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

52

9. The Girl in the Cage and Her Distorted Friendships

For several days, I pondered how to strike up a conversation with Sasaki-san.

Casually observing them in the classroom, Akechi-san and Sasaki-san seemed to be quite close.

Are they dating…?

No, that’s not my goal. I don’t aim to date Akechi-san; I just want to be part of their circle here in the classroom.

First, it’s crucial to be acknowledged by Sasaki-san.

“Sasaki-san!”

“Eh!? Y-Yes!?”

When I gathered my courage and spoke to her, she seemed startled, her voice pitched high.

“Mi, Miyamura-san…?”

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

I grasp Sasaki-san’s hand.

Such a small and cute hand.

I thought to myself, I want to be friends with Sasaki-san, regardless of Akechi-san.

“Ah, …um! Please, will you be my friend?”

“Eh…?”

“Sasaki-san, you’re super cute!”

I conveyed my feelings.

I told Sasaki, hoping she would become my first friend at this school.

“Wow, I’m so happy! Please, don’t call me Sasaki-san, just use my first name!”

“Is that so…? Then, Emi, please call me Eien.”

“Sure, Eien! Nice to meet you! If you ever have any trouble, feel free to talk to me!”

The speed at which we closed the distance was otherworldly.

As expected of someone who belongs to a co-ed group, this must be the norm.

“Hideyoshi-kun, I’ve become friends with Eien!”

“Oh, is that so.”

“Come on! Hideyoshi-kun, aren’t you a bit too disinterested?”

Perhaps because I interrupted his chat with classmate Juumonji-san, Akechi-san gave Emi the cold shoulder.

But that response somehow felt close.

“Emi might be a bit noisy, but please take care of me too, Miyamura-san!”

“Yes, of course!”

Akechi-san smiled and turned that smile towards me.

“Pfft. Hideyoshi-kun, you’ve got a thing for Eien.”

“What? Are you jealous? That’s cute.”

“Hehehe.”

Akechi-san patted Emi’s head.

Seeing that, Emi’s face turned red with happiness.

I wonder how that feels?

I felt a twinge of jealousy towards Emi, wishing Akechi-san would pat my head too.

“These guys are good people, Miyamura. You’ll get along with them in no time.”

“Juumonji-san, I look forward to getting to know you too!”

“OK! Nice to meet you!”

After mustering the courage to speak to Emi, it felt like my circle of friends suddenly grew, making school life more enjoyable.

Finally, color was added to my previously dull school days.

“Alright, Eien! Today, I’ll introduce you to someone from a different class!”

“Eh? I’m, I’m a bit nervous…”

“Big brother, big brother! We’re all girls, after all!”

Then, I was brought to a different classroom by Eimi.

I received a brief explanation, saying that I’m the younger sister of Jūmonji and that I’m loved by everyone here.

“Risa-chan, Yuna-chan, you’re here!”

“Eimi-san, I’ve been waiting for you!”

“Huh?! Is that forever-chan?! You have a great figure! I’m getting excited!”

“Hold on!”

The girl with green hair stopped the girl with black hair.

The girl with black hair did indeed have a similar atmosphere and facial features to Jūmonji.

Since she had a neutral face, I thought she was Jūmonji’s sister.

“I’m Jūmonji Risa. I’ve heard the story from my brother. Please call me Risa.”

“And I’m Tsugaru Yuna, Risa and Eimi’s older sister. You can call me onee-chan casually.”

“Ah, I’m Miyamura Erena! You can call me by my name, and I don’t mind at all! Risa and Yuna, nice to meet you!”

“Call me onee-chan!”

“This person is okay to ignore.”

Risa laughed at my awkwardness.

I had been struggling to fit in at school, but after a little courage, I’ve gained so many friends and it’s become so much fun.

“……”

A girl was walking nearby, silently.

I felt a pang of sympathy for her, who was walking alone, and I thought about speaking up.

“Hey, is everything okay?”

“h, h, …yes!?”

Our eyes met for a moment, and I seized the opportunity to speak up. She turned her face towards me.

I noticed a distinctive hair clip with a coffee cup attached to her hair.

I felt a sense of familiarity with her, who looked so flustered.

It looks like I’ll be able to make a friend.

“Hello.”

“…hello.”

“Who are you…”

From noble mtl dot come

As I tried to make a sound, she opened her eyes wide and quickly turned away.

“Sorry, I’ll leave.”

It was a clear rejection.

I had no idea what was making her so scared.

“…………”

“Emi?”

Emi quietly watched as the girl walked away.

The atmosphere felt a bit off, but was she a friend?

“What’s that girl’s name?”

I thought so, but Emi asked the name of the girl who was walking away.

I didn’t know her.

Maybe we were both just shocked into silence.

“Ah, her name is Sakuya Akiyama, you know.”

“She’s cute, but a bit intimidating, so I guess she’s deliberately keeping people away.”

“I wouldn’t dare approach her, would I… Once rejected like that, I wouldn’t dare to ask again.”

Risa and Yumi explained about Sakuya.

“Hmm…”

I noticed that Emi’s tone was a bit flat and uninterested.

But she quickly brightened up.

“Hey, since we’ve got Eternite as a new member, let’s go to the pool! Pool! Let’s buy swimsuits!”

“Swimsuits?! We’ll buy them all, no matter how expensive!”

“And will you also buy ones for the brothers?”

“No way, we’re not buying those either.”

Emi’s proposal seemed to excite Risa and Yumi as well.

And it seemed that Mochizuki-san and Jujimori-san had also decided to join in without being asked.

“So, let’s assume we’ll go to the pool in July. Let’s get new swimsuits around next month!”

The meeting of the reality group was over in an instant.

I was thinking about joining in, but Emi just said with a smile, “Of course, Eternite is also forced to participate!”

“Alright, it’s time for the Harem to mobilize!”

“No, no, no…”

Emi’s retort made Risa giggle, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with them.

Even though it’s only been a few months since I started at this middle school, I already love it here more than my previous school.