Sad News, It Seems I'll Die from a Curse If I Don't Steal the Heroine - Chapter 04: Encounter with the Heroine

Chapter 04: Encounter with the Heroine

In the end, I wasn’t able to do anything today regarding that curse.

Well, it’s probably because I didn’t take any action towards Manaka, who is the heroine… But, even if someone tells you that you have to do something like that, it’s a reality that it’s not easy to do it.

“…Damn, what should I do?”

After school, I murmured to myself in a deserted park.

Honestly… If I can speak honestly, I have my doubts about whether I will truly die despite being reincarnated already.

“For real… Will I really die?”

To die… I can understand dying if I continue to experience that suffering… So, if I didn’t get involved with Manaka, I would probably still die after all.

Why did it have to turn out like this?

I’m Torao Ozaki… the worst scumbag who steals others’ partners.

Not only Manaka, the heroine… but also a despicable man who targets Yuki’s sisters just because he took an interest in them.

“It would be easier if I could just act without thinking about the consequences… but the world doesn’t work that way. Considering what comes after… it’s impossible, definitely.”

Let’s say I were to attack the heroine, Manaka. To be stained with pleasure and fall… It’s definitely not something that can happen in reality, and even before that, I would have probably been reported to the police

If you don’t want embarrassing photos to be exposed, do as I say—such threats also constitute as blackmail after all… Wait, thinking about it, isn’t the world of netorare manga blessed with a lot of convenient plot items?

“…If only I had a special ability to touch someone’s shoulder and make them go into heat, it would be easier… But there’s no way something like that exists.”

After zoning out for a while, I decided it was time to go home and stood up.

There was no one in the park until a little while ago, but now there’s a boy around elementary school age playing soccer, kicking the ball around.

“Hey!”

“Take this!”

“There you go!”

He’s full of energy… I thought as I walked.

“Onee-chan… What should we do?”

“…I wonder what we should do.”

A familiar figure and the boy were standing in front of a tree, looking lost. 

No, such things don’t matter. That familiar figure was not someone unfamiliar to me, to the point where I can call them a stranger.

“…Manaka?”

“Eh?”

Yes, it was Manaka. 

While I thought it was bad to call her by name, I couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing…

Ah, I immediately understood.

“Did your shoe get stuck up there?”

“Oh… yeah.”

“…I kicked it up there.”

The boy, who was about to burst into tears… no, the child, I approached him and vigorously ruffled his hair, a bit forcefully.

“Boys shouldn’t cry. I’ll get it for you, so stop crying.”

“Huh?”

“Ozaki-kun?”

I’m a little curious about the relationship between this boy and Manaka… maybe they’re siblings?

The details haven’t been revealed much, but for now, I should quickly retrieve the shoe from the tree.

“Let’s go!”

Fortunately, I was already quite agile in my past life, and my current body, being sturdy as an ntr protagonist, came in handy too.

I smoothly climbed up, though it felt like I was a monkey, and couldn’t help but laugh. I quickly grabbed the shoe and landed as if jumping off.

“There you go.”

“Wow! Thank you, Onii-chan!”

It’s nothing, I said as I smiled, and the boy turned to Manaka.

“Thank you too, Onee-chan! Well then, bye!”

“Yeah. Be more careful next time, okay?”

“Okay!”

The boy waved his hand vigorously and ran off…

Huh? So he’s not her brother? Maybe Manaka just happened to be here. 

I glanced at her, and our eyes met. She flinched and trembled, like in the morning.

Well, it’s understandable for her to react like that, but if she got scared, that boy from earlier might actually bequite fearless…

“Oh, so he’s not your brother?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I saw him having trouble on the way home.”

“I see.”

End of conversation.

If I hadn’t been reincarnated as Torao, it feels like we would have had a more lively conversation… I was thinking that when, to my surprise, Manaka spoke to me.

“You can’t rely on rumors, huh?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, Ozaki-kun… I didn’t expect you to help people like that.”

“…”

There’s still a bit of awkwardness… but I couldn’t help but be captivated by her smile, a slight smile that she gave. 

In this world, Manaka is the netorare heroine. 

Typically, her expressions were either crying or filled with pleasure, so seeing her smiling like this felt refreshing.

“Your face… isn’t it turning red?”

“It’s because of the setting sun.”

Oops, that was close… Well, it can’t be helped.

Not only was she already beautiful, but she was also a character I liked… I don’t know if we can call this the transition from two dimensions to three dimensions, but I feel like I’ve gotten to know Manaka’s cuteness even more now.

“By the way, what kind of rumors are there?”

“Well… umm…”

I urged Manaka to speak since she seemed hesitant. She continued with a resigned expression.

“They say you’re very violent… that you only see girls as objects… and that it’s absolutely no good to get along with you.”

“…”

Manaka… those rumors are not wrong at all.

I have my doubts about the part where it says I only see girls as tools, but as far as describing Torao as a person, it’s the most accurate rumor there is. I chuckled without particularly denying it.

“That’s not wrong at all… Hey, Himemoto. Don’t get along with a delinquent like me, okay~?”

Wait… Why am I not taking advantage of her uncertainty!?

My life is at stake…! I’ll die if I don’t have a relationship with her, right?! And yet, why am I… damn it.

“Ozaki-kun, you’re really scary… But it’s surprising to hear you say that. It’s completely different from the impression I had of you until now.”

“…”

“H-hey, just a thought, but… have you changed as a person?”

“What… are you talking about?”

“Hahaha, it’s just a feeling♪ Well, there’s no way that’s true, right?”

For a moment, I was extremely startled, and my heart almost stopped. 

I silently let out a deep breath, but whether she knew or not, she continued talking with a carefree demeanor.

“I have a lovely grandmother, you know? She always tells me… not to outright deny people. Of course, there are limits… but she says to try and see even just a little bit of good in them.”

“…”

“Reina-san… my childhood friend’s older sister says I’m too naive for saying that.”

“…You’re a good kid.”

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing.”

She’s such a good girl…

It’s impossible for me to make this girl sad… or to do something that would make her dislike me… Ugh, this is getting troublesome, seriously.

“…It’s getting dark.”

“Huh? Oh, right. We should head home soon.”

I realized that it had gotten dark around us, and I couldn’t see any children anymore. 

I was about to say goodbye and go home, but Manaka stopped me, calling out to me with a slightly firm tone.

“What is it?”

“…”

Manaka remained silent for a while, but then she spoke as if she had made up her mind.

“…Ozaki-kun… Are you… sick or something?”

“…Huh?”

Me, sick? 

Why?