Sad News, It Seems I'll Die from a Curse If I Don't Steal the Heroine - Chapter 03: I Don't Want to Die

Chapter 03: I Don’t Want to Die

“Hey, Torao.”

“Morning, Tora-chan.”

“…Good morning.”

Arriving at school and entering the classroom, some delinquent-like students, or rather, students with a similar disposition as Torao, called out to me.

I didn’t bother heading toward them and simply walked past, taking my seat.

“Hey, what’s up? You usually come over here, so what’s different today?”

“…Well, I guess everyone has days like that.”

This guy is Ryota Masumi, apparently another delinquent like Torao.

He didn’t appear much in the manga, but I remember him mostly being around Torao… Yeah, that’s right.

“What’s up, Tora-chan?”

Approaching while licking a lollipop, she may not be a delinquent, but it’s easy to guess that she’s close to Torao just based on that interaction.

Her name is Ouka Sakakibara, and she’s a well-groomed gal—long blonde hair, piercings, nail art—she’s got all the typical gal elements packed in. Although she’s often observed from a distance, her attractive appearance seems to catch the attention of many boys.

“It’s nothing… Just don’t cling to me.”

“Aww!”

I shrugged off Ouka, who leaned on my backk, as if pressing her large breasts onto me.

She let out a fittingly alluring voice, but perhaps I used a bit too much force because Ouka ended up falling on her butt.

“Ah~, you’re ruining Torao’s mood, you know?”

“…Sorry about that.”

However… is this exchange normal, I wonder?

Ouka and Ryota aren’t really condemning me, and the other students who seem to be associated with Torao aren’t saying anything either… It’s not that they can’t say anything, it’s that this seems to be the norm for us.

But… the current “me” has taken on the role of Torao now, so it feels weird.

“Sorry. Are you alright, Ouka?”

I immediately stood up and crouched next to Ouka, asking if she was hurt anywhere from falling on her butt.

“Uh, yeah… I’m fine?”

“I see. Anyway, I’m sorry… I just ended up pushing you away.”

I… I have indeed become the delinquent character called Torao.

However, while some aspects of his way of speaking and living have remained, it seems I can’t quite pull off the worst delinquent behaviors that would earn me the title of a true bad boy.

“…Tora-chan?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“…Are you really Torao?”

Ouka, who took my hand to stand up, and Ryota, who had been watching the two of us, stared at us with wide eyes.

While I understood that I wasn’t the “me” they knew, it was too much trouble to try to deceive them due to my personality, so I had no choice but to come up with something that seemed plausible.

“Maybe I ate something bad. My head went ‘pop,’ and I changed a bit.”

“Hey, hey, Torao would never say something like that, right?”

“…Tora-chan, wanna sneak out and have sex? Change the mood?”

“Bff!”

W-Wait, what is she saying!?

Ouka’s sudden words made me feel like my heart was about to jump out of my mouth… The surrounding students blushed and glanced at us, but Ouka and Ryota remained unfazed… In other words, daring statements like that were normal to them.

(…What is this?)

Suddenly, unfamiliar memories flowed into my mind.

I knew about Ouka and Ryota, but the details of their relationship hadn’t been mentioned, so I didn’t know… However, there was a scene that came to mind when it came to Ouka.

(Ouka… She used to be a really plain girl at first…)

When we first met… It was during our first year, since we’re currently in our second year of high school.

At that time, Ouka had plain looks with black hair and even wore round-framed glasses, and it seemed like she had been bullied and was on the verge of dropping out.

But on a whim, Torao helped her, and as she stayed by Torao’s side, she started to prefer a flashy appearance.

“…What’s the matter?”

“…Ah, no.”

What the hell… Torao, does he have some good points after all?

Although he seemed to be attracted to Ouka’s hidden busty figure and good looks concealed behind her plain appearance, they ended up in a friends-with-benefits-like relationship… Was that why she could casually suggest having sex?

“…Ahem. Well, it’s fine. Take your seats, you two.”

“Are you sure?”

“…Got it.”

As I watched the two of them walk away, I let out a light sigh.

Just because I remembered the memories between Ouka and me doesn’t mean Torao’s reputation suddenly skyrockets… But Torao, you did a good job helping such a beautiful girl.

“Good morning, Manaka~!”

“Good mornin’~!”

“Morning, everyone.”

Seems like Manaka has arrived while I was spacing out.

I thought I had gone ahead of her, but it seems she ended up passing me along the way… The guy who entered the classroom with Manaka is the protagonist, Yuki Maezono… He may not stand out as the protagonist, but he’s a kind-hearted guy.

(…Manaka really is cute.)

Her appearance combines cuteness and beauty… Truly, she’s my ultimate favorite girl.

I felt like Manaka glanced in my direction for a moment, but it’s probably because of helping her earlier. Even if she’s slightly curious about someone like me, who is disliked by others, it should quickly become irrelevant.

(But it wouldn’t be good if she stopped caring… Sigh, I wonder how things will turn out.)

After that, the homeroom teacher arrived, and life seemed to resume as usual.

Apparently, my usual attitude was quite insolent, as both the teacher and the surrounding students look at me as if they’re seeing something strange when I just earnestly listen to the lessons.

In this strange mood, time slowly passed… and during lunch break, I bought a bread from the cafeteria and went up to the rooftop.

“Mmm… This yakisoba bread is delicious.”

The yakisoba bread is delicious… It was absolutely amazing.

As I gazed at the distant scenery from the rooftop for a while… I once again recalled the curse that would lead to my death if I didn’t do something about it.

And…

“I don’t want to… die…”

It’s not like I have any attachments to this world… That’s only natural.

But… I’m scared of dying at the end of the pain I experienced… If I endure the pain even a little, can I die? If that’s the case…

“Hmm?”

My phone vibrated, and I picked it up, peering into the screen… and almost dropped the bread.

[Your curse will continue as eternal pain even after death… There’s no escape.]

“…”

When I saw that, it goes without saying that I kicked the railing with full force, thinking, “Don’t f*ck with me.”

▽▼

Manaka… She couldn’t help but wonder about his figure as he walked away.

After witnessing Torao, who was known as the worst delinquent, heading towards the rooftop by chance, she was driven by curiosity and followed him.

“What is he doing?”

Although she was slightly relieved due to being saved that one time, her wariness still lingered.

What is he up to… Did he come here just to have lunch…? As she was about to leave, thinking that there was nothing of interest, she heard his voice.

“I don’t want to… die…”

“…Eh?”

Manaka heard Torao utter those words in a faint voice.

What does that mean…?

She couldn’t help but be curious about the true meaning behind those words.