Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 5 - Chapter 3.2

Winter evenings are short.

It’s already completely dark outside when Komari’s clothes are dry.

I closed the door and turned around. Komari’s standing under the white street light restlessly.

“U-Uh, you don’t really need to s-send me back, so-”

“That won’t do. It’s pretty dark already. I’m walking you to the station.”

…Also, Kaju will be mad if I don’t do this.

I smiled wryly as I took Komari’s bag and started walking.

Then, I realized Komari just stood there stiffly.

“Ah, sorry. I always do this when I’m going out with Kaju-”

I handed Komari her bag, but she ignored me and started walking beside me.

“T-Thank y-you.”

“Eh? Ah, it’s nothing…”

Huh? I thought her curses would send me flying. This is kind of freaking me out…

The silence continued subconsciously as we stepped into the quiet residential street.

…Uh, I should say something.

“Thanks for helping my little sister today, Komari.”

“W-Well, you can leave trivial matters like t-this to me any time.”

Komari fiddled with the three-strand braid Kaju did for her embarrassedly.

“Even though we got no intel out of Kaju.”

I mumbled self-mockingly. Komari gave me a smug nod.

“A-Ah, we’re just a little b-bit away.”

Really…? Well, if she says so, …then I guess…?

“T-Then, what’s the next step of the p-plan?”

Eh? Are we still going through with this? I’m sorry, but there’s no way Komari and I alone can defeat Kaju.

“I’ve already exposed my intentions. We should observe the situation for now.”

“R-Really?”

“It’s necessary to take a second to calm down in situations like this.”

Come to think of it, there’s one other thing I want to ask her.

I lowered my head and looked at Komari beside me.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just wondering why Komari is helping me with all of this.”

“Ueh? …W-Well.”

If it’s Yanami or Yakishio, I think they probably just find this funny.

But why is Komari so enthusiastic about this?

Komari opened her mouth and tried to say something, but only several words came out of her throat.

“Y-You didn’t c-come to the c-clubroom when we w-were talking about the w-weekend tour.”

“Ah, no, I’ve been kind of busy this whole week-”

“W-We’ll shut down if there a-are no new members. Y-You need to reflect.”

…Speechless.

Not all visitors will become Tsuwabuki students, but some will definitely take the entrance exam.

It’s best to give them an excellent first impression.

“I haven’t been to any Tsuwabuki tours. What’s the day like?

“I h-haven’t been to any either. I-I’m bad at talking to s-strangers.”

…Hmm, she’s right.

Yakishio seems to be going to the Track and Field Club for this open day. Yanami will be bringing in visitors separate from the Literature Club. I heard that she would be joining us in the middle.

Can two people with communication disorders do a good job at reception…?

“By the way, will there be that many people?”

“F-From what I’ve heard from senpai, yes. I-I think they just visit based on the order.”

I see. So, it’s not like they are signing up for the club either way. That’s why some people are just looking around even though they aren’t interested.

But I’m terrible at dealing with that kind of casualness. If we’re putting out cat pictures first and getting serious when Yanami comes here-

We came to the road across the residential area as I thought about that.

It’s the station after the crossing.

I guess here is good enough. I need to go back and finish my delayed draft.

Komari dashed across the road when I was about to hand the bag to her.

“T-The lights are changing, you know?”

“Eh, hold on.”

I had no choice but to follow her. The signal changed when we just made it to the station.

… We have to wait before the train arrives.

Komari reached her hand into the bag when I was staring at the cars on the road aimlessly.

“What’s wrong, Komari?”

“U-Uh, the chocolate I made today.”

After that, she took a nice-looking wrapped bag.

It’s the chocolate she made today.

“Eh, when did you package it today?”

Instead of answering, Komari looked away and handed the bag to me.

“T-Try it.”

“Why didn’t you ask me back then if you just want me to try- alright, I know.”

How come she’s so straightforward? This girl gets really assertive in weird places sometimes…

I took it without much choice. There were 4 kinds of chocolates inside after I opened the ribbon on the bag.

I should’ve tried all of them already. …Huh? Didn’t we only make 3 kinds of chocolate today?

We have the milk one, the bitter one, and the raspberry- there’s a bright red heart-shaped chocolate aside from those.

Did I lose my memory? A lot has happened these days, after all.

I opened the package and put the heart chocolate into my mouth subconsciously.

A slightly bitter sweetness radiated throughout my mouth- this is black currant.

Right. I think Kaju made the exact same one a while ago, so did she use the leftover sauce back then? Now I know, but I can’t remember when we made this at all…

I realized Komari had been staring at me as I tried to search my memories.

“...What’s wrong, Komari?”

“Ueh!? I-I wasn’t l-looking.”

You are looking, right?

“The chocolate is pretty delicious, you know? It will be fine on Sunday, right?”

“S-Sunday…?”

“Didn’t the Literature Club girls promise to exchange obligatory chocolate on Sunday? Something about giving them to visitors and showing them your girl power.”

“Y-Yes, but, Yanami was the one who said that. I-It’s just that do I really count as s-someone who can give obligatory…”

Komari’s voice faded away. I couldn’t help but lower my tone.

“What are you talking about? Yanami-san and Yakishio are your friends, right?”

I handed the bag of chocolate to Komari.

Komari’s head remained lowered for a while. Then, she nodded quietly and took one chocolate.

“I-It’s tasty, right?”

I spoke in a climatic tone. Komari answered.

“I-I haven’t even tried it y-yet.”

Komari put the chocolate into her mouth. A faint and shy smile appeared on her face.

*

The sweet cocoa scent is still floating around my collar the next day.

The Friday classes ended while this feeling lingered around. It’s time for homeroom.

We didn’t say anything much yesterday night. Komari and I spent the last several minutes waiting for the train.

I feel like she has forgiven me for my terrible act toward the Literature Club recently.

As usual, Amanatsu-sensei entered the classroom with a tinge of laziness as I remembered the black currant’s bitterness on my tongue.

“Eh, hmm, everyone’s here. There are reminders about the open day on Sunday.”

Ahem. Amanatsu-sensei cleared her throat and continued.

“On that day, only people appointed as tour guides for visitors and those of you in charge of club visits can come to school. Make sure the rest of you don’t get it wrong. Don’t come to school. Hey, the on-duty guy, distribute these leaflets.”

The on-duty student started passing us the leaflets. It’s a schedule of that day and the required preparations beforehand.

…Hmm, the open day starts at 1 PM. The first half is us students giving the visitors a tour around the school, and then it’s free time. They can check out the school however they want.

I don’t know when visitors will show up in the club room. Also, I didn’t sign up to be a tour guide, so I’ll just wait in the club room.

Amanatsu-sensei started explaining after everyone got the leaflets.

“The tour guides go gather up in the gymnasium after I’m done explaining. Others get prepared to work. Our class is in charge of the notice boards on the first floor. Follow this allocation table. You can go home once you’re done-”

After that, Amanatsu-sensei sat on the chair like she finished her work.

“Ah, as everyone knows, you students are the stars of the open day. This whole tour exists because we want to let middle school students who wish to study in Tsuwabuki know what high school life is like.”

…Huh, it’s rare to see sensei being so serious.

Even we’re getting anxious from her once-in-a-month “high-probability mode”. [TL: Some lottery and pinball machines in Japan have this mechanic where it increases your chance of getting a prize. Here it means Amanatsu can be serious sometimes.]

“That’s why the student council is running the show. The tour guides are all volunteers too.”

Amanatsu-sensei smiled and looked around the classroom.

“And us teachers are- volunteers as well.”

Her “high-probability mode” is over. A dark aura flooded around Amanatsu-sensei.

“No, it’s not like I’m complaining. I just lost a Sunday. We don’t get breaks after that, nor do we get paid. Why did we discuss that during the teacher’s conference if that's the case? There are a lot of things I want to say, but a teacher’s job is to help students-”

With that, Amanatsu-sensei suddenly started knocking on the podium.

“Didn’t we agree that this isn’t work!? Follow the rules, alright!”

Ah, the usual sensei is back.

Amanatsu-sensei leaned on the podium and moaned.

“Sensei…hasn’t even finished grading the final exam yet. I’ll be sinking in exam papers on Saturday, and then I have to volunteer on Sunday. When can I get a break…?”

Even though we can understand how she feels, there’s nothing we can do. It’s the third semester already, yet this teacher still can’t get used to it…

Sensei doesn’t seem to mind the entire class is staring at her silently. She continued.

“Sensei is single not because I’m not popular, but because I can’t meet anyone. My friend said why I couldn’t just pick a good one and eat him, but guys aren’t edamame, you know?”

That friend must be Konuki-sensei, right? It has to be.

Amanatsu-sensei’s acting like she’s drunk. She leaned on the podium and kept flipping through the leaflets.

“Sigh, that’s all of sensei’s little talk. The materials for the notice boards are in the Printing Room. Get ready. Alright, disbanded.”

…The ending is lackluster, as usual. I stood up among the sea of startled students too.

Uh, I’m not one of the tour guides, so I’m supposed to set up the notice boards, right? Let’s look at the table. Okay, I just need to put up guide maps around the entrance.

Alright, let’s get it over with quickly and go to the Literature Club to prepare-

“Nukumizu is in charge of the guide map, too, yeah? Let’s go together.”

The person speaking is Sosuke Hakamada. He patted my shoulder with a refreshing smile.

“Huh, isn’t Hakamada in charge of visitor reception?”

“Ahh, I have something to do on Sunday. There’s a lot going on for me as well.”

Hakamada spoke up with a bitter smile.

Sunday is Valentine’s Day, after all. The people who go out of their way to do tourist reception definitely have nothing to do with Valentine’s Day.

“Oh, Nukumizu-kun. I’ll go to the club room after I’m done in the gymnasium, okay?”

Yanami patted my shoulder.

“Ah, yeah, I’ll be there after this as well.”

“Sosuke, don’t bully Nukumizu-kun, okay?”

The girl with nothing to do with Valentine’s Day waved and left the room.

“Hey, Nukkun!”

The other nothing-to-do-with-it girl slammed my back. It hurts.

“Eh? What? It hurts.”

“I’m going to the Track and Field Club after the explanation is over.”

I see. Why did they tell me?

“Uh, Yakishio will be at the Track and Field Club on that day, right?”

“Yeah, I’ll pay all my debt back to you. See you!”

Yakishio gently closed her hands before jumping out of the classroom.

She’s just as lively as usual…

I’m dumbfounded. Hakamada poked my arm lightly.

“Hey, Nukumizu. You’re so popular.”

“Ehh, …please don’t bully me, Hakamada.”

“Sorry, sorry. But you were completely different in the first semester, right?”

The first semester, right? I answered with an awkward smile as we walked along the hallway. Hakamada and I need to grab the promo materials in the Printing Room.

I felt girls looking at me as we crossed shoulders. This isn’t my imagination. Some were even whispering to each other while looking at us. Is this the so-called Hakamada Effect?

“What’s wrong, Nukumizu-kun? I’ll be embarrassed if you stare at me too much.”

“No, it’s nothing. …Things are tough for Hakamada. Girls keep looking at you even though you’re just walking.”

I listened to a handsome guy’s joke as I said that. Hakamada showed a bewildered expression.

“No, you’re the one they are looking at.”

“...Huh?”

What’s that? Did I get exposed on the internet or something? I was smiling like an idiot while holding the new release in Seibunkan Bookstore’s manga section yesterday. Was that too much…?

I looked at Hakamada worriedly. He patted my shoulder.

“Nukumizu, stand before the notice board there.”

“Eh? Ahh, sure.”

I followed his instructions and stood before the notice board in the corridor. The girls standing behind us started whispering.

“Huh? Isn’t he handsome?” “No, the one next to him.” “Ah, …he’s normal.” “Yeah, he’s normal.”

…They keep saying I’m normal. That has to be me since I’m with a not-normal guy.

By the way, girls think I’m “normal”, huh? It’s an unexpectedly positive reputation…

Hakamada shrugged after the whispering girls left.

“You became the hot topic after what happened in the gymnasium at the end of last year.”

The gymnasium- he means when I hugged Shikiya-san when she was about to trip over?

Indeed, she was soft, cold, and smelled good…

“That can’t be helped. It’s definitely not sexual harassment.”

“What are you talking about? Everyone says you’re in a mess with the student council members. Some even say you’re two-timing.”

…Ha?

“Wait, that’s not true. Come to think of it, I was the one who got involved in every sense, okay?”

“Well, I do know. You’re not that kind of person.”

Hakamada nodded. I think this guy said the same thing at the end of the second semester.

If that’s the case, his following line will be-

“Even though I know, it’s best for you to find an opportunity to explain everything. People will misunderstand if they think you’re keeping your distance or messing with their feelings.”

“Are you sure you know?”

“Yes, yes, I know. I know.”

…This guy absolutely doesn’t know. My confidence increased as I shrugged like Hakamada.

*

The notice board work ended successfully.

After that, I walked right into the club room. It’s a face-to-face standoff with Komari over the table.

“A-Alright, hand me the draft.”

Komari knocked the table with the tip of her finger. Indeed, we’re making the magazine next.

I nodded properly.

“Hmm, that’s right. A club magazine needs a draft.”

“Y-Your draft is the only one left. Y-Yanami handed in hers t-too.”

Yanami completed her convenience store novel as usual. Now all that’s left is mine.

I gave a smug nod again.

“I know you’re worried about my draft- but can you not perceive that I haven’t finished yet?”

“I-I refuse.”

That’s mean. I haven’t even said it yet.

“Wait, hear me out. We’re making the club magazine for visitors this time. The goal is for them to understand what our club is doing, right? That’s why I want to make the club magazine.”

“T-That was rejected already.”

“That’s why I said hear me out. This time, the club magazine is made by stapling the draft with a stapler and taping them together, right? First of all, we just need to get the draft printed-”

I took out a piece of paper.

“I made a self-introduction table. We can let the visitors write down a brief self-introduction and the books they like, and then we can put those in the club magazine. That way, it feels like the book belongs to that person alone.”

Komari took the self-introduction table and glared at it quietly.

“There are other advantages as well. Once we know what books they like, we can use that as an opportunity to heat up the conversation.”

Indeed, talking about hobbies is the best way for two people to become buddies.

I received Komari’s eyes full of suspicion despite my confidence.

“W-Who’s going to cheer up the crowd…?”

“...Eh?”

Yanami doesn’t really read, right? In other words, it’s just Komari and me, right? Well…

“Uh, …we can just let the visitors cheer the mood.”

“I-I see…”

No way. The sky will go dark when that happens.

I coughed and faced Komari again.

“Yep, that’s all. Let’s print all the drafts except mine out today, hmm?”

“I-In other words, your draft is-”

Komari continued staring at me with her eyes full of suspicion. I lowered my hand deeply.

“I’ll finish it before Sunday. Please wait a little longer.”

“S-Say that earlier.”

This must be humiliation- what a shallow thought.

If lowering my head means I can be forgiven for breaking the deadline, it’s instead a victory.

I put my forehead on the table and smiled. Then, the door to the club room opened.

It’s Teiara Basori.

She glared at Komari and me before holding the door handle and stepping back.

“...Uh, are you two busy?”

“No, it’s okay. How can I help you?”

Very well. Now we don’t have to talk about the draft anymore.

I stood up confidently. Teiara-san shot me hostile looks.

“Alright, I’m here to scold Nukumizu-san. Can we go outside for a bit?”

Eh, that’s scary.

“Uh, we’re actually still busy. It’s an important meeting.”

“That one just then?”

“The table is pretty cold. It keeps my head awake. Right, Komari?”

I looked at Komari for help. However, she’s staying completely still in the corner of the room.

She’s so good at hiding her presence. I admire her.

She has a murderous aura. She’s raising her arm.

Teiara-san pushed my back forcefully.

“Alright, come here.”

“Eh, wait.”

Teiara-san put her hands on her waist and glared at me after dragging me out of the club room.

“Nukumizu-san, why didn’t you come to the gymnasium?”

…Huh? That’s for tour guides, right?

“I’m not a tour guide. Even though I’ll be there that day, I’ll just be responsible for the club visit.”

“Ha? I asked the on-duty Amanatsu-sensei to tell you to come, though.”

Eh, there’s no way that person can do that. It’s Amanatsu-sensei, after all.

Teiara-san sighed after noticing my look.

“It can’t be helped if the message wasn’t delivered. Anyway, please take this.”

She gave me a handbook for the briefing session before I could even follow up with her.

“It’s kind of sudden, but someone asked you to be the tour guide today.”

“Eh? There’s a nomination system?”

“Yes, some people want to be led by someone they know. Either that or they want to hear about clubs they are interested in. We’ll try our best to fulfill their requests.”

Someone who nominates me, don’t tell me it’s a kouhai from middle school or something like that. Or are they interested in joining the Literature Club?

“Who wants me to be their tour guide? I hope they are a nice person.”

“You’re the one leading them. Quick. It’s troublesome since we just changed the list on a whim.”

Teiara-san pointed at the list in the handbook with her slim finger.

Uh, …I’m leading Class 5 of Momozono Middle School, right? There are 3 names on the list.

Asami Gonto, Satoshi Tachibana, and- Kaju Nukumizu.

*

Literature Club Report - Special Edition

<New Year’s Gift> by Anna Yanami

I usually have breakfast in the convenience store.

One of my recent favorites in the rest area is charcoal grilled chicken skewers (salted). I don’t think I need to explain.

Those who are interested can look at the ingredients table. Yes, the row with carbohydrates.

Even though I don’t remember the actual numbers, it’s a champion because it’s so low.

Also, I’m having hot black coffee instead of a latte.

This is a champion for low values. That’s two champions in a row.

Convenience stores these days let you choose your coffee taste from “light” to “strong”, but it tastes especially strong today.

I stopped leaving my house early lately. That’s why I don’t see OO-kun going to school outside the window.

“Ako-san, you stopped eating meat buns these days, yeah?”

The person saying unnecessary things is my classmate, XX-kun.

We’ve been eating together in the corner recently.

Also, I used to eat pork buns. What an amateur.

He’s always sitting two seats away from me. How self-conscious. It’s disgusting.

Even though he doesn’t care about others in every way, he’s even meaner today. I can’t believe he’s having an American hot dog in the morning.

That’s right. The carbohydrates in a hot dog exceed 30 grams.

I want to eat that too.

Also, he just has to be drinking a latte instead of coffee today.

I want to drink that too.

But I thought I could ask for a bite from him. Then, one of the girls from our school started talking to XX-kun.

The two whispered something to each other, and then, after a while, that girl took a bite of XX-kun’s hot dog before leaving.

…Even though I don’t know who that is, she’s such a greedy and despicable girl for wanting somebody else’s food.

XX-kun chuckled after I finished my skewers.

“Ako-san, are you still hungry?”

This guy is as impolite as usual.

XX-kun gave me something when I was about to ignore him. It’s a yuzu pepper-flavored tofu stick.

One stick of this gives you 10 grams of protein. It’s pretty chewy as well.

“I think you’re trying to lose weight lately. Here’s a little snack for you.”

…This person is really impolite, after all.

I remembered that girl as I chewed on a tofu stick from another person.

Comparing a tofu stick to a bite of an American hotdog, I think I won here.

Although that’s how I feel, somehow, my heart is itching a little. It’s irritating…

*

After printing the drafts, I’m standing before the bakery next to the road not far from school.

Yanami called me here when I was about to go home.

Yanami has been getting bread here lately, but this is my first time here…

I looked around before walking in. Yanami was checking out.

“Oh, you’re here. Nukumizu-kun, take this. It’s for you.”

She said that and handed me some bread. It’s “Ogura Bread” with red bean paste.

Yanami always gets this. She eats 8 times a week if her body is in good condition.

“Thanks. I’ll go get drinks. Is milk okay?”

“Okay.”

Yanami waved as she walked inside the store. There are tables and chairs there. We can eat there.

I grabbed the milk and sat on the opposite chair. Yanami opened the package and laughed.

“Nukumizu-kun, you have grown up.”

“Eh, what?”

I put the straw into the milk carton box while being alerted to what she said.

“It’s because Nukumizu-kun used to start asking why 2 seconds after we met. Compared to then, you can now talk properly.

Yanami took a big bite out of the bread.

Isn’t that because I’ve learned I won’t get the ball back even if I shoot a straight ball at Yanami…? Does this count as growth…?

“I feel sorry for asking after hearing that. Why did you bring me here?”

“Eh, it’s because I’m hungry.”

Look, we still can’t have a proper conversation. I tried not to sigh and opened the bread package.

“Yanami-san is always hungry, right? Uh, if you went out your way to call me here, it means that you want to talk to me, right?”

Yanami took out a small handbook as she chewed the bread.

“Nom nom nom nom nom nom.”

Don’t talk while eating.

Ah, this handbook.

“This is the handbook for tour guides, right? You brought one for me.”

Yanami swallowed the bread at once.

“Nukumizu-kun, you didn’t come even though your name is on the list, right? I want to give you a briefing.”

“Basori-san already explained that to me already, so it’s fine. Let’s just meet up at 1 PM at the gymnasium.”

“Eh.”

Yanami stopped her hand when she was about to put the straw in.

“Why is it that girl? Did she go out of her way to find Nukumizu-kun too?”

“It’s because the student council oversees the open day. Didn’t she find me because I wasn’t at the briefing session?”

For some reason, Yanami stared at me resentfully.

After a while, she seemed satisfied and shrugged as she opened the handbook.

“Well, whatever, Nukumizu-kun is leading Tachibana-kun, hmm? The kid who had a date with Imouto-chan at Toyokawa Inari, right?”

My expression turned stiff. I stared at Yanami.

“...Yanami-san, do you know about Schodinger’s Cat?”

Yanami’s mouth left the straw when she drank the milk. She tilted in disbelief.

“That one, right? The cat dies when you open the box.”

It’s close, but it’s a little different.

“In situations like this, an event is uncertain before direct observation. I don’t deny Kaju and Tachibana-kun are friends, but there aren’t any evidence to show that was a date, not to mention going out.”

Yanami shook her head dumbfoundedly.

“Are you still saying that? Remon-chan told me about what you did in Momozono, you know? Aren’t Imouto-chan and Tachibana-kun acting all vague? They are having a date on Valentine’s Day-”

Yanami seems to have finally reacted. Her eyes bulged.

“Yeah, Kaju and Tachibana-kun’s Valentine’s promise must be about the open day. It’s normal for friends who want to study in Tsuwabuki to come together, right?”

“Then, what about those embarrassing stuff that she can’t talk about before people.”

“Kaju’s a girl in puberty, right? Isn’t it kind of embarrassing to let her brother lead the way?”

“...Is Imouto-chan a girl like that?”

She is. Yanami put a hand on her chin and tilted her head.

“What about her handmade honmei chocolate?”

Tck, she got a critical hit. I chugged the milk at once to replenish my calcium.

“My my, …you can give chocolates to friends too, right? Of course, it’s not weird for Kaju to have a crush on someone- well, I do understand the reasoning, but we can’t be sure as long as Kaju doesn’t say anything.”

“Hmm, I guess that’s good too.”

Yanami said that chicly before finishing the milk at once.

“Imouto-chan won’t talk about it with you if you reject it too much, yeah?”

“Hmm, …I guess.”

“That’s right, Nukumizu-kun. It’s normal for a middle school girl to have a boyfriend.”

I don’t know why, but I feel like I can’t fight with Yanami about this one- for some reason.

“But this isn’t to say it’s certain, okay?”

“Oh, …you hate admitting defeat so much.”

Whatever you say, girl. I tore down the corner of the bread and put it into my mouth.

“Nukumizu-kun, how come you’re eating so slow?”

Yanami asked curiously with an innocent tone.

“I don’t know whether I can finish one. Also, I can’t finish my dinner if I eat too much right now, right?”

“It’s okay. You can definitely finish it.”

Yanami spoke up determinedly.

‘Eh, but-”

“You need to believe in yourself more. A girl like me managed to eat one only even though I subconsciously bought two.”

That’s why she bought the bread for me.

Seeing that Yanami watched me finish half of the bread, …I felt a little embarrassed to continue.

“Uh, …do you want half of it?”

I said that after feeling unbearable with the weight. Then, I saw the most charming smile from today’s Yanami. She reached her hand out.

“You can’t be helped. I’ll take off some of your burdens, hmm?”