Chapter 25: Fake fan.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you're close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it's cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one's older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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From the high road above the river mouth, I looked down to see the rowing club taking a break on the beach, just as I had expected. Men and women crowded together on the floating island they had set up. It was a scene that could never happen in my life, but it was worth seeing.

If I framed it and called it “Youth,” it would probably go viral on social media.

“So, what’s Saori’s plan?”

“We’ll just call her over.”

“What do you mean by ‘just’?”

“She’s a classmate from middle school. If I pretend to be reuniting with her, it’ll be easy, right?”

“I didn’t know that. You actually have a lot of friends, huh?”

“No, it’s Shizuku who has a lot of friends. I’m just one of them.”

It struck me as a rather dry opinion for a girl. A girl who isn’t afraid of acknowledging her loneliness seems pretty cool, and it leaves me unsure how to react.

…Wait, did she keep it a secret earlier just to make me overthink things? Crafty little thing.

“Shinji, wait by the beach. I’ll guide her over there.”

“Thanks.”

“Hehe, it feels like I’m becoming the Undertaker. Maybe I should try helping people at my school too.”

“Even if it’s just pretend, if someone is saved by it, doesn’t that make it worthwhile?”

Then, Saori, uncharacteristically hesitant, glanced up at me with an obvious upward look.

“Shinji, is that why you help people?”

“No, I just like to mess with people who think they’re on top.”

“…Haha! Hearing that, I’m definitely relieved I didn’t fall for you again!”

After parting ways, I checked my phone and saw six missed calls and eleven messages from Tsukino, who apparently still hadn't managed to get free. It’s really inconvenient that she couldn’t handle it himself.

“If you tell them you’re dating Kumoi, it should end it,” I texted back.

A few seconds later, Tsukino called. Looks like she finally got away from that guy.

“That’s mean. Why didn't you tell me earlier?”

Her voice, devoid of intonation and dripping sulkiness, evoked a strong protective instinct. Whether she did it on purpose or naturally, I couldn’t tell. Honestly, it’d be better if she did it on purpose.

“I thought you’d figure it out, but maybe I overestimated you?”

A brief pause.

“Uh, no. I mean, I thought of it, but I was trying to find a way that wouldn’t cause a stir.”

“Why worry about someone you’ll never see again, idiot?”

“Ugh…”

“Anyway, good job. Are you coming here or heading home?”

“I’m exhausted, so I’m heading home. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

As soon as I ended the call, a message from Tsukino came through: “You better thank me.” I couldn’t quite understand why I needed to thank her when she was the one who had asked me to help Hareta and the heroines in the first place.

Whatever, it’s not like I don’t owe her something.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“…Saori, is this unremarkable guy a fan of ours? I’ve never seen him watching any of our matches.”

Geez, unnecessary much? I shrugged. “I’m Shinji Takatsuki, a second-year student at Saijo High. Thank you for coming on such short notice, Kumoi-san.”

“He saw you competing while he was out walking in the area. Since then, he’s been supporting you from the shadows, almost like a stalker.”

“Ugh, that’s creepy.”

I won’t deny that I’m a bit creepy. But Saori, isn’t it a bit much to expect a natural interrogation from that setup? Before I could do anything, I looked to the side, seeing her give me an annoying thumbs-up that seemed to say, Now let’s see what you’ve got!

Me being able to read her gestures only makes it more infuriating. I digress.

“Uh, Kumoi-san, I need to apologize in advance.”

“What for?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not actually your fan. It’s all a lie from this girl here.”

“What!?”

Kumoi, her face previously a mix of annoyance and mischief, now started lightly smacking Saori on the shoulder.

“What the heck! I was so happy thinking I had a fan! I thought it was amazing that even a gloomy guy like you would support me!”

…Of course, she's predictably cute and seems to have quite the mass appeal.

“Come on, Shinji. You could’ve played along a bit longer.”

“Play along!? Seriously! You're still as awful as ever! I knew something was up when you said you were coming to see me!”

Well, it made sense. A girl who could be as cold as she was earlier wouldn’t waste time meeting an old classmate. Especially not after our tumultuous middle school years.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

“Hmph! You really tick me off! Just get to the point already! And die!”

I couldn't quite grasp why her hostility was directed at me, but I chalked it up to the inherent ease of picking on an introvert like me.

I was used to it, and it didn't bother me. Besides, I was the one making a request.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Do you remember a guy named Hareta Kou?”

“…Ah, yeah, that's a nostalgic name. Yes, I remember him.”

As expected. A straightforward approach seemed best with a girl like her, as any attempt at trickery would likely backfire.

“Did you date him in middle school?”

At that moment, Kumoi smiled gently. It didn't look like the smile of someone who was about to lie.

“No, I didn't date him.”

“Then, one more question.”

Once again, I could almost hear Saori silently calling me an idiot. However, as long as Kumoi kept up her façade, I couldn’t showcase my strengths.

I really needed her to lie so I could use that to my advantage. The real test would come when she met Hareta, and I couldn't afford to stumble here.

“What? Hurry up, will you?”

“Did you ever deceive Haruta Kou?”

“Deceive? What are you talking about? That’s a terrible thing to suggest.”

…Got her.

“No, don’t get me wrong. I’m asking out of genuine admiration.”

“Huh? I seriously don’t get what you’re saying.”

I had to keep her engaged and deepen her interest in the conversation.

“From what I heard, you were quite clever in middle school, always a step ahead of everyone. I can't help but admire that kind of wit and cunning.”

“Well, I suppose that’s true,” she said, a faint smirk forming.

“I heard you managed to outsmart a lot of people, Hareta included. I was hoping to learn a bit about how you did it.”

Her smirk grew, and she seemed more interested.

“Well, I wouldn’t say ‘outsmarted,’ but I did know how to handle people. Hareta was no exception.”

Perfect. Now I had her talking.

“So, what exactly did you do to Hareta? It sounds like it was something impressive.”

She hesitated for a moment but then started to open up.

“Alright, but this stays between us, got it? I made him believe that I liked him, just to see how far he’d go for me. It was all in good fun.”

I nodded, trying to hide my satisfaction. Now, I had the leverage I needed for the next step.

“Thank you for sharing that. It helps a lot. I appreciate your honesty.”

Kumoi seemed pleased with herself, and I was ready to proceed with my plan to reunite her with Hareta.

“Hareta Kou has grown into an incredibly popular guy. He’s top of his class, excels at sports, is a strong fighter, and has an androgynous yet attractive face. On top of all that, his low self-esteem stirs a protective instinct in girls, making him even more appealing. Just listing these qualities, you can see he’s quite the phenomenon.”

Listing them out like that really makes him sound like a monster, like some custom order from the gods or something.

“Wow, really? Wait, what’s this about stirring protective instincts?”

“However, as a fellow guy, this is incredibly frustrating. He monopolizes the attention of all the girls in our class, leaving the rest of us without a chance. His indecisive attitude, never committing to any one girl, creates a situation that’s unacceptable for those of us at this sensitive age.”

Saori looked like she was trying hard to suppress her laughter. Even though she’s grown a bit more mature, her curiosity is still the same.

“So, what does that have to do with me? I don’t see how I’m involved. And what's this about monopolizing attention?”

“No, it has everything to do with you. Kumoi-san, as you are the only one who has ever managed to bring him down a notch. We need you to meet with him once more and help us.”

The atmosphere relaxed.

People with personalities like hers genuinely appreciate blatant flattery. Girls who strive to be seen as the cutest love being praised.

“Hey, what do you mean by ‘bringing him down a notch’? Your talk is too complicated.”

…Okay, so maybe it didn't relax.

No, don't get me wrong. I actually like these types of airheaded girls. It’s just that they always dislike me, so I usually keep my distance.

We're a terrible match, though.

“In simple terms, I mean defeating him. That’s why I respect you.”

“Hmm, I still don’t quite get it.”

This time, she seemed genuinely pleased. Let's keep going.

“But this isn’t just about us. Because of what you did in the past, his pride was shattered. I believe his unconscious womanizing is a result of that.”

Exactly.

If Hareta didn't misunderstand on his own, but rather had all hints of a relationship with her intentionally erased, then it’s clear Kumoi had orchestrated it. With no other reasonable explanation, this conclusion is inevitable.

Rooting our theory in what Kazami said, there are plausible inferences we can draw. Even if it seems a bit of a stretch, we can make it fit within the story.

Alright, let’s get started.

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