NOVEL NEXT chapter 7
7. Even When Pushed Away
Continuing to attend class while witnessing the dazzling scenes unfolding between the protagonist and the heroines, I suddenly realized it was already after school.
Today, coming to school like this had yielded many insights.
The mysterious explanation echoing in my mind confirmed that this was indeed a romantic comedy world, and the setting was “The Lovestruck Maiden is in Love with Fusegawa-kun.”
I also clearly recognized my position in this world.
I, Ryusuke Shindo, exist solely to enhance the protagonist’s story as a villain, destined to oppose the protagonists and meet a ruinous end in the original narrative.
Moreover, this world seems to exert a kind of force to ensure I fulfill my role as a villain, pushing the other background characters to make sure I play my part as scripted. I am fated to follow the original storyline.
However, no matter what the world dictates, I have made my decision.
I will not be a villain; I will live my life as my true self and experience the best youth possible. I will surely overturn this ending that leads only to a bad conclusion.
As I pondered what I should do to achieve that, I continued walking along the school route bathed in the glow of the sunset.
Then, I heard a familiar voice and felt a light tap on my back.
“Hey, hey, Ryusuke. Let’s go home together!”
“…Mashiro, is that you?”
When I turned around, there was the familiar sight of the blonde girl, Mashiro. With a mischievous grin, she walked alongside me.
“Hey, how about we go to the game center now? It’s rare for me to come to school today, so I’ll treat you to celebrate!”
“No, I’ll pass. Maybe next time.”
“Eh? Then how about karaoke? After that, we can play games at my apartment until late!”
“I’ll pass on that too.”
“Um… oh, then how about dinner at a family restaurant? After we eat, we can go somewhere else…”
“I said I’m not going.”
As I continued to decline, Mashiro came to a stop.
I turned around to see Mashiro staring at me with worried eyes.
“…Why? Today, Ryusuke is acting strange, isn’t he? You’re usually cold, but… you’ve never turned down an invitation to hang out. We used to play together until late at night… so why the sudden change?”
There was a reason for my cold rejection towards Mashiro, who was so earnestly inviting me to play. It was something that was vital for both me and Mashiro in the future. So, even as guilt twisted my heart, I continued to decline her invitations.
“Sorry, Mashiro, but it’s not that simple.”
“It’s not that simple…? Is that the reason you’re not even replying to Kogane and Obayashi? It feels like something’s going on around you, and you’re trying to solve it… are you perhaps in a fight with someone!?”
Mashiro’s face turned pale as she grabbed my shoulders. Shaking me, she asked desperately.
“No, that’s not it. I’ve just lost interest in that kind of play.”
“Lost interest? What do you mean? All of a sudden—explain it to me!”
Mashiro raised her voice, unable to accept my words. But I couldn’t explain anything to her.
If we continued like this, we would be doomed.
Forced into a storyline that was antagonistic to the protagonists, we were destined to have our numerous wrongdoings exposed to the light of day and be socially annihilated.
And it was difficult to convey that. If Mashiro heard it, she would surely be bewildered, and who knows, she might even think I was going crazy and take me to the hospital.
But I wanted to avoid a future of ruin at all costs and enjoy a proper and happy youth in this world. I wanted to carry out everything I could to make that happen.
“Mashiro, we may have known each other for a long time, but I can’t explain.”
“Don’t say that, Ryusuke…”
I shook off Mashiro’s hand, which bore a pained expression, and continued speaking while still turned away from her.
My rejection like this was also for Mashiro’s future.
In the original story, after I faced the ending of ruin, she would inevitably follow the same path to destruction.
Swearing revenge against the protagonists who condemned her childhood friend, Shindo Ryusuke, she too would stand in their way as a villain—and eventually be defeated by the protagonists and exit the story.
However, if I could cut off our relationship here, there would be a chance to avoid Mashiro’s future of ruin.
Since my previous life when I was immersed in “Fusekoi,” I simply couldn’t accept Mashiro’s bad ending. Though she appears as a villain, I was moved by her struggle as she thought of her lost childhood friend.
Even if I couldn’t avoid my own future of ruin, I at least didn’t want Mashiro to meet a sad ending like in the original story. I wanted her to be happier and to be rewarded.
To save Mashiro from a future of ruin, I thought I should end my relationship with her right here.
“Hey, Mashiro, there’s something I’ve been keeping silent about until now.”
“What is it?”
“Actually, I hate gyaru.”
“Huh…?”
“I’m not fond of flashy, carefree appearances. To be honest, I don’t even know how to interact with them. I’ve kept quiet for a long time, but I prefer demure and quiet girls. I like normal black hair more than bleached blonde, and I want uniforms to be worn properly rather than casually. I’m not really a fan of heavy makeup either. My ideal woman is a serious, demure type.”
“R-Ryusuke?”
“So, I’m not comfortable with you. Please don’t get involved with me anymore. See you.”
I stood there, stunned, and told Mashiro just that before I started walking again.
With that, I should have been able to clearly push Mashiro away. I kept telling myself that it was necessary to protect her from a future of ruin, and I hurried home, feeling guilty about her.
――But just after that, I heard the sound of footsteps running on the asphalt, and it stopped next to me.
“What’s this? So that’s why Ryusuke was being cold to me? You could have said that sooner, you know? Don’t just keep quiet!”
When I turned to look in the direction of the voice, there was Mashiro. She was looking up at me with her usual demeanor, smiling innocently.
“…Did you not hear what I just said?”
“Eh, I did hear! I was surprised, and I thought it was seriously bad. I mean, to suddenly expose your type of girl like that, Ryusuke, that’s really something.”
“Then why are you so fine about it? I said I wasn’t good with you.”
“We’ve known each other since elementary school, right? Besides, I already knew you weren’t good with me. You’re always so cold, Ryusuke. But still, you’re kind in your own way. Even now, you’re trying to push me away for my sake, right? I don’t know the reason, but… I can tell right away because you look really sad, Ryusuke.”
Mashiro kept her cheerful smile, looking straight into my eyes as she spoke.
“Well, anyway, since I got something out of this, it’s all good. I see! If the reason you’re not good with me is because of my looks, then that makes things simple.”
While twirling her hair with her fingertips, Mashiro smiled at me. Then she spread her arms and twirled around, starting to show off her appearance.
The hem of her skirt floated lightly, revealing a glimpse of her white thighs. She didn’t seem to care about that at all and, with a mischievous grin, said to me:
“Just wait, okay? I’m going to overcome what you don’t like about me!”
“…Huh?”
“Then I’ll go out at night another time. I want to go home soon and prepare a bunch of things, and you look busy too. If you’re coming to school tomorrow, see you then!”
“Hey, Mashiro—!”
As I watched her back running away, ignoring my voice, I understood.
The bond between Shindo Ryusuke and Amanatsu Mashiro, which had continued since elementary school, was something that couldn’t be severed no matter what. No matter how cold I was or how much I told her I wasn’t good with her, she wouldn’t leave my side with that bright smile.
Were we destined to ruin together after all?
Or was there another way for the two of us, Mashiro and I, to overturn our fate and find happiness?
I didn’t know the answer to that right now.
What was certain for me was—this girl named Mashiro would always be Shindo Ryusuke’s childhood friend, and no matter what happened, our bond would never be broken.