Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 3 - Chapter 2.3

Next day. After school.

It’s Thursday. 2 days until Tsuwabuki Fest.

Right now, Prez Tamaki and I are in the school’s printing room. All of the parts were collected after Tsukinoki-senpai had finished her draft. That’s why we’re here to print out the club magazine.

The pages were pushed out of the printer one by one. Prez pressed the controls.

“Send them to the classroom after jotting the total number of magazines in the ledger. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Prez took the draft and sat down after explaining how to use the color printer.

“Koto still wrote something new in the end. I’ve told her that she could use previous works.”

“Ah, but the scenes are free of moisture now. Since we’re also handing them out to normal guests, I guess senpai kept it down for once.”

“So, you mean she has never kept it down before…?”

Prez looked at the draft with weary eyes.

It seems like dating a girl isn’t all good, either.

With the printer’s noises as BGM, I started reading senpai’s novel-

Literature Club Report - Autumn Edition

<The Silent Crab> by Koto Tsukinoki

[TL: BL warning. Like the previous ones, this also has nothing to do with the main story. Feel free to skip it.]

It’s a port city in another world.

There’s a signboard saying “Pavilion of the Shaking Moon Shadow” at a gloomy alley. Here lies an expensively-decorated bar.

A gust of wind blew through the lobby upon pushing the double doors. The adventurers are yelling with their beer mugs raised.

At the deepest part of the lobby, in a room separated by a single door, a man in kimono has his elbow on the table.

The man tasted some beer in the giant jug. His expression reveals his dissatisfaction with it. After that, he took some bites of cooked fish before frowning and sipping some beer.

This repeated several times until the birch door of the room opened. A man in a military uniform ignored that hustle and bustle behind him and walked straight into the room.

“I’m growing impatient, Mishima-kun. Look, this is already my second cup of shitty beer.”

The kimono man is already drunk. He raised his mug.

“I have stuff on my mind as well. Dazai-san is just as impatient as usual.”

In his uniform, Mishima sat on the opposite chair. His saber knife let out a crunching noise.

“I bet those stuff aren’t good too. I was tricked by Kawabata-sensei, whom you had introduced to me earlier, and I ended up running from one end of the world to the other. I feel like Serinudis when Melos bent to the authorities and betrayed him.” [TL: This is referencing Dazai’s <Run, Melos!>.]

Dazai chugged what was left in the jug and glared at Mishima.

“Please adjust your feelings. Even though I’m not planning to apologize this time, I’ve brought something you want.”

Mishima handed a small glass jar to Dazai with a bitter smile.

He opened the cap upon receiving it. It’s filled with white, transparent powder. Dazai showed his most excited expression of the day. He put some powder on his finger and licked it.

“This is really shocking. It literally tastes like real MSGs.”

“It took me a lot of effort, but Dazai-san indeed loves meddling in other people’s business. You just have to find people to make something like this despite entering another world.”

“Don’t say it’s ‘something like this’. You make it sounds easy. Even though those elves are pretty clever, they are literally disrespecting food. No, I guess it’s normal for this world since they don’t even have wine or rice.”

Dazai put the small jar above the plate. He’s spraying MSGs like it’s snowing.

“The only thing I can trust just in this world is MSG.”

Perhaps he thinks the spray n’ pray is enough already. Dazai carefully closed the cap and put it in his sleeve.

“Mishima-kun is thirsty, right? Let’s drink actual Japanese wine today.”

Dazai clapped loudly. A girl filled with darkness suddenly appeared in the shadow of the candle-lit table. After seeing that, Mishima couldn’t help but put his hand on his saber knife.

The shadow girl ignored him and took out a small porcelain wine bottle.

“It took me a while for it to heat up. Well, let’s have a cup when it’s still warm.”

Dazai handed his cup out. The shadow girl poured him some wine.

The shadow girl turned the bottle toward Mishima. He grabbed his cup without showing much interest.

“Mishima is unexpectedly careful.”

“I feel like my wine is poured by a painting filled with ink. I can’t calm down.”

Mishima finished his cup at once.

“Of course, it’s impolite to be too cautious. Although I can’t see this lady’s eyes or nose and the silhouettes on her face, she looks unexpectedly beautiful.”

Dazai put his hand on his face and licked the edge of the cup. Mishima was shocked at first, but he had perhaps gotten used to it. He started striking up a conversation with the shadow girl, who was still pouring wine.

“Hey, can you change your form freely? For example, can you turn into those masculine men from Greek statues?”

“Hey, don’t do that. Stop adding more trouble to the table.”

Dazai finished his cup and rudely reached his hand out. The shadow girl just poured wine quietly.

“Come to think of it, I got another exciting thing. You, take it out.”

The shadow girl nodded and gradually sank into the floor.

“Dazai-san, what is this thing you’re talking about?”

“You’re lucky. It’s a crab. I’ve heard that there are something like hairy crabs here, so I asked for one.”

In contrast to Dazai’s excitement, Mishima’s expression turned stiff.

“What? You don’t like crabs?”

“I like eating crab meat, but I don’t want to look at them. I always take off the label whenever I get canned crabs.”

“You’re such a pussy. Alright, I’ll help you.”

Dazai stood up calmly. He went around Mishima with drunken steps.

‘This is your bad habit again, Dazai-san. You’re trying to mess with me, right?”

“Stop being so stubborn. I’ll let you witness elf magic.”

Dazai took out a handkerchief from his chest and covered Mishima’s eyes.

“How about now? You can’t see the crab anymore, right?”

“Indeed, but I can’t see anything like this.”

Mishima laughed and tried to take away the handkerchief, yet Dazai pressed on his hand from above.

“You should be careful. This is a magical handkerchief. You’ll listen to anything the owner says after wearing it.”

“Dazai-san, you’re trying to trick me, right? I won’t be so easily fooled. Your skill is <Lies>, right? A lie turns into reality whenever the person believes you. It surely fits your style.”

“Hey, you saw through it. Kawabata-sensei really said something unnecessarily.”

Dazai said that jokingly and let go of his hand.

“But it’s for real this time. Look, please take off the handkerchief since it will be dangerous. The elf magic is about to activate.”

Dazai yelled like a clown. Mishima started untying the handkerchief too.

Suddenly, he seemed to have noticed something. His hands stopped.

“Wait, Dazai-san said the magic was real and asked me to take off the handkerchief. However, doesn’t taking it off mean I have believed you?”

Dazai’s usual expression disappeared.

“You’re indeed smart. Wordplays like that activate my ability. Don’t you want to try it?”

“I don’t even know what’s real and what isn’t anymore. I feel like the alcohol is working pretty fast today.”

Mishima reached out his hand under total darkness. Dazai put down his cup. After that, Dazai put his hand on Mishima’s shoulder from behind.

“You just said the alcohol was working fast, right? Is it because I’ve put something in it?”

“Are you lying again? Where are your true feelings?”

“Authors make a living by lying to people with words. Don’t we lie as easily as we breathe?”

Dazai said that mockingly. He turned his arm to Mishima’s body.

“So? Do you think me putting my arm on you is lying too?”

“Ahh, I really still don’t like you.”

“I don’t mind it. It’s because I know your sincere feelings.”

The shadow girl silently appeared from the ground with a huge crabs plate. Dazai signaled her with his eyes. The shadow girl put down the plate and sank into the gaps on the floor without making a sound once again.

Dazai untied the golden buttons on Mishima’s uniform as he whispered.

“The person eating crabs and the person getting eaten don’t say unnecessary things. Isn’t that nice?”

*

Prez finished reading the draft and sighed in relief.

“It looks like I don’t need a retrial using the president’s power.”

“...Do you really think so?”

Tsukinoki-senpai is slowly poisoning the third-year president of the Literature Club.

“Come to think of it, are the preparations for Tsuwabuki Fest going well? The opening is on the day after tomorrow.”

Prez asked worriedly.

“The desserts will be done tonight. We still have a day to set up the place. I think we’ll be fine. The only thing left after that is the exhibition drafts.”

Even though the answer was without much hesitation, anxiety remained overflowing in my heart.

Indeed, the most critical exhibition draft still needs to be finished.

“Komari-chan seems to be very tired from working on the draft.”

“I offered to help her a couple of times, but she always answered it would be done by tomorrow and that we didn’t need to worry about her.”

The final procedure is hand-copying the draft onto the mold paper. We still have to wait for that. Perhaps we may only finish this task tomorrow if we ask for senpai’s help.

The printing of the club magazine is around halfway done. We folded the printed paper into halves.

This club magazine is just a simple collection of bundled papers.

I folded the papers silently as I observed the surroundings.

Only Prez and I are in the printing room now. No one seems to be outside the room.

“...Prez, you have already watched this week’s <Tendochi>, right?”

“Yep, I rewatched it 3 times already.”

The full name of <Tendochi> is <Innocent vs. Two-Faced, Which Side Are You Choosing?> (Ten’nen Yoshoku Dotchina no). This school rom-com anime centers around an innocent heroine and a scheming, two-faced heroine fighting for the MC. …The latest one is a comedy episode about the popular character Miku-chan forgetting her bra after she overslept.

“Miku-chan has some plumpy assets, but will that Miku-chan really freak out enough to forget her bra? Will something like that actually happen?”

Prez stopped folding the papers.

“As Nukumizu’s senpai, I’ll be frank here.”

Prez took a deep breath and spoke up solemnly.

“A girl with such plumpy assets forgetting to wear her bra- is absolutely impossible.”

I couldn’t help but stand up.

“In other words, Miku-chan went to school without her bra on purpose. Is that what Prez is trying to say?”

Prez nodded silently.

My impression of the heroine is starting to fall apart. If Miku-chan is also a two-faced girl, then the bathroom jumpscare scene in Episode 2 and the over-the-glass confession scene in Episode 5 are all forged with calculations.

“B-But I…still want to believe Miku-chan is an innocent and natural girl. …No, it’s more like I can only choose to believe that.”

Did Prez acknowledge my sincere thoughts? He showed a mature smile.

“I see. Well, continue to tread on your path of determination, Nukumizu. Also, my waifu is the flat-chested girl Alice.”

“Prez…!”

We exchanged looks instead of talking. Our passionate thoughts have been blended in silence. “Bam!” The door to the printing room was slammed open with a tremendous noise.

“The two of you are here!”

Tsukinoki-senpai dashed inside. Prez freaked out and stood up.

“Listen to me, Koto! We weren’t talking about your bra-”

“What are you talking about? Komari-chan is in trouble right now!”

Tsukinoki-senpai grabbed Prez and shook his shoulders.

“Hey, what’s wrong with Komari?”

This time, senpai turned around and approached me with an impatient look.

“I heard Komari-chan fell in the classroom! Did you two not know anything!?”

…Ah? Komari fell?

“Please calm down, senpai. If she collapsed in school-”

I took out my phone. As expected, I received a message from our advisor Konuki-sensei.

“Konuki-sensei texted me. She’s in the nurse’s office.”

“Nurse’s office, right!? I’ll be there!”

Prez immediately grabbed Tsukinoki-senpai’s hand when she tried to dash out of the room.

“Wait, don’t you still have tutorial class today? You’ll really be held back a year if you don’t go.”

“That doesn’t matter! I have to be with Komari-chan right now-”

“Koto!”

Prez forcefully grabbed Tsukinoki-senpai’s shoulders and turned her around to face him.

“Calm down. Komari-chan won’t be happy if you just run around and get yourself held back a year.”

“It’s because, …it’s because this wouldn’t have happened if I had stayed with her properly…”

Tsukinoki-senpai is about to cry. Prez patted her head gently.

“Believe in your kouhai a bit more.”

“...Yeah.”

Tsukinoki-senpai nodded earnestly. Prez gave me a serious look.

“Nukumizu, you should go to Komari’s side first. We’ll be there later.”

“Eh, can I?”

I’m slightly anxious. Prez nodded.

“Of course. Please, vice president.”

*

I opened the door to the nurse’s office. Konuki-sensei put her phone next to her ears as we exchanged looks.

She waved at me after putting her phone into her white coat.

“Welcome. The adorable knight-san is here.”

“Sensei, is Komari-”

Konuki-san put her finger on my lips.

“The princess is still sleeping. Control your voice, alright?”

“...Well, what happened to Komari?”

Konuki-sensei turned around. She looked at the bed enveloped by the curtains.

“She’s fine. It’s just exhaustion and sleep deprivation. No injuries.”

“I see…”

Glad to hear that. I quickly collapsed onto the chair.

Of course, sleep deprivation is not something to be happy about, but at least there’s not a severe accident.

I texted Prez. Then, for some reason, Konuki-sensei stood before me. This person surely gets really close every time.

“Does Nukumizu-kun know why Komari-san isn’t getting enough sleep?”

“I think she’s busy with preparing Tsuwabuki Fest. She must be exhausted, right?”

“I see. Ah, teenagers.”

Konuki-sensei dragged her chair next to mine and sat down. So close.

“I’ve seen a lot of people like you two. I also have experience pushing myself to the extreme. Nukumizu-kun, do you want to hear about that story?”

“Ah, no, thank you.”

Please stop. Don’t look like you really want to tell me that too.

With my lack of interest, Konuki-sensei crossed her legs regrettably.

“Nukumizu-kun always looks cold, you know? Sensei thinks trying your best to accomplish something is incredible, okay?”

“To create the so-called youthful memories?”

There are thorns in my words.

I regretted it after saying that. However, Konuki-sensei just gave me a gentle smile.

“Yeah, it’s just memories. Nothing more, nothing less. However, this is something only you guys can create at this present.”

Konuki-sensei looked at the ceiling nostalgically. I followed her and raised my head. There are a bunch of dirty marks on the roof.

“Sensei has also left a bunch of beautiful memories in this school as well.”

“...Left, right?”

“Yeah, leaving my memories somewhere and getting all nostalgic about it sometimes. That’s all.”

At this point, sensei suddenly stood up seriously.

Komari’s head poked out from the curtains’ gap.

“Komari-san, are you awake? You should actually rest more.”

“L-Little sister. I have to pick her up at the kindergarten.”

Komari walked forward with wobbly steps, yet her legs quickly gave in, and she was about to fall again. Luckily, Konuki-sensei promptly dashed to her and held her body.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Nukumizu-kun, bring the chair here.”

I hastily moved the chair after hearing that. Sensei made Komari sit down.

…I couldn’t believe I didn’t do anything until my name was called. I suddenly feel like I’m a failure for not taking any action.

“Sensei, how about we get Komari’s parents to pick her out?”

“Both of them seem to be working. I can’t contact them, but I have left a voicemail.”

Sensei looked at Komari’s face.

“I’ll call your little sister’s kindergarten. Can you tell me where it is?”

“M-My little brother is h-home alone too. I-I have to go back.”

Komari tried her best to stand up, yet her legs wouldn’t stop shaking. Konuki-sensei supported her as she patted Komari’s back.

“Got it. Well, sensei will give you a ride home and pick up your little sister too.”

Glad to hear that. I’m relieved to leave this to sensei.

“Nukumizu-kun, do you know where Komari-san’s house is at?”

“Ah? Yeah, I guess.”

Are we going to…? Konuki-sensei nodded as if she knew what I was thinking.

“Well, you should come with me.”

*

It takes around 15 minutes to drive from Tsuwabuki High School to Komari’s house. It’s located in an old residential district.

The street is full of identical houses. I pressed the doorbell after finding the door sign with Komari’s name.

No one answered after a while. So, I could only unlock the door with the key in Komari’s wallet. I looked inside after getting in the entrance.

“Hello…”

Komari’s parents aren’t home yet, but I can sense someone’s here.

Come to think of it, Komari said she has a little brother. I carefully stepped forward.

Click. A switch opened, and the entrance lights turned on.

“...Who is it?”

A little boy is standing before the entrance. He seems to be still an early elementary student.

“Well, I’m in the same school as your older sister-”

“Nee-chan!”

The boy ran out of the entrance with his socks on. He went past me.

I turned around. Konuki-sensei is carrying Komari down from the car.

The kid dashed over and supported Komari’s body from the other side.

“Thank you, little boy. Komari-san, can you walk on your own?”

Komari nodded with her eyes.

The two held Komari from both sides and helped her walk. Uh, …then what should I do…?

I remained still. Then, the boy gave me a disturbed look that would make a bully flinch.

“Onii-san, can you get out of the way?”

Ah, yes. I’m really causing trouble standing at the door. I promptly excused myself.

*

…How did this happen?

This children’s room is separated from the living room with a sliding door. Right now, I’m sitting on the tatami in the room. Komari is sleeping in her blanket before me.

Sensei and Komari’s little brother Susumu-kun went to pick up her little sister from kindergarten. So, right now, only Komari and I remain in the house.

Konuki-sensei helped Komari change into her pajamas. It’s a pink shirt with star printings. At this moment, her subtle innocence is sending ripples throughout my heart. Only the ticking clock can be heard inside the tranquil room.

I remembered what sensei whispered to my ears before she headed out.

“Nukumizu-kun, never let Komari-san leave your sight, alright?”

“Eh, but she’s already in bed? Shouldn’t I avoid bothering her?”

“Should I say it’s a school nurse’s intuition? I feel like you should watch over her.”

For some reason, sensei started sliding her fingertip across my chest.

“Ah, no, well, sensei…”

“Make sure you don’t let go of Komari-san’s every breath and heartbeat, okay…?”

…The feeling of sensei’s whispers and breaths is still lingering around my ear.

I started looking around the room to ease my anxiety.

This is a 6-tatami Japanese room. Most of the room is occupied by two bookshelves and desks. The simple desk with a dictionary should be Komari’s, right? I stood up and approached it. The table is full of books and printed documents.

Are these the materials for the exhibition at Tsuwabuki Fest? It’s full of sticky notes.

I followed the notes and opened the book. There is some tiny handwriting next to the parts marked by a highlighter.

Then, numerous flow charts on the unclosed notebook form an enormous configuration table. From the looks of it, it seems she has already planned out the general idea.

However, it still takes quite the effort to turn these into an article…

I looked above. There’s a photo next to the timetable.

That’s the photo of the Literature Club’s summer trip to the beach.

Komari can be found in a jacket with a displeased expression next to Yanami and Yakishio’s cheerful smiles in their swimsuits.

This photo stands out a lot since the rest of the table is very plain.

Komari always stubbornly rejects outside help, so this photo must be extraordinarily important to her-

I can hear the noise of rustling blankets from behind.

Is she feeling hot? Komari reached her hands from the blanket. Her tiny fingers are visible under the sleeves of her pajamas.

Komari moved for a while. She soon returned to her regular breathing and continued sleeping.

…Her body is as petite as Kaju’s. She looks like a child when she’s dotingly holding the sleeves of her pajamas. Inside her tiny head is an abundance of fantasies and stories.

Right now, at this moment, is the evil villainess in her mind shining with brilliance with her modern knowledge? Or…

Suddenly, a warm smile appeared on Komari’s lips.

Did she see something in her dream? I can’t get my eyes off her face. Her lips trembled for a moment.

“Nuku...mizu…”

…? Nukumizu? Eh, wait, did this girl just say my name in her dream?

I was startled. Komari mumbled something and turned her body around.

“T-That’s cauliflower, dummy…”

What is she even dreaming about?

It looks like I’m worrying too much. I quickly relaxed after seeing Komari’s smiling, sleeping face.

I glanced at the clock. Thirty minutes have passed since sensei headed out to pick up Komari’s little sister.

That kindergarten is nearby. It’s almost time for them to come back, right?

No, it’s more like it won’t be strange for them to be back here already.

Suddenly, I felt someone’s gaze. I turned around and looked at the sliding door.

“...Sensei, what are you doing?”

Konuki-sensei is peeking at us from the door’s gap. Komari’s little brother Susumu-kun is below her. They are all doing the same thing.

“Don’t mind us. Here, please continue.”

“There’s nothing to continue. A child is watching as well.”

“You’re right. Sensei didn’t think about this.”

After that, Konuki-sensei gently covered Susumu-kun’s eyes. That’s not the problem, girl.

I went to the living room and closed the sliding door.

“I was watching her because sensei told me so.”

“Ara, wasn’t that a good mood? Right, Susumu-kun?”

On top of sensei’s kneecaps, Susumu-kun raised his head and looked at me.

“Onii-san, are you nee-chan’s boyfriend?”

“Eh, n-no.”

“Are you two friends then?”

“Well, even though I’m in the same club as your sister…”

His clear eyes are full of innocence. I really wanted to look away.

“...Yes, we are friends.”

Susumu-kun’s face suddenly brightens up.

“Hina! Come over here. He’s nee-chan’s friend! He’s not scary!”

…Hina? Upon a closer look, a little girl who looks like a mini Komari shows her face at the entrance to the living room.

She quickly lowered her head and ran away after our eyes met.

…What kind of cute creature is that?

“Ara, Nukumizu-kun. Hina-chan likes you.”

“Didn’t she just run away?”

Susumu-kun followed Hina-chan and ran out of the living room.

“Right, I’ve contacted Komari-san’s mother. She seems to have already gotten off work early. She will be back shortly.”

Glad to hear that. It’s better for her mother to take care of her instead of me, right?

I felt relieved after getting rid of my anxiety. A cute creature showed her face before the door again during this time.

I tried not to give off a frightening look as I smiled.

“Hello, I’m your older sister’s friend Nukumizu.”

“............”

Hina-chan finally made up her mind and dashed toward me.

After that, she twirled her hair braided in the same way as Komari’s.

“...With nee-chan.”

“Eh? Ahh, so cute.”

Her head plopped in embarrassment, and she ran away again.

…What’s happening. But she’s adorable.

“Look, she likes you, right?”

Konuki-sensei smiled at me. After that, she followed Komari’s siblings and left the living room.

W-Was I liked…?

It’s 5:30 PM right now. I’m glad that nothing severe happened to Komari. However, we’ve made next to no progress in our preparation today. Then, the door to the children’s room slowly opened when I was scrambling for a solution.

Komari pulled the door open.

Star-printed pajamas, messy hair, half-closed eyes, looking around dazedly.

“Komari, are you up?”

“Toilet…”

She nodded sluggishly. Then, her eyes bulged suddenly.

“Wha!? W-Why is Nukumizu-!?”

“Oh? You went unconscious in school. We brought you home.”

Komari rolled into the room and glared at me from the door’s gap.

After that, she lowered her head and looked at herself.

“P-P-Pajamas!?”

“Oh, if you’re talking about your pajamas, Konuki-sensei helped you with that.”

“L-L-Little sister…”

“Your little sister? Sensei and your little brother came back after picking her up. They are playing in the opposite room.”

Komari went quiet.

“W-Well, then what is Nukumizu doing here…?”

I want to know that as well. Komari mumbled to herself as I searched for an answer internally.

“I-I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, I see. That’s good.”

…Honestly, it’s not good at all. Komari has been pushing herself for a while. Even though I can feel something’s going to happen, all I do is worry.

The senpais have left Komari into my hands. Yet, right now, all I’ve created is a mess.

I looked at Komari hiding behind the door again.

“Well, Komari. Can you pass the unfinished exhibition draft to me?”

“W-Why…?

Caution is lingering in Komari’s voice.

“Don’t push yourself if you have fallen already. Sorry for leaving such a difficult to you only.”

“B-But Nukumizu.”

“Komari should rest. You can leave the rest to me. It will be fine. The senpais are helping too. Relax-”

“Nu! Nukumizu!”

Silenced ensued after an unexpectedly loud voice.

The voice continued to be squeezed out of the door’s gap.

“I-I want to f-finish it.”

Are you still going to keep writing it? I swallowed that sentence since I didn’t want to reject her determination.

“...When can you finish?”

“T-Tomorrow morning.”

-She’s staying up the night and finishing it. That’s what Komari meant.

She’ll definitely press on even if I stop her, anyway. I gave her a bitter smile. I’ve never seen this side of Komari before.

“Sure, send it to everyone in the club after you’re done.”

“S-Sorry.”

“No need to apologize, but can you make a promise to me?”

“P-Promise…?”

“Leave everything other than the exhibition draft to us. You don’t come to school and take a break tomorrow. Don’t think about anything as well. This is my condition.”

“B-But the preparation tomorrow.”

“Well, at least let me act cool for once.”

This is meant to cheer her up. I’m prepared for her to diss me. However, all I’ve heard is a quiet “yes”.

I was overthinking. My shoulders relaxed.

Well, I should contact Prez as soon as possible now that it’s decided- hmm?

Komari still hasn’t returned to her room. She just keeps staring at me.

“Komari, you should sleep for a while longer. Alright, go to bed.”

“B-But…”

“Sensei is looking after your siblings. You should rest until your parents get home. Go, don’t worry about us.”

“I-I told you…!”

Komari suddenly slammed the door open and threw a pillow to my face.

“I-I need to go to the t-toilet!”

I listened to her footsteps as I took off the pillow from my face.

…This girl uses a buckwheat husk pillow.