Reincarnated as the Sidekick in a Harem Game ～Chaos Unfolded When I Helped the Losing Heroines After the Protagonist Found His Happy Ending～ - Chapter 7: Escorting the Childhood Friend Home

Chapter 7: Escorting the Childhood Friend Home

Hello, it’s me. I received a consultation from my childhood friend, Najimi, about how the protagonist, Minato, had been acting strangely. Agreeing to her request, I decided to investigate.

We got lost in conversation at the café and it became quite late.

“Thanks, Charao.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Get lost, you betch.”

My stepsister, Mai, clearly harbored hostility towards Najimi. It seemed like the two just couldn’t get along. Ideally, I would like my favorite characters to be friends. Peace among mankind is the most important thing, after all.

“So, shall we head home, Onii-sama?”

“No, wait. I’ll take Najimi home.”

“”W-What?””

Najimi’s eyes widened in surprise. Mai’s eyes were also wide open, but there was a visible sense of disdain in them.

“We got caught up talking and it’s gotten late. It’s only natural for me to take her home.”

“Charao…”

“Onii-sama! Let’s just leave this betch alone.”

Mai, stop with the ‘betch, betch.’I don’t think it’s appropriate for a young lady to use such derogatory language.

“I can’t allow that. It’s already dark outside. It’s dangerous for a woman to go home alone.”

“It’s fine. Let her face some danger for all I care.”

“I can’t allow that to happen.”

“Onii-sama, you’re too kind…”

Najimi spoke, looking somewhat apologetic.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s fine. I have nothing to do once I get home anyway. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Charao… thank you.”

And so, it was settled. I would take Najimi home.

After a short while.

“Mai, why are you clinging to me like this?”

To my right, Mai is clinging onto me like an Australian-born koala and refusing to let go. She’s also growling like a Chihuahua, directing her hostility towards Najimi. Is she some kind of chimera? No, she’s my cute little sister.

“I’m keeping an eye out to make sure that betch over there doesn’t try anything funny.”

“W-What do you mean by ‘funny’?”

“Leading Onii-sama into the dark and then—”

“I won’t do that! What nonsense are you talking about?”

“We’ll see. For a betch.”

“Stop saying ‘betch’ over and over! I’m a virgin, okay!”

“Maybe you’re lying just to look good in front of Onii-sama.”

“That’s not true! I really am a virgin! Charao!”

Why did she feel the need to announce that to me? I wish they wouldn’t have this kind of ‘betch vs. virgin’ debate in the middle of the street.

We were walking down the now-darkened road.

“You really are something, Onii-sama.”

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“You’re subtly walking on the roadside to ensure that I don’t get hit by a car. Didn’t you notice?”

“Ah… well, yes, indeed…”

“Onii-sama truly is a considerate person. I wish that certain piece of trash would learn from you.”

It seems the “piece of trash” she’s referring to is Minato. Mai appears to have completely taken a disliking to him. As for me, I’ve been put through the wringer by Minato, but I can’t say I despise him to the extent Mai does. I’ve had my struggles, yes. But those were responsibilities I had to fulfill as Charao, and I don’t particularly despise or dislike him.

“…Yeah, Minato never did something like this for me.”

“Fufun, see? Onii-sama is a capable person.”

As we were walking like that, it happened.

“Guhehe~ You young ladies sure are cute, huh?”

Unbelievably, a drunk salaryman approached us from the front. What’s with this sudden event? It’s like something you’d expect in a dating sim game.

“What do you want…?”

“Hic~ Come on, let’s go drinking, baby. Huh? Sounds good, right?”

In OreNaji, I’d seen plenty of events like this—hoodlums or drunks accosting women, only for the protagonist to chase them away and gain favor. I’d thought that these kinds of situations were more of a Minato event.

But I shouldn’t overthink it. In Minato’s absence, it’s up to me, a side character, to handle this. Let’s get rid of him in a gentlemanly manner. He’s drunk, after all.

“Heyy! How’s it going! It’s Chaaaaaraaaaaaaaao!” (Translation: Excuse me, may I have a moment?)

Suddenly, my dormant Charao-speak kicked into gear. Please stop; it’s bad for my heart. Look, you’re scaring Mai and Najimi too.

“W-What the heck…”

“Hey, hey, hey, old man! I don’t know who you are, but anyone who gets in my way will be pulverized☆annihilated☆applauded! You get it?!” (Translation: Excuse us, we’re in a hurry here.)

“Hiiii… This guy’s dangerous…”

The drunk salaryman left, his face twisted in fear. I get it. In terms of being suspicious, I probably outdo a harmless salaryman like you.

“C-Charao… Thank you.”

Najimi looked up at me, her expression one of relief.

“You really are a good guy, you know? Always protecting and encouraging me…”

Najimi muttered this as she looked down. Why did her cheeks seem slightly red?

“…I really am stupid.”

For some reason, she mumbled that.

“Don’t demean yourself like that, Najimi. You’re not stupid.”

“Charaoo…”

Afterwards, I escorted Najimi to her home. Throughout the journey, Mai seemed consistently displeased, clicking her tongue at Najimi. Really, what a troublesome situation.

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★Najimi’s Perspective

Charao had escorted me home. I returned to my house and flopped onto my bed, lying face down.

“Charao…”

He had protected me when that drunkard approached. Charao always does that, doesn’t he? Whenever I’m in trouble, he helps me unconditionally.

It felt somewhat nostalgic. And… really made me happy.

“Come to think of it… it’s been a long time since I walked home with Charao.”

Actually, it’s been unusually rare for me to walk home with Charao in the last year or so. Incidents with drunkards or thugs usually happened when I was with Minato.

“I want to walk home together again…”

Saying this, I was consumed by guilt. I was the one who rejected Charao. I shouldn’t rely on him any more than I already have.

He’s kind, so if I ask, he would probably walk home with me again. But I shouldn’t. I had hurt him once before. Despite knowing that I shouldn’t take advantage of his kindness…

“…Charao”

When he saved me, my heart raced. A lot. I felt the same kind of excitement for Charao that I had been feeling for Minato.

“…Am I, as Mai says, a ‘betch?'”

I have a boyfriend, and yet my heart flutters for another man.

Just then, my phone vibrates.

“Who is it… Hiii!”

The call was from Minato. I had blocked him on LINE, but I hadn’t rejected his calls.

After a while, the call disappeared. 

On the log, it showed:

125 missed calls.

“…”

Minato keeps trying to contact me over and over again. Why?

The thought of his LINE message asking for sex crosses my mind.

“Disgusting…”

I no longer feel the excitement or emotional high that I once felt for Minato. Now, all I feel towards him is disgust.

Another call comes in. It’s from Minato again. I’m scared, so I reject the call.

“Charaoo…”

In times like this, I used to wish Minato was here. But now, I sincerely wish Charao was by my side.

Charao… am I a loose woman? Am I, as Mai says, a ‘betch?’