Chapter 121: Metedashi metedashi

It was hard to believe that such a dramatic confrontation could end so neatly. The following week, Arisu backed off completely. I’d initially flinched at the sight of her, worried about another clash with Aya, but thankfully, it never happened.

Arisu and Aya acted as if nothing had happened.

After the meeting that day, I cautiously approached Mizuki.

“Mizuki, so… are they okay now?”
“Hmm… I think so? They seem to be back to how they were in middle school.”
“They’re not awkward around each other because of me, are they…?”

Mizuki chuckled.

“Nah, they’re not like that, neither Aya-ring nor Arisu.”

I decided to trust Mizuki’s words. Aya and Arisu were talking a short distance away. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but they didn’t seem awkward.

‘They’re really okay, right…?’

As I watched them, I suddenly made eye contact with Arisu.
‘Oops.’

Arisu waved at me slightly. I felt awkward smiling and waving back, so I averted my gaze.
Aya, noticing this, smiled. I couldn’t tell exactly what her smile meant, but it felt like she was asking, ‘Rina, do you not like Arisu?’

‘Well, if Aya’s okay with it, then it’s fine.’

After the meeting, as we were leaving, Arisu got into a black car waiting near the school gate.

Come to think of it, both Aya and Mizuki came from wealthy families who could afford chauffeured cars, so it was actually strange that they walked to and from school. It was probably for plot convenience in the novel, to create those “chance encounters” on the way to school… but this was reality.

“Mizuki~ See you!”
“See you, Ayaring, Rina-tan!”

We waved goodbye to Mizuki at our usual parting spot. As Aya and I walked home together, I glanced at her and asked,

“Aya.”
“Yes?”
“Is there a reason you don’t take a car to school, besides wanting to exercise?”
“Hmm~ It’s just a routine, I guess.”
“No special reason?”
“Well, I used to not want to see my sister, but now I have a reason.”

Oh, oh, wait a minute, Ayaaaa…!

“…She’s right beside me.”
“Eek!”

Aya’s blatant flirting made my face flush. She was such a smooth operator. No wonder both girls and boys fell for her. If she hadn’t shown me special attention from the start, I wouldn’t have been able to stay by her side…

****

Back home, I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted.

“Haa… Home sweet home!”

I lazed around for a bit, then picked up my phone, opened Twitter, and scrolled through my feed. I noticed a familiar name.

Sapphire Diva, Kasumi Reira. The incredibly popular center of the idol group Jewelic☆Forte.

‘Ah, I helped her out once.’

I’d learned about her hidden struggles. I vaguely remembered the incident before the spring festival, and then a scene from the novel popped into my head.

‘She played a big role during the sports festival, right?’

I sat up in bed, staring at Reira’s picture on my phone. I took out the notebook I’d been writing in since I arrived in this world, realizing it had already been half a year.

“Let’s see, what did Reira do during the sports festival…”

I flipped through the notebook, reading my notes. I’d become so accustomed to this world that I could barely remember the plot without my notes.

Autumn Sports Festival – Third-year representative, Kasumi Reira. Final runner for the White Team. Closed a gap of over 50 meters in the final lap, winning the relay race.

‘Ah… as expected.’

Even at the prestigious Takamari Academy, the main characters were ridiculously talented, almost like professional athletes. Kasumi was the same, excelling in everything from sports and academics to music, acting, and being an idol.

“This will probably happen in reality too, right?”

I muttered to myself, watching a clip of Kasumi’s incredible athleticism on a variety show.

‘Ooh—Her name is Kasumi Reira! Breaking through with her incredible strength!’

The typical over-the-top Japanese announcer commentary played automatically. How could someone with such a delicate face possess such superhuman strength? If the novel’s events played out in reality, Reira’s team would likely be losing throughout the sports festival until she secured their victory in the final relay race.

“Hmm… But even if I know this, what can I do with this information…?”

There had already been a commotion because of Arisu’s interest in me. And now, if I tried to pull the same stunt as the protagonist with Kasumi, an idol two years younger than me…

It would be chaos.
Well, I could at least promote her on Twitter for her fans.

As I was chuckling to myself, my phone buzzed with a notification.

Aya: Rina, my sister wants to walk to school with me tomorrow morning…
Aya: So I won’t be able to meet you.

“Ah… I see.”

It was still strange to think that I was friends, or at least friendly, with these kinds of people. It was both fascinating and… a little overwhelming.

****

The day before the sports festival arrived.
School ended early, and only the students involved in preparations remained on the field.

“Okay~! From here to there, spread the white powder along the lines!”

Following the P.E. teachers’ instructions, the student council members were busy setting up the temporary sports grounds.

“Ugh, this is heavier than I thought…”

I grumbled, pushing a cart filled with white powder and scattering it along the lines. Then I heard a chuckle beside me.

“Rina, that’s too heavy for you to carry alone. I’ll help.”

I turned around. It was Arisu.

“Ah… thanks.”

I flinched involuntarily, but Arisu approached casually. We lifted the cart together and continued spreading the powder.

‘Just two weeks ago, things were so complicated…’

Being able to work with Arisu so naturally now felt surreal, considering the intensity of our previous encounter.

I glanced around. Aya was helping other students set up tents nearby. She’d clearly seen Arisu and me working together, but her expression remained unchanged.

“Arisu.”
“Yes?”
“Are you… really okay with Aya?”

Arisu seemed to think for a moment, then replied slowly,

“Honestly, I thought it would be awkward at first, but once we talked… it felt natural.”
“Natural?”
“Yeah. Aya already understood, and I had no reason to hold onto my resentment. We’re just friends again.”
“I see…”

That was good, but… it seemed a little too quick? Especially considering the subtle tensions and power dynamics between girls. They might seem like they’d reconciled on the surface, but it was common for them to avoid each other or refuse to talk when they were alone.

“But are you okay, Rina?”

“Yeah… To be honest, it’s still a little awkward… But Aya seems fine, right?”

Arisu smiled brightly at my reply.

“That’s so like you, Rina. I like how you only have eyes for Aya.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah, in Korea, there’s a legend about a woman who waited for her lover for so long that she turned into stone. You remind me of her.”
“Eek…”

As a Korean in my past life, of course, I knew the story of the “망부석” (waiting wife stone).
My face flushed at the unexpected comparison. Just then, I saw Aya walking towards us.

“Rina, Arisu. Come help us if you’re finished.”

Aya said, wiping the sweat from her brow. She didn’t seem jealous at all, even though I’d been chatting with Arisu.

“Yeah, I’ll be right there…”

I glanced at Arisu, then quickly went over to Aya. Arisu chuckled.

“I’ll go help somewhere else. Don’t get too lovey-dovey, you two.”

Arisu’s teasing made my face flush. As she waved goodbye playfully, I muttered to myself,

‘Seriously… does Arisu live for teasing people?’

But Aya could be just as teasing.
She smiled at me, tilting her head slightly.
Yeah… she was definitely jealous.