Chapter 118: How did it turn out like this?

Listening to the voices from behind the door, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Were those prestigious young ladies actually arguing over me?

What…

This was some next-level delusion… I wasn’t some male protagonist in a novel. As far as I knew, the Kirihara family was incredibly wealthy, and the Yukikawas were a super-rich family that controlled the medical industry… For them to be fighting over an ordinary person like me… this world had gone mad.

“Hmm…”

I heard something fall inside. Startled, I instinctively took a step back and stumbled.

Thud—

“Who’s there?”

I heard footsteps approaching the door. My heart stopped. I turned and ran.

‘I’ve been caught!’

I ran down the hallway and down the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest.

I ran all the way home, breathless, and collapsed onto my bed, face down.

“Haa… haa…”

Seriously… what was going on?
My head started to pound.
Kirihara Arisu and Aya arguing over me…

Was I living in a fantasy world? Or was this happening because I’d taken the male protagonist’s place in the novel?

“…No. Get a grip, Rina. You’re just an ordinary student… a mob character…”

I muttered to myself, but it wasn’t very comforting. The events of the day swirled in my mind. I picked up my phone and checked the calendar.

“Autumnal Equinox… holiday…?”

I noticed the red mark on the calendar. This weekend was a three-day holiday. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

“Haa… We would have made plans if it were a holiday weekend… I can’t believe I forgot…”

Normally, I would have been excited about a long weekend, but now, I resented it. Should I try to meet Aya during the break? Or talk to Mizuki? What about Arisu?

It was absurd. I felt like I’d become the protagonist of the most complicated relationship drama overnight. I buried my face in my pillow and thrashed around.

“Ugh… I don’t know what to doooo…!”

No matter how much I screamed, there was no one to answer.

****

Rewinding time slightly…

“…Rina.”

Everyone in the room knew who Rina was, the girl who had just run away. Yurika pressed her hand against her forehead as she watched Rina flee.

“…So Kurosawa-san heard everything.”

The heated discussion had ended, and the conclusion had been reached. And now, with Rina having overheard their argument, there was no point in delaying things any longer. Yurika placed her hands on their shoulders.

“Kirihara-san, how about this? If you can’t spend time with Rina this weekend, you’ll give up on her completely.”

Arisu lowered her head. Up until now, her feelings for Rina had been a mix of revenge, jealousy, and other complicated emotions… But now, presented with this opportunity, she felt her heart race.

‘Seduce Kurosawa Rina…’

Even though it sounded absurd, a strange thrill coursed through Arisu. She slowly looked up at Aya.
Aya’s gaze wavered.

“…Alright. I accept.”

Arisu said calmly. Aya’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She took a deep breath and said,

“Fine. If you can’t win Rina over, you’ll never touch her again.”

Arisu smiled challengingly.

“I’m ready, Yukikawa. I don’t plan on losing that easily.”

Yurika lowered her head, watching the tension between them.

‘Kurosawa-san… only has eyes for Aya. I hope this ends with them reconciling.’

“Now, stop it. Stop calling each other by your last names. You used to be friends. Why are you fighting like this? Make up.”

Aya and Arisu shook hands. And… Mizuki, watching this scene unfold, was confused.
How did things end up like this?

****

The weekend arrived without any resolution.
I hadn’t planned to meet my friends during the long weekend. From the bits and pieces I’d overheard… Arisu seemed to be interested in me. I couldn’t remember the exact words.

“Ugh…”

I groaned, rolling around on my bed, then picked up my phone, intending to read some web novels, but put it down again. I couldn’t focus.

Just then, my LINE notification startled me. My heart sank as I picked up my phone.

‘Aya…?!’

I’d sent Aya several messages last night, but she hadn’t replied. I eagerly checked my phone, hoping it was from her, but it was from Arisu.

BadGirl: Rina, what are you doing?

I sat up abruptly, surprised.

‘Arisu…? Why all of a sudden?’

I bit my lip, staring at the message. My fingers hovered over the keyboard.

What should I reply? Why was she messaging me out of the blue? I couldn’t just ignore her…

As I was agonizing over my response, another message arrived.

BadGirl: Are you busy? Did I do something wrong?

“Ugh, yes, you did something wrong! You’re hurting Aya…!”

I shadowboxed with my own reflection, then, after much deliberation, sent a short reply.

Rina: Just relaxing at home… What’s up?

A quick reply came back.

BadGirl: Nothing much. Just wanted to talk. You seem to be avoiding me lately…

This was making things awkward! I hesitated to reply, then glanced at my LINE chat with Aya, feeling even more dejected.

‘Aya… Why isn’t she replying?’

Aya hadn’t even read my messages.
Was she busy? Or was I the one who did something wrong? My heart ached with confusion and worry.

Then, another notification. My heart leaped, but it was Arisu again.

BadGirl: Are you free to meet up today? It’s nothing serious… I just want to tell you something in person.

Something she wanted to tell me in person… This… didn’t sound good.

I put my phone under my pillow and buried my face in the blankets. Ugh… Arisu’s messages were making me uncomfortable… and Aya was nowhere to be found…
After tossing and turning for a while, I finally decided to get up.

I sat on my bed, phone in hand, still agonizing over what to do, but Aya still hadn’t replied.

‘Well, it’s better to go out than stay cooped up at home.’

I wasn’t in the mood to dress up. I didn’t bother with my usual frilly, lacy clothes. I just threw on a casual t-shirt and jeans and tied my slightly longer hair into a ponytail. I put on a cap and looked in the mirror.

‘I look like a boy…’

Mizuki liked dressing like this… but on me, who was at least 10cm shorter than her, I just looked like a short little boy.
I sighed and headed towards the meeting place.

The shopping district was crowded with weekend shoppers. I kept my head down, trying to blend in with the crowd, when I heard a familiar voice.

“Rina.”

I looked up and froze. Standing before me was Arisu, dressed like a princess. Unlike her usual boyish look in her school uniform, she was wearing a pale ivory dress that accentuated her feminine features.

“A-Arisu… Why are you dressed like…”

My heart skipped a beat. How did she know I liked girls who looked like this?
But I quickly shook my head.

‘No. Get a grip, Rina! This is Arisu!’

I deliberately avoided her gaze and lowered my voice.

“So, why did you want to meet?”

Arisu tilted her head and smiled faintly, a smile that could charm any girl.

“Do I need a reason to see you?”
“…Eh?”

Arisu stepped closer and said softly,

“Isn’t this what you call a date?”

My face burned. The casual way she said “date” made my head spin. I wanted to get out of this situation.

“Arisu, I’m not—”

Just then,

“Rina-tan~!”

A welcome voice in this awkward situation.
Mizuki emerged from the crowd.

“Mizuki!”

I waved at her as if she were my savior, but Mizuki’s words surprised me.

“Rina-tan, just for today.”
“…Huh?”

Mizuki looked at me apologetically. I immediately understood.
This was… part of the plan to reconcile Aya and Arisu.

“Rina-tan, just trust me and go along with it for today. Please.”

Mizuki’s voice was almost pleading. I bit my lip, looked at Mizuki, glared at Arisu, and finally said quietly,

“…Okay, fine.”

I didn’t understand why it had to be Arisu and Mizuki… but if it would help them make up, I could play along…