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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Childhood Friend, Tsukimiya Akane
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"Sana, we'll be off then."
"See you later~."
"Have a safe trip, both of you."
We left the Kurosaki house amid Sana's gentle send-off.
The Rune Academy is divided into elementary, middle, and high school sections, each lasting six years.
The labels are the same as in the old world—elementary, middle, high—but the middle section lasts six years, essentially combining what used to be middle and high school.
That means everyone in our high school section is a full adult. Even if some killer bodies show up, no one's raising eyebrows. No worries about child protection laws here.
(※All characters in this story are adults.)
In other words, even Hina looks so young, but she's a proper adult.
Though no matter how you slice it, she still looks like a middle schooler.
Ugh~ Alone with the blondie. So gross! Feels like I'm gonna get sexually harassed!
That's harsh. What does she think I am?
Hina was in the academy's middle section until last year, while Yuuki and I were in high school.
Even before our paths split, Yuuki always came to school with us, so this was the first time Hina and I were heading there alone together.
"Hina, since it's just us for once, how about we hold hands on the way?"
"Eww! Abso~~~lutely not! Don't you dare touch me! Stay 100 meters away! Pervert! Blond! Thug!"
Oh no! That might've been too much...
Regretting her words the moment they slipped out—that was classic Hina.
Like my big sister Naiad, I'm mixed-race too, with blond hair and blue eyes.
In a Japan full of black hair and black eyes (or this world's fictional version of it, anyway), that kind of standout look breeds discrimination. People like Yuuki or Sana who treat me normally are the rare ones.
It was especially bad when I was a kid.
If Yuuki hadn't befriended me back then, I might've gone off the rails even before possessing this body.
And Hina knew all too well how I'd been bullied over my hair color and looks.
"That's too much... I just wanted to get closer to you, Hina. Don't you like me at all?"
"Ah, n-no, it's not like I hate you that much..."
Poking at her conscience with a deliberate sad act, I watched Hina fumble in panic.
Man, she's adorable.
Then, to make up for her slip, Hina magnanimously offered,
"F-Fine, you can walk next to me! But no holding hands, absolutely not!"
"Yes, yes, I'm honored."
Even walking side-by-side needs permission.
What is she, some princess from a far-off kingdom?
Phew. Good thing. Blondie doesn't seem that mad.
Sensing her unexpected concern, I decided to play nice and scooted in until her shoulder brushed my arm.
"Walking side-by-side is fine, right?"
But Hina grimaced and stepped away.
So I closed the gap again.
She backed off once more.
I sidled up...
"Eek!"
Finally, Hina balled her fists and snapped.
"Okay, okay, I won't do it anymore."
I backed off laughing before she could swing.
Annoying jerk! The second I let my guard down even a little, he pulls this crap! Blond thug!
Hina was ripping me apart in her head, but I just grinned vacantly.
Her little curses didn't faze me one bit.
Because there were far worse people out there than Hina.
"Hey! Naibusu, Hina."
──Like the woman who'd just shown up.
In Japanese, there's this term "hara-guro." Literally "black belly."
It means someone sinister and scheming.
Tsukimiya Akane.
Our other childhood friend with Yuuki fit the term to a T.
"Naibusu! Morning!"
Akane linked arms with me like we were besties.
Among the students, Akane had a pretty decent figure.
Her ample chest pressed against my arm, but honestly? No spark whatsoever.
I knew exactly what she was after.
"Huh? Where's Yuu?"
"She caught a cold, staying home today."
Pretty face, sweet personality, excels at studies and sports—no flaws.
Akane was also Yuuki's first crush.
"A cold? Is she okay?"
She asked with a worried look.
But her inner voice told a different story──
No Yuu? What a waste of time waiting! Stuck going to school with these nobodies? Boring! Such a hassle~!
──Need I say more? That's why I can't stand her.
Unlike Hina, whose thoughts matched her actions, Akane's inner voice clashed completely with her behavior. And this was her tame side.
"Naibusu! Hope we're in the same class this year!"
Do I really have to pretend with him when Yuu's not here? Hina's watching, so I can't relax. Still, Naibusu creeps me out—not sure what he's thinking, always smirking. Looks decent enough to use for stirring Yuu up, though.
Long story short, Akane likes Yuuki.
But her "like" is a twisted mess, far from the normal kind.
They should just date already. Yuuki likes her back, after all.
But instead, Akane pretends to like me around Yuuki.
Only when Yuuki's watching.
Seeing me and Akane get along makes crush-struck Yuuki jealous.
She butts into our chats needlessly or crashes our one-on-ones.
Akane gets off on it.
To egg Yuuki on, she'll hook arms with me or hold my hand—total fakery.
Then Yuuki goes haywire trying to grab Akane's attention. Akane swoons at the sight.
I'm just the tool she uses to feed her warped desires. Gross.
I once got fed up and warned Yuuki privately.
Akane wasn't that great—don't fall too hard.
But Yuuki turned beet red and sputtered, "It's not Akane I like!"—the classic denial.
Wouldn't say who, either.
I can't read Yuuki's mind, but I'm not blind enough to miss it.
In the original game, Yuuki liked Akane too.
Got all fidgety whenever Akane play-acted with me.
Asked me a million times if I liked Akane.
After plowing through countless pure-love stories, even a blind man could see it. Yuuki likes Akane. Dense protagonists are fiction only.
Since she wants to play pretend, I stopped bringing it up.
Just hope she doesn't get duped by a snake like Akane. That innocent fool.
The original Yuuki had too many bad ends. Here's hoping real life treats her better.
Build a harem, rack up girls left and right.
I couldn't pull off pure love, but Yuuki? Easy.
"Take care of me too, Hina. Ask about anything high school-related!"
What a pain. What a pain. Pain. Pain! Pain!!
"Looking forward to it, Akane sis!"
Hehe. Glad I can walk with Akane sis. Was dreading going to the academy alone with this blond jerk.
This brat! Slagging me off already!
And she hates good guys like me so much but trusts that witch Akane blindly!
Truth is, Hina's attitude was all part of Akane's scheme.
To Akane, who craves Yuuki, Hina's just an obstacle.
Her brocon sis won't forgive any girl near her brother.
But by faking a crush on me instead of Yuuki, Akane pulled Hina to her side.
Hina bought it hook, line, and sinker. Akane's not the enemy—she's an ally. Siblings both too naive.
With Hina's trust secured, Akane snitched on girls approaching Yuuki, siccing Hina on them to block Yuuki's orbit.
Classic divide-and-conquer.
Hina followed like a loyal hound, clueless.
"So, is Yuu okay? Skipping academy entirely—bad cold?"
Pain! No Yuu, stuck babysitting these nobodies. Pain pain!
"Dunno. Said she might be contagious, won't even let me in her room."
How can I sneak into big bro's room naturally? Akane sis might have tips. Ask later when the blond pest leaves!
"That's worrying. Hope she feels better."
Useless. What's the point of her? Walking with her 'cause she's Yuu's sis. Total waste.
Totally out of sync.
And somehow, we agree I'm the pest. Damn it.
"So, Naibusu, what club this year?"
"Hm? Club? Not sure yet..."
This nobody will tail whatever club Yuu picks, right? Then I just follow Naibusu to join Yuu's club!
Hmph. Wonder why Akane cares about my club—ah, figures.
"Gonna talk it over with Yuuki first. See her tomorrow, ask then."
I'm officially joining the Student Council President's Guard this year.
Planning to drag Yuuki in too, but no need to tell Akane.
She's annoying enough.
"Oh? Guess I'll decide slowly then~."
Hmph. Utterly useless.
"Akane sis, can underclassmen join clubs with upperclassmen?"
"Of course. Wanna do one together, Hina? All four of us."
Sigh~ Then I'd have to walk home with them too? Total pain! Can't she take a hint and bail?
"Really? Count me in! Wanna do it with big bro!"
Hehe. After classes, club together, then home together. Blond thug tagging along sucks, but I can dump him on Akane sis.
"Tomorrow, we all decide with Yuu."
How to recycle these nobodies separately? Such a hassle.
Their thoughts are a riot.
I'm no hot potato, but they're passing me around like one.
What am I, trash? I'm popular elsewhere, damn it!
I tuned out their chatter and mind-reading as we headed to the academy.
The town we live in is a special district called Rune Town.
Rune Holders—people born with special abilities called runes.
If even one family member is a Rune Holder, the country provides housing in Rune Town.
Rune Town boasts Tokyo's top infrastructure.
Free housing, free tuition, free healthcare. Job placement to match your skills. Disability support without work requirements—no taxes either.
Sounds like Rune Holders and their families get massive perks.
But the reality wasn't so pretty.
"Naibusu?"
What's he spacing out for? Annoying. Wanna ditch him.
"Ah, sorry. Was lost in thought."
Akane smiled softly, belying her crude thoughts.
"Hehe. It's fine. Can't blame you for staring when I'm this close, right?"
Akane looked up.
Hina followed her gaze.
Tokyo Minato Ward, Shiba Park 4-chome 2-8.
Where Tokyo Tower should've stood as the city's landmark.
But now, an ominous spire called the Rune Tower loomed over us.