Reincarnated as the Sidekick in a Harem Game ～Chaos Unfolded When I Helped the Losing Heroines After the Protagonist Found His Happy Ending～ - Chapter 12: A New Morning (Game) Has Come (Vol. 2)

Volume 2

Chapter 12: A New Morning (Game) Has Come

★ ????’s Perspective

※ “Notice from Administration to All Members”

※ “Individual Name: Charao Shibuya will be implemented as the protagonist starting today.”

※ “Skill System Implemented. Bugs are anticipated due to the change in protagonists.”

※ “Therefore, it has been decided that a Support AI will be dispatched from the administrative side to act as a mentor and supporter for Individual Name: Charao Shibuya.”

※ “Advice from the Support AI, hereafter referred to as ‘Supporter,’ is one of the protagonist’s privileges. Overlooking contact with Individual Name: Charao Shibuya is permitted.”

※ “Continuing, Important Notice from Administration to All Members”

※ “Intervention from XXXX (Access denied due to insufficient permissions) has been confirmed.”

※ “XXXX continues to show hostile intent toward us ???.”

※ “Beware of interventions by XXXX. Prevent bugs like those that occurred during the time of Individual Name: Minato Minato.”

※ “For now, be cautious of the running dogs (Mouse) on XXXX’s side.”

※ “Running dogs (Mouse) refers to hostile units dispatched by XXXX to interfere with our operations. Their numbers are currently unknown.”

※ “Especially among those approaching Individual Name: Charao Shibuya, there is a high probability that XXXX’s running dogs have infiltrated.”

※ “All members should be even more vigilant. All is for the sake of preserving the world’s order.”

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★ Charao’s Perspective

“Hmm… morning, huh?”

Greetings, dear readers. It’s me. This was the day after the battle with the former protagonist, Minato Minato.

Starting today, my full-fledged school life begins. It’s the start of a life that didn’t exist during the OreNaji game. There is anxiety, but the excitement outweighs it.

One clear change had come to me. The frequency of my spontaneous Charao-speak had significantly decreased. From the time the duel with Minato ended until now, my Charao-like expressions had stopped coming out. I could move as I pleased and speak my thoughts freely. Perhaps this is what they call a reduction in “Compulsion.”

However, although my Charao “Compulsion” had decreased, now a different “role” had been assigned to me: the protagonist. The role as the face of OreNaji. In other words, in place of Minato, I am now expected to behave in a manner befitting the protagonist.

Until now, Charao would often utter phrases like “Weeey” and “Thank-thank-thank-You~!” while acting flashy. But from now on, that won’t be the case.

As the face of the game, there’s a need to interact with the heroines seriously and sincerely. I love the heroines. That’s why I won’t allow anyone to make them cry, and I can’t be the one to make them cry either.

The frivolous Charao is no longer here. The one standing here now could be called the “serious-type protagonist,” Charao Shibuya… or maybe it would be more appropriate to call myself Majimeo Shibuya. As Majimeo, I intend to give it my best effort.

“Alright, time to get up.”

Squish♡

“Ahn~♡”

Huh?

“Eh…?”

Next to me was Najimi, completely naked. My right hand was on Najimi’s—um, let’s just say my hand was in a precarious position.

“Aieeeee!? Why!? Najimi, why are you naked!!?”

Okay, okay, okay, calm down. I need to calm down. Let’s count prime numbers. 1… is 1 a prime number? Anyway, let’s stay calm. Be cool.

“That’s it! This must be a dream! A dream! Waking up next to a naked heroine? There’s no way such an eroge-like event would happen!”

I stood up and opened the room’s curtains. The refreshing spring sunshine poured into my room.

With a creak, I opened the window. Then I put my feet on the window frame.

“Yes… this is a dream! The only way out of a dream is to die! There was a similar plot point in Oni—! Now, I will become a bird! Fly!”

I jumped out of the window! That’s right, if this is a dream, then I should return to reality! …Wait, what happens if this isn’t a dream but reality?

“Eh?”

Splat…!

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→[Bad End No.5064 “Shall We Say Goodbye to the Dream World?”]

→[Hint: There should be other ways to confirm whether it’s a dream or reality. Why did you jump out of the window? It’s hard to understand. Are you an idiot?]

→[Loading]

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“Whoa!”

What just happened? It felt like I had a nightmare… Najimi was sleeping next to me, completely naked, and in a panic, I jumped out the window, thinking it would return me to reality, and then I died?

“No, it wasn’t a dream.”

“Whoaaaaa!?”

Suddenly, a female voice echoed in my head. What’s going on? Did my brain finally bug out?

“No, your brain is functioning normally.”

Peering into my face was…

“A…calico cat?”

I stood up. There was an adorable calico cat by my pillow. A stray, perhaps?

“No, I am your Supporter. Mentoring and Supporting AI for the individual named Charao Shibuya.”

“…”

“Question, Charao Shibuya. Why are you placing your feet on the window frame again?”

“It seems I’m still dreaming… A talking calico cat is impossible in reality… Fly!”

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→[Bad End No.5065 “Shall We Say Goodbye to the Dreaming World? II”]

→[Hint: There should be other ways to confirm whether it’s a dream or reality. Why did you jump out the window? It’s hard to understand. And doing the same thing twice? You must really be stupid.]

→[Loading]

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“So, you’re an AI, then?”

I realized I had once again found myself in the same morning.

Again, a naked Najimi and a talking calico cat were present. I decided to get an explanation from the calico cat.

“Yes. I am an AI dispatched by ????”

For a moment, the words spoken by the calico cat seemed to glitch.

“Who is that ????”

My own words also partially glitched.

“Understood. The information is not within the current access rights of the individual name: Charao Shibuya.”

Hmm… this is getting way too complicated, and I can’t see where the conversation is heading. But the fact that this talking cat exists, and that I’ve died and come back to life twice, suggests that something abnormal is happening. Well, ever since I was reincarnated into this world, things have always been abnormal.

“Are you… the one who ordered me to be the protagonist?”

That was the only answer I had to this paranormal phenomenon. A mysterious voice I had heard during my confrontation with Minato. A heavenly voice. She might be the one behind it.

“No, I am merely an AI dispatched from ????. The granting of authorities is done by ????”

I still can’t hear the ????, but I see. She’s like a familiar, dispatched here by some greater will.

“I understand what you are now. My next question is, I’ve died twice, but I’m alive. What’s going on?”

“…”

“Hello? Supporter-shi? What’s the matter?”

Suddenly, the Calico Cat Supporter-shi fell silent.

“What’s wrong? Why have you suddenly gone quiet, Supporter-shi?”

“C-Charao…?”

…I had a terrible premonition. Turning around, I found that my childhood friend, Najimi Ota, was awake.

Seeing me, her mouth twitched nervously… while she was completely naked.

“Ah, good morning, Najimi.”

“Uh, um… good morning. W-who were you talking to?”

Hm? What’s going on? Najimi is looking at me as if she’s seeing something pitiable.

“That’s right, Najimi. Listen. This Supporter-shi is my mentor and Support AI.”

“Heh, really?”

Hm? What’s going on? Najimi is giving me a look as if she pities me.

“Charao…”

Najimi gently touched my face.

“Are you okay? Did you hit your head?”

…What?

“Why would you think that? I didn’t hit my head anywhere.”

“Well, then… should we go see a mental doctor?”

“Hm? Why would we do that?”

“Because… it’s impossible for a calico cat to talk, right?”

…Now that she mentioned it, it made complete sense. I see. Najimi must be misunderstanding that I’ve lost my mind.

“Don’t misunderstand, Najimi. Look, Supporter-shi speak!”

I hastily lifted up the Supporter. However, she was limp, casually licking her face like a real cat would.

“Heyyy! What’s this act of pretending to be a cat about, Supporter-shi!? Supporter-shiii!?”

“Charao… you’ve finally… I’ve been thinking for a while now that you’ve been acting more refined all of a sudden… that something might be wrong with your head…”

I want to argue against the idea that I’m the one with a mental issue here!?

“Normally, you’d say things like ‘weeey’ or ‘thank-thank-thank-You~!’. But you became serious all of a sudden… I guess it’s because you’re suffering from a mental illness…”

“No, that’s absolutely not it! It’s different, see! Supporter-shi is a talking cat! Come on, speak! Supporter-shiiiiiiiii!”

TLN:
1. Running dogs (走狗) is a derogatory term for individuals or entities often seen as obedient and subservient to a more powerful, often evil, authority.

2. Charao (チャラオ) is a slang term in Japanese that is often used to describe a Flashy or Showy type of person.

3. Majimeo (マジメオ) can be used to describe a Serious type of person.

4. “-shi” (氏) is a honorific suffix in Japanese that is used to show respect when addressing or referring to someone.