Done being satisfied with being just a childhood friend?


    ?


    “Nakayama, do you have a minute? I’d like to include you in the group, so let’s talk.”?


    ?


    Ryuzaki, who was sitting in his seat, beckoned me over.?


    ?


    I was surprised because I didn’t expect to be asked to join the group.?


    ?


    To be honest, I wanted to refuse, but if I did, I would be disbelieved.?


    ?


    A mob character should not be able to defy the will of the main character.?


    ?


    As soon as I rebelled, Ryuzaki would become more aware of me……, which was not convenient.?


    ?


    It’s no use, I’ll just do as he says.?


    ?


    “All right.”?


    ?


    I stood up from my seat and headed for the center of the classroom where Ryuzaki’s seat was.?


    ?


    “Muu …”?


    ?


    I can’t help but notice that Shimotsuki looks at me and puffs out her cheeks in frustration. She and I have recently agreed to be in a group together. I want to make her wish come true as much as possible, but I’m not sure how it will turn out.?


    ?


    For the overnight learning program, we were supposed to form groups of four boys and four girls each, for a total of eight people.?


    ?


    I’m a mob character, so I only have Shimotsuki as a friend. So there was no one else who I could form a group with.?


    ?


    That’s why I should have been grateful for Ryuzaki’s invitation.?


    ?


    However, I don’t like this guy.?


    ?


    I don’t want to be in a group with him, but …… I’m not in a position to stand up to the protagonist head on, so it’s hard to answer.?


    ?


    Ideally, Shimotsuki and I would be together and Ryoma Ryuzaki’s group would be somewhere else. …… It seems that Shimotsuki and I didn’t have the human skills to do that.?


    ?


    “It looks like most of the other groups have already decided. You are the only one left, right? Our group needs one more person, so come on.”?


    ?


    That’s what he’s saying on the surface, but I can’t help feeling that there’s more to it.?


    ?


    Otherwise, there is no reason for Ryuzaki to invite me. I’m sure he has some idea of what he’s doing and is trying to get me to join the group.?


    ?


    I don’t want to do what Ryuzaki wants. …… No, no, no. There is no reason to refuse. It seems that you can’t go against the words of the protagonist. …… I guess this is the fate of mob characters.?


    ?


    I’m sorry, Shimotsuki.?


    ?


    It’s going to be difficult to fulfill your ideal.?


    ?


    But there is still a chance to avoid the worst.?


    ?


    At the very least, Shimotsuki should not be in the same group as Ryuzaki.?


    ?


    I don’t care what happens to me as long as that girl doesn’t feel bad. …… Well, what should I do??


    ?


    “What are you confused about?　…… Oh, I see. Do you hate it when Shiho isn’t around?”?


    ?


    I’ve got Ryuzaki mistakenly thinking that ‘I favor Shimotsuki’.?


    ?


    I thought about how I could use that to my advantage and get away with it.?


    ?


    “That’s true. …… But I don’t like the idea of Shimotsuki-san being with you, my rival. Hmm, that’s right! Let’s put Shimotsuki-san in a separate group for equality. This time, why don’t we develop a friendship between men without worrying about the opposite sex?”?


    ?


    Acting as the same nimble mob character as ever, I tried to keep Shimotsuki out of Ryuzaki’s clutches somehow.?


    ?


    But it was impossible.?


    ?


    “I’m going to invite Shiho to join the group this time. I’ve just asked Azusa and the others to invite her.”?


    ?


    He grinned and gave me a fearless smile.?


    ?


    I turned around in a huff and before I knew it, Azusa and the others were talking to Shimotsuki.?


    ?


    “You can’t blame them for getting along with a guy, right? And since you’re my rival, …… let’s play fair and square, shall we?　You’ve been acting suspiciously for a while now. It’s time for me to stop being satisfied with being just a childhood friend.”?


    ?


    That declaration sent a chill down my spine.?


    ?


    No matter what I say, the story won’t stop now. The mob characters don’t have the power to interrupt the story.?


    ?


    So the only hope left was for Shimotsuki to refuse the invitation.?


    ?


    “Ryoma Onii-chan, I got Shimotsuki-san’s consent too~”?


    ?


    I was almost nodding my head when I heard Azusa’s report when she came back.?


    ?


    What a surprise, Shimotsuki seems to have accepted the invitation even though Ryuzaki is there.?


    ?


    I can’t stop it.?


    ?


    The story accelerates.