My New Life as a Mob Chapter 1

"Where... am I?"

When I woke up, I was in a room I didn't recognize. Let me repeat that.

I woke up in a room I didn't recognize.

The situation felt far too much like fiction. I tried pinching my cheek as a test. It hurt. It really, actually hurt. Presumably, this meant I hadn't suddenly lost my mind, nor was I dreaming. This was reality. Damn it, now my cheek just hurt.

If being in this room was reality, the only conceivable possibility was kidnapping. That meant the culprit had to be somewhere nearby.

I grabbed a suspiciously stylish floor lamp sitting nearby and got out of bed. Since I had apparently lost consciousness and been laid out here, the kidnapping theory seemed increasingly likely.

Suppressing the sound of my footsteps, I walked around the room. There was no sign of anyone else. For a hostage situation, they were awfully careless, leaving the captive asleep and unguarded.

First, the bedroom. Then the living room. I checked the kitchen just in case, peeked into the toilet, and finally, the washroom—

"Haa!?"

I inadvertently cried out the moment I saw myself in the mirror. The floor lamp slipped from my hand. Crash! A loud noise echoed through the room.

Reflected there was someone with brown hair and somewhat androgynous features, yet radiating a delinquent vibe—

"Wait, isn't this Nishikikoji Kaede!?"

I pinched my cheek again without thinking. It still hurt.

Apparently, this really wasn't a dream. It was reality.

'No, screw reality. How can this be happening?'

"Why on earth have I reincarnated into the world of 'Soshite Sekai wa Aiiro ni'!?"

Because reincarnating into the world of an eroge was something that simply didn't happen in real life.

Nishikikoji Kaede. He was a character who appeared as the villain in the smash-hit adult game 'Soshite Sekai wa Aiiro ni'.

'Soshite Sekai wa Aiiro ni' (And the World Turned Indigo)—abbreviated as Seka-Ai—was a game with immense popularity and high ratings... with the sole exception of this villain, Nishikikoji Kaede.

Whenever he appeared in the story, he would hurt the heroines, steal them away in the bad endings, and bully the protagonist. He repeated these absolutely vile moves constantly. And in the end, he would almost always die. Thanks to these hell-only options, his death usually provided a sense of catharsis, but even so, he left a terrible taste in everyone's mouth.

Moreover, since most of his vile behavior wasn't even directly connected to the erotic scenes, some players turned into dedicated anti-fans. Anti-threads were set up one after another, to the point where his infamy became famous in itself.

In short, Nishikikoji Kaede was an existence hated by players to that extent, and of course, I hated him quite a bit too.

"You're lying, right? Seriously? It's over..."

I literally held my head in my hands in front of the washstand.

First, let's shelve the fact that I might have reincarnated as Nishikikoji Kaede. No, it's not okay at all. It's actually really bad, but that's not the immediate problem.

"If things go on like this, doesn't that mean I'm definitely going to die!??"

Yes, the death flags that cling to Nishikikoji. In the game, no matter which route is taken, he dies. In other words, I am roughly 100% guaranteed to die within a year in this world.

I peeked through the gaps between my fingers covering my face to look at the mirror. Sure enough, a pained-looking Nishikikoji Kaede was reflected there. It looked exactly like the expression Nishikikoji showed shortly before he died.

While despairing, I desperately racked my brain for a solution and arrived at one idea.

"...No, wait. There's still a possibility I'm not Nishikikoji Kaede."

For example, maybe I got caught up in some crime and was forced to get plastic surgery to look exactly like Nishikikoji... It was a nonsensical situation, but it sounded more realistic than the theory that I had reincarnated as Nishikikoji.

"Alright, I'm still okay. At least until I check my personal belongings..."

I stood up and headed to the bedroom, where there seemed to be a lot of stuff.

First, I picked up the smartphone and tried entering Nishikikoji's birthday as the password. It unlocked easily.

"Uh, surely his LIME name is his real name, right?"

I opened the chat app. I immediately tapped the profile icon to check the name.

"Ugh, it's 'Kaede'..."

Nishikikoji, who seemed to be using some stylish icon, had the username 'Kaede'.

I despaired. This practically confirmed it.

However, I hadn't given up yet. There was still a sufficient chance that the surname wasn't Nishikikoji.

"Student handbook or insurance card... Anyway, wallet! The wallet!"

Surely, official documents would have proper personal information listed. I succeeded in fishing the wallet out of Nishikikoji's school bag and hurriedly dumped the contents.

"Only an insurance card is in here? No point cards either... Nishikikoji really is rich."

The character Nishikikoji was characterized by his family being incredibly wealthy. They ran a corporate group that was easily in the top five in Japan. He was the second son and not the heir, but he seemingly received a large allowance without having to work. I was nothing but envious.

I thought I saw a jet-black card while looking through the wallet, but I was too scared to touch it.

"This is bad. Birth date, full name, everything matches Nishikikoji. It's really not a case of mistaken identity..."

Reincarnation shouldn't be possible. The possibility of it being a dream should be higher.

But, based on the memories of Nishikikoji that felt like they were covered in mist, and the faint sense of Nishikikoji's personality I could feel, I was starting to become convinced.

I didn't know why. I didn't know how.

But, it seemed I had reincarnated as Nishikikoji Kaede by some method.

"I'm happy I reincarnated into the world of Seka-Ai, but... being Nishikikoji is..."

Even assuming it's reincarnation, in my previous life, I only lived for twenty-two years. I don't want to die at this young age.

"Anyway, I have to survive somehow..."

In the first place, the reason Nishikikoji dies is that he harms the heroines and the protagonist. In the story, he was an obstacle to the protagonist's happiness. If that's the case, I just don't have to get involved in the story.

"If I can live as a mob in this world... will the story change?"

This story ends at the closing ceremony of the third term of the first year of high school. If I don't die by then, I can say the mission is accomplished.

"I just have to live as a mob without getting involved with the heroines or the protagonist. There's the option of changing high schools entirely, but that doesn't seem feasible..."

A calendar pasted in the room. There was a double circle marked on today's date. Below it were the words: Entrance Ceremony. I had already confirmed on the smartphone that it was just past 5:00 AM.

And the game begins today.

I looked at the smartphone earlier, but there wasn't a single contact for his parents. In the game, it was explained that Nishikikoji had a feud with his parents, and it seemed to be true.

If I can't contact them, changing high schools now would be difficult. Since they paid the entrance fee, quitting immediately would be inexcusable.

Even if I chose the option of not going to school, I don't know when I can return to my original world. I might be like this forever. Just in case, I want to avoid risks as much as possible.

"Anyway, I have to make sure not to get involved with the characters..."

I sighed at the utterly helpless situation.

While recalling and summarizing the game's story, dawn broke before I knew it.

There are three heroines in this game. It feels few for an eroge, but considering this is more of a "nakige" (tear-jerker game), it might be appropriate.

The first is Hananoi Ayame. With long silver hair and beautiful eyes like a lake, she is the most beautiful girl in the school. She reigns as the "Takane no Hana" (Flower on a High Peak (Unattainable Beauty)) of the school and never yields that position. She's a cool type who doesn't interact much with people, but because of that, her "dere" side had destructive power.

The second is Sasaki Kanna. If Ayame is the flower on a high peak, Kanna is the idol. She's cute, always cheerful, has high communication skills, and is the type who brings everyone together from the shadows. Her black bob cut and moist, round pink eyes are her striking features. However, she has a hidden side, and the game often focuses on that. The protagonist resolving her "Menhera" (mentally unstable) tendencies, which she hides from her classmates and those around her, is a popular scene within the Kanna route.

The last is Asahina Natsuki. A beautiful girl who is an all-around athlete, she came to this high school on a sports recommendation. She is always bright and energetic, a healing presence for those around her. Her brown ponytail highlighted her refreshing vibe, matching her cute atmosphere perfectly. The first point of contact was when she got bad grades on a test and the protagonist ended up tutoring her. As they held study sessions together, they gradually became intimate. She's an honest little sister character, and while playing the game, I thought "I want a sister like this" at least a hundred times.

"It's best not to get involved with the characters..."

Honestly, avoiding the protagonist should be easy. The protagonist is a gloomy character to the core and isn't the type to talk to people around him on his own. If I don't try to get involved, no contact will be made.

Well, there are tons of bad rumors circulating about Nishikikoji, so I don't think the heroines will talk to me either.

The high school the protagonist attends is a combined middle and high school, so Sasaki Kanna was with him in middle school, and the rumors about Nishikikoji will spread sooner or later to the other characters joining from high school.

I was crossing my arms and thinking deeply, but suddenly my stomach growled. Come to think of it, I’ve been using my brain without eating since waking up in this world. No wonder I'm hungry.

I left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen. For a student, he seemed to be living alone in an overly spacious apartment.

Whether he wanted to escape from his parents, or his parents had no interest in him and just gave him a room, I don't know the reason. But considering they just handed him money and made him live on his own, his relationship with his parents must be seriously bad.

"Eh? There's nothing?"

The refrigerator was empty. There was truly nothing. Not even water. How was he living?

As far as Nishikikoji's vague memories go, it seems he either made the women he was dating cook for him or used delivery services.

"He really is trash..."

It seems he brought several women into the house. I ended up acquiring useless knowledge about how easy it is if you flash money around

Guurrgl, my stomach rumbled again. "You can't fight on an empty stomach" as the old saying goes, and for me, what starts now is equivalent to a war. Getting food is the most necessary thing.

I left the house with my wallet in one hand. My destination was the neighborhood convenience store. Apparently... It was a five-minute walk away.

◇

Relying on the smartphone map, I headed for the convenience store. Since it was a place I didn't know at all, I struggled a bit to grasp the direction.

"Next, go through the park...?"

I looked at the smartphone again at the confusing guidance. Apparently, it was a shortcut.

It would definitely be easier to understand if I used another road.

"...Well, maybe it's better if I can get back quickly."

That's right, a war starts now. The more time for preparation, the better.

Following the smartphone's instructions, I stepped into the park. Since it was morning, I didn't see anyone at all. I passed through the lawn corner and entered the space with playground equipment.

There, I finally heard someone's whispering voice. It was the first time I'd seen a person other than myself since coming to this world. I felt just a tiny bit relieved.

Even so, they're at the park pretty early. When I left the house this morning, it was exactly around six o'clock.

Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a girl sitting on a swing, reading something with single-minded focus. In terms of size, it looked like a notepad.

But more than anything, what drew my eye was her beautiful platinum-silver hair and clear blue eyes.

'That's Hananoi Ayame...'

Her beauty was such that calling it "once in a millennium" wasn't an exaggeration. And she was wearing the uniform of the high school I planned to attend starting today. There was no mistake. It was one of the heroines of Seka-Ai, Hananoi Ayame.

Honestly, I didn't think I would run into her this early.

...Well, she doesn't seem to have noticed me, and I don't think anything will start.

The current time is 6:10 AM. The entrance ceremony is at 9:00 AM, so it's far too early. In the course of the game scenario, I knew that the train Ayame rides passes the nearest station to Nishikikoji's house, but it's only about a ten-minute train ride from here to the school. No matter how early she wanted to go, leaving after eight o'clock would be plenty of time.

Then, why did she come to the park, and what is she reading?

I traced my memory, but there was no description like this in the game. So it probably has nothing to do with the story. However, she looked nervous, which was rare for Ayame given her mature and calm atmosphere.

I was curious, but I couldn't call out to her. I walked past the park while looking at Ayame out of the corner of my eye.

After all, for the current me, if I get involved with the characters, there is a possibility that a death flag will rise. Especially with a heroine—it's far too dangerous.

I chose a bento at the convenience store and started retracing the path I came. It's a shame I can't talk to Seka-Ai’s heroine, but well, let's just say it's good enough that I could worship her noble face.

She was many times more beautiful in person than I had imagined.

"Hm? What's that?"

While remembering her, I passed by the swings and saw something lying on the ground. When I approached and picked it up, it was the notepad Ayame had been reading earlier.

"Let's see... 'Today, feeling the breath of spring, we become high school students. For our sake today...' wait, isn't this the freshman representative speech?"

Ayame has excellent grades, so naturally, it makes sense that she would give the freshman representative speech. However, if that were the case, it feels like there would have been some story about it in the original game, but I feel like there wasn't anything.

In the first place, the meeting between the protagonist and Ayame was when they were both chosen as student council officers.

The story itself starts with the common protagonist monologue of "Starting today I become a high school student too," so it wouldn't have been strange for the topic of Ayame's speech to come up.

"What should I do about this? This is the kind of thing where she'll be in pretty big trouble if she doesn't have it..."

If what's written in the notepad is the freshman representative speech, Ayame's behavior makes sense. She was nervous and must have practiced many times in this park. If she realized she didn't have her notes right before the real thing... It's too scary just to think about.

"Should I deliver it? This..."

If I could return it to her, it would help Ayame immensely. But at the same time, that would mean me making contact with a heroine. Just because it's one time, if I underestimate it, I don't know what will happen. Something like a butterfly effect... seems totally possible.

But... but, looking at that notepad with traces of being rewritten many times, I couldn't ignore it. The edges were crumpled, and she surely practiced a lot during spring break.

If losing this notepad resulted in a speech she wasn't satisfied with, just thinking about it was awful. It wasn't just because I liked her as a heroine, but as a person, I couldn't overlook it.

Suppose something happens in the future and I end up dying because of it. The beginning would definitely be here. The moment I intersected with the world of Seka-Ai.

Will I regret it?

I asked myself again and again.

"They say regretting something you did is better than regretting something you didn't do..."

I didn't know the answer. I probably won't know until that time comes.

I don't have a good enough personality to declare that I won't regret it. But, anyway, right now, I hated the idea that she might fail because of me.

"I'll return it..."

I remembered the smile of the heroine I admired most when she turned around. What would she do? She would definitely return it without hesitating like me.

I held the notepad in one hand and returned home. I hurriedly got ready.

"Ugh, wearing the uniform makes me look even more like Nishikikoji Kaede..."

While sighing in front of the full-length mirror, I didn't have the skill to style my hair like Nishikikoji, so I just checked for bedhead.

I left the house quickly.

◇

The setting of Seka-Ai was one of the leading preparatory schools in Japan. Incidentally, it was also a reasonably rich school.

Just like the illustrations, it was a quite luxurious school building. The uniform had a high-class feel, and my excitement rose considerably.

The facilities were all new, and the hallways were surprisingly shiny. At least among the schools I had seen so far, it was the most luxurious.

"So, the question is where she is..."

It was too early. I had absolutely no idea where Ayame had gone at this hour. Starting with the gymnasium where the entrance ceremony would take place, I went around the classrooms of each class in order.

"Huh, seriously, where did she go...?"

Far from Ayame, there was no sign of students in the entire school building. Did I perhaps arrive before Ayame?

Or maybe...

"Did she already realize she dropped the paper and went back to get it?"

There's a possibility we crossed paths.

I stared fearfully at the notepad. That's right. There's no way she wouldn't notice she lost something that important after coming all the way to school.

"Ugh, I messed up. I have no choice but to go back the way I came for now."

Let's go back to that park once, and if Ayame isn't there, let's wait at the school one more time. Eventually, she will come back to the school.

I immediately left the school building and came near the school gate. And then, I noticed.

"Wait, Ayame...?"

An unreliable-looking back. Her hair swayed at her shoulders, looking anxious.

Standing there, the silhouette that looked like a picture was definitely Ayame.

Ignoring the voice in my head asking if it wasn't actually pretty creepy to chase her all the way here just because I'm a student at the same school, I ran up to Ayame.

"Um!"

At my voice, which came out a little loud, Ayame's shoulders jumped. It seems I startled her. I did something a little inexcusable.

"I'm sorry. I just saw you at the park. Did you drop this notepad?"

To keep from frightening her as she turned around with a scared look on her face, I tried to use the gentlest voice I could muster. As a result, perhaps because of Nishikikoji's indescribably cool voice (ikebo), I sounded like a pickup artist, but let's just say it's okay for now.

When Ayame saw the notepad in my hand, her face lit up brightly. In the game, she was known for being expressionless, but she was surprisingly easy to read.

Her anxious eyes gradually softened, and then tears began to pool in them.

While startled by seeing her crying face for the first time, I gently held out the notepad. Ayame received it as if it were precious, clutched it tight to her chest, and looked straight at me. 

Teary eyes, looking up at me. And a peerless beauty to boot. This really hit me hard

"Thank you very much. It's... something important."

"I see. That's good."

Ayame nodded repeatedly while clutching the notepad with trembling hands.

"I am giving the freshman representative speech at today's entrance ceremony. I was anxious about it, so anxious, really anxious, so I was practicing it over and over at home too. I wanted to get to school early so I could practice, but I couldn't find the notepad where I wrote my notes. It's really important to me. Truly, thank you very much."

With a trembling voice, but declaring it clearly, Ayame bowed her head.

She wasn't supposed to be good at talking to people, so maybe she wanted to properly thank me for delivering it.

Looking at the notepad, wrinkled from being squeezed too hard, I clearly understood how anxious she had felt about this entrance ceremony.

"Don't worry about it, I just delivered it, so raise your head. Besides, look, I saw just a little bit of it, but if you practiced that much, I think it will definitely go well. And even if you don't think it went well, I think it's amazing. Um, sorry, I don't know what I should say. Anyway, I'm rooting for you, so, do your best, or something."

Seeing Ayame's state, I unintentionally offered words of encouragement, but was that okay? After all, I'm a person she's meeting for the first time, so having a guy like me say something...

"Thank you. I've calmed down a little. During the entrance ceremony speech, I will recall what you just said to me one more time."

Her voice was as faint as ever. But it wasn't trembling anymore.

Ayame showed me a smile—just a tiny bit, really just a tiny bit—and then walked toward the school building.

On the way, she turned around again.

"Let's both have a good school life."

Her voice mixed with the wind. When I waved back, she waved back at me.

"Ayame's smile is dangerous..."

Not directed at the story's protagonist, but a smile directed at me. While savoring its destructive power, I started back the way I came to retrieve the things I needed for now.

◇

In the end, Ayame's entrance ceremony speech was a perfect success. Without stumbling once, and without even looking at the manuscript. My encouragement probably wasn't necessary.

An overwhelming beauty like a work of art, and a dignified presence that highlighted that beauty. From the moment Ayame took the stage, a small stir had rippled through the crowd.

That was last week's story. Classes finally started this week, and today is apparently the first homeroom of high school life.

"Eh, is that him...?"

"Yeah, yeah. You seriously better be careful. If he marks you, it's over."

"Ugh, I thought it was going to be a fun high school life. Being with a guy like this, it's over."

"Ab-so-lute-ly do not get close to him. My friend in middle school got involved with him and was beaten up."

"I heard he told my friend he'd buy her a high-brand bag if she let him do it once."

The moment I entered the classroom, the air became frozen silent, and then the whispering started again. Apparently, I had already become a person to watch out for. I thought I'd come early since it was the first day, but maybe arriving barely on time would have been better.

For me, who was nothing but a mob in my previous life, this honestly hit hard.

"Okaaay. Please be quiet for a moment."

In the midst of that, the homeroom teacher entered the classroom. I was saved. She was a petite and cute woman. Her hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and she was wearing glasses.

The students exchanged glances as if they wanted to say something, then each took their seats.

After confirming the classroom had become quiet, the teacher said, "Well then," and started talking.

"Since first period today is the first homeroom, I'd like to make it a place for everyone to interact. First, let's start with self-introductions. Let's see... just your name, hobbies... something you want to say, and a word to everyone, I guess. Please think about it during the morning assembly."

Voices rose from the class, half dissatisfied, half excited.

...Come to think of it, we had this in my high school too. Being told to introduce yourself suddenly is a pain because you can only think of safe things to say.

In my previous life, I feel like I just said template-like things to gloss over it. In fact, the student who was first on the roll call said something harmless and sat down.

But this time, my favorability rating is not just zero, but already negative. Probably no matter what I say now, my classmates' evaluation won't change.

Though, well, I was prepared for that, so it's fine.

—The biggest problem is that there are several characters other than me in the same class.

"...Okay then, next, Saita-kun."

"Yes."

At the teacher's voice, a male student stood up. I observed him as secretly as possible. Messy hair. Rather skinny, and with a hunched back.

The protagonist of 'Soshite Sekai wa Aiiro ni'—Saita Kanade.

Although his posture and appearance were completely Saita, there was something off about him..

His atmosphere? No, his expression? In my memory, Saita was more timid...

"I am Saita Kanade. My favorite food is ramen. I like reading manga. I look forward to working with you for the next year."

Saita gave a generic greeting, bowed lightly, and sat down.

I can't express it in concrete words. But he is clearly different from the Saita I know.

The current Saita felt like he had composure. In a word, he didn't seem like a high schooler. Of course, the original Saita was mature, but he shouldn't have been to this extent.

What is the cause? I've only made contact with Ayame. In the first place, I just reincarnated today, so story alterations shouldn't be possible.

As I continued to observe Saita out of the corner of my eye, suddenly Saita looked toward me. I hurriedly averted my eyes. Damn, I stared too much.

...Well, surely it's just my imagination. I might have become too paranoid.

"And then, next, Sasaki-san."

"Yees."

The seat one behind Saita.

The girl called Sasaki stood up. A black bob cut. Short stature, and a glamorous body that was clearly visible even over her uniform.

As could be understood from her beauty, which was clearly far apart from those around her, she was unmistakably one of the heroines.

"I'm Sasaki Kanna! My hobby is Gaming, and I want to talk a lot with everyone! Please get along with me."

With a cheerful voice just like in the game, Kanna bowed lightly. At that moment, I sensed my classmates secretly exchanging glances. It was exactly the same as during Ayame's speech. Both of them are completely different types, but they are extraordinarily beautiful.

Moreover, Kanna has high communication skills. Her tone, expression, gestures—everything is packed with elements that make people like her. It makes sense that she's treated as an idol throughout the school.

While I was moved by the real-life Kanna, the chime rang just then. The teacher called a stop and announced that we would carry over to the next homeroom for the time being.

Honestly, I wanted to get it over with quickly. A self-introduction that will fail no matter how I think about it is depressing.

I inadvertently let out a light sigh.

"Hey, Nishikikoji."

Apparently, we had entered break time before I knew it. The student in the seat right in front of me suddenly turned around. I was surprised and almost let my voice leak out... but I held it back just in time.

"Ah... Narita, huh."

Narita Shunichi—the so-called "underdog" or punching bag character of Seka-Ai. He was Nishikikoji's hanger-on and a Yes Man to Nishikikoji. Together with Nishikikoji, he bullied the protagonist and assaulted the heroines. As a player, of course, he wasn't exactly a character I liked, and I often clashed with Narita to advance the story.

However, in the story, he was in a position close to a mob, and if I didn't get involved with the protagonist in the first place, there shouldn't be any point of contact between Narita and the story either.

Nishikikoji and Narita have been buddies since middle school, so avoiding him now would be strange. But if I hang out with him... Narita probably knows Nishikikoji well, so he might find out I'm not Nishikikoji, and then it would really become a "game bug" situation, wouldn't it?

Aside from me despairing at the terrifying imagination, Narita was in high spirits.

"We're in the same class as Sasaki Kanna!"

"Eh, yeah... that's right."

I nodded to Narita's talk for the time being.

"Huh, Nishikikoji, didn't you say before that if you were in the same class as Sasaki, you could do something about her?"

"Did I say that...?"

"You know, Sasaki, she's got her guard up, but if we're in the same class, you said you could manage something."

"Ah, I might have said that."

I agreed for now again. Whether he actually had such a conversation, I absolutely didn't know.

"Also that girl, I forgot her name, but the one who made the speech at the entrance ceremony. That girl was cute too... wait, you're not that interested?"

"Eh, interested?"

"No, I mean, she seemed like a quiet girl after all, so if it's you Nishikikoji, if you just call out to her a little, she'd sway our way, right? Those timid-looking looking girls are easy to conquer."

Hm? Wait a minute. Didn't he just say something pretty nasty?

I thought Narita was just hanging out with Nishikikoji and wasn't a bad guy at his core. Even playing the game, he didn't do things as inhumane as Nishikikoji.

But how should I put it, this is...

"Nishikikoji, you have money and a good face after all. A girl like that would probably fall in love with you right away. At worst, we could just cut off her escape routes... Oh, that reminds me, there's a Mixer (Goukon) today. I wonder if any cute girls will come."

With an innocent look, Narita fired off nasty words one after another.

While I was quietly taken aback without showing it on my face, Narita nodded as if to say, "Oh yeah"

"Come to think of it, Nishikikoji, what happened to that beauty you went home with after the last mixer? She was a college student, right?"

"Eh, no..."

At the unexpected question, I checked my smartphone. When I opened a certain chat app, there was a woman who seemed to be her, quite high up in the list. It seems she has exchanged messages with Nishikikoji several times. When I peeked at the history, it seemed to be going quite well.

"Or rather, didn't you exchange contacts with other girls too? Let's see... from that rich girls' school nearby... you know, the all-girls school... Tohaku Academy, was it...?"

"Tohaku Academy..."

I held my head at the unfamiliar high school name. The elements of being an eroge villain are piled too high. Isn't this already out of my hands?

In my original plan, I thought I would use the knowledge I gained when playing the game to not get involved with the protagonist, stay quiet so as not to stand out in a bad way, and meanwhile, without stirring Nishikikoji's current relationships too much, I could dissolve them little by little.

But, seeing it right before my eyes, it's a different story. In the first place, in my previous life, I was a virgin who had never even had a girlfriend. I don't feel like I can manage a relationship with an older girl I took home from a mixer.

"Hey, Narita... no, you (omae)? Let's stop with the mixer for a while. I thought I'd get serious in high school."

Narita made a suspicious expression for an instant. Nishikikoji didn't acknowledge Narita as a friend, so he didn't even call him by name, and the tone must have felt off. In the first place, the reason that I intend to be serious starting in high school was strange no matter how you thought about it.

However, Narita never goes against Nishikikoji's statements. He immediately smoothed it over and nodded.

"Got it. I'll tell the girls."

While Narita typed something into his smartphone screen, still glancing at me strangely... I had thought lightly that if I just talked to Narita, I'd manage somehow, but it might be better to move more thoroughly and systematically.

At the current situation, which was more difficult than I had thought, I sighed again so as not to be noticed.

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