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

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43. Akechi Hideyori comes to terms with being disliked

For about three days, I couldn’t speak with Emi, and I accepted her proposal to “let’s pretend that day never happened.”

It seems that the events of that day had become a terrible trauma for her…

“Takeru… praising someone is dangerous…”

“Huh?”

I warned Takeru too, but he seemed to have no clue.

I thought about revealing that dark history, but since Emi and I promised to forget it, and there was no need to share my creepy antics, I sealed it away and spent my days in agony.

“Risa-chan… being praised is dangerous…”

“Huh?”

Emi wouldn’t talk to me, sticking only with Risa.

The cost of being disliked was incredibly sad…

It was the first time I had ever spent days without talking to Emi.

―――――

“Let’s go swimsuit shopping!”

“…Okay.”

“Emi, you’re so low energy! I can’t handle this kind of thing after all.”

Eien-chan took over for the low-spirited Emi.

It was indeed fresh to see Eien-chan in charge, as I always imagined Emi doing this.

“I’ll do it too! Swimsuit shopping time!”

“…Yeah.”

“Emi’s so low energy… It’s sad after I tried so hard…”

And Sakuya was also sunk.

“We should really make it a circle.”

“I will never do it.”

Tsugaru shows a cursed-like face in rejection to Sakuya’s suggestion.

It was a mistake to even consider the most docile Tsugaru for this.

“Then how about Risa…”

“Besides, I’ve already tried my best, isn’t that enough!? Let’s move on!?”

“Do we even need that command…?”

Eternally, Eternity-chan’s efforts seemed to be fading away…

And so, the usual members had come to the department store for shopping.

“Hideyori…”

“What’s wrong, Takeru?”

“Don’t you think I, who knows everything about Risa, have the right to choose her swimsuit?”

“Please confirm with her.”

He sends the most natural advice to Takeru, who is troubled over something trivial.

The Master is supposed to come to the pool today, but naturally, there’s a store today, so Takeru and I are entrusted with money to decide on the Master’s swimsuit as well.

And then, with everyone gathered, the individual swimsuit selection at the department store began.

“Look, Yen! There’s a tankini type.”

“Huh, I didn’t know there were such types.”

“…Hey, there’s no surprise.”

“You just want me to say it, don’t you?”

Recently, Tsugaru and Sakuya seem to have become very close, and I witness them conversing together.

It was a dud, but this girl is a no-go for foreign words…

“Ah, look, brother.”

“What is it, Risa?”

“This swimsuit was also trending three years ago, wasn’t it?”

“Was it…?”

I witness the Juumonji siblings’ swimsuit selection.

Or rather, do you care about that? I retort to Risa in my mind.

“This swimsuit is so cuuute!”

“That’s nice! Ehehe, Emi is so cute, isn’t she?”

I witness the sparkling-eyed Emi and Eien-chan’s girl talk.

I catch a glimpse of Emi, looking just like me when I was sulking in bed the other day.

What’s with this? All I’ve been hearing is generic conversation…

“…Is this good enough for the master?”

…Because the number of members is odd, I’m the one left out.

I’m starting to feel sad, sensing that I’m disliked.

Nobody wants to talk with Akechi Hidetoyo, right…?

The refreshing conversation between Sakiya and Tsugaru.

The serious swimsuit shopping discussion between Takeru and Risa.

The laughter of Emi and Eien-chan.

Hearing all this, I feel lonely as I quickly decide on swimsuits for myself and the master, leaving the swimsuit section in about ten minutes.

I couldn’t stand being alone…

It’s just women’s clothing selection anyway. At best, it’ll take them 30 minutes to over an hour before they leave the swimsuit section.

I’ll take this chance to explore freely.

“For now, I’ll prepare the letter to send to Star Child… and maybe read some magazines…”

I’ll use this time effectively and think about what I should do.

After buying stationery in the variety goods section, I head to the bookstore.

“Can’t read the magazines in this store, huh…”

The magazine I was looking for is tied up with string, forbidding browsing.

Looking at the clock, hardly any time has passed.

It seems the swimsuit selection will take much longer.

“Maybe I’ll stop by the convenience store near this department store…”

I remember browsing there about two months ago, so I’m guaranteed to be able to read.

Buying stamps there too would kill two birds with one stone.

I quickly make my way out of the department store and head to the convenience store.

From noble mtl dot come

—

Twenty minutes later, I leave the convenience store feeling pleased.

The twist in the manga that the strongest in the universe is a siscon had me grinning non-stop.

Looking forward to the next issue, I head back to the department store.

It was the perfect time of day, and lunchtime was approaching; surely, the swimsuit selection must have been settled by now.

I was in high spirits, walking briskly when it happened.

“Thief!” “Catch him, please!” Such cries came from behind.

“Eh?”

Turning around, I saw a suspicious man carrying a large box, fleeing in my direction.

I decided to move out of the way to avoid danger, but as I did, the thief shouted, “Out of the way, brat!”

I was irked to be called a brat despite my attempt to avoid him.

My mood shifted.

“Take this!”

“!?”

I swept the man’s legs, bringing my own foot down in a low sweep.

The man lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Ah… I should have used my Gift.

It was only after the man had fallen that I remembered the existence of my Gift.

Since there’s hardly ever a chance to use it, it tends to slip my mind.

It feels somewhat odd that, despite being a Gift holder, most of my life is no different from those without one.