Chapter 6: The Villain's Role
The day of the sports festival. The lively atmosphere made my heart flutter with excitement.
“Gouda-kun, it’s almost time for your broadcasting duties.”
“Right. I’m on it, Kuroba.”
Even on the day itself, there were executive committee tasks. Not just carrying stuff, but being put on broadcasting duty too—Akio Gouda was being used… or rather, relied on.
“Hey, Gouda. Let’s both do our best today.”
“Good morning, Gouda-kun. Glad it’s sunny.”
“G-Gouda-senpai… Today is a fine day… No, wait! Please take care of me today too!”
Having worked together during preparations, I felt like I’d gotten along with the other committee members. They no longer feared me to the point of not talking to me. This change in our relationship made me a little happy.
Returning their greetings, I headed to the tent where the broadcasting equipment was set up. Carrying this stuff was tough, too.
I took a deep breath before taking my seat at the broadcast booth. I wasn’t particularly nervous. This composure was another perk of my cheat-level body.
“Now, for the first event, the 100-meter dash, all participants, please gather at the entrance.”
I brought the mic close and spoke in a calm tone. My deep voice resonated across the field through the speakers.
When I’m serious, my voice can be terrifying, but when I talk normally, it’s actually pretty smooth. Since Akio Gouda often spoke minimally and with intensity, few probably realized this.
“Wow, what a great voice…”
“Huh, who was that? Whose voice was that just now?”
“Such a sexy voice… He’s definitely handsome~.”
Apparently, no one expected Akio Gouda to do this kind of job, as girls all around started squealing. The committee members who knew chuckled, covering their mouths to stifle laughter. A senior even patted my shoulder.
Before being chosen for the sports festival executive committee, I’d never been treated this casually. They must think it’s okay to be this relaxed with the current me. I really felt like I’d made friends.
“Let’s get started! Who will seize the momentum for victory in this 100-meter dash? The first runners are fired up. Everyone looks sharp. Are you all ready to cheer? Now, the first runner… They’re off!”
I got a little carried away and started commentating like a sports announcer. Having friends around made it so much more enjoyable. I felt fulfilled doing this job.
After the 100-meter dash, the events moved on to ball-toss and tug-of-war. Nostalgia washed over me as I commentated.
Finishing my broadcasting duties, I returned to my class’s waiting area. I’d worked up a good sweat.
“Welcome back, Akio-kun. You were so cool.”
“Akio’s commentary was hilarious~. You’re pretty good at it, huh?”
Himari and Haya welcomed me with smiles. Haya had her usual side ponytails, but Himari had tied her pink hair into a ponytail. Paired with her gym clothes, it felt fresh.
But they weren’t the only ones who spoke to me.
“Good work, Gouda-kun. You’ve been a huge help from preparations to today.”
Kuroba offered words of appreciation. I replied, “Thanks.”
Of all the people, I’d gotten closest to her during this sports festival. Working together as fellow committee members, we’d developed a sense of camaraderie. I found her really easy to talk to.
“Kuroba worked hard on the program planning too.”
“No, I didn’t do as much as Gouda-kun…”
“What are you talking about? You handled the scheduling for all the events. That’s why everything’s running so smoothly today. That’s proof you were a big deal.”
“Gouda-kun…”
Her eyes behind her glasses locked onto me. I felt like I could get lost in those big eyes.
“Thank you. Yes, hearing that makes me really happy.”
Her green hair fluttered softly. Her cute smile made my heart skip a beat. …As expected of one of the heroines.
“Was that broadcast just now you, Gouda-kun?”
“I was surprised. It’s so different from your usual image.”
“Yeah, I thought so too. It’s the kind of voice that sounds like you’d be good at karaoke.”
Some classmates approached me. This was a scene I couldn’t have imagined a while ago.
Haya was my delinquent buddy, and Himari was the honors student who treated everyone equally. Even if those two talked to me, it was an exception, a special case. Until now, other classmates never approached me.
It might be the sports festival’s unique sense of unity, but more than that, I think Kuroba’s presence played a big role.
Seeing the quiet Kuroba getting along with Akio Gouda gave people reassurance and probably diminished their fear of me.
…Joining the executive committee was the right choice. Working with Kuroba was really worth it.
“Fufu, I’m glad for you, Akio-kun.”
“You’re really living the youth, Akio~.”
Two girls watched me, surrounded by classmates, with warm smiles. Their gazes were a bit embarrassing, so I focused on responding to my classmates.
As the events progressed, I joined in cheering with everyone. The sense of unity was fun, and my cheers grew louder.
“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”
“What!? You want to… in the bathroom?”
It’s just the bathroom, jeez. I gave Himari, whose mind was clearly in the gutter, a light chop on the head and hurried to the school building’s restroom during a break between events.
“You guys! Why are you getting along with someone like Gouda!?”
On my way back from the bathroom break, I heard Nosaka’s shout.
What’s going on? Peeking around the back of the school building, away from the field, I saw Nosaka and a few guys who seemed to be his friends.
“What do you mean, ‘why’? Huh?”
“Gouda’s actually pretty funny, and he’s working hard. Talking to him, he’s not as scary as the rumors say.”
“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?!?!?”
Nosaka’s yell echoed behind the school. If he’s got that kind of volume, he should be cheering for his classmates. During the sports festival, he’d been sneaking off instead of supporting, so his absence was notable. And now, this…
“Did you forget what I told you? That guy’s seriously bad news! A criminal! Talking to someone like that makes you just as bad!!”
Despite Nosaka’s furious outburst, the guys didn’t seem particularly fazed. They wore ambiguous expressions, part concern, part exasperation.
“It’s not that we forgot or anything. But come on, those bad rumors about Gouda are old news, right? Sure, some of them are crime-level stuff, but there’s no guarantee they’re true. Lately, Gouda’s been taking care of class stuff properly. We can’t keep seeing him as just the rumor mill says.”
“Exactly. I thought the same. They’re just rumors. He used to have a scary vibe, but now he’s pretty chill. The only time he gets loud is when Shiratori-san talks to him.”
“And calling us criminals too? That’s harsh. …Wait, Nosaka, are you just jealous because Shiratori-san got taken? Is that why you’re overreacting?”
“Wha—!”
One guy’s words left Nosaka speechless.
It hit a nerve for Nosaka. But that guy didn’t seem to realize he’d hit the truth. He kept going, “Getting jealous just because she talks to another guy… Nosaka, you’re pretty small-minded.”
However, those follow-up words didn’t seem to reach Nosaka. His face flushed with anger.
“You bastard! How dare you say that!!”
“Guh!?”
Nosaka grabbed the guy by the collar. His friends were stunned by the suddenness, but when they heard a pained groan, they quickly pulled Nosaka off.
“Hey, Nosaka! What’s your problem!?”
“It was just a joke! Why are you taking it so seriously!?”
His friends, probably kind-hearted, tried to calm the raging Nosaka. But his excitement wouldn’t subside, so several of them had to restrain him.
Pinned down, Nosaka growled for a while. Like a wild animal…
Eventually, he calmed down, and when his friends let go, he hung his head and didn’t move. Even when they called out to him worriedly, he didn’t respond.
“…Did we hit a nerve?”
The guy who’d been grabbed muttered.
“!”
Nosaka bolted, fleeing like a scared rabbit. The remaining guys were enveloped in confusion.
“He’s not skipping out on the sports festival too, is he?”
If so, it’d leave a gap in the events he was supposed to participate in. We’d have to find a replacement, which would be a hassle…
Seeing this, my only concern was that.
Well, it turned out my worry was unfounded.
Nosaka did participate in the events. He kept his distance from his friend group, but I was relieved my workload didn’t increase.
“Akio~, let’s have lunch!”
“Right, I’m coming.”
And so, after the morning session ended, it was lunchtime. Everyone was eating wherever they pleased.
“Where’s Himari?”
Though Haya called me over, I noticed the conspicuous pink head was missing. Lately, she and Haya were always together, so her absence felt oddly empty.
“She’s eating with friends today. It’s fine once in a while, right?”
Haya smirked.
Was she thinking she could monopolize me? No, I sensed some other motive.
“Hey, Haya. Does Himari have some errand or something?”
“Huh? N-no… I wouldn’t know~…”
Avoiding my gaze, Haya fiddled with her side ponytail. So transparent.
It seemed she had no intention of telling me. No point in pressing her for details. If it was important, she’d rely on me anyway.
“Well, let’s eat then. Just the two of us.”
“J-just the two of us… Ehehe♡.”
I emphasized “just the two of us” on purpose. That alone made the blonde gal blush. Heh, what an easy girl.
“You know, Akio, you’ve got a really kind face right now.”
“Hm, really?”
Weird. I thought I was smirking villainously…
Maybe I still haven’t mastered Akio Gouda’s body. That’s why, even when I try to be friendly, people still find me scary. Yeah, it’s all Akio Gouda’s fault.
I thought I heard a “Shut up” from deep within, but I brushed it off and headed to our usual empty classroom with Haya.
“Here you go~♡.”
Today, it was Haya’s homemade lunch again. Honestly, I’ve grown to love it. Knowing how good her lunches are, I’ve lost all interest in buying bread from the store.
“Thanks as always. Itadakimasu.”
“Itadakimasu~.”
Opening the lunchbox, the colorful presentation alone was a feast for the eyes. Even though it was cold, it had a warm, comforting taste.
I couldn’t say it out loud, but in terms of cooking skills, Haya was better than Himari. She cleaned my room too, so she’s surprisingly domestic for a gal.
“Nfufu~♡.”
“What?”
While eating, I noticed Haya grinning at me.
“Just thinking how much you enjoy eating, Akio~.”
“Well, your lunches are delicious. With cooking skills like this, you could get married anytime, couldn’t you?”
“Married!?”
Panicking, Haya threw her lunchbox into the air. Hey!
“Tch, what are you doing? If it falls, your hard work will go to waste.”
I caught the lunchbox she’d tossed straight up. Luckily, it didn’t spill, avoiding a mess.
“Nice catch… No! It’s your fault for saying weird stuff all of a sudden!”
“Huh? Weird stuff?”
“Y-you know… About me getting married…”
“I didn’t say ‘marry me.’”
Don’t twist my words. …Though, I wouldn’t mind if a girl like Haya became my wife.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence fell. I scratched my head and pulled Haya close.
“…I’m not telling you to pull away.”
“Ah, Akio…♡.”
During lunch break, I satisfied two of the three human desires. Feeling refreshed, I was ready to tackle the afternoon.
◇ ◇ ◇
“Kuroba-san is the only one we can count on. As planned—”
On my way back to the class gathering spot after parting with Haya, I stumbled upon Nosaka and Kuroba together.
I had no further thoughts on it, so I ignored them and kept walking.
Everyone has their own relationships. I’m not rude enough to butt in on a guy and girl alone together.
“Oh, Gouda-kun’s back.”
“Gouda, we’re counting on you for the afternoon relay.”
“We’re in a position to aim for first place. Seriously, we’re relying on you~.”
Welcomed by my classmates and feeling their expectations, I scratched my head and looked away, feeling a bit tickled.
“Let’s do our best this afternoon—!”
““Ooh—!!””
We formed a huddle and shouted together. I used to wonder what the point of this was, but the sense of unity and everyone’s heat was contagious. Alright, I’m fired up—!!
Through the sports festival, I became friends with my classmates. Getting invited to join the huddle normally made me almost tear up—it’s a secret. After all, just a while ago, I wasn’t part of the class circle.
“Gouda-kun, you look really happy.”
Kuroba approached me with a smile.
“Well, yeah. This whole ‘youth’ thing is addictive.”
Kuroba chuckled. I was aware I was saying something vague and weird.
But I couldn’t find the words to express this feeling. Including the comforting uncertainty, I figured this was what “youth” was all about.
“There’s the grade-level relay this afternoon, right? It’s for the championship, so I’ll cheer with all I’ve got.”
“You bet. I’m counting on your support. I’ll give it my all too.”
I flexed my biceps to show confidence. Seeing my muscular arms, Kuroba touched them, saying, “I have high expectations.”
“Wah!? They’re so hard. Wow… Gouda-kun’s are this big and firm…”
“Kuroba seems soft, huh. You’ve probably never touched a guy’s muscles much.”
“Not much, more like never… But yours are too hard. I mean, they look grotesque from the outside. See, they’re twitching.”
“R-really?”
Being called grotesque was a first. Some girls dislike athletic builds, and it wouldn’t be strange for some to find a muscular guy’s body grotesque.
But despite calling them grotesque, Kuroba didn’t let go of my arm. Her glasses glinted as she used both hands to squeeze it.
“So thick… My hands aren’t enough at all.”
“Your hands are small, Kuroba. Even stretched out, they wouldn’t wrap around my arm.”
“But it’s starting to grow on me. It’s surprisingly not unpleasant… Oh, it twitched again…”
Her small hands probed the elasticity of my biceps. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she pushed from various angles.
“Could it be that Kuroba’s a muscle fetishist?”
“Huh!? N-no, I don’t think so…”
Panicking, Kuroba pulled her hands away. She must have gotten carried away. Embarrassed, she scratched her cheek.
“Sorry… It was my first time touching something like that, so I got carried away by curiosity…”
“Don’t worry about it. Is your dad skinny or something?”
I flexed again with a munch! to see if she’d be pleased, but she looked down.
“I wouldn’t know… I don’t have a dad…”
“Oh, sorry…”
I hit an unexpected landmine. Even though I didn’t know, it was insensitive of me.
This kind of info wasn’t in the original story. Well, family backgrounds aren’t usually detailed in erotic manga characters. Especially not fathers.
“Rino-chan, I’m in the relay too, so cheer for me properly, okay?”
“Eek!? Come on, I’d do that even without you saying it~.”
Just as things got awkward, Himari suddenly appeared and hugged Kuroba from behind. Though surprised, Kuroba smiled once she realized it was her best friend.
Saved. Thanks to Himari, the bad atmosphere was reset. Seeing her wink, it was clear she’d intentionally helped.
I was grateful for Himari’s quick thinking. …But because she hugged Kuroba, it emphasized her petite yet ample chest. As expected, girls in gym clothes were a hazard to pubescent boys. Major thanks to Himari!
“Participants in the grade-level relay, please gather at the entrance gate.”
“It looks like our biggest moment has finally arrived.”
“Yeah. Let’s be the heroes who clinch the win.”
Following Himari’s defiant smile, I tried lifting the corner of my mouth. I wanted to believe I didn’t end up with a menacing face since Kuroba didn’t seem scared of me.
“You two, do your best!”
As we headed toward the entrance gate side by side, Kuroba cheered us on. I raised a clenched fist to signal, “Leave it to us.”
And so, Akio and Himari led both the boys’ and girls’ relay races to first place.
There’s not much to say about the competition itself. Akio Gouda’s cheat-level body shone in the relay, and Himari’s beautiful legs were dazzling. Also, I realized that a ponytail beauty running is absolutely stunning!
“Whoa! Overtaking everyone like that is insane, Gouda!”
“That comeback was thrilling!”
“Shiratori-san was amazing too!”
“Yeah! Those beautiful, firm legs were just…”
“Idiot! That’s not what we mean! We were all mesmerized by those legs—if that got out, what would we do!?”
“I, for one, couldn’t take my eyes off her bouncing chest…”
“Will you shut up already!!”
Returning after the relay, our classmates surrounded us, showering us with praise. I was thrilled, but those who were ogling Himari sexually, meet me behind the gym later?
“Akio’s so lucky~. Getting praised by everyone~.”
Stepping out of the circle of classmates, Haya pouted for some reason.
In her hand was a slightly upscale anpan. It was the prize from the bread-eating race.
Before the relay, Haya had taken first place in the bread-eating race with an almost artistic performance, at least from my perspective.
But since the grade-level relay started right after, she didn’t get much praise. I was busy with the relay, so I hadn’t said anything to her either.
“First place is amazing, Haya. Good girl, let me pat you lots.”
“Yay♡.”
Her mood seemed to brighten. As always, she’s so easy… I mean, honest and cute!
Thanks to me, Himari, and even Haya’s efforts, we ended the sports festival on the highest note with a championship win.
Today was a great day. I made friends with everyone, excelled in the sports festival, and truly experienced the best of youth.
—If only this day could have ended here, it would have been perfect. But there was one person who wouldn’t let that happen.
◇ ◇ ◇
After the sports festival, cleanup began immediately.
“Be careful not to pinch your fingers. Everyone, on three, lift it—!”
The tents used as cheering sections were to be cleaned up by each class. As an executive committee member, I took the lead in giving instructions.
“One, two, three… Wait, it’s light!?”
“With Gouda-kun carrying it, it’s easy.”
“Right? He’s as strong as he looks.”
Through the sports festival, I felt the class atmosphere had become more relaxed. It strengthened our unity and closed the distance between classmates. That must be one of the purposes of the sports festival.
“Alright, I’ll head to the entrance gate for cleanup. You all can go change if you want.”
When I said that, my classmates replied with a cheerful, “Okay!” Their voices no longer carried any fear of me. That small change made me happy.
“Gouda-kun’s pretty hardworking, huh.”
“Yeah. He takes the lead even on annoying tasks. My view of him’s changed a bit.”
“And that voice was the best. I could eat three bowls of rice just listening to Gouda-kun’s voice.”
““….””
Especially the girls were chattering excitedly. They must have been relieved after finishing the heavy lifting.
As I saw off my classmates and headed toward the entrance gate, Kuroba fell into step beside me.
“Kuroba, you can head back first, you know?”
“What, didn’t you know? Actually, I’m on the same sports festival executive committee as you, Gouda-kun.”
Kuroba joked with a laugh. Since becoming an executive committee member, I’d started seeing new sides of her that I hadn’t known before.
“I know. But we’ve got enough hands. I think I can handle it alone.”
“I want to see the executive committee job through to the end too. Let me learn from you, Gouda-kun.”
It seemed she had no intention of slacking off. Since there was no reason to refuse, I nodded, “Got it.”
“Then we’ll come along too!”
“Huh?”
Turning at the voice from behind, I saw Haya and Himari following us. The golden side ponytail and pink ponytail swayed together amicably.
“You two aren’t on the committee. You already cleaned up the tents, so you can go change first.”
Despite my words, Haya smirked proudly, “Hmph.”
“It’s fine. We’re the volunteer squad.”
What’s fine about that? Haya puffed out her chest as if that settled it. Those thin gym clothes don’t hide your figure at all, you know.
“If you have enough help, we’ll just watch Akio-kun’s cool side.”
“Cool…?”
It’s just carrying stuff. I wanted to retort about Himari’s sense of aesthetics.
…Well, I guess that just means she likes me that much. Thinking that about myself felt embarrassing.
“Come on, Gouda-kun, it’s fine. Let Himari-chan have her way.”
“Kuroba, you’re on Himari’s side?”
“I guess it’s okay,” I said, scratching my head. Himari and Haya clapped their hands together, saying, “Yes!”
Cleaning up while being watched and cheered on by two top-tier beauties at school—what kind of shameful play is this?
“Akio-kun blushing was adorable♡.”
“It’s so worth cheering for you. Seeing Akio’s face get redder and redder, the gap is just…♡.”
“Tch. You two, you’ll regret this later.”
““~~♡.””
Seriously, their thoughts were written all over their faces. Even Kuroba looked stunned and speechless.
Once cleanup was done, we were free to go. Unless you had club activities or other errands, you could head home.
Himari and the others went to the girls’ changing room, so we parted ways for now. I headed back to the classroom first.
Most of the class might have already gone home, but what if some girls were still there? Guys change in the classroom, so that’d be a problem. Well, I could use the boys’ changing room if needed.
Thinking about that, I opened the classroom door.
““…Ah…”.”
Surprisingly, some classmates were still there. Seeing me, they all froze.
I figured a few might still be around… but this was almost everyone?
As I stepped into the classroom, my classmates took a step back.
Huh? I tilted my head. This felt no different from the old days, but it was a stark contrast to the friendly atmosphere we’d shared during the sports festival.
“Hey, guys! You know Himari-chan wouldn’t do something like that, right!”
One girl raised her voice. Looking closer, the class seemed divided into boys’ and girls’ groups.
“Of course we know Shiratori-san’s an honors student. But then how do you explain this?”
“Th-that’s…”
The boys looked confused. The girl who spoke trailed off.
“Uh, what’s going on here?”
I hesitated about sticking my nose into the class’s conflict (?), but hearing Himari’s name, I couldn’t ignore it.
“Ku… ku… ku… KuhahahaHAHAHA!!”
The response to my question was a grating laugh.
Surprised, my classmates distanced themselves from the source of the laughter, revealing the likely culprit behind this unpleasant atmosphere.
“What’s wrong, Nosaka? Did I say something funny?”
“No, I just love how you’re playing dumb, thinking no one’s caught on. Gouda, I’ve seen through your despicable acts!”
Nosaka approached me with a smirk, his steps brimming with misplaced confidence.
“You’re out of the loop, being ostracized by the class group, right? Just now, I showed everyone this photo to reveal your true nature, Gouda!”
Nosaka shoved his smartphone screen in my face.
“Oh…?”
The screen showed me and Himari. The image was of me handing money to Himari.
“There! This is the proof!!”
Nosaka shouted, holding up his phone, his face ecstatic as if he’d won.
“Proof of what?”
I tilted my head. Being suddenly told, “This is proof!!” left me clueless.
Surprised by my reaction, Nosaka’s face went blank for a moment. But he quickly recovered, showing anger.
“Don’t play dumb at this point! If you think you can escape with this evidence, let me tell you about your crimes!!”
Nosaka turned to the classmates, dramatically gesturing as he began his explanation.
“Gouda’s the type to mess with other people’s women! He used money to steal my Himari’s heart! This is the proof. It’s an unedited, real image. Anyone who doesn’t believe this is as guilty as Gouda! A criminal!”
I see. After listening that far, I finally understood Nosaka’s claim.
“Shiratori-san… You’ve been oddly close to Gouda lately, haven’t you?”
“True. Could it be you were bought off with money?”
“Hey, guys, what are you saying! There’s no way Himari-chan would be bought off! Besides, she and Nosaka-kun are already—”
“Gouda, this isn’t the only evidence! Look at this!”
Nosaka operated his phone, showing another photo.
This time, it was me handing money to Haya. With a second person involved, the classroom buzzed with unease.
This situation was bad. If I stayed silent, things could spiral out of control. I needed to say something in rebuttal.
“Yeah, that photo is real.”
I nodded slightly, speaking calmly.
My affirmation caused the classroom to tremble with murmurs.
“Hah… You admitted it? See! I knew it! Gouda’s exactly that kind of guy! A lowlife who thinks he can buy women with money!”
“That photo’s me giving money for lunch materials.”
“…Huh?”
Ignoring Nosaka, who seemed about to rant, I continued.
“Lately, Himari and Haya have been making lunches for me. It’s only natural to cover the material costs, right?”
“M-material costs?”
He looked like he wanted to ask, “What’s that?” Do I really have to explain this?
“They’re making lunches for me because they care about my health. Ingredients like rice and side dishes cost money, you know? Did you know olive oil prices have been going up lately?”
Inflation’s tough… In an erotic manga world, they could skip these gritty realities.
“Oh, so it’s just lunch materials.”
“Gouda-kun actually pays for the lunch materials, huh.”
“My boyfriend doesn’t even care about that.”
Most of the girls seemed convinced. Had the misunderstanding been cleared up?
“N-no way you can brush it off like that! I… I had Himari make lunches for me, but I never paid for anything like that!”
Nosaka’s bold declaration left most of the girls with a cold atmosphere. Some boys looked visibly put off too.
“…Huh?”
Now it was my turn to be dumbfounded.
I wasn’t jealous that Nosaka had Himari make lunches for him. They were childhood friends, and at one point, even lovers. It wouldn’t be strange if they’d done things like that.
But I was shocked he hadn’t paid a cent for her homemade lunches. So, did the Shiratori family cover all the food costs? What does Nosaka’s mom think about that?
“Uh… Nosaka?”
“What? Are you panicking because your lies are exposed? That’s what happens when you talk without thinking!”
“No… When Himari made lunches for you, how did you handle lunch money?”
“Huh? Obviously, since she made lunches, I didn’t need to spend on lunch.”
I was speechless at Nosaka’s answer. The silence from the girls felt like it carried more pressure than mine.
What do I do? Our sense of normalcy is completely different… No matter what I said, Nosaka probably wouldn’t listen. His face screamed, “I’m not wrong.”
“Hey, Gouda-kun, should we say something on your behalf?”
“No, I appreciate it, but I can’t drag you into this mess any further.”
The girls in class were fully on my side. But I couldn’t let unrelated people jump into the fray against the current Nosaka.
As I pondered what to do, it happened.
“Wait… What is this?”
The classroom door slammed open with force. There stood a pink head—Himari, clearly suppressing her anger, head bowed.
She entered the classroom. Not showing her face made her even more intimidating…
“Himari! You came! Thank goodness!”
Nosaka rushed toward her happily. I was almost impressed he could approach her in that state.
To stop Nosaka from getting closer, Himari thrust her smartphone at him. It showed the same image Nosaka had shown earlier—me handing money to Himari.
“You saw it! I’m sorry I didn’t notice until now… Himari, you were under Gouda’s control because he was giving you money, right? Even though I was there… I’m so sorry.”
“If you really feel sorry, can you apologize here?”
“…Huh?”
When Himari lifted her face, her eyes were intense. How to describe it… They looked like they were about to do something drastic.
“Sending this image in the class group chat… I only sense malice. You probably don’t even understand what this is about, do you? If you did, you wouldn’t say something like this.”
“H-Himari…?”
Himari’s sharp eyes glared at Nosaka with such intensity that even I, just watching, felt a chill.
“Ah… Uh…?”
Faced with that level of glare, Nosaka couldn’t form coherent words. Shocked, he gaped, making inarticulate sounds.
“…This is my mistake. I assumed Junpei-kun wouldn’t do anything significant, even if he acted. Akio-kun, I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
Himari bowed deeply, genuinely apologetic.
“What!? Why is Himari bowing to a guy like him!!”
“Be quiet. If you say anything else to drag us—Akio-kun—down, I won’t forgive you.”
Overwhelmed by Himari’s presence, Nosaka fell silent.
“Everyone, let me explain since we’re here. This photo is just me receiving money from Akio-kun for lunch materials.”
“B-but that’s Gouda’s lie—”
Himari silenced Nosaka with a look alone. He’d already developed a conditioned response.
“B-but why would Shiratori-san make lunches for Gouda? Aren’t you Nosaka’s girlfriend?”
One boy asked a straightforward question. Himari answered calmly, without hesitation.
“Oh, didn’t you hear? I’m not Junpei-kun’s girlfriend anymore. We broke up a long time ago, and he’s already accepted it.”
The boy who asked was stunned, “Huh!?” and looked at Nosaka. He awkwardly averted his eyes.
So he still hadn’t told the truth… That boy, judging by Nosaka’s reaction, seemed to realize who was telling the truth, sighing, “You’ve been lying all this time?”
“Girls, you all already know, right? It seems a lot of boys still don’t. Should I explain why I broke up with Junpei-kun?”
“W-wait, stop, Himari!”
“It’s the result of your lies, isn’t it? Lies like that always get exposed eventually. Asking me to stop now out of concern for your reputation is selfish. It’s just karma.”
Himari was serious. Her eyes were dead set. No one could stop her.
And so, Himari told the entire class. When she broke up with Nosaka. The details of their first time that led to it…
Since Himari decided to do this, all I could do was watch. I kept an eye on Nosaka in case he interfered, but he was too intimidated by her presence to do anything but stare blankly.
“—That’s all. Do you understand now why I broke up with him?”
Himari finished explaining, her face clear and bright.
The classmates listened in silence. As typical teenagers, they seemed fascinated by the story of their first time.
…Though, there wasn’t any of the erotic development they might have hoped for.
“Disliking big chests… Who even says that? That’s so low.”
“Blaming her body for not getting it up… Lowest of the low.”
“‘She got soaking wet with my skills!’ he said… Turns out he’s not just a virgin but didn’t even touch her…”
“No way. Nosaka-kun, just no way.”
Classmates voiced their opinions mercilessly, each word cutting into Nosaka’s heart.
“…He’s here.”
“What is it? The facts are clear. There’s no way Junpei-kun can argue back.”
Nosaka, who had been looking down, suddenly lifted his face. His bloodshot eyes still showed he couldn’t let go of Himari.
“Himari’s being deceived! That guy targeted the moment our relationship got awkward! Because… Gouda’s a villain!!”
“Is that all you’ve got to say? Then there’s nothing more to discuss.”
“E-even with this, you can say that?”
Nosaka operated his phone, playing a video.
It showed a man violently extorting money and valuables from several male students. Clearly extortion.
And the face of the extortionist… was mine.
“Even if what you say about paying for ‘materials’ is true, where does that money come from? Isn’t it from stealing from innocent people like this?”
Nosaka’s lips curled into a sneer.
“Got it? Gouda’s a dangerous person! He shouldn’t be at this school! We need to expel him and banish him so he never shows his face here again!!”
Nosaka held up his phone, playing the video, appealing to the classmates. With this new video evidence, doubt crept back into their minds.
“There’s no way Akio-kun would do something like that—”
“Can you really say that for sure? Himari, you know the bad rumors about Gouda, right? It wouldn’t be strange for a guy like him to demand money through violence!”
Akio Gouda wouldn’t stoop to something as pathetic as extortion. I knew that best.
But even if I denied it, my word alone wouldn’t be enough proof for everyone. Even if that guy in the video was my doppelgänger, I couldn’t think of a way to prove it.
“Bullshit!! There’s no way Akio would extort anyone!!”
The one who dispelled the growing doubt in the classroom was Haya’s furious shout.
Storming in, Haya marched straight to Nosaka and snatched the phone playing the video.
“G-give it back—”
“Shut up! I’m just looking at your so-called evidence, so don’t interfere!”
Intimidated by the blonde gal’s intensity, Nosaka fell silent. Taking advantage, Haya stared at the video of me (?) extorting.
“…This isn’t Akio.”
Haya flatly, clearly denied it.
“What!? Don’t cover for him just because you’re his friend!”
“This guy’s arms are skinny. His build too. Look at Akio’s—they’re super thick.”
Prompted by Haya, everyone compared the video guy’s arms and body to mine. Though the phone screen made it hard to see, both were wearing thin short-sleeve shirts, making comparison easier.
“…True. Gouda-kun’s arms and body look more muscular and thicker.”
As a result, an atmosphere emerged: “So, this guy isn’t Gouda?”
“Come to think of it, Junpei-kun mentioned before, right? There’s an app that can swap faces in photos or videos…”
No way? Nosaka’s eyes darted under the suspicious gazes.
“You were absent from school for a few days before… You’re not saying you made this video then, are you?”
“N-no way I’d do something like that!!”
Himari narrowed her eyes. Lies wouldn’t work on her childhood friend.
No, with how obvious he was, anyone could figure it out, childhood friend or not.
“Fake video, huh? To get someone expelled, you’d normally go that far…?”
Mere suspicion turned into certainty when they saw Nosaka’s expression.
“No one’s going to believe the words of someone built on lies. Please, don’t compound your mistakes.”
“H-Himari… I…”
Nosaka tried to say something, but sensing the class’s mood, he closed his mouth.
“Nosaka-kun…”
Kuroba, who arrived late but quickly grasped the situation, looked at him with pity. Noticing her gaze, Nosaka rebooted, as if finding hope.
“K-Kuroba-san! P-please, show everyone the evidence! The proof of Gouda’s crimes!”
“I’ve told you, there isn’t any… How many times do I have to say it? And I never heard about any images or videos like this.”
“It was a surprise! Drop the decisive evidence at the perfect moment. That’s the most effective! …But it’s not enough. Hey, I asked you, right? To expose Gouda’s crimes together.”
Kuroba walked over to me and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Gouda-kun. I wanted to handle this peacefully… but I ended up causing the worst possible situation. I’m really sorry.”
“What do you mean?”
When I asked for an explanation, Kuroba looked up and told me about Nosaka’s request.
He’d asked her to “help gather evidence because Himari might be threatened by Gouda.”
She checked with Himari and, through working with me on the sports festival executive committee, determined there was no truth to Nosaka’s claims.
Even when she told him, he refused to believe it. Worse, he asked her to broadcast nonexistent crimes of Akio Gouda during the sports festival. No matter how many times she refused or explained, he wouldn’t listen…
“I hoped he’d give up if there was no evidence of threats… I never imagined he’d take action like this. I didn’t want to hurt him since he’s Himari-chan’s childhood friend… but it can’t be helped.”
Kuroba operated her phone, and a muffled audio played.
“Spread Gouda’s crimes to everyone. He’s already got endless bad rumors. Even if we exaggerate, no one will notice. I’ll handle the boys; Kuroba-san, you spread it to all the girls.”
It was Nosaka’s voice. Apparently, she’d recorded part of his request.
“N-no… That’s… Um…”
Nosaka’s voice trembled. No, his whole body was shaking.
“Did Nosaka spread those bad rumors about Gouda?”
Someone murmured. The ripple spread through the room.
“T-that’s not—”
“I can’t believe it. No wonder Himari-chan wanted to break up with someone who’d do this.”
Nosaka’s denials were drowned out. No one listened. The entire classroom turned against him.
No one would lend an ear. He’d had countless chances to turn back, but he never listened. Now, it was all coming back to bite him.
“This isn’t something you can brush off as a joke. Is he crazy?”
“!”
Nosaka glared at the person who dissed him, but realizing the whole class was against him, he looked down.
Himari stepped forward. Smiling brightly, she declared:
“You’ll apologize, won’t you? If you apologize now, I’ll let it all slide.”
Apologizing would make her seem generous to others, but to Nosaka, it was a humiliating condition.
Nosaka bit his lip, then finally opened his mouth slightly.
“Why… Why did Himari make lunches for a guy like Gouda?”
That might have been his final act of resistance.
But Himari answered it as a simple question.
“Didn’t I say? I like Akio-kun now. Is it really that strange to make lunches for someone you like as a way to appeal to them?”
The classroom fell silent for a moment, then erupted in excited squeals.
Realizing the girl he’d always loved had completely moved on from him, Nosaka’s face twisted in despair.
…It was the face I often saw in the original story.
“U… Ugh… Uuuuuuughhh!!”
That must have been Nosaka’s loudest cry of anguish. But it was easily drowned out by the excited cheers around him.
“So apologize. For troubling Akio-kun and dragging the whole class into this… You know you need to, right?”
Nosaka stood still, silent for a while.
No one said anything, just waiting for his apology. Perhaps overwhelmed by Himari’s presence, no one complained about his silence.
“Sor—”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
The moment Nosaka opened his mouth, I cut him off.
“Akio-kun? Why…?”
Himari tilted her head, puzzled.
Leaving me aside, Nosaka had tarnished Himari and Haya’s reputations. This was a big deal, and it could be said he’d troubled the whole class.
Apologizing would be the right thing to do. That’s proper conduct.
“I don’t want to see a man apologize like that.”
Still, I wanted to reject this atmosphere.
Nosaka did wrong. He tried to frame someone with the lowest of acts. There was no excuse for it.
“Hey, Nosaka. Don’t you think you look pathetic right now?”
“….”
But the words he said back then, “I’ll protect Himari,” weren’t lies, I believed.
“You lost to the villain you thought I was. Do you know where you went wrong?”
“….”
“Hey, don’t look down.”
I grabbed Nosaka’s collar and forced his face up. The classmates were shaken by my roughness, but Himari and Haya quickly calmed them.
“Don’t make that ugly face.”
Nosaka’s face was a mess of tears and snot. Maybe angry at being exposed like this, his expression of despair shifted.
“D-don’t act so high and mighty!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a villain from the start. I have no obligation to listen to your requests.”
I grinned wickedly. Undeterred by my menacing look, Nosaka glared back.
If Nosaka apologized, this might end peacefully.
But since the misunderstanding about Himari and Haya was cleared, an apology would only signal, “This is over.”
Breaking Nosaka’s spirit just for that wasn’t something Akio Gouda would do.
Making Nosaka despair should only come from the fact that I made Himari mine. Pushing him further for anything else wouldn’t be villainous.
“Why you lost to a villain like me. If you don’t get it, I’ll tell you.”
Nosaka’s eyes weren’t dead. I continued.
“Because you didn’t see Himari as a person. Himari’s not just some convenient, cute childhood friend who’s nice to you. She might seem capable, but behind that, she puts in a lot of effort. She might seem kind, but harsh words can hurt her and make her cry… She’s not perfect. She’s just an ordinary girl.”
“Ugh…”
“Don’t pigeonhole people. Don’t label them as delinquents or childhood friends. That kind of assumption always turns into reckless, misguided justice.”
“I…”
The anger drained from Nosaka’s face. But I couldn’t stop.
“As her childhood friend, you should already know, right? How Himari feels now. And yet, is this really okay? Who’s important to you, Nosaka? Hey, say it!”
Nosaka grabbed my wrist. It didn’t budge, but I felt his resolve.
“My… The person important to me is Himari Shiratori! That hasn’t changed since we were kids!!”
Realizing his own words, Nosaka froze. Then, his expression twisted more and more.
“…Sorry. I hurt Himari so much without realizing it… I took her understanding for granted and kept relying on her… I’m really… sorry!”
Releasing his collar, Nosaka fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his face, reminiscent of the original story’s scenes.
But his expression wasn’t one of despair. It was filled with belated regret for finally seeing her as a person.
◇ ◇ ◇
“…I was supposed to handle this better.”
After the commotion Nosaka caused post-sports festival, Himari murmured, looking dejected.
“I heard from Rino-chan that Junpei-kun was acting strange. I thought he wouldn’t do much, so I figured I’d slowly make him realize.”
“I thought it could be resolved peacefully…” she said, casting her eyes down.
Himari Shiratori and Junpei Nosaka were childhood friends.
They’d been close since childhood and continued that relationship out of inertia. That was their dynamic in the original story.
However, Himari probably didn’t have a bad impression of him, at least enough not to reject his confession outright. Though she didn’t see him as a man, she might have trusted Junpei Nosaka enough to maintain their long-standing childhood friend relationship without ending it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice…”
“What are you saying? I was trying not to let you notice. In that regard, it was a big success for me.”
Himari said it so casually. That might be her strength.
“But I kind of noticed Nosaka was scheming something behind the scenes. Still, I ignored it, thinking getting involved would only make things worse. I didn’t even realize I was burdening you…”
I thought it was better to avoid Nosaka altogether.
To him, I was just the guy who stole his girl, and anything I said would be pointless. I figured the only way for him to recover was to keep my distance.
If he came after me, I didn’t mind. But targeting my women was another story. Assuming the original protagonist wouldn’t harm the heroine was my mistake.
“Fufu, you idiot.”
Himari smiled. Seeing her look at me like a mother watching her child, it was probably because I was reflecting.
“You weren’t doing nothing, right, Akio-kun? You faced your own life head-on. With the class, the sports festival executive committee. Because you faced those things so sincerely, everyone sided with you.”
What you do shows who you are.
Me, taking the sports festival seriously. In contrast, Nosaka was running a negative campaign against me behind the scenes. Even if he thought he was being discreet, some classmates found it suspicious, apparently.
“Trying to ruin someone else’s life gets you nowhere. Doing that doesn’t even earn you respect. …I thought he’d realize that.”
Hearing that, he was originally arrogant, and it wasn’t a lie that Himari couldn’t like him as a man.
Still, staying by his side as a childhood friend might have been due to some inexplicable feelings. Childhood friends are complicated.
“Himari-chan and Gouda-kun really get along, huh.”
Kuroba sat next to Himari.
I almost forgot, talking to Himari so much, but we were at a karaoke box. This was the class’s post-sports festival celebration.
“Well, yeah. We surprisingly click.”
Physically too, but I couldn’t say that out loud.
“Thank you so much this time. We were saved thanks to Rino-chan.”
“But in the end, I couldn’t stop Nosaka-kun… Sorry, Himari-chan.”
“What are you saying? I should be the one apologizing. Sorry for making you do something so unreasonable.”
Watching the two apologize to each other was a treat for the eyes. Oolong tea tastes great.
“Still, you did well recording that. Thanks to Kuroba, even the bad rumors about me were mitigated.”
“No, Nosaka-kun’s eyes were so scary… I felt threatened and unconsciously started recording. The video didn’t work, but I got the audio.”
Kuroba’s danger sense was impressively sharp. Recording on the spot like that isn’t easy.
“But was that okay? I thought you liked Nosaka.”
“Huh? Who said such nonsense?”
Her eyes behind her glasses lost all emotion. Uh-oh, those are seriously angry eyes.
“Sorry, my bad. I just assumed that. Forget it.”
There was no way I could say, “I knew from the original story.” I covered it up by sipping my oolong tea.
“I see. Sure, he talked to me more than other guys because he’s Himari-chan’s childhood friend, but I have no feelings for him, so don’t misunderstand.”
“R-right. Got it.”
Her eyes weren’t smiling. If I said that again, I wouldn’t get off lightly. Scary when angry, just like her best friend… I’ll be careful.
Still, there are definitely differences from the original. Was this just reality diverging from the story, or were there factors changing the original? Depending on how I thought about it, my future actions might change.
“Akio~. It’s your turn next.”
Haya handed me the mic. I almost forgot, but we came here to sing karaoke.
“Oh, Gouda’s singing next.”
“What kind of voice does he have?”
“That smooth voice singing… Ugh, I’m getting all tingly.”
My classmates looked at me with expectant eyes. No fear or envy, just a friendly vibe.
The music started. It was the first song I sang since transmigrating as Akio Gouda.
“Akio~, want to sing together?”
Haya offered kindly with a smile. I gently declined.
“I’m good now.”
I opened my mouth and started singing. There was no hesitation like the first time. I’d heard this song so many times already.
Little by little, I was getting used to this world. I wouldn’t call myself good, but I could sing enjoyably.
When I finished, I was enveloped in applause from my classmates. It felt like they were welcoming me to this world.
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