The Day After I Told My Shut-In Genius Childhood Friend, Who’s Highly Dependent on Me, “I Got Confessed To,” She Showed Me a Hypnosis App - Chapter 29

After school, a crowd always formed around Mio.

It made sense as she was a beautiful girl who had appeared out of nowhere, and everyone was curious.

Mostly girls gathered, forming a sort of flower garden with Mio at the center.

At the same time, a bunch of boys surrounded me.

―“Hey, class representative, are you gonna give us an excuse?” “Is it true you’re Shinonome-san’s childhood friend?” “You can still bluff a little if you want?”

Around me, it looked more like a jungle of weeds, with me in the middle.

“…It’s true. I really am Mio’s childhood friend. She’s the one who said it, so I’m not bluffing.”

The boys all let out a big sigh and cracked their fingers. Should I have lied? No way, I couldn’t. It was true.

“—Hey, I’m sorry! Honami~!”

Mio’s voice called out from the crowd.

The boys quickly stepped aside, making a path for her. She walked through, already standing above all of them in this classroom’s social hierarchy.

“Honami, do you have to join a club at this school?”

“Ah. That’s right.”

Someone must have mentioned it to her. I had forgotten that joining a club was mandatory here.

“So I have to join one, too?”

“Well… That’s right.”

Since Mio had been truant before, she wasn’t part of any club. But if she was going to attend school, she’d have to join one… Though I guess she could probably get by without it if she wanted.

―“Shinonome-san! How about being the baseball team’s manager?” “Basketball too!” “Tennis!” “Chess!” “Science!”

The onlookers jumped at the chance to suggest clubs. But Mio probably wasn’t that interested.

“Hmm. Honami, which club are you in again?”

“The literature club.”

“Then maybe I’ll check that one out.”

At her words, the boys all turned their eyes sharply toward me.

…Hey, don’t glare at me! I just said the club name. I’m not the one trying to make her want to join it!

I glanced to the side of the classroom.

Momose-san was quietly watching the scene, her expression soft and distant.

(When should I talk to her?)

I still hadn’t given an answer to her confession. Since Mio had already said she wouldn’t use the hypnosis app anymore, I could do it anytime.

“Honami? Where’s the literature club?”

Mio slid in front of me, right in the space between me and Momose-san.

“…Ah, I’ll show you.”

“Thank you~”

She gave me a light smile and gently pushed me forward.

I tried to look back, but I couldn’t see Momose-san with her push.

◆ “Momose Nanaka”

Just as I expected, this is how it turned out.

Shinonome Mio.

She looked even cuter than when I saw her in the park last night.

If there were no complications, I probably would have just stared at her in awe. Her silver hair, like a princess’s. Her perfectly shaped face. Long, slender legs. Even the twin tails hairstyle fit her perfectly.

And on top of all that.

(She’s Honamin’s childhood friend…?)

She’s really the embodiment of unfairness. I felt more stunned than jealous. Everything about her just seems so far above me.

(…What am I supposed to do?)

It’s not like I’ve been forced to give up, and I haven’t decided to quit. But facing such a strong rival makes me want to sigh.

I flopped onto my desk with a heavy sigh.

I didn’t sign up to meet a rival this strong.

(If only it were like Prikle…)

If this were some magical girl story, Prikle would train and gain new powers to face a strong enemy.

But I’m not a magical girl, so that kind of convenient plot doesn’t happen. Of course, even if I tried to train, she’d probably still be stronger than me.

So what do I do? I thought hard with my foggy brain and came up with a blurry idea.

(Make more friends…?)

At that moment, my phone buzzed.

During class… I opened it under my desk, and my eyes widened at the message from someone unexpected.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kirisaka Shino.”

The student council president? Why?

And then I read the next message, and I was even more surprised.

“I wanted to talk a little about Mizumura Honami-kun. If it’s okay, could we meet after school? For example, at—”

Come to think of it, I’d heard a rumor that the student council president is also in the literature club.

(Wait, does that mean she’s in the same club as Honamin…?)

Curious but cautious, I couldn’t help myself.

So, I secretly replied under my desk.