NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60 - I Made Friends at School - 02
Rattle, rattle, rattle
Kenya and Reina entered the classroom.
Everyone looked at the two and started murmuring.
(What’s going on? It’s unusually noisy today.)
Actually, since they entered the school, someone or other had been looking at them and pointing.
Well, it couldn’t be helped, since Reina was a famous person.
“No way… they really came together.”
“So that article was true after all.”
Kenya sat down at his seat by the window.
“Good morning, Mikensuke! Accompanying Lady Reina again today? How enviable!”
“Oh, Owada. Good morning. By the way, did something happen?”
Owada, the boy sitting in front of Kenya, had an otaku look with a bob haircut and glasses.
Kenya didn’t know much about him, except that he was a top student and loved anime.
Since Sato left, Owada had started talking to Kenya almost every day.
Kenya had no friends due to being bullied, so his conversations with Owada, his only male friend, were enjoyable and made him happy.
“Mikensuke! Haven’t you seen the news? It’s about you two!”
Owada, speaking in his slightly peculiar way, showed Kenya a news article on his smartphone.
“No, I haven’t. Let’s see… ‘Hero Reina in Love Scandal! The Mysterious Man in the Wheelchair is a Celebrity Adventurer…’ Wait, that’s a picture of me and Reina!”
The photo showed Kenya and Reina moving into their new house.
“That’s right! Cohabiting already, even as students. As expected of the main character… But you better use protection, or it’ll be serious trouble!”
“We’re not doing anything like that!”
“No way! You’ve already experienced mating press?!”
“No, no! I mean we haven’t done anything that requires protection! And this has gone nationwide, hasn’t it? Oh man… but I guess it can’t be helped, considering Reina’s fame.”
“Haha! It must be tough being famous. Even though she’s taking a break, Reina is still a global star.”
Reina had paused her modeling career.
Her contract with Sato’s company had ended, and she wasn’t taking on any new jobs.
She wasn’t particularly fond of modeling, so she had no intention of returning to it either.
Yet, her old commercials and posters could still be seen everywhere.
“Well, it’s true that we’re living together, but that’s because she joined my guild.”
“Oh! Mikensuke, you’ve created a guild?”
“Yeah, though the name’s pretty simple: Miken Family.”
“That’s a great name! I’d love to start my own guild one day!”
It turned out that Owada had registered as an adventurer and was diving into dungeons daily.
Although he couldn’t yet pass through the dense jungle area, he was working hard to build up his strength by grinding the lower floors.
Rattle, rattle, rattle
“Alright, sit down!”
The teacher entered as usual, and class began as always.
The only difference was…
“Ah, Yamada, Yamazaki, Adachi, and Abe have transferred, so keep that in mind.”
(No way, all of Sato’s group transferred? What happened?)
Sato’s entire group, the same one that had groveled before Nana that day, had transferred.
Kenya didn’t know what had happened, but the common factor was that they were all Sato’s friends.
It seemed the teacher didn’t care much either, announcing the transfer casually.
“Hey, Owada… all of Sato’s group is gone.”
Kenya whispered behind Owada’s back.
Owada responded in a similar whisper.
“Mikensuke, do you have a moment at lunch today? There’s something I want to talk about.”
“What is it, so suddenly?”
“It’s about taking responsibility. It’s something I must do, for the sake of my justice… and for the wrong I’ve done to you, Mikensuke.”
“What are you talking about? You’re making this sound scary.”
The rest of the class passed by as usual, though there was a slightly awkward atmosphere between Kenya and Owada.
…
Lunchtime
“Kenya, if you’d like, shall we have lunch together?”
“Sorry, Reina. I’ve already made plans with Owada for today.”
“I-I see… Okay, then. (´・ω・｀)”
Reina visibly drooped with disappointment, but another group of girls invited her, so it worked out fine.
“Sorry about this, Mikensuke…”
“No, it’s fine. This is important, right?”
Owada nodded firmly and led Kenya out of the classroom.
Kenya followed him to another room.
“Is this the club room?”
There was a sign on the door that read “Manga Research Club.”
Owada had indeed mentioned he was part of this club. He’d said he liked anime and manga.
“Mikensuke…”
Owada stood with his back to the window.
The curtains blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only a faint glow that highlighted Owada.
His usual easygoing demeanor had vanished, replaced by the determined gaze of a man who had made up his mind.
“Owada, about what you wanted to talk—”
“Sato’s group transferred today.”
“Yeah…”
Owada, who had been facing the window, turned to face Kenya.
He took off his glasses and looked directly at Kenya with serious eyes.