Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 4 - Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1: Despite My Looks, I’m Also an OO

Club room, after school. The kettle on the kerosene stove is steaming.

I loosened my tie and opened my book.

It’s been a hectic day since morning.

The shame play resulted in confiscating my recently purchased light novel.

I was trying to forget this disgusting memory and focus on the book.

“Hey, Nukumizu-kun. I’m bored.”

The girl sitting before the table spoke to me lazily.

Anna Yanami. She’s also a first-year Literature Club member. She’s the losing heroine rejected by her childhood friend this summer.

Aside from that, she’s an ordinary girl, …I guess? I won’t dig deep into that. The only thing I’m sure of is that the mood isn’t awkward and vague at all, even when it’s only the two of us in this room.

Yanami leaned onto the table. She’s eating something and making these weird “mokyu mokyu” noises.

“...Hey, something purple is coming out of your mouth.”

“They are gummies. The book says eating something chewy makes you thinner.”

Yanami handed me an empty bag of gummies.

Rock Paper Scissors Gummies. It’s a kind of snack made in Toyohashi. There are rock, paper, and scissor-shaped tips above the slender gummies.

“This has been trending for a long time, right? Nukumizu-kun, are you the type who doesn’t eat dagashi?”

I do, but you’re eating this from the shaped side. What’s the difference between this and eating regular long gummy candies, then?

Yanami slurped the gummies as if she was eating noodles.

“I feel really bored. Eating is all I can do. I bought a dozen, but they probably won’t last 3 days.”

“Why don’t you just do your homework if you’re bored? We have a lot today as well.”

Yanami shot me displeased glances.

“Nukumizu-kun, don’t you think you’re pretty cold? Hey, the female friend you’re slightly interested in is bored right now, you know?”

Yanami slammed the table with her palm. Her lips curled down in dissatisfaction.

“...Yanami-san, can you stop adding weird settings to me?”

I couldn’t focus at all. So, I decided to close the novel that had avoided being confiscated, <Since My Childhood Friend Is Living on the Attic, I Bought Fumigant Insecticides>, abbreviated as <Osabaru>.

<Osabaru> is a battle of wits between the MC and the heroine trying live off him. It’s the <Home Alone> of the light novel world. Also, the heroine finally registered the resident certificate to the MC’s house in the latest volume.

Yanami keeps slamming the table to protest about my half-heartedness.

“Nukumizu-kun, you’re the president of the Literature Club, right? I think the president is responsible for making the club members happy, you know?”

No.

“Yanami-san, you still haven’t finished the draft for the club magazine, right? Why don’t you work on that if you have time?”

“I’ll write that later. I already have an idea. I have an idea, alright?”

“That’s what people who can’t write anything say, right?”

Instead of retorting, Yanami carried a melancholy expression. She seems to be pondering something.

Then, she sometimes glances at me.

“...Did something happen, Yanami-san?”

I’m sincerely not interested, but I still ask her. I’m the president, after all.

“Well, didn’t someone suggest we can go to the class party after school on the closing ceremony day?”

Class party? I have no business in that, but-

“The closing ceremony is on the 25th, right?”

I spoke calmly. However, my reply was a voice so low that it seemed to be crawling on the ground.

“...It’s Christmas.”

Black flames raged in Yanami’s pupils. She suddenly stood up.

“Also, Sosuke and Karen-chan are responsible for organizing the party.”

“Eh, but those two-”

I went silent in the middle. Yanami glared at me.

“Couples usually flirt and be all lovey-dovey on Christmas Eve. That’s why I don’t need to worry about the 25th. Karen-chan’s parents are working in England, so she lives alone.”

I see. We indeed don’t need to worry about that.

“I’m still hesitating whether I should participate despite the invitation. What about you, Nukumizu-kun?”

“What can I do? I wasn’t invited.”

“...Hmm, well, let’s put Nukumizu-kun aside first.”

I was put aside.

“Even though it’s okay for me to reject it, won’t that seem like I’m conscious of something? Look at me. What should I do when there are couples everywhere? Sosuke and Karen-chan will be living together on Christmas Eve. What should I do if I bump into those two the following day? Should I pretend I don’t know anything? It will be strange if I say no. But if Nukumizu-kun joins too, instead of saying that you work as a safety charm, it feels more like you’re just accompanying me.”

That’s a long excuse.

“It’s my birthday that day. I won’t be going since my little sister will be celebrating for me.”

“Eh? Nukumizu-kun’s birthday is on Christmas?”

“Hmm, yeah.”

“I see. This year’s Christmas is suspended…”

No, that’s not what’s happening here.

Yanami’s eyes brightened up. She clapped her hands.

“Very well. Now’s not the time to celebrate a dead person. Let’s hold a birthday party for Nukumizu-kun, hmm!?”

Eh, she’s celebrating my birthday?

I’m pretty startled since this is my first time encountering such a situation. Yanami smiled.

“Let’s organize a girls’ meeting to celebrate Nukumizu-kun’s birthday! If it’s Remon-chan and Komari-chan, I bet they will come since they don’t have boyfriends, right?”

A girls’ meeting. That celebration seems to have excluded me even though I’m still alive.

“Yakishio will probably go to the Christmas party, too, right?”

“Ah, no, no, no, Nukumizu-kun. I won’t let my friend visit such a dangerous place.”

Yanami took out another pack of gummies from her shirt pocket. She unwrapped the package.

“They aren’t pointing a gun at your head and forcing you to join. Why don’t you outright say no if you don’t like it? You don’t need to force yourself.”

“Perhaps, but it’s very lonely not to have anything to do on Christmas. If I pretend I’m busy-”

Yanami threw the scissor-shaped gummy into her mouth. Her eyes are devoid of emotions.

“It feels empty, to be honest.”

Mokyu, mokyu, mokyu, mokyu. The chewing sound echoed in the club room.

“...Yanami-san, I think you should still go to the Christmas party. I bet there are other single people as well. Also, why don’t you just invite Yakishio and protect her yourself?”

Even though I don’t know what she’s protecting.

“Oh, pairing up- ah, no, I should say I’m accompanying her. Let me ask if Remon-chan will go.”

Yanami started clicking her phone.

I sighed in relief due to the silence’s return. “Ding, ding.” A phone’s ringtone played.

-From a bag in the corner of the room.

“That’s Yakishio’s bag, right? Where did she go after leaving it here?”

“Remon-chan should be in her tutorial class, right? She failed the final exam.”

Come to think of it, Yakishio kept practicing rolling the pencil before the exam.

Eh, if that’s the case…

“Yanami-san, are you sure it’s fine not to go?”

“Go? Go where?”

Yanami tilted her head.

“The tutorial class for failed students. It has already begun, right?”

“Ha!? I didn’t fail!”

I see. I had a feeling that she wouldn’t pass.

“Despite my look, my grades are actually quite decent, okay!? I’ll prove it to you right now!”

Yanami took out a thin and long slip from her school bag and shoved it before me.

This must be her final exam grade sheet. Well, …she ranks 135 out of 228 people?

Even though it’s not that bad, is a grade like this really worthy of showing off with such confidence…? I really don’t understand…

I had trouble coming up with a proper reaction. Then, the club room’s door opened.

The person sneaking in from the half-opened door is the Literature Club vice president, Chika Komari.

Her petite body contains an equally little courage. However, she’s just a cheeky little lady in my eyes.

Komari closed the door with the back of her hand. She looked around the club room worriedly.

“What’s wrong, Komari-chan? How about I kick Nukumizu-kun out if you’re afraid of him?”

“I-I’ll bear with him-”

Komari turned around and checked the door in the middle. She trembled in fear.

“T-Tell her I’m not here!”

“Eh, hey, Komari.”

Komari hid below the table. The door was opened again.

The bottom of her white coat is swaying in the wind. The person entering the club room is the Literature Club’s advisor, Sayo Konuki.

Despite being a school nurse, her body is full of erotic elements. What a waste. She rarely visits the club room and often remains in the nurse’s office.

“Thanks for the work, sensei. What’s wrong?”

“Ara, thanks for the work, you two. Did Komari-san come here before me? I think she’s heading toward this place.”

Sensei looked around the club room.

Yanami and I exchanged glances before shaking our heads.

“We haven’t seen her today. What happened?”

Sensei sat on the chair. She crossed her legs with pantyhose exaggeratedly.

“That girl immediately ran away once I chased after her. I wonder why?”

“I think it’s because you’re going after her. Why did you do that?”

“It’s because she’s adorable when she freaks out. I was driven by desire subconsciously. Yet another new door opens after living for 27 years.”

I understand your feelings, but shutting off that door is better.

Yanami tilted her head in confusion.

“Chase? Are you looking for Komari-chan?”

“Didn’t the children in the student council check your belongings this morning?”

Sensei took out a book from her white coat’s pocket.

“Vice president Basori-san gave me this book. It was confiscated, but she wished to return this to Komari-san after knowing there weren’t any issues with the content.”

Come to think of it, Teiara-san caught Komari as well.

The title is <A Book That Makes a Person Who Won’t Go A Step Beyond Being Your Friend Cares About You Hopelessly>.

Is this…a love manual? That girl is reading some unexpected stuff.

I subconsciously tried to take it. Then, Komari stopped hiding and jumped out. She nearly flipped the table.

“T-Thank you very much!”

Komari robbed the book and curled up in the corner of the room.

“Komari-san, you are here?”

Sensei is surprised. Komari shivered and nodded.

Sensei turned to me confusedly.

“...Prez-san, did I say anything weird? Is she alright?”

“Well, it’s just as usual, but I’m not sure whether she’s alright.”

Konuki-sensei thought for a moment. However, she clearly decided not to investigate any further in the end.

She stood up formally and waved her hands calmly.

“Well, sensei should go back. You guys should also come to the nurse’s office occasionally.”

“Oh, sure. Next time.”

After sensei left, Komari trembled as she came out from the corner of the room.

“W-Well, t-that teacher won’t come back again, right?”

“Konuki-sensei is busy. She probably won’t come back.”

Komari looked at the door worriedly. She’s holding the love manual from before on her chest.

As a person writing rom-coms, I’m a bit curious about the content.

“Komari, that book is a reference for your novels, right? Can I take a look as well?”

“Wha!? N-No! I-I wrote something inside-”

This seems to be Komari’s first time to freak out that much. Her limbs flailed around as she hid the book inside her jacket.

“Oh, you’re paying quite the attention to the book. I won’t copy your idea. Please relax.”

I was genuinely amazed. Komari’s face is as red as a tomato. She’s shivering.

“...Komari?”

“I-I’m going home! A-Also, Nukumizu- go die!”

Komari spurted all of that and charged out of the club room.

Ehh, …why am I getting scolded?

I’m shocked. “My my.” Yanami shrugged.

“That’s why I don’t like this part of you, Nukumizu-kun. You still don’t understand a girl’s heart.”

“Eh, then, does Yanami-san know how Komari feels?”

“Hmm- nope.”

Then why are you dissing me?

I tolerated this woman’s unreasonable tantrums as I remembered what had happened this morning.

…Teiara-san’s target was undoubtedly me when she checked our belongings in the morning.

I thought it was a personal matter. However, I didn’t expect Komari to be under her watchful eyes. Her book was confiscated despite having no issues. Me, Komari, the next would be-

I looked at Yanami, who hesitated to open the next pack of gummies.

“Yanami-san, did your pass the belongings check?”

“I go to school by bicycle. I just charged through the barricade empty-headedly since I thought it would be a pain.”

That’s rad.

“Actually, my book also got confiscated. Even though the others only receive symbolic checking, only Komari and I-”

Wait, come to think of it, Teiara-san said I was the second one, right?

Was there another Literature Club member that suffered from the confiscation treatment before Komari and me?

At this point, I noticed that the club room’s door opened without noise.

I thought Komari had returned. However, unexpectedly, it’s a girl with glasses and a scarf on her head. She sneaked into the room.

It’s the ex-vice president of the Literature Club, the third-year Koto Tsukinoki.

We haven’t seen each other for a while since she retired from the Literature Club after Tsuwabuki Fest.

I sensed trouble before the nostalgia even kicked in. I’m afraid that I’m not just imagining things.

“It’s been a long time. Can I ask what’s with your outfit?”

Tsukinoki-senpai closed the door quietly. She fell to the chair.

“...It’s been a while. Are you two doing okay?”

Yanami smiled and answered.

“Yes, Nukumizu-kun is just the same. Is senpai doing alright with your exam revisions?”

“Not very good. Listen, there’s something even more troublesome than that.”

There’s something even worse than the entrance examination for this person…?

How much trouble will this bring us? Yanami and I secretly exchanged looks.

“Uh, well, that seems like a mess. Senpai, how about a cup of tea?”

“Let me prepare that. Nukumizu-kun, you’re drinking, too, right?”

Tsukinoki-senpai stopped us when we were about to stand up.

“Wait, don’t leave me alone. Please just pretend you two are tricked by me and hear me out.”

Regrettably, I’m afraid that we can’t run away. Without any other options left, Yanami and I sat back down.

“Sure, I’ll let you trick us. Go on.”

Tsukinoki-senpai spoke up solemnly.

“Long story short. My own BL novel got confiscated this morning.”

She really tricked us.

“The exam is right around the corner. Why did you write something like that?”

Tsukinoki-senpai put her hand on her forehead. She’s doing that on purpose.

“It’s the exact opposite. I did that because of the stress from revisions. I can confidently say without exaggeration that I’m a poor sacrifice for this competitive society. Ugh.”

“Then please pick yourself up and aim to be a better person. How about you write an apology letter and ask for forgiveness?”

Despite my nonchalant answer, I can feel a subtle sense of unusualness in senpai’s behavior.

Why did she sneak into the club room when it was just her BL novel getting confiscated…?

“This is a common occurrence for BL novels, right? Is there something bad about this?”

My question is reasonable. However, senpai hesitated to answer. She continued reluctantly.

“That’s because- the novel that got confiscated was a real-life doujin. It’s guaranteed to be a problem, right?”

“...Real-life doujin?”

Yanami repeated out of her inability to understand the term.

It looks like proper explanations are required for the normal Yanami.

“Well, it’s a story with characters based on real-life figures. This is a common term in the BL world.”

This may indeed become a problem.

“Wait, did you make someone in our school one of your characters?”

Tsukinoki-senpai nodded.

“You two know about the student council president, Hokobaru, right? It’s that girl’s genderswap BL novel.”

“That’s absolutely senpai’s fault. Please reflect on it.”

-Tsuwabuki High School’s student council president, Hibari Hokobaru.

She’s a perfect and all-rounded beauty, even though she’s probably a little weird inside.

At this point, Yanami gently raised her hand.

“Uh, what does…genderswap mean?”

Indeed, some explanations are required for this as well. This time, Tsukinoki-senpai spoke up.

“Hokobaru is a guy in my novel. There are no special reasons, but that’s the case anyway.”

She said that without hesitation.

Anyway, there’s no helping it if this is the case. In contrast to my 100% understanding, Yanami’s face looked like she ate a caterpillar, thinking it was a gummy candy.

“Uh, what’s the purpose…? Ah, no, save the explanations.”

It seemed that Yanami had accepted it, so I continued.

“Prez was your kouhai when you were still in the student council, right? Why don’t you just give her a sincere apology and ask her to return it to you?”

Tck, tck, tck. Tsukinoki-senpai shook her finger toward me.

“Doujins like this must be kept a secret from the person in question. Only allowing like-minded people to enjoy it is the rule of the universe. She doesn’t seem to know the existence of the doujinshi yet. That’s why I want to solve this secretly. I was supposed to keep Nukumizu-kun in the dark too, but I had to make a prompt decision at the right moment.”

“Well, I guess. You can’t let her see things like this-”

…Hmm? What did this person just say?”

“Wait. did you just say I’m involved as well? Don’t tell me I’m in your novel too.”

“It’s okay. Nukumizu-kun is a beginner. I went easy on you and let you be the top. The cold, aggressive type suits you unexpectedly well. Onee-san is relieved.”

Have you considered how I feel then?

“Where is the doujinshi now? Don’t tell me it’s already in a teacher’s hand-”

“Basori-san from the student council is still keeping that thing. Although I apologized to her, that girl hated me. That’s why she rejected my request coldly. She even threatened to submit it to the teachers’ meeting during the closing ceremony.”

So, she means the teachers will be reading a BL fanfic about the student council president and me during the teachers’ meeting, right?

Tsukinoki-senpai clapped her hands together.

“Please! Please take the book back from that girl for the Literature Club!”

Uhh, …why should I do that?

“But isn’t senpai retired already? You brought it onto yourself. This has nothing to do with the Literature Club, right?”

Indeed, if I’m the president now, I sometimes have to make cold-hearted decisions to protect the club. Or I should say I don’t want to get dragged into this at all.

I hesitated to end our conversation. Then, I realized senpai’s glances floated around quite awkwardly.

“...Is there something else?”

“The copyright page of the BL novel has the Literature Club on it. Moreover, the issuer is Prez Nukumizu-kun.”

…Ha? What did this person just do!?

“If people are getting called to the teachers’ meeting, Nukumizu-kun and I will definitely be one of them since you’re the president. So- you will help me, right?”

I dropped my jaws. Yanami handed me a small pack of gummies.

I threw the rock-shaped gummy into my mouth and chewed it brutally.

*

After Tsukinoki-senpai left, Yanami and I strolled shoulder to shoulder in the external corridor along the atrium.

Yanami followed me when I headed to the vending machines to get drinks.

“Well, Tsukinoki-senpai hasn’t changed in a sense. That’s quite relieving.”

Yanami is still chewing gummy candies.

“I do want her to change more or less, though…”

I just got hit by a truck out of nowhere this time. I’m not responsible for this. At all.

“Compared to us, shouldn’t this be better off in Tamaki-senpai’s hands? First-year students like us shouldn’t get involved in this, right?”

Shintaro Tamaki. He’s the ex-president of the Literature Club and Tsukinoki-senpai’s boyfriend. A boyfriend is supposed to wipe his girlfriend’s ass clean, right?

“Didn’t Tsukinoki-senpai mention this before? She doesn’t want Tamaki-senpai to know about this.”

Yanami reached into her pockets and showed a depressed look. She seems to have eaten all of the gummies already.

“...Well, this is awkward timing in every sense, after all.”

Tsukinoki-senpai is heading in a different direction than Tamaki-senpai, who’s trying to enroll in a national university.

Despite her looks, she must be nervous about her imminent graduation. Please don’t write things like that if this is the case.

“Nukumizu-kun, this is a request from a senpai who has shown great generosity to you, alright? It’s normal to help her out, right?”

Yanami waved the free lunch tickets she got from senpai. It’s making swishing noises.

“Also, we can’t cut off any responsibilities if the book is in the name of the Literature Club, right? The senpais didn’t file a request for quitting. So, symbolically, they are still part of us.”

Even though this girl was bribed by lunch tickets, her reasoning was sound. I nodded silently.

It’s not mandatory to quit clubs. It’s possible to continue until graduation. However, this is still a transfer of positions in a sense.

“Tsukinoki-senpai was in the student council in her second year, right? The current president was still her kouhai at the time. I think she has been covering senpai’s scandals since that point.”

“We can’t tell Prez this time, so asking for her help is out of the question. Should we ask vice president Basori-san instead?”

“Today’s belongings checking is clearly aiming for the Literature Club. Tsukinoki-senpai isn’t the only one who has received their attention. The whole Literature Club is under their watch.”

The Literature Club made the real-life BL doujinshi. If this is revealed to everyone-

“The Bird Watching Club has suspended a few days ago. Perhaps the Literature Club will end up the same as them.”

“Birds? It sounds like a peaceful club activity. How did that happen?”

“According to the president meeting’s report, they took secret shots of Tsuwabuki girls instead of birds. Even though there weren’t any obscene parts, they sold photos of popular girls.”

I’m keeping this a secret from her, but 8 people have bought Yanami’s photos. Half of Yakishio’s and a quarter of Himemiya-san’s sales. Be confident in yourself.

“It will be troublesome if our club is suspended. There won’t be a place to eat snacks and do homework after school.”

“These have nothing to do with the Literature Club, right?”

I stopped before the vending machines. I tidied my thoughts as I browsed the beverages.

We’re talking about Teiara-san here. She probably won’t accept my excuse even if I say Tsukinoki-senpai did that alone. First of all, senpai is still a Literature Club member. We can’t deny any responsibilities.

Is the Literature Club really heading toward its doom here…?

“Hey, that’s Shikiya-senpai from the student council, right?”

Yanami’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

I looked in her direction. A familiar person is sitting on the bench inside the freezing atrium.

-It’s the secretary of the student council, the second-year Yumeko Shikiya. She’s a zombie gal senpai.

“What is she doing there in this cold weather? Nukumizu-kun, should we say hi to her?”

“Please wait. It’s dangerous to approach her carelessly.”

I took out a notebook from the inner pocket of my uniform jacket.

“What’s this?”

“These are notes of my observation of Shikiya-senpai in her natural habitat. I’ve seen this situation before.”

“...Uh, there we go. It’s long been since I’ve seen Nukumizu-kun’s disgusting side.”

“Ah, no, no, no, this isn’t disgusting, okay? It’s just like an observation diary for wild birds.”

The not-disgusting me opened the notebook.

“Shikiya-senpai’s movement turns slow when the temperature is lower than 12 degrees Celsius. This behavior is becoming more apparent this month.”

“...Heh.”

Yanami remained emotionless. I ignored her and flipped to another page.

“On windless days like this, her habit is to raise her body temperature by showering in sunlight. She’s an exothermic animal. This is especially common in reptiles.”

Yanami made another “...heh” again. She looked to the sky.

“But it’s evening right now. The area around the bench has turned shady and cold.”

“Her body temperature drops when left in the shady area due to lack of caution. This will render her immobile. In other words, Shikiya-senpai is suffering from hypothermia right now, and her consciousness is slowly fading away.”

I put my notebook back and put a coin into the vending machine.

Well, should we just get some cold juice here and return to the warm club room?

“Eh, are you sure we can just leave her alone? Isn’t she about to die?”

“...I feel the same.”

I pressed the button for hot milk tea, took the plastic bottle, and ran toward Shikiya-senpai.

*

We’re at the cafe closest to the station. Yanami and I are sitting before Shikiya-san across the table.

Coffee, cakes, and a mysterious board game are put before us.

This seems to be a so-called board game cafe. Shikiya-san brought us here to show appreciation when we saved her in the atrium.

“No worries. …My family…is quite rich…”

“We are sorry for making you pay for us.”

“Alright! Let’s eat!”

Yanami immediately shoved the cake into her mouth after saying that.

This store’s original baked cheesecake seems to be handmade. I took a bite. The balanced sweetness and sourness radiated in my mouth.

Yanami already stabbed her fork into the last bite. Her face is shining.

“Senpai, this cake is delicious!”

“No worries. …You can order another one…if you like it…”

Are you sure? This girl will really go full throttle.

I poured sugar into my coffee as I observed the store. Guests are having fun with board games. They seem to be university students. This place is lively despite not being the weekend.

Shikiya-san started handing out the pieces in the board game skillfully.

“What is this game?”

“Fjords. …Area control board game…”

Shikiya-san continued distributing the tiny pieces quietly after mumbling. Even though I don’t really understand, I shouldn’t bother her.

For some reason, Yanami glared at my cake and mumbled quietly.

“Hey, Nukumizu-kun. How about we discuss that with her?”

“That?”

“About Tsukinoki-senpai getting her doujinshi confiscated. Shikiya-senpai’s in the student council, right? Perhaps she can pull some strings for us, you know?”

Maybe she’s right. However, in a sense, Shikiya-san’s in the enemy camp.

We whispered to each other. Shikiya-san tilted her head.

“Tsukinoki…senpai…?”

Shikiya-san stopped distributing the pieces after hearing us.

“Did…something happen?”

Shikiya-san’s white pupils turned toward me. Scary.

How much should I tell this person? Indeed, she cares a lot about the Literature Club but is her relationship with Tsukinoki-senpai cordial or tenuous? It feels awkward…

I winked at Yanami. She nodded gently.

“Well, actually-”

I made up my mind and started explaining.

Shikiya-san sighed gently after hearing that.

“Teiara-chan…hates…Tsukinoki-senpai.”

She spoke up determinedly without attempting the conceal the truth. Then, her hands moved again.

“Those two weren’t working in the student council at the same time, right? What’s with her hatred then?”

After handing out the pieces, Shikiya-san took out a tiny hexagonal terrain plate.

“The three of us…place…in order…”

“Eh? Ah, sure.”

Shikiya-san seems determined to push the game’s progress forward.

We gradually understood the rules as the game went on.

At first, a camp is created using terrain plates and pieces. Then, the players will place the Viking pieces in order and occupy the land. It’s similar to Go.

“Uh, there isn’t anywhere left to place pieces.”

“It’s over then. …Whoever has the most land…wins…”

Shikiya-san achieved an overwhelming victory in the first round. I ranked third after Yanami, which is in last place, to be honest.

…I hate this sense of defeat. I just couldn’t focus because I was thinking about the discussion. This shouldn’t be the case if I’m serious.

During this time, Yanami poked me with her elbow.

“Hey, Nukumizu-kun. Are you sure this is fine?”

“Hold on, Yanami-san. I’ve already grasped the technique. Next time, I’ll definitely…”

“Get your head off the game. Focus on the discussion, Nukumizu-kun.”

Right. I faced Shikiya-san again.

“Sorry, can we continue our previous topic? We need a way to get the doujinshi-”

“Put it…here…”

“Eh? Ah, sure. It’s my time.”

The second round quickly started.

Of course, we aren’t just playing. Instead, it’s just a tactic for a successful discussion. Yanami was nagging initially, but she slowly became invested in the game.

“Nukumizu-kun, I can’t put mine there if you block it, you know!?”

“No shit. That’s the point of the game.”

I blocked and attacked the constantly complaining Yanami. Shikiya-san seemed to have realized something and mumbled to herself.

“I…understand, …but…”

Shikiya-san placed a black Viking piece with her slim fingers.

“Teiara-chan…is getting too emotional…about Tsukinoki-senpai.”

The Q&A part of our troubleshooting discussion suddenly began.

“Also, it’s not just about Tsukinoki-senpai. The student council president’s reputation is on the line here as well. I want to solve this peacefully if it’s possible.”

Shikiya-san nodded.

“You’re right. …The young man Sakurai…will have holes in his stomach…”

-The young man Sakurai? Even though I don’t know who he is, that person’s about to have holes in his stomach.

I feel a subtle sense of intimacy toward this unfamiliar Sakurai-kun. Yanami reached her hand toward my piece on the board.

“Hey, Nukumizu-kun, can you move your piece?”

“No, we’re talking about something serious now.”

My stomach is about to have holes as well. I took a sip of coffee and restarted the conversation.

“So, we hope Shikiya-senpai can intervene. You are very close to Basori-san, right?”

Very close. Shikiya-san blinked after hearing that.

“Yeah, …I’m quite close…to Teiara-chan…”

Shikiya-san’s holding the cup with both of her hands. Her white pupils looked into the distance dazedly.

An unknown amount of time has passed. Shikiya-san’s lips moved slightly.

“Take down…Teiara-chan, …how about that?”

“Ha? Take down what?”

I’m confused. Shikiya-san continued.

“Make that girl…yours.”

“Ha!?”

Yanami choked next to me. Hey, this girl just ate my cake without permission, by the way.

I ignored Yanami and shook my head forcefully.

“No, no, no, no, that’s impossible, right!? I only know her name, and you’re telling me we should go out…?”

Yanami smacked my back while I was saying that.

“Hey, Nukumizu-kun, senpai didn’t say you two would be dating, right…?”

Yanami covered her mouth with a handkerchief as she coughed. Her teary eyes glared at me.

“The so-called ‘take down’ means…that, right? Don’t act foolishly and be steady. This won’t be solved so easily, anyway-”

We were blabbing nonsense. For some reason, Shikiya-san made a heart with her fingers.

“It’s fine. …Teiara-chan…is very easy…”

Is that person very easy? Is that how she feels?

“But it’s impossible for me to take down Basori-san.”

“You’re overthinking, Nukumizu-kun. You just need to stay on good terms with Basori-san and ask her to return the doujinshi to us. Right, senpai?”

“Also, isn’t Yanami-san better suited for this task in every sense?”

“That person is a bit terrifying, so no.”

I’m afraid of her too. Also, Shikiya-san is very scary as well.

“Senpai, I don’t think I can get along with Basori-san.”

“It’s easy….as long as you’re a bit nicer to…Teiara-chan…”

Teiara Basori, is she a tutorial character in a dating sim or what?

“Ah, no, but-”

“Grasp her weak points, …sell her a favor, …use her guilt…to block off her escape.”

Shikiya-san mumbled as she gently put a black piece on the board.

“Let’s…cooperate, shall we?”

I’m slightly worried. Is this person really close to Teiara-san?

Should I reject her? Shikiya-san gazed at me. She seems to have seen through my dazed feelings.

“You want to…take back…the novel, …right…?”

“Well, yes.”

I stuttered. Yanami looked at me dumbfoundedly.

“It’s not easy to get senpai to help us. You should just prepare yourself, hmm?”

“In the end, I’m not good at dealing with girls. I don’t really talk when we’re face-to-face.”

“Nukumizu-kun, you should sometimes be aware that I’m also a girl, right?”

Yanami handed me an empty cake plate. She clapped her hands to show her appreciation. This girl really just stole my cake.

“This seems strange to you only because of your impure thoughts, Nukumizu-kun. Look, aren’t you very close to Imouto-chan? Why don’t you just treat Basori-san like your little sister? This seems better, right?”

Treating Teiara-san as my little sister…?

Not that I can’t. A nagging tsundere little sister is a classic in light novels. Perhaps I can reluctantly accept it this way. Is it better for her to call me “onii-chan” or “baka aniki”...?

I turned to Shikiya-san after completing a year’s worth of simulation in my head.

“Please let me confirm something again. Based on my observation, Basori-san is hostile to the Literature Club. The Literature Club was undoubtedly under their attention when they checked our belongings. This is without question.”

Shikiya-san listened to me both emotionlessly and motionlessly.

“As the president of the Literature Club, I’m solely responsible for this issue. You can say that I’m in the opposite camp as Basori-san. Is senpai okay with that?”

Shikiya-san nodded gently and wobbly.

“Sure, …perhaps Teiara-chan…went…overboard.”

“Got it. Please help me out then. Of course, I’ll try my best to solve this peacefully.”

After all, in my fantasy story, Teiara-san (little sister) even gave me a handmade scarf on my birthday. I don’t want to be too rude to her.

I made up my mind and nodded determinedly.

“Yeah, …I’ll…help…as much as I can…”

Suddenly, a notification sound played on my phone. I glanced at the screen. The text is from Yanami.

<Yana-Chan: Your goal isn’t dating her. Getting a headstart is banned, okay?>

Why did she text me despite sitting right next to me…?

Yanami calmly placed her piece at the final square- and guaranteed my last place.

*

I’m exhausted.

After going home, I didn’t even have the strength to go to the second floor. I just collapsed onto the sofa in the living room.

My plan was to spend the winter holiday peacefully. I didn’t expect to be dragged into this mess.

How on Earth did I get here? I thought about that. Then, I noticed a handwritten banner on the wall.

<Kazuhiko Nukumizu’s Birthday Is in 8 Days.>

The number can be taken off. It’s a countdown design.

…Haha, this must be Kaju’s masterpiece, right? She’s improving every year.

I’m deeply throbbed with my little sister’s growth. During this time, the door to the living room opened.

“Onii-sama, I’m back!”

Kaju walked into the living room with her hands full of ingredients.

“You’re back. It’s a bit late.”

I stood up and took the ingredients.

“Thank you. Hehe, we’re like newlyweds.”

I ignored Kaju’s joke and put the ingredients into the fridge.

“This is a lot. Are these for making desserts?”

“Indeed, onii-sama’s birthday eve, the eve of birthday eve, the eve of the eve of birthday eve- yes, I think I’m baking a cake every day starting now.”

“Please just save the cake for my birthday. Yanami-san isn’t here. I can’t finish them if you bake one every day.”

“Well, why don’t we invite her on the weekend? Should Kaju say hi to her?”

It will be a pain to meet Yanami on the weekend. If only I could put it at the entrance and let her take it away at midnight…

“It’s time for Yanami-san to enter her weight-losing phase based on my observations. Let’s leave it at that. Dad and Mom will be late. I’ll make dinner tonight.”

“Are you sure? Well, then Kaju wants onii-sama’s waterless curry.”

“Alright, got it. There’s still minced meat in the fridge, right?”

Then, Kaju’s smile suddenly disappeared.

“What’s wrong, Kaju?”

“Onii-sama, where did you go today?”

“Ah, something happened, and I went to a cafe-”

Sniff, sniff, sniff. Kaju buried her face in my chest and started sniffing.

“Coffee and cheesecake. Also- a woman’s scent.”

“Uh, woman?”

Kaju picked up her smile again. She raised her head and looked at me.

“Indeed, there’s makeup powder on the collar of your jacket. Yanami-san doesn’t use foundation at school, right? Did you see another girl?”

Even though I don’t know about Yanami’s makeup, this should be Shikiya-senpai’s, right? I bet some of it stuck on me when I held her in the atrium.

“Eh, well, I was just discussing something with an acquaintance.”

“That’s why there is makeup? Onii-sama, how exactly did you discuss with her?”

Kaju’s smile was highly unsettling as she questioned. What’s with this pressure?

“I just held her because her physique wasn’t good. Yanami-san was there when we went to the cafe too.”

“Ara, Yanami-san was there too! Sorry, Kaju seems to have heard something unexpected.”

I think she got something unexpected out of me.

“Well, let’s wash away the makeup on the jacket right now. Alright, please take it off.”

Kaju suddenly got into an overjoyed mood. She forcefully took off my jacket and stared at it.

“Is it that dirty?”

“...No, don’t worry about it. Kaju shall remove it properly.”

Kaju hugged my uniform jacket. Her face is brimming with a smile.