone,’ that kind of vibe.”

“That makes no sense. I don’t know about vibes, but I still don’t want to deal with people.”

“Yeah, I’m not denying that.”

“Then what’s this ‘same face’ crap? My face doesn’t change.”

“It does. I’ve been watching you long enough to know.”

Uryu cut off my argument and continued.

“Lately, you barely give off that ‘leave me alone’ vibe. I haven’t seen the full-on version from when we met in months.”

Using words like “vibe,” his tone was dead serious. No hint of joking.

To me, though, it sounded like nonsense.

“Not buying it. You think I’d fall for something that vague?”

“No way. But your face is different enough that I can tell something’s up.”

“…”

I bit my lip hard. Akari’s situation happened, and both Horimoto and Uryu saw through me.

But I can’t admit it. I absolutely can’t admit my face has changed from before.

“Well, it’s too late to go back to pushing us away.”

“Huh? You don’t get to decide that.”

“Even if we backed off, some people wouldn’t. That’s how it is.”

“…Makes no sense.”

“That’s all from me. If there’s nothing, I won’t ask more.”

True to his word, Uryu didn’t speak again.

As my heated mind cooled, I mulled over his words.

“Right now, you’ve got the same face as when I first talked to you.”

No, I haven’t changed. My face is the same. If there’s a ‘leave me alone’ vibe, it’s been on full blast forever.

If my face has changed, it’d mean I’m starting to let people in.

*

About two hours later, the bus stopped in front of Yourei High.

Everyone grabbed their bags, and with Izumo’s command, we disbanded.

“It was all studying, but kinda fun!”

“Fun how? I’m exhausted without even exercising.”

“You two studying when you get home?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Haha, you worked hard.”

Chatting lively, they headed toward the station. I wanted to get home fast but lagged to avoid their timing.

After quick goodbyes with Horimoto, Rando-dono, and Ai-chan—

“Yukiya-san! Let’s walk home together!”

Apparently well-rested from the bus, Tsuyu called out energetically.