Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: “Doesn’t it irritate you when someone acts all friendly?” ②

“First off, who’s Anzu?” 

“You, bas—” 

Looking down at Yuto, who was on the floor clutching his groin and convulsing, Natsuki was utterly confused.

He had reflexively kicked him there but was glad he had held back at the last moment.

(I almost crushed it. Never thought he’d hit me… The last time I felt this annoyed was when some noble I didn’t know demanded services as a form of greeting. I ended up kicking him in the groin then too… Ah, memories, huh!)

“Hey, did I do something to deserve getting hit?” 

He squatted down to look at Yuto’s face. 

“You made Anzu cry! How could you make your sister, a girl, cry!”

“…Oh, I forgot again. Also, she’s my ex-stepsister. And wait, did she come crying to you?”

“I was looking for Anzu because she seemed upset. When I found her and asked what happened, it turned out you said something terrible to her! Making your sister, a girl, cry, that’s the worst!”

“Hmm. I don’t know where to start arguing, or if I even need to. But before that, let’s make one thing clear: Anzu-san crying wasn’t my fault, but yours. Should we get that straight?”

Natsuki sighed deeply, never having imagined being blamed and hit for making Anzu cry. 

Anzu running to Yuto, whom she had just referred to as “that guy,” was either audacious or just plain nasty. Natsuki was past being appalled and almost impressed.

Natsuki wasn’t really curious about how Anzu explained that she had been deceived by Yuto. More importantly, he was convinced that his response to the girl earlier was the right one. 

“…So, you were wandering around looking to land a punch on me, even after class started?”

Yuto, trembling like a newborn fawn and leaning against the wall for support, glared at Natsuki as if all of this was his fault.

“Are you saying it’s my fault?”

“Look, I don’t like to get into these kinds of messes, but this is a good opportunity to say it. You’ve been leading her on for so long, and then suddenly you get a girlfriend. That’s why Anzu-san was shocked.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is. Poor thing. She wanted your attention so badly, she even lied about being made to cry by me… Must have been quite a shock for her.” 

Natsuki said something he didn’t believe just to see his reaction. Then, Yuto nodded solemnly, as if everything suddenly made sense to him, still squeezing his thighs together.

“…I had suspected as much. But I wish Anzu would just be honest with me.” 

(—He actually believed that!?) 

Natsuki was surprised at himself for making up something on the spot and even more surprised that he believed it.

At the same time, he thought to himself how typical this was. Yuto Miyahara has a tendency to jump to conclusions. Once he decides something is “so,” he hardly listens to anyone else’s opinion, especially not from men. If a girl coaxes him with a “Yuto-kun, that’s not how it is,” he might lend an ear, but generally, he ignores anything that displeases him, and even if he hears it, it goes in one ear and out the other.

However, if it involves something beneficial for him, or something that satisfies his sense of superiority, he’ll listen to men and easily change his opinions. 

(Well, he might not forgive me if he believes Anzu was made to cry by me, but if it’s because she was shocked and cried over Yuto getting a girlfriend, then, as sad as it is, he’ll probably construct a story in his head where it’s his fault for being too attractive… That’s kind of impressive.) 

Natsuki thought it was ridiculous to resort to violence before even talking.

“But kicking me in the groin, really?”

It seemed he could accept the reasoning about Anzu, but he was dissatisfied about being kicked in the groin.

Given the rumors of his remarkable exploits in junior high, he must value that area highly.

“If you hadn’t punched me in the face, I wouldn’t have kicked you.”

“Even so!” 

“Look, give me a break. If a mere classmate suddenly attacks me, of course, I’ll fight back. Or would you prefer I go tell the teacher, ‘Miyahara-kun hit me’?”

Natsuki said this with genuine annoyance, and for some reason, Yuto looked shocked.

He began to mutter things like “That’s ridiculous” and “Impossible,” which was a bit scary.

After mumbling for a while with a strained expression, Yuto turned to Natsuki with a question. 

“What are you talking about? Aren’t we best friends?”

“…Ha?”

Now it was Natsuki’s turn to be puzzled. 

He hadn’t expected Yuto, who had been nothing but a nuisance, quickly made the girl he claimed to be “interested” in his girlfriend, and assaulted Natsuki under the mistaken belief of wrongdoing, to consider himself a best friend.

“You know, Yuto Miyahara-kun.”

“Ah, yeah?”

“You and I, we just happened to sit next to each other in kindergarten, and our moms became friends. We’ve interacted, sure, but we are not friends!” 

Natsuki felt a sense of relief finally saying what had been on his mind for so long. 

Until now, he had kept silent due to the presence of girls and the fear of causing unnecessary drama, but he no longer cared. 

What someone who wasn’t even a friend thought about him was neither painful nor bothersome. 

In fact, tiptoeing around an annoying childhood friend like before was far more torturous.

“You see, Miyahara-kun, it’s fine to hang out with girls, but maybe try spending time with the guys once in a while. Oh, sorry, you prefer being with girls, right? My bad for overstepping!”

After delivering the sarcastic remark he had long wanted to say, Natsuki patted Yuto on the shoulder, about to walk away, then froze.

(—Wait? No way? Huh? I didn’t realize until I touched him, but does this guy have charm powers!?)

It was only upon physical contact that Natsuki realized Yuto possessed a “charm” ability.