Chapter 47: It's bad enough being childhood friends with you!

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Translator: Xre

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“Awawa.”

The curtain fell on the chaotic interruption.

The five defeated mercenaries were taken away by the Takayashiki family's SS—the men in black. Apparently, Hikami Rei had contacted them. When I said, “Must be tough babysitting that pig,” she simply replied, “It's my job.” She's kind of cute when she actually talks.

The men in black also handled the explanation to the art club members. “This was a skit prepared by the Takayashiki family for the Teikousen,” they said. “Thank you for helping us rehearse.” All the members had expressions like “There's no way that's true…” but no one said anything. If the Takayashiki family says a crow is white, then it's white.

Now then—

As for the pig…

“…Kazu…”

Even after everything had ended, she was still trembling, glaring at me. Is she planning to fight me herself now? Fine. Bring it on. I don't care if I get criticized by animal rights groups or livestock farmers—I'm ready to knock her out.

“Kazu. I finally understand how you really feel.”

She brought her overly passionate face closer.

You want to go? Fine, let's go. But just so you know, I don't see you as a girl. I'll unleash a gender-neutral, pig-inclusive kick on you.

“Kazu—Kazu!! You totally, super-duper LOVE me, don't you!!!!”

…………

…She's finally lost all grip on reality.

“Because! Because you were holding my painting so protectively in battle! That means you really liked it!! If you'd just said so, I would've shown you the real thing anytime! …Oh, but no touching! That doesn't mean it's okay to cross the line! We must stay pure until marriage!”

“…………”

Don't blush and squirm like that. It's disgusting.

I mean, I was using your painting as a literal shield…

But I guess that's not how it looked through Pig-chan's eyes.

Feeling triumphant, she turned to the still-stunned Mashiro-senpai and declared:

“So sad for you. You got used as a stepping stone for our relationship! In rom-com terms, you’re the throwaway heroine! LOL loser! Say goodbye to your love interest! Looooser!”

Slide yourself off the metaphorical cliff, why don't you.

Whatever. I'm not going to argue with her delusions. She can dream all she wants. Doesn't mean I have to play along.

Satisfied, Pig-chan strutted off.

The men in black left. The club members went home—

Leaving just me, Mashiro-senpai, and Kouji Arata in the clubroom.

“…………”

Arata still hadn't recovered from the shock.

He underestimated me as a total amateur and lost in art. Then he witnessed a supernatural battle. As a boxer with Olympic potential, he must've had unwavering confidence in his strength.

That pride was shattered. And the pig, who even changed her last name to cozy up to him, left him behind like yesterday's trash. He was already irrelevant. Pig-chan wouldn't care about him anymore.

Kneeling on the floor, head hung low—he looked utterly soulless.

“Kou-chan…”

Mashiro-senpai looked at her childhood friend, likely torn inside.

She's a kind girl by nature.

I'd told her to cut ties with him, but I know it's not that easy. Being childhood friends isn't something you can just erase. People don't change overnight. Just because I could cut ties doesn't mean everyone can. People have their own burdens, their own reasons.

“Senpai, I'm heading out.”

I tapped her on the shoulder.

“Kazu-kun…”

She looked up at me with eyes full of sorrow. Her gaze said, Don't leave me. Don't abandon me.

I didn't want to leave her behind either. She's so cute, I just wanted to take her home with me.

But—

“What happens next is up to you, Senpai.”

“Up to… me?”

“Yes. No one can decide this for you. Please do whatever you feel is right.”

“Even if you say it's my choice…”

She cast her eyes downward in hesitation.

“Yeah, I get it.”

I smiled at her.

“Freedom isn't always easy. There's risk. You might get dragged into weird fights like today. If you value your life, living quietly in someone else's cage is a valid choice. Maybe even the smarter one.”

But—

“Still, I like freedom. And I like people who are free.”

“…!”

“Thank you for teaching me how to paint.”

With those words of gratitude, I bowed.

When you truly feel thankful, it's amazing how naturally your head lowers.

---

I left the clubroom, leaving Mashiro-senpai and her childhood friend behind.

We might never talk again.

We'll probably never paint together again.

That's a little sad—but that's just how it is.

I silently offered one more thank-you.

Thank you—

Cute senpai.

Thank you for letting me experience a glimpse of “normal club life,” if only for a moment.

---

The next day, during lunch break.

Today's lunch was with Amane-chan in the underground archive.

Despite her busy voice acting work, she'd made me her special butter-salmon rice balls. Ever since I said they were delicious, she started making them regularly. It saves me money, but I bet her fans would go ballistic if they knew…

“So in the end, you didn't join the art club?”

“Yeah.”

This morning, I went to tell the club president I wasn't joining. He looked visibly relieved. It made sense after what happened yesterday… Still, it stung a little.

Maybe I really can't be “normal.”

Apparently, all the members returned the one-billion-yen bribe from Pig-chan. The art contest was left unresolved, and they couldn't, in good conscience, keep the money.

“I feel kinda bad for President Suzuka. She tried so hard to get me into a club.”

“Who cares? You don't need a club. That way, we can spend more time together.”

Amane-chan said that as she clung to my left arm.

“Hey, that makes it hard to eat.”

“But I've been so deprived of Kazu-power lately! Even the fireworks festival was a bust…”

She pressed her shoulder into mine, her sweet scent drifting from her hair, her soft voice tickling my ear.

“So please, okay? Kazu-kun…”

“You're hopeless.”

With those moist eyes staring at me, how could I resist?

I swallowed my rice ball, lifted her chin gently, and—

“Hellooo, hope I'm not interrupting!”

Suddenly, the archive door burst open.

The intruder: a fluffy-haired beauty who looked like cotton candy.

Wearing a gentle smile, she was—

“Mashiro-senpai?”

“Yup, it's me!”

Smiling cheerfully, she walked over and separated me and Amane-chan.

“What are you doing here?”

“I quit the art club!”

…Huh?

“Oh, but I'm not quitting art! I'm going to submit to the Teikousen exhibition as a freelancer. And I was thinking of using you as my model, Kazu-kun!”

She began setting up her art supplies.

“Yesterday, you painted a picture of me during our battle, right? So now I want to paint you.”

“…Haha, I see.”

So that's the path she chose.

Then the door opened again.

This time it was Kouji Arata. He looked frantic. He rushed past me and Amane-chan, straight to Mashiro-senpai.

“M-Mashiro, wait! You're seriously quitting the art club!?”

“Wow, Arata-kun. Fast news.”

Mashiro didn't stop setting up her supplies.

“M-Mashiro!? Don't call me that like I'm some stranger! We're childhood friends, remember!?”

He was desperate. This big guy was practically begging this petite girl.

“I'm not helping you with your drawings anymore. From now on, do it yourself.”

“Y-you gotta be kidding!! If you stop drawing, what happens to my ‘prodigy of both martial and artistic prowess' image!?”

So that was his real concern.

Mashiro stared at the pathetic man.

With a deep sigh, she spoke.

“Don't follow me around anymore. I hate that we're even childhood friends!”

The damp air of the archive felt suddenly purified by her clear, piercing voice.

It was an unmistakable severing of ties.

As for the ex-childhood friend? He didn't respond with some cool “Yeah, same here.” He just collapsed to the floor, gibbering like a baby.

I helped him to his feet.

“You heard her. You've been cut off.”

“Awawa… awawawawawa…”

“Now be a good sport and exit with dignity. That way, please.”

I pointed toward the door.

He trudged off, and at the last moment, looked back longingly at Mashiro-senpai.

But she paid him no mind. Her focus was now solely on the blank canvas in front of her.

Case closed.

All's well that ends well.

“Wait, wait, waaaait!!”

The protest came from Amane-chan.

She stomped up to Mashiro-senpai, who was calmly sketching away.

“You can't just barge in here! This is our space!”

…Wait, it is?

But Mashiro didn't budge. Something about her had changed. She was radiating confidence.

“Then it can be our space—for all three of us!”

“Th-that's ridiculous!”

“I've already decided. Right, Kazuuuu-kun?”

She clung to my arm tightly.

Amane-chan gaped, then looked to the heavens and screamed.

“Aaaahhh!! Not another rival!!!”

…Haha.

Looks like my life's getting more and more chaotic.

Maybe this is the price of freedom?

Then the door opened again.

In walked the silver-haired student council president— Suzuka Kocho.

She took one look at me, sandwiched between two girls, and her temple twitched.

“Kazu-kun… I told you to join a club, but I never said to pick up a new girl while you were at it.”

“No, this really isn't what it looks like—”

But with both Amane-chan and Mashiro-senpai clutching my arms, I had zero credibility.

“I heard about your ‘performance' from the art club president. Sounds like you really made a name for yourself.”

“…I'm sorry.”

I apologized honestly. She had every right to be upset.

But she just shook her head.

“Maybe trying to force you into an existing club was the mistake. You were never meant to fit into a mold.”

Then she said something completely unexpected:

“In that case, we'll take the last resort. Let's create a brand-new club—just for you.