I Was Reincarnated As the Hated Scummy Best Friend in a Gal Game and the Protagonist Is Useless

23

5, Landmine

“I see, I see…”

“It seems we both became residents of this game from the same world.”

“I thought I was the only one who came to this world, but there might be others, former residents of metafiction.”

“Right. It’s unrelated, but I was surprised when the term ‘residents of metafiction’ suddenly came up.”

“Then let’s avoid foreign terms, shall we?”

The exchange of information while gazing at the river has ended.

It seems we need to take time to ponder, all for the sake of averting a tragedy.

…Wait, what?

Haven’t I had a similar conversation somewhere before?

“Let’s report to each other if we find any other former residents of Metafiction.”

“Got it. It’s out of the blue, but I was surprised when you suddenly mentioned ‘residents of Metafiction.'”

“Then, no foreign words, okay! Let’s talk again sometime.”

“Right.”

I’m not fond of that woman, but she seems to be an important figure.

It’s mutual, though.

Actually, I feel like I’ve heard this conversation before.

Hmm, probably a long time ago.

“By the way, there’s something I’ve been curious about for a while.”

“What might that be?”

“You were a girl in the original world too, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…So you’ve completed the entire ‘Breaking the Chains of Sorrow’ moe game series, huh…”

“…………”

The gal game series “Breaking the Chains of Sorrow,” where you flirt and frolic with girls (though, is it really that flirty?).

I’m quite surprised since I’ve never heard of any girls I know playing this game.

“It doesn’t matter! We may have formed an alliance, but don’t meddle with what’s inside me!”

“Eh? Why, why are you getting mad…?”

“If you say that, then you’re just an otaku who played moe games, right?”

“Ha, I won’t deny that…”

But that’s all I am…

“Goodbye, you’re too insensitive, it’s the worst. You must have had a life of being an unpopular, creepy otaku!”

“I won’t deny that either…”

“Your positivity is infuriating! I’m leaving!”

“?”

Tsugaru suddenly throws a fit and runs off.

I don’t understand why you’d get so mad.

I just wanted to have a fan-to-fan discussion…

“I’m hated now…”

It seems I’ve stepped on some serious landmine.

Maybe she’s the type who hides her otaku side.

It’s a shame; I thought I had found a fellow fan to talk about the original work’s charm.

“Should I head home…”

It’s nice to be alone at the riverbank at dusk, but it’s a waste of time, so I decide to leave.

As I leave the river and head home, I spot Emi on her way back.

“Hey, Emi!”

“Oh, Hideyori-kun.”

Noticing me, Emi stops, and I run over to where she is.

“Why didn’t you come back with me today?”

“I was looking for the Tsuchinoko that was reported on TV this morning at the riverbank.”

“Did you find the Tsuchinoko!?”

“No, I didn’t find the Tsuchinoko, but I found a dragon at school.”

“A dragon!? Amazing! I want to see, I want to see!”

“Then it’s tomorrow.”

I thought I’d introduce her to the siscon dragon I met tomorrow.

Anyway, her pureness, not doubting Tsuchinoko or dragons, is dazzling.

“Emi, you really are cute.”

“Ehehehe.”

As I pat Emi’s head, I’m overwhelmed with the desire to protect her from any tragedy.

Before I knew it, Emi had become like a little sister to me.