Chapter 36: I, Aki Tomoya, Am a Protagonist!
At the school gate, most students had already left. Eriri was tapping her foot, waiting.
"Eriri." Ren walked up and lightly patted her.
She looked up, pouted, and complained, "Why are you so slow? You made me stand here waiting."
"Sorry. As club president, I had to check on the club. How about I treat you to a meal this weekend as an apology?"
She tossed her head haughtily. "Hmph, that's more like it."
The two walked side by side. "What did you want to tell me?"
He got straight to the point. "My club is still missing one member. I'd like you to help register."
"Is that all? No problem. I thought it was something big."
"Then it's settled. I'll treat you to a big meal."
"What kind of club is it?"
He told her openly. "The Supernatural Research Club."
"Huh?" Her big, watery eyes blinked. You're kidding me.
"That's right. A club that researches supernatural phenomena and accepts requests for investigations."
"…" "Eek…" She took a small step away, making a disgusted expression. Of course, it was just playful.
"Hey, hey, don't make such an exaggerated face!" His brow furrowed. He placed both hands on her small face and kneaded it. "Wuwuwu, don't do that…" she struggled.
Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms and took a step back. "Mmm!" She froze, pressed against his chest, and looked up blankly, her cheeks flushing. Just as she was about to shyly call out, a rapidly cycling bicycle passed through the spot where they had just been.
He let go. She reluctantly left his embrace but saw him frowning, staring at the person on the bike. She understood that if he hadn't pulled her away, she would have been hit. Immediately, she was furious. "Who was that?! Don't they look where they're going?!"
He turned, rubbed her head, and said gently, "Forget it, as long as you're okay."
"Mmm… Okay." A gentle tone. Warm tenderness. Her temper vanished.
The person on the bicycle looked back and saw this scene. His eyes widened, and he gripped the handlebars tightly, gritting his teeth. "Traitor! Bastard! These two!" He had deliberately ridden so fast, deliberately crashed towards her. He was very annoyed.
My name is Aki Tomoya. I'm a super otaku. In elementary school, I had a cute childhood friend, Eriri. She was also an otaku. We were good friends. Until that day, she betrayed me. Because our classmates discriminated against otaku, we were ostracized. I chose to argue, but Eriri chose to escape. She pretended to quit and asked me not to talk to her at school.
In middle school, we were still classmates, but she was playing very well with another boy, a boy I hadn't noticed before: Ren. They laughed and chatted every day. Actually, I knew her secret. Ren couldn't possibly know. I thought that, until she told me he was also an insider. I was furious! Another betrayal!
I questioned her. "Why is it that he's also an otaku, but he can talk to you at school? Why can't I?!"
She just said, "Because I want a normal school life! I don't want others to know! Because Ren won't discuss these things at school! Why do you think that just because I like these things, I have to let others know?! You might not care what others think, but I do!"
[Inorin Note:
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