Chapter 2 of 10

Chapter 2

7 min read1,785 words

This is a new, modern romantic comedy.

Please enjoy it!

I have a favorite romantic comedy manga.

The title is "The Aristocratic Childhood Friend is Getting in the Way of a Normal Romantic Comedy."

The story is about the protagonist, Yūichi Shigemoto, a high school student, who falls in love with a girl, Shihō Fujise, whom he meets at school.

However, when he tries to confess his feelings, his aristocratic childhood friend, Kōri Tōjōin, gets in the way.

Kōri, using her money and power, prevents Shihō and Yūichi from being alone together, and eventually makes Yūichi her fiancé.

At first, the protagonist finds Kōri's interference annoying, but he realizes that Kōri actually loves him, and that her interference is a manifestation of her affection. As a result, he starts to become interested in Kōri.

But Shihō Fujise, who genuinely likes the protagonist, also truly likes him.

Shihō Fujise, a girl who purely loves the protagonist, and Kōri Tōjōin, a childhood friend who wants to monopolize the protagonist, create a very touching and amusing love triangle.

This romantic comedy manga is very popular and is now being adapted into an anime.

I don't usually read romantic comedy manga, but I find this one very interesting and continue to read it.

When I read such romantic comedy manga, I inevitably end up having a favorite character.

In my high school, there are many others who read this manga, and they often discuss whether they prefer Shihō Fujise or Kōri Tōjōin.

The opinions are usually split evenly, but... my favorite is different.

It's neither Kōri Tōjōin nor Shihō Fujise.

My favorite character is Shihō Fujise's best friend, Sei Shimada.

She is, in a sense, a heroine who will never end up with the protagonist.

This manga, commonly known as "Ojyojama," has two main heroines: Kōri Tōjōin and Shihō Fujise.

The story revolves around the protagonist choosing between these two, but there are other heroines who add color to the story.

One of them is my favorite character, Sei Shimada.

She is a girl with short silver hair, slanted eyes, and a slightly cool appearance.

She is very beautiful, and in the story, she is depicted as a girl who is popular among other girls.

I really like her.

It might seem creepy to be so into a manga character, but I genuinely love her.

Even as a high school student, I worked part-time and spent most of my earnings on Sei's merchandise. I really liked her, and I didn't expect to get so obsessed.

Today, on my way back from work, I was heading to the store to buy Sei's merchandise.

With the anime adaptation, there are more goods available, and my money is running out.

I need to work harder to earn more.

While thinking about this, I was walking on the sidewalk when I heard a scream from behind.

Turning around, I saw a truck approaching me.

It was a large truck, and I couldn't escape even if I tried to jump to the side.

This is a sidewalk, so why is a truck coming... Ah, the driver is asleep. What the hell.

In that split second, I thought all of this.

The fact that I had time to think before being hit by the truck means I was experiencing the phenomenon where time seems to slow down just before death.

Am I going to die here?

I don't want to die, because I'm still a high school student... and I haven't finished reading "Ojyojama."

The series hasn't concluded yet, and I want to read it to the end.

I know Sei won't get a happy ending, but I want to know what kind of ending she will have.

Today, a lot of Sei's merchandise is being released, and I need to buy it.

I absolutely don't want to die here...

In that instant, I experienced a shock unlike anything I had ever felt before, and I lost consciousness.

◇ ◇ ◇

-- Where am I...?

My mind is hazy...

I opened my eyes to check my situation.

Looking around, it seems I am inside a school.

At first, I thought it was the school I attend, but upon closer inspection, it's different.

The building structure and the feel of the hallway are different from my school, and most importantly, I am wearing a uniform that is clearly not mine.

Why am I wearing a uniform from a school I don't recognize?

Come to think of it, didn't I get hit by a truck?

So, is this a dream?

Did I lose consciousness after being hit by the truck and am now in a dream?

That's the most likely scenario... or maybe I'm dead.

Hmm? My body started moving on its own.

I walked down the school hallway, heading somewhere.

Looking out the window, I saw the soccer club practicing on the field, so it seems to be after school.

Despite this, I am not heading to the school entrance but to a classroom.

It's a strange feeling to be in my own body but unable to control it.

Well, it's a dream, so this is probably normal.

I let my body move on its own, and I arrived at a classroom.

Just as I was about to open the sliding door and enter, my body stopped.

I could hear voices from inside, and it seemed to be listening to them.

" What should I do, Sei... Can I confess my feelings?"

" What are you hesitating about, Shihō?"

...!?

These voices, and the names... Could it be Shihō Fujise and Sei Shimada?

No, there's no way I could mistake them, given how many times I've listened to the drama CD.

These voices are definitely Shihō Fujise and Sei Shimada.

" Because Yūichi has Kōri... I feel like I'm just getting in the way of them."

This scene... Could it be that one?

The scene I love the most, the one where I fell in love with Sei Shimada?

This scene hasn't been made into a drama CD, so I didn't expect to hear it here!

This is the scene where the heroine, Shihō Fujise, is hesitating about confessing her feelings to the protagonist, Yūichi Shigemoto.

Yūichi has asked her out on a date, and she is considering whether to confess, but she lacks the courage.

Because Yūichi has a cute childhood friend, Kōri Tōjōin, Shihō even considers turning down the date.

Sei encouraged her.

" Kōri doesn't matter. What's important is how you feel, Shihō."

In the empty classroom after school, their voices reached me from outside.

" My feelings..."

" Do you like Yūichi? Do you want to be with him?"

" ...Yes."

" Then you have to try. You can do it, Shihō. Besides, he asked you out, so there's definitely a chance."

" Yeah... You're right. Thank you, Sei."

Shihō, blushing, thanked Sei.

" I'm going to practice now!"

" Good luck!"

" Thanks! Really, thank you, Sei!"

Shihō, who is in the tennis club, rushed off to practice.

I was standing by the door on the podium side, and Shihō left the classroom through the back door, running down the hallway.

Shihō left for practice without noticing me.

And... Sei, who remained in the classroom alone.

" Do your best, Shihō... For both of us."

-- This is it.

The moment I fell in love with Sei.

Sei also liked the protagonist, Yūichi Shigemoto.

But Sei had known for a long time that Shihō liked Yūichi.

At first, Sei didn't approve of Yūichi, but as she got to know him, she developed feelings for him.

However, for her best friend, Shihō, Sei suppressed her feelings and supported their relationship.

Sei, who was honest with her friends and best friend.

That's why I fell in love with her.

Just as I was thinking this, my body opened the classroom door on its own.

Of course, Sei, who was inside, noticed me and turned to face me.

" ...Sugimura, were you listening?"

" I didn't mean to. Sorry."

My mouth opened on its own and responded to Sei's words.

Sugimura?

Sei is calling me by my name?

Ah, but that's not right. Thinking about this scene...

Could it be that I have become Sugimura Tsukasa?

Sugimura Tsukasa is also a character in "Ojyojama," and he is the protagonist's best friend.

In the story, he listens to Yūichi's romantic troubles and gives some advice.

I like this character too, because he has the same name as me.

It was a miracle that my favorite manga had a character with the same name as me, and I was thrilled.

Moreover, his personality and actions are quite similar to mine... not that I'm copying him.

When other characters call his name, I feel excited as if they are calling me.

And now, Sei is calling me by my name.

Of course, she is probably calling the manga character Sugimura Tsukasa, not the real me.

But as a best friend in this position, he doesn't usually get involved in the romantic plot.

Sugimura Tsukasa's role is to tease Yūichi a bit when he is struggling with the love triangle and to give serious advice from time to time.

It seems that in this dream, I have become Sugimura Tsukasa.

" About what you just said, is it okay? Sei, do you... like Yūichi too?"

Again, my mouth, or rather Sugimura Tsukasa's mouth, opened on its own and spoke to Sei.

I remember the story in "Ojyojama" continuing like this.

I guess I am in the position of Sugimura Tsukasa, and I am acting as he would in the original story.

Even though this is a dream, why is it like this?

But anyway, I am in a prime position to experience the scenes I love, so it's great.

Sei, standing in front of me, is very cute and beautiful.

" ...It's fine. I was just checking if Yūichi is suitable for Shihō. There's no place for me, they are a perfect match."

Sei smiled.

Ah, I... I fell in love with you when I saw that smile.

A beautiful smile for a friend, but a sad smile that hides your own feelings.

Seeing that smile, I became a fan of Sei...

-- But, even though that smile is the reason I fell in love with you, I don't want you to have that smile.