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

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14, The Tragedy of Dreams

After school on the day Emi and Eien-chan met.

As an emergency, I had called Tsugaru Yen to the usual riverbank.

When I mentioned “accident,” she was surprised by the word “accident,” and I learned she’s not okay with foreign words, but that’s not the main issue.

The topic is the memory problem of Emi and the others regarding the original work.

I’ll talk about it as much as I can.

“No, isn’t that quite bad?”

“Yeah, I thought so too…”

“And the fact that Emi mentioned knowing about the original work for the second time is ominous…”

I had forgotten to tell Tsugaru about the first mention, which was a reference to the Risa scenario, since it was a long time ago.

And I also tell her that Eien-chan is showing signs of it too.

“I often dream of replaying the tragedies of the original work when I meet game characters… There’s a good chance it’s happening to them too.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t you have them?”

“Not at all. I don’t have such a role, after all. By the way, you were talking about dreams the first time we discussed this. I’d like to see a dream from Tsugaru Yen’s perspective.”

Such a carefree thing to say for a reincarnated person.

Despite being reincarnated, the difference in the number of flags and busyness between Hideyoshi and Tsugaru is just too cruel…

“Come to think of it, I only passed by her, but I did see Miyamura Eien.”

“Whoa!? Have I finally laid eyes on my favorite idol?”

“What’s with her!? She’s unfairly cute, isn’t she!? In the game, she hardly ever appears except with unhighlighted eyes, so I had the impression she was like a shadowy introvert, but this is just too much of a foul, isn’t it?”

“Have you finally noticed Eien-chan’s charm?”

“I’ve noticed! Ahhh, she’s so cute!!”

“Precious…”

“I want to adore her…”

It was only just before they parted ways that they realized the latter half of their conversation had turned into a session of praising Eien-chan.

—

After parting with Tsugaru and heading home, I walked while lost in various thoughts.

The way forward from here.

Eien-chan’s family issues.

The problem with Emi and Eien-chan’s memories of the original story.

The issues with the heroines following Eien-chan.

Takeru, who has completely vanished into thin air, existing only as an inept character.

As I walked, cursing the overwhelming number of things I had to consider, my house came into view.

And then…

“Hideyoshi-kun, I came over to play.”

“Sure, come on in.”

Emi had been lying in wait in front of my house.

She probably wanted to confirm something or other.

With that, I led her to my room.

“What’s up?”

“What indeed…?”

“Eh?”

Emi tilted her head up and shifted her gaze to the ceiling of the room.

From her complexion, I could see her hesitation.

“Sometimes I have these weird dreams… I’m doing something that would rightfully earn Miyamura-san’s resentment… I can’t remember the content at all…”

“Yeah…”

“But seeing Hideyoshi-kun’s actions today, I kind of thought maybe we’re having the same experiences.”

“I do dream…”

This world isn’t exactly “a game to break the chains of sorrow,” but I had my dreams too…

“Terribly sad, tragic dreams.”

“…………”

“But they’re just dreams, right? Don’t worry about it.”

“Eh?”

“It’s okay… I’ll protect Emi, I’ll protect everyone.”

For that, I’ll make use of gifts or whatever it takes.

I think that’s the meaning behind regaining my memories.

“Rather, I’m… worried about you, Hideyori. Don’t keep it all to yourself, I want you to tell me.”

“…No, I’m not holding onto anything! I’m fine.”

“…………Understood. Let’s leave it at that.”

Emi stands up, turning her back to me.

It seems the conversation is over.

“Someday, I want to hear your true feelings from you, Hideyori. I… care about you so much! …See you later.”

“Yeah… see you.”

I hear the sound of the door closing.

Emi is sharp…

Someday, I want to spill everything I’m holding onto.

When I became Akechi Hideyori, I took out the notebook summarizing the game’s progress.

“…………Mom, Dad, Kurusu… It’s tough… Having died once, the fear of possibly dying again someday is becoming unbearable.”

This notebook is an important link between me and my past life.

“Kurusu is strong. Despite being frail and sickly, coming to school, looking so cool and shining brightly…”

It’s creepy how I’m still hung up on a past life’s love…

I need to get over it quickly.

“It’s okay… I’ll live. I’ll end this game without sacrificing the people I care about.”

I notice my grip on the notebook has tightened and I let go.