Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 2 - Chapter 1.5

Yanami and I walked outside of the café and looked around. Yakishio and Ayano are nowhere to be found.

“I think they’ve already gone too far.”

I said that as if I was confirming something. Then, I slowly raised my hand toward Yanami.

“Well, that’s all for today. Disbanded. Thanks for the work.”

“Wait right there! Aren’t you giving up too soon!?”

Yanami immediately grabbed hold of my hand the moment I tried to slip away.

“Even so, we can’t do anything if they are gone. In the end, amateur snoops like us can’t tail people properly. We’ll just be treated as suspicious people and be exposed…”

I froze as I was saying that.

There’s a person lurking in the shadows of the building of the café that we just walked out of. It’s a suspicious person.

That suspicious person is a petite girl. Her long hair is split in the middle. She’s wearing a mask and black sunglasses. There are 4 bowties on her chest. She’s a Tsuwabuki student.

She looked all around before walking to the door of the café.

Then, she suddenly came to a halt and took something out of her pocket. I think it’s chocolate. She shoved it into her mask and ate it.

Wait, why does that person seem familiar?

Yanami looked in my direction and nodded.

“Oh, …that is a suspicious person.”

“Yeah, a very suspicious person.”

Under our watchful eyes, that girl pulled out a machine resembling an old phone with antennas. She raised it above her head.

“Nukumizu-kun, do you know that person?”

“I have to pretend I don’t know her, even though I do. We’ll be caught up in trouble if she catches us staring at her. Let’s get out of here.”

“But that person is staring at Nukumizu-kun.”

“…Uh.”

I worriedly turned around. That girl is indeed looking at me.

My body stiffened. She quickly approached me.

“Hello, Nukumizu-san. Do you still remember me?”

With that, she took off her mask and raised her sunglasses. She’s looking at me with her big round eyes.

“Uh, let me think. I think you’re-”

…Okay, sorry, but I do know who she is.

The true identity of the suspicious person is Chihaya Asagumo. She’s Mitsuki Ayano’s girlfriend.

Even though she’s not tall and her face is petite, she’s got curves in all the right spots. Her head-to-body ratio and upright posture make her look like a ballet dancer.

“You’re Asagumo-san, right? We have seen each other in cram school, but I don’t think we have really chatted, right…?”

“Yes, I don’t remember us talking either. That’s why I’m greeting you again. Nice to meet you.”

Asagumo-san put on her mask and sunglasses again and hastily lowered her head. Her forehead is sparkling from the sunlight passing between her hair.

“Ha. Well, nice to meet you.”

“Well, let’s cut right to the chase. Have you seen Mitsuki-san and Yakishio-san around here?”

Yanami interrupted.

“Oh, those two-”

I gave Yanami a signal when she was about to speak up before shaking my head on purpose.

“I-I’m…not sure.”

“I see. I thought they were around here. It looks like the sensitivity is a bit low. I have to prepare better next time.”

Asagumo-san straightened her back and raised her antenna machine. Yanami looked at it. Her eyes are filled with interest.

“Well, we’ll be leaving. Let’s go, Yanami-san.”

“Uh, you’re Asagumo-san, right? What does sensitivity mean? Are you measuring something with that machine?”

“Hey, Yanami-san!”

“It must draw a lot of attention, right?”

Asagumo-san stared at us while we had a little argument.

“…You two did see Mitsuki-san, right?”

Before we even answered, she took out a palm-sized black stick.

There’s a blinking red light at its top.

“Eh, what’s that?”

“This is a very useful machine. Look, this red light is blinking, right?”

I don’t understand even if you tell me to look at it, girl. What’s with the blinking red light, anyway?

Asagumo-san ignored my confusion. She tilted her head and smiled.

“Shall we talk somewhere else?”

*

I’m okay with talking somewhere else. While I did agree-

“So, why is it my room instead? We could’ve just found another café.”

The girls ignored my protest. Yanami introduced herself again and walked around the room.

“We just went to a café. Nukumizu-kun, is this poster made with fabric?”

“You can’t do that, Yanami-san. We have to pretend we didn’t see things like that when in a boy’s room. It’s basic manners.”

Asasgumo-san made an unnecessary comment.

She’s sitting on the cushion properly. She seems to be writing something in her notebook.

Yanami poked my treasure, the B2 tapestry of Magical Battle Girl Shinonome.

“Hmm, is this something you can’t show to others?”

“Not really. It’s not something lewd, anyway.”

“Yanami-san, please stop asking any further.”

Asagumo-san interrupted me determinedly.

“Otakus really hate non-otakus judging their hobbies and making fun of them, not to mention a female classmate seeing a tapestry of a beautiful girl wearing only her underwear. Even I can’t deal with it.”

“No, this is a battle suit, not underwear…”

Very well. Let’s end the discussion here.

Yanami ignored my thoughts and continued innocently.

“Eh, but why is she so exposed if it’s meant to be a battle suit?”

“Huh? That’s because… the magic they release from their skin… will… activate… Sigma Drive…”

“I see. Then why are these girls hugging each other on the bed?”

…Why don’t you just kill me now?

I closed my eyes and looked up. At this time, someone silently opened the door.

“The Sigma Drive will resonate when there are 5 awakened users. The sealed legendary weapon Pashupatastra will be unleashed. That’s why the battle suit girls hug each other on the tapestry.”

“…Kaju.”

The person who entered so inconspicuously and spoiled the plot is my little sister. Your brother hasn’t read that part yet.

“Onii-sama, Kaju is here with some drinks.”

“Thanks, you can put them on the table.”

“Alright, welcome, you two.”

Kaju smiled and put iced tea on the table.

Yanami immediately sits back down after hearing there are drinks. Kaju lowered her head.

“Yanami-senpai, I’m sorry for not welcoming you properly earlier.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it…”

Yanami sounds a bit disappointed. It must be because there aren’t any snacks.

Asagumo-san bowed her head to Kaju.

“I’m sorry for the sudden intrusion. I’ll depart immediately after we finish our discussion.”

“Don’t worry about it. Please enjoy. Well, can you tell me your name?”

“Sure, I’m Asagumo. I attend the same school as Kazuhiko-san.”

“…Kazuhiko-san?”

Kaju’s smile stiffened.

“You don’t look so well. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Uh, onii-sama, what’s your relationship with this senpai…?”

“There’s no relationship. We are just classmates. Asagumo-san has a boyfriend.”

Kaju glared at me from behind an unreadable expression.

“…Interfering in someone’s love?”

Why do I get the feeling my little sister just said something really impolite about me?

“Don’t say that. Onii-chan is discussing adult topics with them. You should go out.”

“I got it, …onii-sama.”

Unexpectedly, Kaju walked out without further incident.

Asagumo-san blinked in disbelief.

“I thought it’d be better to call you by your first name in front of your little sister, but I guess that wasn’t the right choice?”

Yeah, that wasn’t right at all. It looks like I need to cover up with an excuse later.

“You actually know Nukumizu-kun’s first name? I didn’t even know what his name was.”

Yanami’s drinking her iced tea, her face full of admiration. This girl. She didn’t even know my name.

“It’s because I can remember something after seeing it just once. That’s how I’ve already memorized all of the books on your bookshelf now.”

“Forget about that for now. Aren’t we supposed to be talking about something here?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Asagumo-san straightened her back again. Her tone remains calm.

“Thank you very much for your time, both of you. Without further ado, I would like to explain what I was doing there.”

Wandering around there looking suspicious… was indeed not her goal.

I put my straw in my mouth to calm myself down.

“Let’s have a mutual and honest discussion. I suspect Mitsuki-san is cheating on me. I was wandering around there to catch him in the act.”

The person he’s cheating with… I don’t even need to say who it is, right? The incongruity between the word “cheating” and Yakishio is so great that it left me speechless.

Yanami spoke up for me.

“You say they are cheating, but is there any evidence? It’s nothing for them to meet each other alone, right?”

Yanami secretly winked at me.

“Someone once said it may not be cheating if it’s Remon-chan.”

“Can he deny it if he went to meet her without telling his girlfriend?”

“Ah, …well.”

Yanami reaches her palm toward me. We high-fived. I think it’s my turn.

“I’m not sure how relationships between a guy and a girl work. However, there are cases where the guy doesn’t tell the girlfriend because he doesn’t want her to worry, right?”

“I guess so. That happens too.”

Yanami nodded in agreement.

This girl has no understanding of relationships between guys and girls either, right? …I think.

“That could be the case. I believe in Mitsuki-san, and from what I’ve heard from him, Yakishio-san doesn’t sound like that kind of person either.”

“I see. It’s great that you understand. Well, let’s end this here.”

“That’s why I really want to see what they are like when meeting in secret. I want to confirm whether it’s true.”

It’s not over yet.

“Well, but you can’t just expect to run into them whenever they’re alone, right?”

Today was just a coincidence. It’s not weird to encounter each other while going about their daily lives. However, spotting and observing them together at a specific location is rather hard.

“I’ve just finished collecting data today. Next time, I’ll be able to pinpoint their meeting location.”

“Data? You have things like that?”

Yanami asked curiously.

“Yes, my analysis is based on a detailed and concrete investigation and the collected data. To put it simply, this was the last piece of the puzzle.”

She slowly took out a small bag from her pocket. She grabbed it with both hands and tried to squeeze out the contents. It’s a bar of Black Thunder Chocolate. Yanami’s eyes suddenly lighted up.

“Does Yanami-san want some too?”

“Can I?”

Yanami leaned forward and took the Black Thunder. She then nodded at me with a serious look.

“Nukumizu-kun, I like this girl.”

Aren’t you too easy?

“Asagumo-san, I can get you something to eat if you’re hungry.”

“No worries. I just want to replenish my sugar level. My brain needs sugar to function.”

Asagumo-san took out another Black Thunder.

“Even though glucose tablets work better, I’m a girl. I can’t resist sweets.”

“Oh, you love sweets?”

She showed a helpless expression at my half-hearted reply.

“The neurotransmitters produced from ingesting sugar stimulate the reward system in the brain. This is a logical conclusion. Please don’t think of me as a gluttonous person.”

“Exactly. I get you. I really do, Asagumo-san.”

Yanami nodded. Her eyes are as clear as glass beads. No, this girl definitely doesn’t get anything.

“You get me. Here are some shortbreads as well. Please enjoy.”

“Nice! Thank you!”

I glanced at the gluttonous girl taking the shortbreads before speaking up.

“Anyway, I’m opposed to finding Yakishio. That girl is in our club. I won’t accept your request to help.”

I explained it properly. Asagumo-san lowered her head regretfully.

“…I see. Nukumizu-kun, you two don’t have any motive or benefit to do that. This isn’t something worthy of joining in just for the fun of it.”

After that, Yanami stared daggers at me while taking bites of the shortbread.

“I’m not doing this to blame her. What happened between Mitsuki-san and me? Who is she to Mitsuki-san? I just want to figure these questions out and make the best choice.”

“The best choice?”

I repeated what she said. Asagumo-san nodded quickly.

“Yes. As you already know, they have been good friends ever since they were little. I know Yakishio-san is meeting Mitsuki-san as a friend. Also, I know she… likes Mitsuki-san too.”

I held my breath.

Yakishio loves Ayano. Even though I already know this, it’s nerve-wracking to hear that from another person.

“I love Mitsuki-san, so I want him to be happy. Even if I’m not the one next to him.”

Yanami frowned dumbfoundedly.

“Wait, Asagumo-san. So, you mean you’ll give up your boyfriend to Remon-chan depending on the situation…?”

“I’ve thought about this before. Should those two be together instead? My sudden appearance took Mitsuki-san away after all.”

A self-mocking smile appeared on her face.

“No, …I knew it from the start. I just barged in between them.”

Yanami and I didn’t know what to say. Asagumo-san returned to her usual cheerful smile.

“That’s why I want to know what Mitsuki-san’s really thinking. If his heart is really with Yakishio-san-”

She paused for a moment and straightened her back.

“-I’ll let go.”

Yanami and I fell into silence.

Asagumo-san chugged her iced tea. She continued calmly.

“As the litigant, I will always carry biases with respect to the intelligence I’ve gathered. That’s why I look forward to your two’s opinions as unrelated third-parties.”

I understand what she’s saying. However-

“I’m terribly sorry, but is it possible for you to do this alone? I don’t want to be involved in something that suspects my club members.”

Asagumo-san is the one who falls silent now.

She took out a variety of other snacks and spent some time eating them. She smiled to show that we didn’t need to worry about her.

“Yeah, this is something that is just between the three of us. I’m sorry for trying to get you two involved.”

“It’s fine. …I’m sorry for not offering any help too.”

A suffocating feeling weighs on my chest as I reject her. I want to understand why this is the case, yet I can’t analyze and summarize it properly.

Yanami licked her fingers after finishing the shortbreads. She spoke up peacefully.

“Asagumo-san, can I help you?”

“Yanami-san!”

Yanami met my shocked eyes with a gentle smile.

“Relax, Nukumizu-kun. I’m not just joining in for fun this time.”

Yanami faced Asagumo-san again with a respectful expression.

“However, don’t misunderstand, Asagumo-san. Since I'm her friend, I’m on Remon-chan’s side, okay?”

“I got it. Thank you very much.”

The two exchanged contacts. I organized my thoughts internally.

…I’m irrelevant.

I will probably bless them if Yakishio and Ayano do go out. Of course, I think it’s nice for Asagumo-san and Ayano to continue going out.

I remained silent because I couldn’t come to a conclusion. Yanami glared at me.

“Well, what will you do, Nukumizu-kun?”

Yanami’s blunt question doesn’t sound provoking for once.

Unlike my turbulent mind, my mouth moved on its own.

“I’ll help too.”

“Thank you.”

Asasgumo-san bowed deeply toward us after saying that.

“But I want to know how we’re supposed to find out where they’re going. We can’t just follow them wherever they go.”

Also, based on what had just happened, Asagumo-san is ill-suited to tail someone.

“It’ll be fine. You two saw Mitsuki-san in that café before we met, right?”

Yanami and I exchanged looks and nodded together.

“That will be useful for adjusting my investigation.”

With that, she opened her notebook and flipped through it.

Then, after reading the entire thing, she closed it and raised her head.

“I have a full understanding of this now. I can definitely pinpoint where they’ll meeting next time.”