The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best

Gouda-kun is going to sing a song that depicts my ideal image of a man.

What should I do? I’m so nervous.

Since I was aware that I had forced it upon him, I was anxious and restless, worrying about what would happen if he ended up hating me…

——You remembered it properly.

Just that alone made my heart feel warm and fuzzy.

If the me from a few months ago had heard this, I would have laughed it off as nonsense… Ah, but it’s not like my dislike for men has disappeared; I still dislike men. It’s just that Gouda-kun is special.

Speaking of which, Sawakaze Kazuya from the netTuber initially recommended Tsukune to me because she thought Satsu-chan (Makino-san) was cool and was worried about my dislike for men (he’s the only male netTuber).

So I was kind of supporting him, but after watching that show, I just can’t stand him anymore. Maybe I dislike him more than other men… no, I hate him, I really hate him.

Well, it’s true that Gouda-kun was the one who was insulted, but he told the worried fans that everything was fine, right? And he also said that he read all the comments from the fans (everyone), was that a lie? There were a lot of comments with Gouda-kun’s name in them.

Moreover, the current Gouda-kun is participating in videos of female netTubers and supporting those female netTubers who are struggling to grow.

Satchan said that it’s already a well-known story in the female netTuber community.

Actually, Satsu-chan’s videos were about bento, but she was happy that the subscriber count surpassed 100,000 after Gouda-kun joined.

To think I don’t know someone like Gouda-kun, mmm, mmm, so frustrating!

It’s not about me, but I was really angry. And I thought I wanted to make Gouda-kun’s name so famous that it can’t be ignored. Well, Gouda-kun is already a celebrity, so if something happens, I think it will reach his ears soon…

And then, what I thought might be the trigger was the cultural festival.

Believe it or not, I’m in the wind orchestra club. Satchan is too. Saori-san and Nanako-san were also in it. What a coincidence.

Saori-san and Nanako-san weren’t that close because they attended different middle schools, but they became much closer after spending time together when Gouda-kun participated in Satsu-chan’s video.

And when I brought up this idea, all three of them readily agreed. Since we had been writing and composing songs in our club activities, we each submitted our songs, and the one chosen by majority vote was mine.

The most challenging part was inviting Gouda-kun to sing at the sports festival after-party without him feeling reluctant, but thank you for coming, Gouda-kun.

I didn’t expect everyone connected through the bento to cooperate, but the music room we always use for club activities somehow feels calming.

Maybe it’s because the soundproofing is solid and there’s no worry about sound leakage, so it feels like an isolated space.

“Well, I just learned it and I’m not confident, but since there’s no time, I’ll sing it for now.”

“You can do it.”

“What kind of song.”

“Looking forward to it.”

Since Gouda-kun is standing at the front and singing, everyone is standing a little apart and surrounding him, but perhaps unable to wait any longer, their happy voices reach my ears.

On the contrary, Gouda-kun smiled wryly, but it was just for a moment before he quickly signaled to me.

——It’s here!

I nodded in response to Gouda-kun, then touched the Musicun to switch from pause to play.

♪〜

W-what is this? This song starts from the chorus. It’s different from the voice of Gouda-kun who sang anime songs with us at karaoke.

It’s completely different from the impression I had when I sang it, and no, the way of singing and the breathing points are exactly the same as mine. It’s just the voice that’s different… right?

A live song by a man hits so hard… Is it because it’s Gouda-kun? Even though it’s a song I made, I wonder why. Tears are coming out.

Gouda-kun’s singing voice is incredibly soothing, and on top of that, Gouda-kun himself looks really cool while singing, so I want to keep watching him.

♪♪〜

As he entered the chorus again, it seemed that Gouda-kun’s tension had eased, and his beautiful voice became even more prominent… and alluring.

——Huh!?

Then, one classmate after another sat down. I quickly reached my limit too. I was unable to stand as I sat down right there.

I can’t really talk to him, but I think that’s how everyone sitting down feels.

The child with a bright red face is fidgeting around their thighs, so it seems like they’re having a harder time than we are.

“Haah…”

Gouda-kun’s song has ended. I feel a bit disappointed, but it’s still not good. I can’t move.

“Um…”

Clap clap!

The face of Gouda-kun, who is confused. No, that’s not it. Gouda-kun’s singing voice was really good. But right now, I still can’t move, someone…

“Y-You did well, Gouda-kun…”

“Yeah, it was really good.”

“Haah, haah…”

Saori-san and Nanako-san, thank you. But who is that person with the heavy breathing? At this rate, Gouda-kun will notice. Some students, perhaps embarrassed by being stared at, are averting their eyes from Gouda-kun.

“Um…”

This might be bad. It’s still painful to even open my mouth, yet I locked eyes with Gouda-kun.

“Kirishima-san…”

“Y-yes!”

“How was my singing? I can’t really tell myself…”

“Y-yeah, that’s good.”

It was too good, so I couldn’t move; that was something I couldn’t tell the manly Gouda-kun.

Bing-bong.

Ah, the pre-bell. We have to get back to the classroom quickly, or we’ll be late for the next class. But this is impossible.

“Go, Gouda-kun, could you go back to the classroom first?”

Kumishima-san, who understood the situation, spoke to Gouda-kun. I’m grateful. Everyone is nodding vigorously. There are kids who want to go to the bathroom quickly, right?

Ah, Gouda-kun left the music room with his shoulders slumped. Is this making him misunderstand…

“Tsukune…”

It seems that Sacchan also noticed that and tried to stand up, but then sat back down flatly again.

In the end, everyone was late for the next class.

By the way, realizing that we won’t be able to perform at all unless we quickly build up our endurance is something that only happens after we can no longer stand up again.