The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best - Chapter 70

Two weeks have passed since the cultural festival, and December has arrived.

“Speaking of which, Akane-san invited me to play an online game today.”

I didn’t realize until recently (thanks to Akane-san telling me) that Akane-san was someone I occasionally played online games with even before I regained my memory.

It’s an online game called “Ghost Buster.” Akane-san used a half-demon character named Aka. I was quiet, and Akane-san was quiet too. But Akane-san was really good at the game, so I invited her every time I logged in.

Taking advantage of Akane-san’s quietness, I would sometimes do live streams on my own and casually say things like, “This person is great, my partner,” and it was quite common. Even now, I feel embarrassed when I remember it.

At the time, when I said sorry for causing trouble, Akane-san replied that it was okay because she was just a secondary character who adjusted to my growth speed. What a nice person.

“Then I’ll read a book next to Taketo-kun.”

Kaori pulls her chair next to my gaming (computer) seat. She’s so cute.

But sometimes I want to call Kaori “Kaori-san.” That’s because most of the books Kaori reads are for obtaining qualifications. Moreover, since she has already completed all the qualifications related to construction, she is now reading books for real estate qualifications.

*****

Even though no new videos have been uploaded since then, the number of subscribers to the Armed Girls Channel is still increasing, and it has now reached around 3 million.

It seems like they are checking the number of subscribers in order, but everyone is so nervous and trembling that I can’t help but want to laugh when I see them. Especially Sachiko.

I was a bit worried about the comments that would be written, but I’m relieved that there are many supportive ones. Nene-san was also worried about it, you know, having a man in a female band. She was concerned that jealousy and envy might be directed at the other members besides me.

According to Nene-san, she thinks that dressing as a man probably worked in her favor.

Dressing as a man just happened to be because I modeled for Aikawa-san’s shop.

Even so, there are hurtful comments, but those comments always have replies like “You’re the one who’s strange” or “Don’t worry about it,” which support us.

Even if there are only a few comments like that, it makes me feel like everyone thinks the same way, and it really brings me down, so this kind of support is truly appreciated. Everyone was grateful too.

Nene-san also said that there are haters in every industry, so it’s okay not to worry about them, which was really helpful.

But the requests for a new song are the most frequent, and everyone is a bit anxious.

So, the enthusiasm for the new second song, “A Smile for You,” is incredible. This song was created with the intention of making listeners feel happy and joyful, and because of its good rhythm and tempo, it’s a song that makes you want to hum along.

That said, since we’re all in the brass band club, we have to show up for club activities too.

So, when we have time, we drop by the studio to practice individually and then get together once a week.

The dinner with the Nohara family went smoothly. It was mostly an introduction to the relatives.

The members included Kaori’s grandmother, mother, younger sister, two aunts, and four of their daughters. That would have been fine, but there were also what seemed to be her grandmother’s sisters, and even their daughters and grandchildren. It was supposed to be just a family, but there were about 40 people. Moreover, they were all older than me.

Everyone was sitting next to Kaori and talking to me, but there were so many people that I can’t remember who I talked to or what we talked about.

Kaori had also said that I didn’t need to worry, so I made sure to nod at appropriate moments and focused on being a good listener as much as possible.

In the end, the grandmother bowed her head on behalf of the family and said, “Please continue to take care of the Nohara family,” but since it’s my wife’s family, we’ll get along well even without being asked.

When I replied with the usual words, “I am still quite inexperienced, so I would appreciate your guidance and encouragement,” her grandmother was deeply moved.

On the way back (in the car driven by Kaori), when I said I was glad her family didn’t dislike me, she expressed her concern by saying that they liked Taketo-kun so much it was a bit scary.

According to Kaori, many of her relatives are quite rigid, rarely show any expression, and are generally rather unfriendly. But during today’s dinner party, they were all smiles the whole time, which was quite scary.

When Kaori says things like that, it really scares me, but it’s better than being hated. I’m actually relieved.

As for the matter with Oshii-san and the others, the principal, Niiyama-sensei, and the grade heads of the second and third years even came all the way to my house to bow their heads in apology.

The content is a report on their punishment along with an apology. They will be suspended for a month. Since winter break is in between, they won’t return to school until the new year.

There are also a few second and third-year students who are subject to the same disciplinary action.

The reason they found out through interviews with the students was that everyone thought it would be good for Sawakaze-kun, and they were so excited that they didn’t realize they were doing anything wrong. However, it seems that they are now very remorseful and even disposed of items like Sawakaze-kun’s support goods and videos and images in front of the teachers at their homes.

Even so, Kaori, who was present, asked if the punishment was too lenient, but the school seemed unwilling to escalate the issue further and just kept bowing repeatedly.

Then, Kaori-san suggested that, since it’s necessary for them to understand how we craftsmen feel when building houses, it would be good to have them work at Nohara Construction just during their suspension period to rebuild their spirit.

It’s free to refuse, but I don’t think a kid who throws things at someone else’s house and then refuses is truly reflecting on their actions. Maybe that kind of kid should repeat the year. Kaori is trying to impose a heavier punishment without hesitation. It seems she doesn’t hold back when she thinks it’s for my sake. I need to be careful too.

The principal accepted the proposal, thinking that there surely couldn’t be such a child.

Well, Nohara Construction is a publicly traded company. It’s not a company you can just easily get into.

They probably thought it would be much more beneficial for social learning and for the students than just keeping them at home in detention.

When they become second-year students, there are actually such classes (practical experience in society), so the principal probably nodded in agreement after careful consideration.

There were such exchanges, but as expected, there were no students who declined. The third-year and second-year students, along with Oisui and the others, seem to be doing social studies at Nohara Construction right now.

Kaori, who thought all the kids were irresponsible, was impressed when she received a report that everyone was working diligently.

“Oh, Akane-san is already logged in.”

It was five minutes before the promised 8 PM.

Recently, the online game that Akane-san and I have been playing is called “Life as an Adventurer in Another World,” which is an online game that Akane-san’s sister’s company is planning to release soon. Right now, it’s in a trial period, and only invited people can play it.

I think it would be rude not to log in after being introduced, so during the trial period, I try to log in whenever I have the time.

Purely because this game is interesting, it would just be an excuse.

“Taketo-kun, please keep me company later too.”

After kissing me on the cheek and then saying something like that, even I can immediately tell what she’s talking about.

“Ah, uh, uh-huh.”

It’s a bit embarrassing, so I’m still at a loss for words, but sometimes I want to invite her myself.

Thinking about such things, I logged in and was able to meet up with Akane-san right away.

This “Life as an Adventurer in Another World” is quite a free-form game. Since we don’t have much time today, it seems reasonable for us to take down some goblins together. Just as I was thinking that,

“Taketo-kun, I have someone I want to introduce to you today.”

I thought there was a character I didn’t recognize next to Akane-san, but I see now.

“Nice to meet you, Taketo-sama.”

The character bows after saying that was wearing a maid outfit and had a large duster equipped.