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

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7. Emi Sasaki’s Love Analysis

My childhood friend, whom I’m proud of.

Hideyoshi Akechi is popular, no matter what.

“Hey, Tsugaru, what do you think?”

“I don’t care. It’s not my problem if you’re embarrassed.”

Madoka doesn’t openly get along with Hideyoshi.

But sometimes, they secretly whisper together.

When I ask Hideyoshi about their whispers, he says it’s a “common topic,” but when I ask Madoka, she says it’s “something Akechi must do.”

Their answers seem slightly mismatched.

And if it’s really “something Akechi must do” that he’s discussing…

I’m sad he doesn’t consult me…

“StarChild is seriously amazing! Their singing is definitely on repeat!”

“I get it, I get it. I’m happy Risa is growing into a StarChild fan too.”

“It’s weird how they’re so amazing yet still unknown!”

“Well, you could say they’re in the bud stage now. That’s how it is right after debut. They’ll become major soon enough.”

It seems Risa has recently become hooked on idols, influenced by Hideyoshi.

She must have consulted to find a common topic with Juumonji.

…But somehow…

“I’m looking forward to it, Akechi!”

“Yeah, the expectations are high.”

Isn’t she getting along better with Hideyoshi than with Juumonji!?

I’ve witnessed Risa talking about idols more with Hideyoshi than with Juumonji.

“Hideyoshi, you’re coming to the shop today!”

“Why?”

“I’m perfecting a coffee that will make you say it’s delicious. It’s the 37th round of the ‘Coffee Novice Killing Game’!”

“Recently, Sakuya’s coffee has been getting too close to the master’s taste… It’s tough.”

“But you’ve guessed correctly 36 times in a row! I’ll keep going until I can fool Hideyoshi’s kid’s taste buds.”

“Can’t be helped, huh.”

“Yes! Yes!”

It’s almost certain that Sakuya-chan has a crush on Hideyori-kun.

Lately, she’s been dragging Hideyori-kun to the café at an alarming rate.

He’s hardly ever at home.

Hideyori-kun is so oblivious, he doesn’t even notice Sakuya-chan.

But precisely because he’s not aware, if he ever became aware, he’d realize how oddly close Sakuya-chan is.

Maybe he sees Sakuya-chan like a little sister…

But probably, that includes me and Risa-chan too (the point is, Madoka is the only one not seen as a sister).

Sakuya-chan, with her peculiar sense of distance.

Risa-chan, in a sweet spot because she’s always paired with her best friend, Jumonji-kun.

Madoka, surprisingly, might be the one most seen as a potential romantic interest.

But the real kicker is this:

“A woman I’m not into at all, and a guy who’s totally my type? Of course, I’d choose the guy who’s totally my type! What about you, Hideyori?”

“Nah, I can’t decide that quickly!?”

“Well then… How about this? If you had to kiss either a sludge-like woman or me, who would it be?”

“Hmm… I’d reluctantly choose Takeru.”

“So you’re saying you’d prefer a guy who’s totally your type, huh!”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

That’s the most dangerous part.

I was the one who first said I was tied to Hideyori-kun by the red string of fate, but now this guy’s claiming their meeting was fated and totally stealing my line!

He’s aiming for it! He’s definitely targeting Hideyori-kun!

If Jumonji-kun gets chosen, I’ll never be able to recover!

Anyway, that guy is insanely popular.

I thought Risa-chan wasn’t interested in Jumonji-kun, but lately, they seem a bit too close, don’t they?

“Ah… Middle school is tough… The toughest time for me was definitely in middle school.”

“Isn’t that right now for you?”

“Well. Yeah, but…”

Sometimes I think… Hideyori-kun seems so much older than me.

I’ve known Jumonji-kun and Risa-chan for a long time, but it feels like they’ve really grown up.

Hideyori-kun hasn’t grown at all.

It’s not that I’m making fun of him.

When we first met, the being that is Hideyori-kun was already complete.

That’s how it feels.

Normally, children level up.

They go to school, and through new encounters and farewells, their level rapidly increases.

But with Hideyori-kun, none of that seems to apply.

It’s as if his level has been maxed out from the start, his growth unnaturally stunted.

That just means Hideyori-kun has always been wonderful, right?!

“…………”

“…………”

“…………”

“……Um, Hideyori-kun, you’re smart, aren’t you? I wonder why you’re so smart…?”

“Because I studied.”

“Oh, right…”

“What does ‘I studied’ mean?

Shouldn’t it be ‘I’m studying’?

It feels like just a nuance difference, but…

More importantly…

From noble mtl dot come

Huh?

Am I not the one who’s the furthest away from Hideyori-kun?

I’ve realized a shocking fact.

I want to talk more with Hideyori-kun!

There are too many rivals in love…

If I don’t take some action instead of just analyzing, I’ll be left behind in many ways.

“Sasaki-san!”

“Eh!? Yes, what is it!?”

Just as I was feeling anxious, a classmate with whom I had no prior interaction suddenly called out to me.

“Mi, Miyamura-san…?”

“Oh, you knew about me! I’m so happy!”

Miyamura-san, holding both my hands, smiles happily.

Miyamura Eien-san.

A beauty who looks like she could step right out of Hideyoshi-kun’s favorite game.

Top of her class, with a stunning figure, she’s the center of attention among our classmates.

Hideyoshi-kun probably likes someone like her.

Though it seems like there’s no connection between Hideyoshi-kun and me.

Standing next to the plain and petite me, I can’t help but feel the world is unfair.

“Ah, …um!? Will you be my friend!?”

“Eh…?”

“Sasaki-san, you’re super cute!”

I have a feeling of an impending storm.

Just like when I first met Madoka, I can’t shake the feeling that my social circle is about to change dramatically…

And this intense sense of déjà vu is making me feel sick.