NOVEL NEXT chapter 31
31. A Direct Confrontation
As we approach the school, Mashiro and I attract many gazes from the surrounding students.
However, these are not the ‘clear hostility’ stares we experienced last week; rather, they are looks that are closer to envy.
I can already feel the impact of having dyed my hair black and changed to a refreshing short style. More than anything, everyone is captivated by the sight of her walking beside me.
Just by walking like this, Mashiro makes the space of the school route shine. That light is so intense for the background characters, the mob characters, that it’s only natural for them to be entranced.
And even while walking next to her, there is absolutely no jealousy or hatred directed at me.
If I had still looked like a delinquent, there would have been stares and words filled with negative feelings like, “Why is such a cute girl with a guy like that?”
But now I have become someone worthy of walking beside the strongest beauty, Mashiro. In other words, I have transformed into a good young man who can walk alongside her, rather than just being her supporting role.
However, being under different gazes feels a bit ticklish. I felt an unusual discomfort that was different from usual.
Noticing my change, Mashiro let out a small laugh. Then, leaning closer, she opened her mouth cheerfully.
“Ryusuke, you seem a bit nervous, huh?”
“Nervous, well… it’s just that the reactions around us are completely different from usual, so it feels a bit strange.”
“Ahaha, I can understand that. When I dyed my hair black and made it look more elegant, I started getting looked at a lot more while going to school and being at school. So I can kind of understand how you feel, Ryusuke.”
“I knew it. Well, regardless of me, Mashiro is the cutest of them all. You’re stylish, have a good personality, and just by being there, the atmosphere changes. It’s no wonder people react this way.”
Perhaps because I was in an environment different from usual, I unconsciously said compliments to Mashiro that I would never usually voice. Of course, she heard that too, and she looked up at my face with wide eyes.
Immediately after, with her face turning red, Mashiro turned away, grabbing my sleeve and murmuring with her head down.
“Th-That was a cheap shot. You idiot, Ryusuke…”
“…! No, I didn’t mean it as a cheap shot! It’s just that, um, what I usually think suddenly came out…!”
“R-Ryusuke, you’re piling on the pressure! Saying you thought about it usually… geez!”
“Ah, no… this is, um…”
I had completely dug my own grave.
Seeing Mashiro’s embarrassed face made my own cheeks heat up. In fact, I had just said something quite embarrassing.
And by the time I realized it, it was already too late.
While going to school, in a situation where there are lots of students around, I had been flirting with Mashiro, and the gazes directed at us intensified even more.
Perhaps Mashiro noticed those gazes as well, as she looked down with her face still bright red. I suddenly felt embarrassed too and scratched my cheek, and we both fell silent.
For a while, we continued walking in silence.
But it wasn’t an unpleasant silence. Rather, a warm, gentle atmosphere flowed between us, and it felt strangely comforting.
Thus, we arrived at the school.
As many students passed through the school gate, Mashiro came to a stop.
“What’s wrong, Mashiro?”
“Um, Ryusuke. Could you turn this way for a moment?”
“Hm?”
As I turned to face Mashiro as she asked, she stretched up and reached for my tie. After adjusting the knot and straightening it, she let out a small laugh.
That smile was more mature than usual, with a hint of allure. As I found myself captivated by her, she slowly released her hand and whispered.
“All set. You look cool, Ryusuke.”
“…Ah, thanks. That makes me happy.”
“Yep! Now let’s head to the classroom. We have to surprise everyone.”
“Right. Let’s go.”
With that, Mashiro and I passed through the school gate and entered the building.
We received the same curious glances as we did on the way to school, both at the entrance and along the corridor leading to the classroom.
Since Mashiro is in Class 1, she arrived at the classroom before me. Just before entering, she lightly tapped my back.
“I’m cheering for you, Ryusuke. Do your best!”
“Yeah. I’ll come over as soon as lunch break starts. Wait for me.”
“Got it. I’ll be waiting.”
Then Mashiro opened the door to her class, and I opened the door to Class 2 right next to it.
From here on, I was alone.
I had to stand against the absurdities of this world by myself.
But I felt no anxiety.
Mashiro was cheering for me. Just that alone made me feel invincible.
As I entered the classroom, all my classmates turned their gazes toward me at once.
Since I had completely changed my image outside, many students didn’t recognize me as Shindo Ryusuke.
But it was different in this classroom.
No matter how much I dyed my hair and tried to look like a refreshing young man, my classmates recognized me as the villain, Shindo Ryusuke.
That said, I had no intention of backing down.
I had made up my mind. I would make Mashiro happy, and for that, I would change.
Reo wasn’t in the classroom yet. He was probably still at morning practice for the basketball club. However, all the other key figures were present.
(At last… Fusegawa Raito)
The heroines were wide-eyed in surprise, but the one most astonished by my transformation was the protagonist of this story, Fusegawa Raito.
The moment I entered the classroom, he stood up abruptly from his seat, his expression filled with shock and confusion. And he kept staring at me without ever looking away.
I can tell exactly what you’re thinking from that expression. You must be shouting in your mind right now:
“Wait!!?? I’m overlapping with him!!!!”
Ah, that’s right, I made it overlap.
If I, not a mob character, take on the appearance of a black-haired, short-haired archetypal protagonist, it’s only natural that I would overlap with the protagonist of this romantic comedy world, Fusegawa Yorito.
But that’s fine. In fact, that gives it meaning.
Last week, I acted as the villain towards you and managed to protect Mashiro from you. At that point, the world already recognized me as the perfect enemy of the protagonist.
So, I won’t run or hide anymore.
I will face you head-on, openly and honestly.
To overturn the future of ruin that existed in the original work, to enjoy youth together with Mashiro.
I will not be a villain, nor a mob character, nor a friend character; I will become the protagonist of this story. I will create irregularities that will shatter the original.
Is Fusegawa Yorito, who builds a harem with numerous heroines and enjoys a vibrant youth, truly the suitable protagonist?
Or am I, who continues to resist this world to make one girl happy, more deserving of the title of protagonist?
Let’s have a fair showdown――.