Chapter 30: One trouble goes away, another comes

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Translator: Soafp

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“…What a day this has been.”

Today… was just way too intense.

If you ask what made it so intense, the answer is obvious: everything with Runa and Reina-san. I still can't believe it, but there's no doubt—it all actually happened.

“’…I… like you’, huh.”

Runa confessed to me… said she liked me.

She told me it was fine to act normal from now on… but that she would push me to be completely captivated in return.

In her eyes, I could see firm resolve… and something else—maybe a kind of possessiveness? I never thought I'd end up in such a position.

“…Now… what the hell am I supposed to do next?”

The situation was so overwhelming, my speech even started to slip.

“…Huh?”

Just as the house came into view, the NetoraSensor went off.

Hearing it, I instinctively let go of my worries and moved… which makes sense.

Sure, it's important to think things through sometimes, but this sensor's reaction meant a despicable guy—or maybe even a despicable girl—was nearby.

“I'm coming!”

I rushed toward the location the sensor indicated.

It was completely in the opposite direction from home, and I must have run quite a distance, yet I wasn't very tired. Whenever I followed the NetoraSensor like this, I felt strangely superhuman.

“Found you.”

I couldn't hear the conversation yet, but I knew this was the scene.

A girl in a perfectly worn uniform—she went to a different high school than mine—was facing three well-built guys.

I slowly approached until I could hear their conversation.

“Don't mess around! You're making him not want to come to school, do you get that!?”

“We don't care. Why go this far for such a weakling?”

“Hey, you two… are you dating?”

I see… looks like some kind of bullying, huh?

“…What? I feel like I've seen you before.”

NTR… I hate it.

But at the same time, morbid curiosity and the fact that the scene looked so dramatic drew my attention. I've said this before.

Because of that, I could easily predict what would happen next.

“Hmm… should we not lay a hand on him, then?”

“Really…?”

“Yeah—if you become our toy, that is.”

“…Huh?”

Ah, there it is—this pattern!!

The image in my head was clear: a girlfriend stepping in to protect her boyfriend, a common trope in NTR manga. And the word “toy” they used… it meant exactly what I imagined.

“If… if we follow what you say, you won't touch him?”

“Yeah. But you'll do as we say, right?”

“Hahaha, big ch*st, beautiful, perfect.”

“Come on, follow us quickly.”

The girl looked troubled by the three men's lewd laughter.

Going along obediently would have been thoughtless, but showing hesitation when trying to protect her boyfriend was natural. She wasn't a manga character following a pre-set script.

“Hey, don't you want to save your boyfriend?”

“Eek!?”

One of the men touched her shoulder… yeah, exactly.

That reaction was natural. No matter how much she wanted to protect her boyfriend, opening herself to them was only something that happens in manga. She may have expected something, but never this.

“…Fine, I guess I have no choice.”

Feeling the NetoraSensor activating, I headed toward them to resolve the situation.

“…Huh?”

“Who's there?”

Two of the men noticed me, and then the others did too, including the girl.

I finally got a good look at her face—she was stunning. I envied her boyfriend, though after my experiences with Runa, envy felt weird.

“A passing hero. No need to remember me.”

Well… maybe I was trying to sound cooler than I should.

But contrary to my expectation, they were on high alert… terrified, almost as if seeing a monster.

“W-who the hell are you…!?”

“Monster…!? D-don't come any closer!!”

“Waaaaaah!!”

One of the men ran away… just like when I helped my mother before. But that's beside the point—I just needed to erase another bad situation today.

“Get lost, and never touch her or her boyfriend again. Otherwise—”

“U-uuoooohhh!!”

I tried to threaten them as usual, but one charged at me.

He swung a nearby metal pipe at me, but slowly. I tripped him and he fell.

…Seriously, what is even happening?

I crouched to meet the fallen man's gaze and delivered my final words.

“If you try anything—I’ll stand by your pillow and curse you for life.”

“Ah… uaaahhh!!”

The remaining men ran off. I'd ensured the situation was safe, but I decided to explain a bit to the girl as well.

“You—”

“Y-yes!”

Yeah… I knew it, but she was terrified.

“I'm not blaming you, but even if it's for your boyfriend, don't sacrifice yourself like that. If something goes wrong, it will only make him suffer.”

“B-but…”

“I'm not denying your actions. What you tried to do was both wrong and right… your desire to protect someone important isn't something to criticize.”

Still, the outcome would have made nobody happy.

If anything, the only ones who deserved consequences were those men. People like them always deserve a painful lesson.

“…Ah.”

“Oops.”

She swayed slightly, and I quickly reached out to support her.

Looking closely, I realized she was probably a half. Her eye color clearly wasn't fully Japanese.

“You should rely more on those around you—your parents, for example.”

“…Thank you.”

“Yeah, that's good.”

Now, I thought it was truly safe, and I couldn't help but smile.

She stared at me blankly, as if seeing something strange.

“What's wrong?”

“…Nothing. I thought you were terrifying… but your smile is completely normal. It's strange.”

“Hmph? Well, whatever. In any case, don't do anything like that again.”

“……………”

“Still… as expected, it's been one event after another.”

“Huh?”

“Guys almost tried to assault her, her mother almost got attacked by a stalker, the idol suffered from a Netorase incident… what a mess.”

“Eh… eeh…?”

Oops, I let that slip.

I left, thinking she'd be fine, though she insisted on thanking me one last time—I managed to escape.

“I didn't do it for thanks, anyway.”

I didn't. But being able to save someone like this… it felt amazing.

Just as I was about to head home in that perfect mood…

“Hey, Masato.”

“!?”

…Huh?

I turned to see a familiar voice, and it was her—Rira.

“I saw you.”

“Huh?”

“I was watching the whole time.”

…Watching… everything?

I couldn't help but feel an indescribable fear at those words in this situation.