Chapter 3: The Otaku Heroine Wants to Support Her Favorite

This is sudden, but let me introduce myself.

My name is Yoshimoto Teppei. A first-year high school student with no particular talents. My hobbies are reading light novels and watching virtual streamer broadcasts. Recently, I've also gotten into shooting games.

Years without a girlfriend = my age. I thought spring would never come for someone like me.

That's right. Until I meet you.

「P-Please take care of me...」

「L-Likewise...」

Kinoshita Nanami, a girl from my class who became a fellow library committee member with me. I could tell at a glance from her appearance that she was one of us. But her way of speaking was also fidgety, and she gave off a vibe that she wasn't good with boys.

I had half given up thinking we'd probably never become close, but then one day, I saw an angel in the library. At first, I didn't know who it was. As I was captivated by her overwhelming beauty, that girl... Kinoshita Nanami-san noticed me and hurriedly ruffled her bangs back to their original position, trying to leave the spot.

「W-Wait!」

「Hii......!?」

I couldn't help but call out to her. She was also quite flustered and became fidgety like usual.

What do I do. I completely messed up. Thinking that, as I was racking my brain for something to cover it up with, the title of the book she was reading caught my eye.

「T-That's... "Hangun", right? I-I also, like it. I watched all the anime too.」

「Eh...... Really?」

「Y-Yeah......」

What she was holding was a novelization of a manga that was popular a while back. It became popular for its classic story development and even got an anime adaptation, a hidden masterpiece.

「E-Eh... eh, do you have a favorite character!?」

「Even if you ask me that...」

「Kinoshita-san. Please be quiet in the library.」

「Y-Yes...... sorry...」

As I was overwhelmed by her sudden enthusiasm, we got scolded by the librarian teacher, and she looked down in embarrassment.

「Yoshimoto-kun too... sorry... I-I just went ahead...」

When she apologized looking so sorry, for some reason I ended up saying something unnecessary.

「Ehm... a-are you free, after this? If you'd like... want to go… to the karaoke or something? I also... want to talk about Hangun...」

Even though I had no intention of becoming close, just because of her true face's beauty and the fact that I shared a common topic with such a girl, I closed the distance all at once.

She'll definitely be put off. Thinking that, I was about to immediately correct myself...

「Ah... never mind...」

「......That's, fine」

「Huh......」

「Eh?」

『Hey, hey. Did you see it? That live stream just now! They announced season two!』

「Seriously divine. The animation in the preview was insane... this is something to look forward to. Since it's season two, it looks like Seria's awakening will be included.」

『No no, I think they'll go up to the confession. Did you listen to the lines properly? They said the line right before that scene, you know?』

「Eh, seriously? If so, won't it be pretty rushed?」

『That's the best place to end it so it can't be helped... but I'm just happy there's a season two!』

Since that day, we became close enough to occasionally call each other. When talking with me, Kinoshita was very talkative, completely different from her image in class.

That somehow made me happy, as if I was the only one who noticed her charm. We occasionally went out to hang out too, and I was even starting to think maybe, just maybe...

But I didn't have the courage to confess to her. Lying to myself that things were fine as they were for a while, I continued my relationship with her.

When we became second-years, we ended up in the same class. Even after a year, our relationship didn't progress, and we continued as good friends.

『H-Hey, Yoshimoto-kun... are you, close with Miyano-kun...?』

「......N-No??」

Then around mid-May. While we were calling as usual, she asked me that.

I know about the guy named Miyano. He's a normie who's the childhood friend of Mizukami Noa, the fluffy normie girl in our class. A life winner with a cute little sister, a boyish kouhai who occasionally storms into the classroom, and rumored to even have connections with the Student Council President.

Hearing that guy's name come up, I panicked. Her voice when asking about Miyano sounded somewhat embarrassed, and...

「W-What is it. Don't tell me you like... him or something?」

『...I-It's not like that! It's just, we talked a bit the other day... and then, you know? We got a bit excited...』

Even though she said it wasn't like that, her tone was bouncy as if she was talking about love matters. Having needlessly asked something I didn't need to and magnificently shot down, not a single word of what she said after that entered my head.

「Ah, Yoshimoto-kun, this weekend...」

After that, I started avoiding talking with her. It's a pathetic reason, but there's no way someone like me could win against Miyano even if I tried. I arbitrarily decided I should quietly step back as just a friend.

Before I knew it, summer break had started, and one day while I was doing nothing but endless internet surfing. I came across a certain photo. Judging from the venue atmosphere, it is probably a doujin event. I had been thinking of going, but for some reason I hesitated and ended up not going.

The account owner who posted it was a famous male cosplayer, and he was also dressed as a character from Hangun.

If it were just that, it would have been fine.

But next to him was a beautiful woman who looked somewhat familiar.

While happily posing, with a face I'd seen before, she was showing a smile I'd never seen to the camera. It must be someone who just looks like her. No, I want it to be. And even if it is her, what's the problem? She should be in love with Miyano. There's no way... that...

「......I'll just jerk off and sleep.」

I've been reading too many manga like that. There's no way hookups happen at events. Thinking that, I decided to relieve myself to the exposed large breasts of that cosplayer-san who looked exactly like her that day.

That's right. Once summer break ends, I'll apologize to her. And if she's not dating Miyano, I'll convey my feelings. Given our relationship, something like that shouldn't ruin things between us.

But when summer break ended, the classroom was wrapped in an unusual atmosphere. Everyone was looking at one particular female student, whispering here and there. But that girl at the center didn't care about such stares and was simply reading a book.

I gathered my courage and decided to call out to that girl.

「Ehm...... long time no see... Kinoshita, right?」

「Ah, Yoshimoto-kun. Long time no see. Have you been well?」

The hair that had given a long, heavy impression was neatly styled, and she had taken off her glasses and switched to contacts. At this point, I already vaguely had a bad feeling. But if Kinoshita was able to date the person she liked, then that was that, I thought.

「Huh... Kinoshita-san, what happened? And image change?」

A normie girl who came to school after me called out.

「...Just a bit.」

「Eh, could it be... this??」

When that girl raised her pinky, Kinoshita nodded shyly.

「Actually...... ehehe.」

「Uhwa... eh, what kind of person what kind of person? From our school? Is he handsome?」

「Ehm... he's someone from online but... he's really handsome and kind.」

「Eh, and that's why you changed your image? It really suits you! You're so cute I thought you were an angel!」

「Yeah... because he said he likes me as I am, I was able to gain confidence in myself.」

「Uwaa...... eh, tell me more details!」

My brain creaked hearing that exchange, and my feet naturally backed away. The world she lives in is different from someone like me. That's what I became convinced of.

After that, she became the most popular person in the class... no, the entire school year. In proportion to that, the account that seemed to be hers blew up massively. With beauty as if she really came out of an anime and her outstanding figure, she gathered popularity, and by the time we became third-years, she showed talent as a streamer too... and I never got to see that version of her I met that day again.

What if. If I had confessed back in first year. If I had competed to not lose to Miyano.

If I had praised her charm without being embarrassed.

The angel on the other side of the screen might have been by my side, that's what I came to regret.

Nanami's event differs slightly in nature from the other three. First, the viewpoint is suddenly from some mob character, and compared to the others, it's too peaceful. There are no such scenes either, so the event itself has no practical use.

However, that's not where the essence of Nanami's event lies. Nanami's event, combined with her individual route, is a special one that directly damages the player.

On the first playthrough, Nanami has virtually no presence, and you can't even interact with her. You're only shown the result of an otaku girl polishing up into a beautiful girl after dating a handsome guy she met online.

Then many players become captivated by her angel-like appearance, feel a sense of familiarity with her otaku hobbies, and become captivated by her massive chest.

If that happens, they'll naturally play the Nanami route, thinking "I'm gonna flirt with an otaku beauty!" and get all fired up.

However, when you actually play Nanami's route, there's no change at all in her appearance. Her smile is awkward, and her behavior is fidgety. In the end, you can't see the version of her you were seeking, and you reach the ending like that.

There, players realize a truth they don't want to accept.

The truth that Nanami dating another man has a happier smile and becomes more successful in life than the Nanami dating the protagonist... in other words, the player himself.

「The Nanami stuff is the most painful. It makes me want to cry, remembering the past.」

Thinking about it again, that review hits at the essence of Nanami's event. "It makes me want to cry, remembering the past" refers to the bitter memories that otaku boys who like characters like Nanami have surely experienced at least once.

Someone with more wealth, more handsome, with better status and achievements. Someone like me could never make Nanami happy, and even if I were to end up with her, that happiness wouldn't come anywhere close.

In other words, pure defeat as a male. Delivering that to the very people who bought and are playing the game is the essence of Nanami's event.

That said, in the current situation, that kind of talk doesn't really matter. What's important is that Nanami is happy. Whether she dates the protagonist, the cosplayer, or this Yoshimoto guy, as long as she's happy, that's fine. I collected myself and gently called out to Nanami.

「Yo. Is that interesting?」

「Eh... ah, no! ...I mean, wai...」

When I called out to her, Nanami hurriedly ruffled her bangs to hide her face.

「I-I'm sorry for showing you something unsightly...」

「No no, it's my fault. Sorry for suddenly talking to you.」

Having no confidence despite being this cute is way too negative. Well, that's also part of Nanami's charm though. It's kind of nice that only I know about it......

「HAH!?」

「W-What's wrong!?」

Maybe because I'm alone face-to-face with Nanami, the delusion unique to otaku that I'd almost forgotten activated. I'm so surprised at myself that I end up making a sound. What a fearsome girl, Kinoshita Nanami.

「...Hey you there. Quiet down.」

On top of that, because I made noise, I got scolded by the librarian teacher.

「Sorry. It's my fault we got kicked out...」

「N-No... it's my fault...... yes...」

Because I, someone who clearly looks like a delinquent, made noise, the librarian teacher scolded us rather harshly, and we decided to leave the library for now since it got awkward. But having left, we have nowhere to go. We're just walking down the hallway. What do I do from here. I was told to get close to her, but... let me try bringing up the topic of the event for now.

「By the way, Kinoshita. Why did you want to go to the event badly enough to invite Kaichou-san?」

「Ehm, my favorite... the person I, like... I heard they would be cosplaying... dressing up as a character from a manga I like...」

I see. That guy is probably the male cosplayer who appeared in Nanami's event. They probably exchange contact info when they meet there. That man sure moves fast or something... well, since she looked happy herself, there's no problem.

「I-I-Ibuse-kun... do you, not... read manga...?」

Nanami was fidgeting but still making an effort to talk to me. Maybe Nanami is also trying to become friends in her own way.

「...I don't really. Of course I know it's interesting, but I just can't.」

「I-I see......」

Actually I do like it, but I lied because I wouldn't be able to answer if she asked "What do you like?" After all, they're manga that don't exist in this world.

「............」

「............」

This is bad. The conversation died in an instant. I finally understood how easy those two were to talk with, giving appropriate responses.

What other topics are there...... ah, right.

「Hey, what's your relationship with Yoshimoto?」

「Huh!? Yoshimoto-kun!?」

Yoshimoto is the guy who narrated Nanami's event. We're in the same class so I remembered his name. Of course, in this world he properly has a face. Just an ordinary-looking otaku boy.

「Yeah. You guys used to talk a lot, right? I was wondering what's going on there.」

「No no no no!! Yoshimoto-kun and I are just... just friends!!」

Nanami's face turns red as she shakes her head vigorously. Could this be... is there possibly something there?

「Then you should've just invited him to this weekend's event. It'd be better with someone who shares your hobbies, right?」

「That's...... I thought about inviting him, but...... he said he's busy...」

「Busy, huh......」

Come to think of it, I feel like the narration said he started avoiding her at some point. Actually, I honestly don't remember the details.

While talking about such things, we had arrived at the shoe lockers before I knew it. What do I do from here. It seems like we'll end up going home together, but I'm not sure if I can keep up the conversation until the end. Let me try bringing up that "Hangun" thing.

Thinking that, I changed into my outdoor shoes, left the entrance, and was heading toward the school gate when I heard the sound of someone running toward us from somewhere.

How energetic. Just as I was about to ignore it, someone crashed into me from behind with tremendous force.

「SEEEEENPAAAAAAI!!」

「GUHK!?」

「Ibuse-kun!?」

I somehow managed to endure the tackle accompanied by a cute battle cry from behind. But I don't want to confirm who the culprit is. This is definitely going to be troublesome.

「What are you doing!! Not satisfied with just me and Kaichou!! Is it the boobs after all!? That's right isn't it!! Senpai you pervert!! You boob planet alien!!」

But even without me confirming, the culprit keeps shaking my body violently while still clinging to me from behind. And what dangerous things is this boku-girl spouting?

「B-Booo, boo...!?」

See? Nanami's face is bright red and she's trembling. That's sexual harassment, you know.

「If you have an excuse, I'll listen! I'm magnanimous, after all!」

「It's not what you think. We just happened to be together.」

「Liar!! Nobody would think of walking home with someone like Senpai just by coincidence!!」

「Oi.」

It's true but there are things you should and shouldn't say.

「Hey Kinoshita, say something too──」

「D-De...」

When I looked at Nanami in exasperation, her face turned even redder, and while hiding her ample chest with both arms, she let out the loudest voice of the day.

「I'M NOT DELICIOUUUUS!!」

「What are you saying!?」

While shouting that outrageous line, Nanami ran out of the school gate as if fleeing from me.

「Fuhn!!」

「......You...」

Despite the fact that Nanami now has a terrible misunderstanding about me, Akari was looking triumphant and satisfied for some reason, so I decided to explain the current situation to her from the beginning.

「When I heard from Nanami I wondered what it was about... so that's what happened...」

Friday, July 12th. As usual, we gathered in the student council room during lunch break, discussing yesterday's "Boob Planet Alien Incident".

「Kaichou-san, you're unfair! I want to go out with Senpai too! Proceeding with the conversation in secret!」

「Sorry about that. I mistakenly assumed you knew since you two are always together.」

「Dehehe... it's nothing...」

「What's nothing about it?」

As I held my head at Akari's nonsensical response despite being embarrassed, Shiori, who was watching the scene, smiled gently and asked Akari.

「Akari-chan, want to come too? What about club activities?」

「I'll skip!」

「Absolutely you can't, your tournament is coming up.」

I grab the head of Akari who declared she'd skip with such enthusiasm and scold her. Then Akari puffed up her cheeks and started swaying her body side to side.

「Chie... so nice, so unfair...」

「What's unfair about it?」

「Because even I've never gone out with Senpai, you know? I want to go out with Senpai tooー!」

「What do you mean "even"?」

As I was troubled with how to respond to Akari's approach, Shiori, who was clearly enjoying herself, made a certain proposal.

「Right, Akari-chan. How about this? If you achieve results in the upcoming tournament, Ibuse-kun says he'll go on a date with you.」

「Eh!? Really!?」

「No, don't just go ahead and decide things.」

At Shiori's proposal, Akari's eyes sparkled as she stared at me. It was too sudden and I was thinking of refusing, but unable to withstand Akari's pure, large eyes, I reluctantly nodded.

「...Just once.」

「!! I'll do my best!!」

Having obtained my consent, Akari vigorously stood up from her chair, quickly gathered her things, and ran off from the student council room.

「Geez...... Aren't you going after her?」

「Fufu. There's no way I could catch up to Akari-chan.」

As Shiori and I, left behind, were having such a conversation, Shiori suddenly sat down in the seat where Akari had been sitting until just now.

「What are you doing?」

「......Nothing. I'm just feeling Akari-chan's warmth.」

Saying such nonsensical things, Shiori's face looked somewhat melancholic, as if she were making the same expression as after she got angry at Kaede that day.

「So. Do you think you'll be able to get along well with Nanami?」

「Who knows. Kinoshita seems weak with guys like me, and honestly I'm not that great with it either.」

「That's surprising. I thought you had a talent for seducing women.」

「Please don't say weird things. You're the Student Council President after all, and Kinoshita is your friend.」

「Oh my… Was that something bad for me to say?」

「I won't say it's bad...」

As we were having such a mysterious conversation, Shiori stood up looking displeased and said "Speaking of which", as if remembering something.

「I have a meeting in ten minutes. That's right, I forgot.」

「Huh!?」

「The other members will probably come soon. My, I'm truly sorry.」

「You... I still have half left though!?」

「Come on, hurry hurry~」

Rushed by Shiori's clapping hands, I shoveled Shiori's homemade bento into my stomach like Akari earlier, quickly tidied up, and handed it to Shiori.

「Thanks! It was delicious!」

「......Then I'm glad. Well then, see you Sunday. At the meeting spot.」

After reconfirming our promise for the weekend, I ended up fleeing from the student council room.

「Good grief......」

I indulge in thought alone in the quiet student council room. This loneliness feels nostalgic somehow.

「Whether he's perceptive or not......」

I sat down on the chair Ibuse-kun was sitting in just moments ago. It's still slightly warm. And I feel like it has a boy's scent.

「Ah-ah. If only I had been your kouhai. Would you have doted on me too, I wonder.」

I know this myself. This is nothing but sour grapes. Ibuse-kun isn't the kind of man who judges things based on whether someone is older or younger.

But......

『Thanks! It was delicious!』

It was a pure smile like a child's. Having a villain face like that is unfair. His genuine feeling comes through so clearly, and just when I was trying to forget, now I can't give up anymore.

「...You really are a sinful man.」

Sunday, July 14th. To accompany Nanami to the cosplay event she wanted to attend, I arrived ahead of time at the station nearest to the venue and sat on a nearby bench waiting for the two of them. The event was being held at the dome and its surrounding area, and by the time I arrived, the station area was already overflowing with people.

Even so, this atmosphere feels nostalgic somehow. I went to a voice actor's live concert just once a long time ago, and this unique heat and excitement is really nice. It's nothing but cosplay of characters I've never seen, but that's also fun.

But still, I'm getting stared at sooo much, and avoided sooo much. The area around the bench I'm sitting on is unnaturally empty. As I thought, this isn't a place for someone like Ibuse Reo to come. Well, even I would avoid it if there was a guy who looked like this. He's clearly a creepy guy who came to target cosplayers.

「Haah......」

Just as I'm sighing, thinking I probably can't purely enjoy this event, Shiori in casual clothes approached me.

「Sorry for the wait. It really helped that your location was so easy to find.」

「......Glad to hear that.」

Today's Shiori somehow looks more mature than usual. With her hair down, she's probably wearing makeup too. A green checkered blouse with navy jeans... that's not a high schooler's outfit. Shiori is also drawing stares from all around. I feel sorry for Nanami who's being thrown into this mix... huh?

「Where's Kinoshita? Weren't you together?」

「She's here. Right here.」

「N-No!! I'm not mentally prepared yet!!」

Apparently Nanami was hiding behind Shiori, and even now she's desperately clinging to Shiori's back trying not to be seen by me.

「You need to get used to Ibuse-kun or it'll be hard from here on. Come on, out you come.」

Shiori nimbly turned her body and presented the hiding Nanami before me.

「No... wai!?」

Having been pushed forward, Nanami stumbles and somehow manages not to fall. But before I could worry about Nanami, the worst words flew out of my mouth.

「HUGE...!!!?」

I am made to realize that her uniform was nothing but a restraint. The outfit itself is what you'd call basic, but the destructive power of one part is on a completely different level. Thanks to her stumbling, those ample breasts swayed bouncing right before my eyes, and unable to stop myself from reacting, I instantly averted my gaze to cover it up.

「...What was that reaction, Ibuse-kun?」

「No!? Nothing!?」

I feel a cold stare from Shiori. They say girls notice where guys are looking, but not looking at something like that is even harder. Please forgive me.

「......」

Nanami hurriedly retreated behind Shiori as if hiding from me. Shiori didn't particularly push Nanami forward again and just kept sending me cold stares.

「Leaving aside this guy. Now, let's go, Nanami. You have lots of things you want to do, right?」

「Y-Yeah...」

「Wait... my bad! I said I was sorry!」

I ended up chasing after the two who were leaving as if fleeing from me while apologizing.

「U-Um, may I take... a photo?」

「Sureー Any pose you'd like?」

「Ah, then──」

After that, Nanami was happily taking photos of cosplayers. I was worried whether the shy Nanami could talk to them, but it seems that was an unnecessary concern. Female otaku are impressive in that regard.

While observing Nanami's state from a distance with my arms crossed, a somewhat tired-looking Shiori came up to my right side.

「This place is tough...」

「Hm? Did something happen?」

「No... I've been approached by various people since earlier. How should I put it... to speak without mincing words, I'm very tired.」

「Ahh... thanks for your hard work.」

Well, Shiori is beautiful. She's tall and has an excellent figure. All sorts of people with various purposes would approach her.

「...You're not getting approached, are you?」

「...Well, there's no weirdo who'd want to approach someone like me.」

Even with a scary face, Ibuse Reo should be quite handsome by category. Yet the surrounding reactions are nothing but fearful stares. I've gotten used to it by now, but it still hurts a little.

「Then I'll rest next to you for a while.」

「Go ahead.」

As we continued watching the happy Nanami together, Shiori started fidgeting for some reason. I noticed but decided to ignore it for now since it would be embarrassing if I was mistaken.

「...Ah, looks like she finished her photo shoot.」

Nanami finished shooting and was looking around searching for Shiori.

「Ah......」

When I started to move to join up with Nanami, my right hand bumped into Shiori's left hand.

「Ah, sorry──」

Just as I was about to apologize for bumping into her, Shiori started panicking even faster than that.

「S-Sorry!! No, it's not like that!! This is, um... right! There was lint on your clothes! I was trying to pick it off for you!」

「Eh, seriously?」

「Ahh! Just stay still! I'll get it for you!」

「It's fine, that much. I can just brush it off.」

「Ah... right. That's true......」

I randomly brushed my clothes and asked Shiori for confirmation.

「How is it? Did it come off?」

「Perfect! As expected!」

「Being praised for this much...」

She must be affected by this unique atmosphere. She's more high-tension than usual. Well, that also feels age-appropriate in its own way, which is nice.

「.........」

As Shiori and I were talking like that, I noticed that Nanami, who had come close before I knew it, was staring blankly at us.

「What's wrong?」

「......Ah... no!! It's nothing!」

Looks like both of them are tired. It's especially hot today, so I should probably suggest taking a break...

「Ah... that person......!」

Before I could suggest a break, Nanami noticed the presence of one cosplayer. In the direction of her gaze was certainly a man on a different level from other cosplayers, and it seemed his photo shoot had just ended.

「That man is your target?」

「Y-Yes! That's right!」

So it is as I thought. He looks obviously popular, and right now while it's open is the chance.

「Then hurry and go. He'll be taken by someone else.」

「Yes! I'm going!」

Nanami was so excited she didn't even notice she was talking to me. If she's happy enough dating someone she likes that much, I have nothing to say.

But something feels off... like... there's something nagging at my chest...

「...By the way, the people here are amazing. They must be making such splendid costumes in between work, right?」

As I was feeling uneasy while watching Nanami successfully starting her photo shoot with her favorite, Shiori looked around and murmured that.

「Apparently there's also the option of ordering from businesses. Plus costumes are sold online.」

「Hee... you're quite knowledgeable.」

「I did at least do some research.」

Of course that's a lie. It's just repurposing knowledge from my previous life.

That said, I truly respect people who make costumes while working. I was already crying from just university and part-time work. Is it because their motivation is different? While being a working adult, working to earn money for cosplay costumes...

...No wait.

「Hey Kaichou. How old does that guy look to you?」

I pointed at the man Nanami was taking photos with and asked Shiori.

「What's this all of a sudden?」

「...He doesn't look like a student, does he?」

「Well... that's true. At the youngest, he's probably in his late twenties. What about it?」

「No......」

I feel a certain discomfort. I didn't think anything of it when playing the game, but now that it's become reality, the relationship between Nanami and that man strangely bothers me......

That's right. I completely forgot about it. My brain had automatically processed it as just how things are. Their relationship was only acceptable because it is fiction, and in reality it's problematic.

「...What's wrong, Ibuse-kun?」

In other words, sexual misconduct with a minor. Of course, if it's a wholesome relationship, there's apparently no problem. But this is a game that prepared such ends for Akari, Shiori, and Noa, a game with no human heart. The probability of that being the case is slim.

In that case, the question is how much that man knew about Nanami's identity. You'd know she's a student just by interacting a bit, and from talking with Nanami, I know she's not that easy. It's hard to imagine she'd give up her body easily.

In other words, there's a possibility that man used some kind of means. Maybe alcohol, or perhaps drugs... ahh geez! Only Nanami's event has too many unnecessary speculation elements! Otaku who like Nanami also like this kind of stuff!? That's right though!! The fact that they saw right through us makes it even more annoying!!

「Ibuse-kun? Your face is scary?」

「That's always the case. Right now, more importantly...」

I bow my head to Shiori who has been worrying about me, and continue thinking. Should I stop it or not. There's still too little information to judge. But this is the world of that game. I can't imagine Nanami alone escaping a ruinous future just by dealing major damage to otaku like us. After all, that ending where Nanami gets together with the cosplayer was also properly labeled as a bad ending.

「...I might have to borrow Kaichou's help again.」

「Understood. I'll be ready.」

Judging that just thinking wouldn't get me anywhere, I bowed deeply to Shiori once more. At my call, Shiori instantly switched to work mode, and the two of us decided to move closer to the happy Nanami.

「You really look amazing! It's like you stepped right out of the anime──」

Having finished shooting, I observe Nanami talking with the man from a distance. As far as I can see from afar, there's no problem so far. It would be fine if it just ends like this. Thinking that, Shiori with a serious face spoke to me.

「Does that person have any bad rumors or something?」

「No... it's just intuition. A hunch.」

Yes. In reality this is nothing but intuition. Assuming those two will date from here, there's also the possibility they'll have a wholesome relationship. If I can confirm that, there's no problem. But how do I confirm that fact? A man that successful wouldn't easily show his tail.

「Alright. Then I shall lend a hand. If it's your intuition, it's worth trusting.」

Before I could come up with any solution, Shiori started moving toward the two of them.

「...Please don't do anything reckless.」

「I know. If something happens, I'll call you right away.」

That man shouldn't want to cause a scene in a place like this either. Trusting that she'll grab some kind of evidence, I decided to leave it to Shiori.

「Excuse me. May I take one photo as well?」

「Eh!?」

「Ahh sorry about that. We got caught up talking... Sure, go ahead. Do you have any requests?」

When I called out, the man readily obliged. I can't get any bad vibes from his appearance or way of speaking. It would be nice if this is just Ibuse-kun's unnecessary worry.

「Let's see... I myself am unfamiliar with this kind of event... I came today as her companion. And since you looked so beautiful, I just had to. Do you have any recommended poses? I'll go with that.」

「Heeh. So you two are friends.」

「...Ah, yes! That's right!」

After the man confirmed that Nanami and I were friends, he smiled with satisfaction.

「Thank you for the compliment. Then let me strike my best pose for you.」

Then he struck some pose I didn't understand, and I took one photo anyway. It was my first time taking someone's photo, but... this is nice. Someday I'll snap a shot of Ibuse-kun's sleeping face.

「Thank you very much. It was a good experience.」

「Not at all, my pleasure... So, I was talking with your friend, but do you have any plans after this?」

I see. As I thought, your intuition is sharp at times like this.

「No, nothing in particular.」

「Then would you like to join us for a meal? There's an after-party later, and of course it won't be just me, so don't worry.」

「However, we are still students and minors, so staying out late is...」

「No need to worry about that either. Since there will be other student participants too, we're planning to break up early. After all, the event continues tomorrow. We adults can't be drinking too much either.」

The story itself makes sense. Almost too neatly. But...

「...What do you want to do?」

「Eh... Me!?」

I turned to Nanami who was looking at me with a worried face beside me.

「Do you want to go?」

「I-I... would like to talk more if possible, and I have things I want to ask advice about, and apparently other famous cosplayers will be there too... I already told Okaa-san I'd be late today...」

「I see.」

I could forcibly pull Nanami away. But I should report this to Ibuse-kun first.

「Excuse me. Let me think about it. I need to contact my parents.」

「Understood. Then please contact me if you feel like it.」

After telling us that, the man left somewhere. Then, having confirmed the man had left, Nanami spoke to me.

「...Were you perhaps worried about me? It's okay, Shiori-chan. That person is famous, and he's not a bad person. He's been so kind, listening to an amateur like me's questions.」

「...I hope that's the case.」

Certainly, there's also the logic that being famous makes him safe. But conversely, there are also plenty of cases precisely because someone is famous. Nanami shouldn't be unable to understand that, but right now Nanami has completely deified that man. She must have thought of him as that distant existence. That's why now that he's gotten close, her eyes are clouded. That's why she doesn't notice that man's gaze. That disgusting gaze that had been looking at nothing but our bodies the whole time.

And so, bringing Nanami who looked like she wanted to say something, we returned to where Ibuse-kun was.

「I see...」

While Nanami was taking photos of another cosplayer, Shiori informed me of the information she had obtained earlier. A practiced invitation. And the gaze directed at them. None of it can be confirmed for certain, but it's all useful information.

「What do we do? Nanami seems to be quite smitten with that man. If we don't stop her, she'll obediently go to dinner with him.」

「Even if you ask what to do...」

That said, there are still many uncertain factors. It might really be just an after-party. If we consider the worst-case scenario, we should stop her, but there's too little evidence. Whether Nanami would accept that is doubtful.

「Apparently many other people will be coming too. Given that, it's hard to imagine he'd do anything to a minor. Should we just settle for giving Nanami a stern warning?」

「...In that case, I'd like Kaichou to accompany Nanami to that after-party. I'll pay for it, and considering worst-case scenarios, I'll wait at a nearby restaurant.」

「Understood... fufu.」

As we were seriously discussing this, Shiori suddenly started laughing.

「What is it?」

「No... I told you my parents are police officers, right? So I've always admired this. This kind of exchange, I mean. Apparently my parents worked together when they were young. Sometimes helping each other, sometimes clashing, but always pushing each other to improve, and eventually the two of them...... ah...」

She had been proudly talking about her parents, but Shiori suddenly turned red and started panicking.

「That's not it!? I'm not saying that you and I are like my parents!?」

「...Of course not.」

「.........Dense man.」

「Why!?」

She stated the obvious, I gave the obvious response, yet for some reason Shiori became displeased.

「...Well, fine. I'll tell Nanami that I'm going too. She'll probably feel a bit more at ease than going alone.」

「Please do. And also──」

「Don't do anything reckless. Right?」

Before I could warn her, Shiori placed her index finger against her lips and answered.

「...That's right.」

I got flustered by that gesture that was both mature and childish, and I couldn't help but look away from Shiori.

「......What's wrong?」

Perhaps sensing something from my attitude, Shiori moved into my averted line of sight and peered at my face.

「No. It's nothing.」

「That's a lie. When you act like that, you're definitely hiding something. Tell me. I won't get angry, so tell me. Come on, out with it.」

Shiori persistently pushes closer and closer. She called me a dense man and whatnot, yet she's like this herself. I should have held up a mirror to her earlier.

「What is it? It's useless to hide things from me now. Or are you planning to do something behind the scenes like when you helped me? Trying to look cool in front of Nanami?」

「That's not it. And please don't bring up that story right now. It was really embarrassing when you found out...」

「Then confess. Come on, come on. Don't think you can beat me.」

When Shiori gets like this, she really doesn't stop. I could just honestly confess, but...

「......You look like you're having fun, Shiori-chan.」

「Eh!? No... I'm not having fun!? Absolutely not!!」

While we were having such an exchange, Nanami returned to us and spoke to Shiori with a grin. Receiving that retort from Nanami, Shiori panicked again, and thanks to that, her interrogation of me fizzled out.

After that, when Shiori told her she had decided to participate in that after-party, Nanami happily contacted that man.

And so after the after-party began, an hour passed as I waited at a nearby coffee shop wondering when my turn would come.

During that time, nothing happened.

I had asked Shiori to contact me immediately if anything happened, but there was no word for thirty minutes. The restaurant the two of them entered is apparently a famous chain in this world, and there are many other customers, so there's no atmosphere suggesting problems would occur.

This was within the expected range from the start. Even in the game, there is no story of Nanami getting caught up in an incident. I also looked up that man online during this waiting time, but not a single bad rumor came up.

「Haah...」

Things had somehow worked out up until now, so I thought this time would work out too. The opponent isn't students like before. If I believe Shiori's words, there should be something about him.

「......What do I do now.」

While surrounded by the smell of coffee I'm not good with and worrying about what to do from here, my smartphone started ringing. Looking at the screen, it was Shiori.

「What happened!」

『...You're too panicked, Ibuse-kun.』

Shiori was momentarily startled by my voice as I answered with momentum, but she quickly calmed down and began speaking as if to cool my heat.

『...It's already over. Nothing happened.』

「......I see.」

『Ibuse-kun. I'm frustrated.』

Shiori's voice over the phone was trembling somehow, and it also sounded like she was deeply troubled.

『It's just as we thought. That man definitely has something going on. There were suspicious behaviors during the after-party just now. But all of them could be dismissed as coincidence if he claimed so. I'm frustrated to admit it, but I can't get to whatever that man is hiding.』

If even Shiori who was at the scene can't see through everything, he really is a formidable opponent. He must be that experienced.

『I'll talk to my parents about this. That should help us get some kind of evidence. As for Nanami... I'll give her a stern warning. To be careful about dealings with people she met online.』

「...Please do.」

We ended the call, and for now I decided to leave the coffee shop to meet up with the two of them.

「It was so much fun! I'm so glad I came today! Thank you both for coming with me!」

「I see. I'm glad then.」

「...Yeah.」

Nanami, having finished the after-party, looked very happy. Her usual timidness was nowhere to be seen. She was excitedly talking about the day's events.

In her, I saw a glimpse of the angel from the game. If things continue like this, she'll end up dating that man just like in the game. Even if Shiori's parents investigate that man, there's a high probability it won't be in time. If that happens, I won't be able to save Nanami even if she gets caught up in something.

A complete defeat. He wasn't an opponent a college student who had no redeeming qualities even in his previous life could beat. That man is in a realm unreachable by some kid who thought he understood society just from games and part-time jobs.

「.........」

From Shiori, who has become Nanami's conversation partner, I receive a look that says "What are we going to do?" I understand that we need to do something. If what Shiori says is true, there should be something about that man.

But how do I stop her? Which option will save her? What can I say to convince Nanami not to get involved with that man? I don't know. What on earth should I...

「Ah, the train's coming soon! Let's hurry!」

「!?」

While I was deep in thought, we had somehow already arrived at the station. From the platform, that high-pitched sound urges my decision.

「...Wait!」

「Huh!?」

I unconsciously grabbed Nanami's hand. I felt like if she got on this train, everything would be over, and I wasn't thinking about what came after.

「W-W-W-What's wrong!?」

What's wrong, that's what I want to know. What am I trying to do? Why am I thinking so desperately, why am I so fixated on Nanami?

...No, there's only one reason. I want to save whoever is within my reach. That should be enough.

「Hey, Kinoshita. Do you like that man?」

「Eh!? L-L-Like or anything like that...」

「Then, could you stop meeting with that man?」

「Eh... why would Ibuse-kun say something like that...」

It's all or nothing now. This is the only method I can think of to save Nanami. The simplest and most powerful option. That is…

「Kinoshita...... I like you.」

To forcibly enter Nanami's route myself. For that purpose, I confessed to Nanami, my first confession including my previous life.

「.........Huh??」

Having received my confession, Nanami completely froze, and Shiori who had been looking anxious beside me also had the face of someone who just got hit by a bolt from the blue.

「I've always... liked you, you know.」

「Eh?? What...?? Eh? Me??」

It seems she can't comprehend the meaning. Well, if someone suddenly told her something like this, there's no way she could understand.

「I mean exactly what I said.」

I press on with words to the flustered Nanami. Rather, I'm super embarrassed. Seriously feels like my face is about to catch fire.

「So don't meet with that man anymore. And... please go out with me.」

「Huh... ah...... being told… something like that... so suddenly......」

Having finally understood my confession, Nanami, who had been so excited just moments ago, started fidgeting like a lie, returning to her usual self.

To deliver the finishing blow to Nanami, I suppressed my embarrassment, moved closer to her, and delivered the most Ibuse Reo-like pick-up line I could think of.

「Become my woman.」

「Hweh!?」

Hearing that, Nanami's face turned bright red, she pushed me away, and then she shouted in a voice louder than I'd ever heard from her.

「P-Please let me think about iiiiit!!」

Shouting that, while gathering stares from everyone around, Nanami fled through the ticket gate and disappeared onto the station platform.

「.........Haaaah.」

And the stares from around also gather on me. It hurts so much. I mean, confessing near the ticket gate, what was I even thinking? And she ran away. This is definitely going to get posted online.

No, before that......

「Ibuse-kun?? Shall you tell me the details??」

Right now, dealing with this Student Council President raging beside me takes priority.

「What, so that's what it was...... Don't scare me like that...」

「I'm sorry...」

We sat on a bench near the station, and I explained the true meaning of my confession to Shiori. Though I didn't tell her about the previous life stuff. I made it seem like it was a desperate measure I came up with on the spot to stop Nanami.

「Well, even so, that's not good, Ibuse-kun. A fake confession is not good. Couldn't you have come up with a more solid plan? What will you do if Nanami takes it seriously?」

「...I'm sorry. But if that happens, I'll take responsibility.」

「But you have Akari-chan...」

Shiori was about to bring up Akari but stopped herself. She must be being considerate. But she doesn't need to do that, I already know.

「It's fine. I understand Sera's feelings.」

「...! What's fine about it! If you understand, then don't say something like responsibility so lightly!」

Angered by my words, Shiori stands up, grabs me by the collar, and berates me. But I have no right to argue against her anger.

「I'm disappointed! I thought you were someone who could be more considerate of others......」

I was even prepared to be punched. Yet Shiori gradually suppressed her heightened emotions, released my collar, and sat back down on the bench.

「......Sorry. I lost myself there.」

「No... Kaichou's anger is justified.」

Shiori was silent for a while, then as if having made some decision, she let out a "fuu" breath and turned her body toward me.

「You said you'd take responsibility if Nanami takes it seriously. Then what about Akari-chan?」

「...I'll take responsibility.」

「This country doesn't practice polygamy, you know.」

「...Then maybe I'll change the law.」

「What nonsense...」

At my idiotic statement, Shiori smiled, then suddenly started patting her own knees.

「Here.」

「...I don't want to.」

「Here.」

「Um, people are watching......」

「Here!」

「......Yes.」

Judging that I couldn't afford to make Shiori any angrier, I obediently placed my head on Shiori's lap.

「What's this? Your face is red.」

「Obviously... we're being watched.」

「I see. Then this is your punishment. Enjoy it to the fullest.」

It's not just a lap pillow. She's stroking my head as if combing through each strand of hair one by one. This is beyond embarrassing.

「If, hypothetically, Nanami takes your confession seriously... I'll support you. Nanami aside, Akari-chan will definitely get angry. When that happens, you won't be able to handle it alone.」

「......Thanks.」

「Personally, I'd rather entrust Nanami to you as you are now than to some suspicious man like that. Well, you were also staring at Nanami's chest, so maybe you're the same type?」

「...Of course I'd look at those.」

「Yes, yes. Akari-chan will get angry at you again.」

She speaks to me in a soft voice as if soothing a child. I never thought the day would come when Shiori would give me a lap pillow and stroke my head. What a blissful torture this is.

「Oh my, your prized blonde hair is turning black. Shouldn't you go dye it soon? Ah, but Nanami would be scared of blonde hair, so you should go back to black.」

「My hair color doesn't really matter...」

「No. I won't allow it. If you're going to become Nanami's boyfriend, you'll listen to my advice.」

...No, but still. This is too embarrassing. I can't take it. In that case, I'll pretend to be asleep. Or rather, let me just actually fall asleep.

「...Are you listening?」

I ignore Shiori's question. Then I made obviously fake sleeping sounds, signaling that I'd fallen asleep from exhaustion.

「Fufu. You've been on edge all day today for us. Good work.」

Yeah, yeah. So just let me sleep quietly. Let me escape from this embarrassment until the next train comes.

「...Hey, Reo-kun.」

Then suddenly Shiori whispered my name in my ear. I have a really bad feeling about this. I feel like if I don't wake up now, I'll hear something outrageous.

Thinking that, I tried to open my eyes, but...

「I like you.」

My decision was just a few seconds too late, and I ended up hearing the feelings Shiori must have been keeping hidden.

Tuesday, July 16th. Lunch break on the rooftop.

「So hot......」

The long, long week finally ended, and I was eating onigiri I bought at a convenience store on the rooftop under the blazing sun.

Akari is apparently practicing even during lunch break for the summer tournament. I'll need to properly think about a reward for her.

I met Nanami in the classroom, but the moment our eyes met, she immediately ran away. Perhaps it's impossible for me, Ibuse Reo, to enter Nanami's route after all. I'm regretting that it was too reckless a strategy.

As for Shiori......

『I like you.』

「Ahhhhhh...」

Just remembering those words from that day makes me writhe. She just suddenly confessed. Didn't she consider what would happen if I was actually awake?

No, she must trust me that much. When she got angry at my "I'll take responsibility" statement, she quickly calmed down. She probably thought that if it was me, I truly meant it. That only tightens around my heart even more.

「What am I gonna do...」

So, unable to face Shiori, I came to the rooftop instead of the student council room, that's the current situation. Just seeing Shiori's face would probably make me remember those words from that day.

「So you were here after all.」

In the midst of this, the rooftop door opened on its own, and the very Student Council President who was the source of my troubles appeared.

「What's wrong now? I was worried since you didn't come.」

「No... I thought there'd be days like this.」

As I thought, it's impossible. I can't meet her eyes. The fact that a beauty like Shiori confessed to me is just too heavy.

「Is that so? But this place is too hot. Why don't you come to the student council room now? The AC is on. It's comfortable.」

「Weell...」

Being in the same space as you isn't comfortable. Please understand, dense woman.

「...Don't tell me, Ibuse-kun.」

Perhaps sensing something from how I wouldn't face her, Shiori went around behind me and started whispering in my ear.

「Are you embarrassed that you fell asleep on my lap pillow?」

「Buh...!?」

That's not it!! You said something even more embarrassing!!

「Don't be shy, don't be shy. It just means my embrace was that amazing.」

「I'm not being shy though...」

You want me to say it!? That you confessed to me!! You should be grateful for my consideration!!

While I was complaining about Shiori in my head, she finally moved away from me and began what seemed to be the main topic in a serious tone.

「Well, that was just a joke. Please come quickly. Your bento is waiting, and there's a student who wants to talk to you.」

「......Understood.」

There's only one student who'd want to talk to me at this time. Shiori's confession is important too, but resolving that matter takes priority. Thinking so, I reluctantly headed to the student council room with Shiori.

「Ah...... h-hello.」

Waiting inside the student council room was, as expected, Nanami. Somehow, her usual otaku mode makes me feel relieved.

「Come on, Nanami. Say it clearly.」

「Y-Yes......」

Pushed by Shiori, the fidgety Nanami came up to me.

「Ehm... about the other day...... Ibuse-kun's... that, I'd like to give my answer...」

「......Yeah.」

Nanami repeats deep breaths, and then......

「I'm sorry!!!!」

「Urgh...!!」

I was rejected. She bowed her head with such force, a magnificently clean rejection.

「Kufuh.........」

Shiori, who had been watching the scene beside us, couldn't hold back and let out a laugh. I wanted to say something to Shiori, but more importantly right now is Nanami. Since this strategy ended in failure, I have to stop her from getting involved with that man even if I have to grovel.

「C-Could I ask... the reason...?」

Despite being damaged, I asked Nanami. Then Nanami answered while flustered.

「I understand that Ibuse-kun is kind and a good person... but still, you're kind of scary, and you're so tall... and your hair is blonde...... and we're not even that close to begin with...」

「Urgh......!!」

「......Fufu... I can't... sorry Ibuse-kun... I can't hold it in......」

As I took proper follow-up damage from Nanami's perfectly reasonable reasons, Shiori finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

「You're laughing too much, Kaichou...」

「I mean... fuh, kuku... not only Nanami's momentum... but your reaction too......」

「...I literally just got rejected though? Shouldn't there be some words of comfort?」

「Ahh, my bad. I'll give you a lap pillow later, so forgive me.」

「That won't be necessary!」

Shiori is completely enjoying herself, thinking she has me in the palm of her hand. Just as I am considering digging up that confession from that day to get back at her, Nanami, who had been watching us, murmurs "as I thought…" in a small voice and addresses me, no, us, again.

「A-Also. About that person... Shiori-chan also told me not to meet with him in private... and I was pretty carried away that day, so when I thought about it again, she was right...」

...Oh? Is this?

「I see, Nanami! So you've reconsidered!」

At Nanami's words, Shiori responded happily. Being persuaded by both of us must be having an effect.

「S-So. Instead, or rather... how should I put it... I have a favor to ask of you two...」

「I'll listen to anything! Right, Ibuse-kun!」

「...That's right.」

I wish she wouldn't agree on my behalf... but well, if that favor can prevent the bad ending, a small favor is a cheap price.

「T-Then!」

Nanami took an even deeper breath than when she rejected me, and bowed her head with even more force than before.

「Please cosplay with me at the summer event!!」

「「Yes?」」

「Cosplay... you mean like the other day?」

At Nanami's sudden proposal, Shiori tilted her head and asked back. In response, Nanami nodded her head up and down saying "uh-huh, uh-huh" and showed us her smartphone screen.

「First, I want you to look at this...」

On it were clothes that looked obviously like something from anime or manga, and there were both men's and women's versions.

「Actually... making clothes like this is my hobby.」

「Nanami made these!? That's amazing!」

「Ehehe...」

The quality is indeed very good. I wouldn't notice even if told it was a reasonably expensive store-bought cosplay costume.

「And so... it's been my dream to have someone wear the costumes I make someday. Someone like me would lose to the costumes... and it would ruin the world-building. I just couldn't stand that.」

「That's not true! You'd look great in them too, Nanami! Right! Ibuse-kun!」

「......Well, yeah.」

Please don't ask me to agree with something so hard to answer. I just got rejected and I'm hurt here.

「S-So, you see. I was consulting that person about this. Asking "Would you wear my costume?" And he said we should go to karaoke sometime and discuss the details... but for now I'm turning him down......」

I see, so he was targeting a later date rather than that day. No wonder nothing happened that day.

「But I still... couldn't give up on this year's event... and ever since I saw Ibuse-kun and Shiori-chan standing and talking together, there's been something I've been thiiiinking about.」

Nanami pulled out a novel from somewhere and thrust its cover at us with force.

「That you two look just like Wolf and Seria from this "Hangun"!」

「Hangun...? Wolf? Seria?」

It seems Shiori can't keep up, and overwhelmed by Nanami's momentum, she had countless question marks floating above her head. And with that momentum, Nanami started talking.

「"Hangun" is an abbreviation, the real title is "Handgauntlet". Ah, this is a novel but the original is a manga and it's really interesting so you should read it at least once. And the main characters of this manga are Wolf and Seria. Wolf is this wild-type guy with silver hair, and Seria is this serious-looking woman with red hair. By the way, the clothes in those photos earlier were made based on the costumes from this novel version. The manga version is good too but I prefer the novel costumes. See, they incorporate each other's designs into their costumes. Seria's has silver claw marks here, and Wolf's has a red hawk drawn on the chest. And you see──」

「I... see...........」

It seems Nanami was the type of otaku who can't stop once her engine gets going. Even though Shiori's brain must have already overloaded, there's no sign of her stopping. I guess I have no choice but to step in.

「So, how does that lead to making us cosplay?」

「──Eh... ah...... I'm sorry... that's what we were talking... about, right...」

Being stopped by me, she must have finally realized she was giving a passionate speech. Her face turned bright red and she hung her head.

「So, um... Ibuse-kun and Shiori-chan look just like these two from the manga... so... ehhm......」

Nanami was so embarrassed that she couldn't think of words and was flustered about how to explain. But I mostly got the gist. In short, she wants to see us two cosplaying as these characters she says we resemble.

However, I was interested in cosplay even in my previous life, and if this will completely break Nanami's flag, then it's exactly what I wished for. I'll accompany her until she's satisfied.

「Got it. I'll do the cosplay.」

「Eh...... really...?」

Nanami seemed unable to hide her surprise at my answer. Well, no matter how kind someone is, she probably never imagined a delinquent like this would agree to cosplay.

「Kaichou, you're fine with it too, right?」

「......Ah, of course!」

She probably wasn't listening to the conversation just now. Well, Shiori should be fine.

「So there you have it. This is fine, right?」

「...Y-Yes!」

After getting final confirmation from Nanami, it was decided that we would participate in the large summer event.

More importantly, though...

「So, is that interesting?」

「Eh... ah, you mean Hangun?」

「Yeah, Hangun. Since we're doing this, I should at least get some knowledge.」

「......Ah, ehm... what should I do. I don't have the manga with me...... Does the anime streaming have the first season...... ah, but if Ibuse-kun doesn't have a subscription it won't work...」

At my question, Nanami started worrying about what to do. I pointed at the novel she was holding and asked.

「Won't that work?」

「...Ah! Eh, you'll read the novel!?」

「Ou. I'll return it tomorrow, so let's gather in the student council room at lunch again.」

「......Y-Yes!!」

Thus I borrowed the novel from Nanami and decided to read it right after getting home.

「It's been a while since I did something like this.」

As I thought, manga and anime were easier and more casual to consume, and even in my previous life I hadn't read novels since becoming a college student.

「Well then, let's see what you've got...」

Two hours later...

「The manga version is... fifteen volumes total, huh... Oh, there's a digital version, lucky.」

Another two hours later...

「For an older anime, it moves pretty well... no wait, some parts are a bit iffy...」

Another five hours later...

「.........The animation quality in season two is too good. Divine.」

And then, Wednesday, July 17th. Lunch break in the student council room.

「A-Are you okay, Ibuse-kun...?」

「I'm fine...... somehow still alive...」

We had gathered in the student council room as promised to return the book to Nanami, but she became worried about me due to how exhausted I was. Shiori has already scolded me, by the way. "You're an idiot, aren't you?" she said.

I thought this young body could easily handle an all-nighter, but that was too much. It must be because Ibuse Reo's body had never watched anime or anything. It's too tough no matter what. My eyes hurt. I feel like throwing up.

But more than that...

「Hey, Kinoshita......」

「Y-Yes...」

I somehow suppressed my body's trembling, firmly held the novel with both hands, and presented it to Nanami.

「This... was amazing......!」

「...Right!!!!」

At my words from my half-dead state, Nanami was overjoyed and showed me an angelic smile.

Friday, July 19th. Lunch break in the student council room. One new member joined this space we were just borrowing.

「Hey, Ibuse-kun. By the way, did you watch the anime I told you about yesterday?」

「Of course.」

「E-Eh... how was it?」

「......Divine.」

「...Right, right!! I knew Ibuse-kun would understand!!」

Nanami's eyes sparkle across from me. Since the day before yesterday, we've been talking about anime and manga like this in the student council room. Nanami seemed very happy that I got hooked, and she kept recommending work after work to me. I hadn't done any otaku activities since becoming this body, and as a reaction to that, I've been watching anime and manga whenever I have free time since yesterday.

「But with that ending, could it be...」

「...!! Yes!! There's a movie!! And it's this summer!!」

「Oi oi oi oi... seriously?」

「If you want, we could bo...... ah, no...」

Nanami started to say an invitation but stopped herself. She probably said it in the heat of the moment. But I also want to see the movie. And I want to discuss it as soon as I finish watching. So I decided to invite her myself instead.

「Hey, Kinoshita.」

「Y-Yes!」

「Going to an anime movie alone would make me feel like a total outsider. I'll happy if you come with me.」

「.........Yeah! Of course!」

Nanami responded to my invitation with a full smile. Truly angelic. Looking at her straight on, I think again, she really is cute. This would definitely make otaku get the wrong idea. Even I would have been in danger if I hadn't been rejected once already.

「By the way, Ibuse-kun. How is Akari-chan doing?」

「She's apparently doing well. The tournament is the day after tomorrow, so... she'll probably be back by Monday.」

Akari hasn't shown up at the student council room during lunch since that day. Apparently, in her own words, "I'm holding back my Senpai cravings!" Whatever that means.

By the way, I told her about the whole Nanami situation. Then of course, "I knew it was about boobs after all! Adding another woman!! Pervert!!" she yelled at me over the phone.

「I see. Then it'll get lively again.」

「Kinoshita, you should watch out too. She'll probably pester you pretty hard.」

「Ahaha......」

That said, the time we can spend comfortably here is probably running short. Once summer break ends, there'll be student council elections apparently, and once the president changes, we surely won't be able to come and go freely anymore. Fall might be fine, but what about winter?

「...That's right, you two. About the cosplay thing... are you free the first Sunday of summer break?」

「I'm free, but why?」

「Well... I want to adjust the costume sizes and stuff... I'm doing my best, but it's easier with the actual people there...」

With no particular reason to refuse Nanami's proposal, we agreed immediately.

「I'm fine.」

「I don't mind either.」

「...Thank you!」

Thus, we decided the details of our first summer break plans, and it was decided that we would visit Nanami's house during the day.

The following week, Monday, July 22nd. Having achieved excellent results at the tournament, Akari was supposed to come to the student council room for the first time in a while, so we were all waiting, but...

「She's not coming...」

Even though more than ten minutes had already passed since lunch break started, there was no sign of Akari arriving.

「Akari-chan did say she was coming, right?」

「That's right, but maybe she's busy or something.」

「Uhh... I'm nervous...」

Well, Akari probably has friends in her class too, and she's probably delayed because they're congratulating her. She'll come eventually, so we should probably just spend time as usual.

Just as I thought that and was about to suggest it to the two of them.

「Ibuse Reo!!!!」

BANG!

A girl with a voice and character design I least wanted to hear flung open the student council room door with great force and made her entrance.

「I heard about your evil deeds from Onii-chan... uwah it's cool in here!? Eh!? Air conditioning!? That's cheating!」

「Calm down, Sakura...」

With twin-tails sprouting from her head, she barged into the student council room only to become astonished by the coolness. Behind her was Akari looking extremely awkward, bowing her head repeatedly to Shiori.

「I'd heard rumors, but... I never thought you were really using the student council room as your personal space...」

So there are rumors about it. Well, of course there would be.

「You scumbag! Get your hands off Akari right now! Otherwise──」

「Hey, first-year.」

「Y-Yes!?」

Against the sudden rudeness of this girl who appeared out of nowhere, Shiori, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. The moment they heard her voice, everyone present straightened their posture and quietly awaited the next words from the Student Council President-sama.

「Where do you think you are?」

「...The student council room.」

「That's right. Then what should you do first when entering the student council room?」

「......Knock.」

「Ohh, amazing. You understand well. Then how should you open the door?」

「......Quietly... yes.」

「Very good. Then is the second-year male student over there that you have business with an acquaintance of yours?」

「No...... it's our first meeting...」

「Hee. So you think it's normal to speak casually to a senpai you've just met, and even insult them?」

「That's not... normally, I use polite speech...」

「I see, I see. Then do it over.」

「Yes...... excuse me...」

Having been calmly interrogated by Shiori, the girl dejectedly exited the student council room and decided to redo her entrance scene.

「Excuse me...」

「Come in.」

Where did all that earlier bravado go? She gently knocked on the door and slid it open as carefully as possible. Her proud twin-tails somehow look less energetic.

「Your name?」

「First-year, class three... Miyano Sakura... I heard that Ibuse Reo-senpai is here...」

「Fumu. There you have it, Ibuse-kun. May I let her in?」

「Yes... please do...」

The sheer pressure from Shiori makes even me shrink back. I had completely forgotten, but Shiori was someone who's extremely strict. I should make sure never to anger her. I feel like no amount of lives would be enough.

「Excuse me...」

That girl... Miyano Sakura, the younger sister of the protagonist Miyano Kaede, walked up to me with her head down and was about to resume speaking, but...

「Ueh...... hic...... hiccup...」

「Sakura!?」

Sakura started crying before she could say anything to me. Seeing this, Akari rushes over to comfort her. As I am thinking about whether I should say something too, Sakura glared at me with her large eyes brimming with tears.

「I'll let you off for today!! Remember this!!」

Screaming what was clearly sour grapes, she shook off Akari who was comforting her and ran out of the student council room.

「I see. A first-year who seems worth educating...」

「I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! She's not a bad kid! Please forgive her!」

Akari desperately bows her head to Shiori, who is showing her anger again. Having witnessed this storm of events, Nanami has been trembling the whole time, and I myself was feeling quite awkward too.

That girl is Miyano Sakura, just as she introduced herself. Miyano Kaede's non-blood-related younger sister. She's the only heroine in this game with no bad ending, and she's the person I least wanted to meet because I felt like something might happen if we did.

「Senpai, I'm sorry too. She just wouldn't listen...」

「It's fine by me. Insults at this point are nothing new. More importantly, what happened?」

「...Didn't we promised to go on a date?」

「Eh!? A d-date!?」

「Nanami. You're making things complicated.」

Shiori calms down Nanami, who is panicking at the sudden topic. Akari glanced at Nanami to check on her and resumed talking.

「So, well... I was feeling so excited today that I accidentally told Sakura about the date. Ah, of course I didn't tell her that Senpai was the one I was going to the date with, but... she kept pressing me saying "Is that with Ibuse Reo!?"」

「And that's why she came here.」

Kaede is probably the reason she knew. She was trying to say something like "I heard from Onii-chan" earlier.

「I'm sorry!」

Having finished talking, Akari bows her head vigorously. She must think her friend was rude. Even Shiori was angry, so I understand the feeling. I should follow up here.

「I told you I don't mind. As for Kaichou, well... she has her position and all.」

「Hey, Nanami. Was I that scary?」

「Yeah. Super scary.」

「I see...... sorry, Akari-chan...」

「No, no! That was Sakura's fault...」

Shiori reflected that she'd been too harsh, and the atmosphere became even worse. Judging that this wasn't the time for a celebration, I made a suggestion to Akari.

「Go after her. She's your best friend, right?」

「B-But...」

「We're fine here. I'm really not angry.」

「......Understood.」

Akari bowed her head to us once more and left the student council room to chase after Sakura. After that, in the student council room wrapped in silence now that the storm had passed, Nanami was the first to speak.

「U-Um, Ibuse-kun... you two aren't dating, right?」

「Hm? Ahh, that's right.」

「I see... yes...」

Having confirmed the relationship between me and Akari, Nanami looked down and started mumbling to herself.

「Ahh... Are you not good with Akari?」

「No!? That's not it!? W-Well, she's very cute! I think...」

「Then tell her she's "cute" when you meet her next time. She'll be really happy.」

「Y-Yeah... I'll do that...」

Although she said she wasn't bad with Akari, Nanami remained looking down and started thinking about something. Shiori was also repeatedly questioning herself, muttering "Should I be gentler... but still..."

Originally, today was supposed to be Akari's victory celebration, but due to the sudden storm that visited, the student council room fell silent just before summer break.

And so, Sunday, July 28th, after summer break had started.

Having met up at the station, Shiori and I visited Nanami's house together and rang the doorbell at the entrance.

『Y-Yes! Coming!』

Nanami's energetic-sounding voice came through the intercom. After waiting for a while, there was eventually the sound of clattering, and then the front door in front of us opened with force.

「Sorry for the wait... I was just in the middle of cleaning...」

「Buh!?」

The Nanami who came out was drenched in sweat, and her sloppy, loose shirt, probably loungewear, had sweat stains that made it hard to know where to look. Combined with her casual appearance and voluptuous body, she was giving off a mysterious sex appeal.

「...What's wrong?」

「Nothing...」

Nanami really does this kind of thing without realizing it... My old fetishes that I'd almost forgotten are about to be revived.

「Nanami. What's with that outfit?」

「Weell... I was cleaning and planned to change clothes, but... before I knew it, it was already this late.」

「Haah... That might be unavoidable, but there's a boy here...」

When Shiori beside me gently pointed this out, Nanami looked at her own outfit again, blushed, and hid her body with her arms.

「This is quite an unsightly sight...... I'll go change right away...」

Nanami closed the front door once, and we ended up waiting for a while.

「Haah... Ibuse-kun. Don't get any weird ideas.」

「I won't.」

While exchanging such words, I decided to think about something else to somehow distract myself. But the moment I let my guard down even a little, the dampness in various places and the sex appeal came to mind...

「...Ibuse-kun.」

「W-What is it! I'm not thinking about anything!」

As if reading my thoughts, Shiori's exasperated voice made me shake my head vigorously.

After waiting for several minutes like that. Nanami, now wearing the scent of antiperspirant, welcomed us again, and we were shown to Nanami's room.

「Hey, Shiori-chan. First, I have a favor to ask of Shiori-chan... is that okay?」

Upon arriving at the quintessential otaku room decorated with tons of manga and anime goods, Nanami asked Shiori that. Then she rummaged through the closet and pulled out one costume and handed it to Shiori.

「This is Shiori-chan's. Since we have the chance, I'd like you to try it once. I had you in mind when making it, so the size should fit, but... it won't work if it's hard to move in.」

「...Ahh, understood. I'll put it on.」

Shiori looked puzzled but accepted Nanami's proposal. And while they were at it, Nanami also decided to change into her cosplay costume for the day, so I was kicked out of the room by Shiori.

After waiting for several dozen minutes like that......

「You can come in, Ibuse-kun.」

「Roger.」

When Shiori called out to me, I immediately opened the room door. And then...

「...How is it?」

Standing there looking embarrassed was Shiori dressed in a military-style costume with a navy blue base.

「Eh, she seriously looks like the real thing...」

「Right, right! As expected of Shiori-chan!」

Even without putting on a wig or colored contacts yet, the quality is already this high. As I am captivated by its magnificence, Nanami had started taking photos with her smartphone at some point.

「How is it? Is it hard to move? Are you okay? Tell me right away if anything feels off. Ah, look this way!」

「This is... a bit embarrassing...」

Though embarrassed, Shiori was striking appropriate poses. Nanami, who is snapping away, is also cosplaying, and her quality is equally amazing.

「Kinoshita, you're... Opeko?」

「Ah, you can tell!? As expected of Ibuse-kun! If we're going with Wolf and Seria, it has to be Opeko!」

Nanami's costume is more of a blue color than navy, like a suit. It's what you'd call a mob character's outfit, but from the detailed decorations and the fact that she is wearing glasses, it was obvious at a glance that she was cosplaying as Seria's dedicated operator, commonly known as "Opeko".

「Ope... ko?」

Shiori can't quite follow our conversation. Then Nanami's otaku switch suddenly flipped on, and she started explaining on her own.

「Opeko-chan, you know! She didn't have a name at first, but she became popular among fans and got the name "Yomi" from the middle of the story! Ah, this is info from the fanbook. I can't tell you about her role since it'd spoil the main story, but... ah, right, I forgot!」

Nanami, who was really getting into it, rummaged through the closet again and pulled out a heavy-looking box.

「I borrowed a year's worth of my allowance in advance and... bought it! Ta-da!」

What came out of the box was a realistic-looking rifle. But it had the same detailed paint job as in the anime, making it immediately recognizable as Seria's weapon.

「Here, hold this!」

「A-Ahh...... It's surprisingly heavy... like this?」

「「!!!!」」

Receiving the rifle, Shiori strikes another appropriate pose. Seeing that pose, both of us otaku couldn't help but hold our breath, and before we knew it, we were sitting in seiza.

「Kinoshita...... don't people often call you a genius?」

「...Today is the first time, but I might start calling myself that from now on.」

「What's with you two, that's creepy...」

After that, Shiori was overwhelmed by the otaku duo's enthusiasm and ended up being made to strike all sorts of poses.

After that mini photoshoot, it was time for my costume. It looks exactly like what I saw in the anime, and just holding it fills me with emotion.

So while struggling, I put on the military-style costume following the instructions I received from Nanami, properly put on the wig and colored contacts, and called out to Nanami and Shiori, who were waiting excitedly outside the room.

「I'm doneー.」

「Y-Yes!」

With a loud reply, Nanami slowly opened the room door. At first, Nanami's face was looking down, and she examined me as if observing from my toes upward, and eventually when our eyes met, tears overflowed from Nanami's eyes.

「Hh......guh.........uhh」

「Nanami!? What's wrong!?」

Unable to understand the meaning of those tears, Shiori immediately called out to Nanami, who had collapsed and was sitting on the floor beside her. But Nanami explained to Shiori, "It's okay... these are happy tears..." and then began to thoroughly gaze at my cosplay appearance again.

「I... really... I'm so glad... I became friends... with Ibuse-kun...!」

I never thought I'd be praised this much just for cosplaying. I was genuinely happy, and getting carried away, I approached Nanami and spoke to her in a voice I tried to make sound as close to the anime version as possible.

「Thank you.」

「Hweh.........!?」

「Nanami!?」

Perhaps I went too far, as Nanami became completely still as if her soul had left her body. Even as Shiori shook Nanami's body trying to check if she was okay, it took several minutes before Nanami came back to her senses.

「Sorry, Kinoshita...... I got carried away...」

「No no no no no! Not at all!!」

I bow my head to Nanami, who has regained consciousness. But Nanami didn't mind at all and was actually gazing at my face happily the whole time.

「...Haah... no matter how many times I look, your face is too powerful...」

「Powerful? Not "cool"?」

When Shiori asked what would normally be an obvious question, Nanami, whose excitement had been off the charts, began to explain the meaning.

「Being cool is obvious! But look! A Japanese person with silver hair, yet his face isn't being overshadowed! Red contacts, yet they don't look out of place at all! It's amaaaazing! That's why it's "powerful"!!」

「Ah, I-I see...」

「......Hehe.」

Being praised this much is making me embarrassed. The muscles in my cheeks are loosening up too much, and the corners of my mouth keep rising endlessly.

「...By the way, Nanami. Isn't there a weapon for Ibuse-kun? You know, like my rifle.」

「! Good catch, Shiori-chan!! Now, Ibuse-kun!」

At Shiori's question, Nanami got even more excited and looked at me, asking me to show them "that".

「Well, if I must...!」

Normally, I would have hesitated a bit.

But right now I'm also super hyped up! Character role-playing is what I always do anyway! And I actually wanted to try it myself!

So I raised my right hand vertically with my thumb facing up, and pointed only my index finger at Shiori. Then I pressed the tips of my middle finger and thumb together with force, released them, and said the signature line at the same time.

「Bang!」

SNAP!

「............??」

Both the voice matching the anime version and the finger snap I had secretly practiced should have been executed perfectly in my mind. Nanami beside me is overjoyed. The only problem was...

「Mmm.........hm??」

That the audience was Fujita Shiori, a woman unfamiliar with this kind of thing, and we had forgotten that.

「Cheer up, Ibuse-kun... it looked cool. Yeah. I thought it was cool...」

「Enough... just kill me......」

「...Sorry about that?」

Having completely bombed, I was instantly pulled back to reality, and I became embarrassed about all my actions up to this point and curled up in the corner of the room to sulk.

Nanami is comforting me, and Shiori is patting my back while apologizing. That just chipped away at my mental health even more.

「...So, what was that just now?」

「Ehm...... it's a bit complicated, is that okay?」

After getting confirmation from Shiori, Nanami began explaining about the work called Hangun again.

「To begin with, the world of Hangun has the concept of magic. And normally you need tools to use magic... typically things like wands or brooms. In the world of Hangun, guns take that role. That's why Seria carries a gun. But! Amazingly, Wolf can use magic without relying on a gun! In other words, the pose Ibuse-kun did just now is a scene where he's using his right hand as a gun to cast magic! Read the manga for details! All the volumes are right here!」

「A-Ahh...... I'll do that...」

After that, Shiori started reading the manga, practically having it forced on her. At first, Shiori was reading it with a face like "Fumu..." as if just skimming through, but around volume four, she started reading intently with a face like "Fumu, fumu!" and completely entered her own world.

Since we can't disturb such a Shiori, I removed my wig and contacts for now and went over to Nanami, who has started working on something.

「What are you doing?」

「This? I'm writing down notes about what I learned today. I learned a lot from having Ibuse-kun wear it. I should have trusted Ibuse-kun's visual power more. I need to use this for next time...」

「Next time?」

「Eh...... ah... right, it's just this time.」

Then Nanami suddenly stopped writing and apologized to me while laughing awkwardly as if trying to cover something up.

「S-Sorry... you're right...... ahaha...」

As if making a joke, Nanami tries to close the notebook. Unable to bear seeing her sad expression, I took Nanami's hand and forcibly kept the notebook open.

「It's fine. Next time, and the time after that... I'll go along with you as many times as you want.」

「Huh......... ah...」

「Now, now, Ibuse-kun. You've got quite the nerve trying to hit on Nanami right in front of me.」

My words were apparently so unexpected that Nanami's face turned bright red and she froze, and Shiori, who had properly heard this whole exchange while reading the manga, came to deliver a warning.

「I'm not trying to hit on her, it's more like, as a friend... you know.」

「If you're going to hit on Nanami, you'd better convince me first. And Nanami, you too, don't let yourself be fooled. That man is a womanizer and a playboy.」

「I-I'm not thinking anything like that!?」

Nanami shakes her head vigorously in denial. Then Shiori sighed and stopped reading the manga to look at me.

「Alright, Ibuse-kun. Do that thing from earlier one more time.」

「Eh... I really don't want to. I already took off the wig and contacts...」

「That doesn't matter. Or can't you grant my request? Even though you had so much fun using me as a subject earlier?」

「Ugh......」

「Come on, Nanami. If there's any pose you'd like, just ask. Let's have a precious photoshoot time with Ibuse Reo... no, Wolf-sama.」

「Eh... ah, okay.」

And so, at the direction of Shiori, who had properly acquired the knowledge, I was asked to strike all sorts of poses. I was embarrassed at first, but I gradually got into it, and before I knew it, I had put the wig and contacts back on.

That night. At Nanami's house.

「............」

I was lying on my bed, lost in thought while looking at the folder filled with photos of Ibuse-kun in cosplay.

「......Haah...」

No matter how many times I look, his face is too powerful. I couldn't look at him because fear took priority until now, but he's really cool. And yet, he has such an... otaku-like, same-age-boy side to him...

「......That's unfair, Ibuse-kun.」

But I'm the only one who gets to see that face. He doesn't make that face with Shiori-chan or Sera-chan.

In other words...

「Fuhehehe...... only me...」

Getting to see what could be called the true face of such a cool classmate is probably only me. Somehow that feels like a really special thing, and I rolled around on my bed.

On the day of the event, I'll be surrounded by those two with powerful faces. If that's the case, I should be allowed to be a little brave. Besides, there's the matter of Sera-chan too. I think that girl likes Ibuse-kun. She was talking about dates and stuff. They're really close, and they seem like a good match.

「...Is there still time, I wonder......」

I was regretting my answer from that day. I turned him down because I didn't know Ibuse-kun well enough yet. But if those two aren't dating yet, that means I have a chance too.

「Time to bring out my... courage......!」

So excited that my sleepiness and hesitation were blown away, I went to the washroom and decided to fight my reflection in the mirror.

And so, Saturday, August 3rd arrived. The large-scale summer doujinshi fair held over two days. This is the first day, an important day that it's no exaggeration to say that it could determine Nanami's fate. I'll make Nanami thoroughly enjoy the event and won't even give that male cosplayer a chance to approach her.

I arrived at the café that was our meeting spot ahead of time and waited for the two of them.

Regarding that male cosplayer, we still haven't been able to get clear evidence. However, topics about trouble with women were starting to quietly surface online. For now, the reactions are dismissing them as jealousy, envy, or the woman's misunderstanding, and there are also rumors in some places that he might be married. As they say, "where there's smoke, there's fire", and it's probably only a matter of time before some kind of scandal comes out.

As for the man himself, he hasn't addressed the rumors at all and had announced that he would be participating in today's event as a cosplayer. How thick-skinned can he be?

Today should be the turning point if things go according to the game, but currently the flow is very different from Nanami's original event. To begin with, Shiori and I are planning to be with her the whole time, so as long as we keep that guy away, things should be fine.

「Welcome, is it two people?」

「No, I believe my companion arrived first...」

While I was wondering what to do, I heard Shiori's voice. I waved to Shiori, who was looking around searching for me, and she noticed me immediately and came over.

「Well, well. You really are easy to find, and that helps.」

「Same goes for you.」

Originally, we were supposed to meet at the station, but Shiori insisted on the café for some reason, so I reluctantly complied. And the reason is probably because of the suspicious busty person who sat next to Shiori.

「......What are you doing, Kinoshita?」

「Well......」

For some reason, Nanami was wearing a hat and mask, an outfit completely unsuitable for this midsummer. And even though she entered the shop, she shows no sign of removing them. Then Shiori began explaining the situation with an exasperated look.

「Apparently she really wanted to surprise Ibuse-kun.」

「Surprise me...?」

「...Hear the details from her yourself.」

「......That's what she said.」

「...!!」

At my question, Nanami seemed to have made up her mind about something and slowly reached for her hat and mask.

「...I-I mustered up the courage...... because I'm with you two... I made a reservation at a hair salon... and worked hard on other things... so......」

Nanami murmured that in a small, trembling voice, and then revealed what she had been hiding.

「H-How... is it?」

「............」

I don't know how many seconds my thoughts stopped. Maybe it's minutes. That's how much of a shock hit me.

The hair that had given a heavy impression was neatly styled, and her skin looks much more beautiful than usual. It was like seeing Nanami after her event in the game, but there was a decisive difference.

To be honest, I was a bit dissatisfied with Nanami's image change in the game. A glasses character removing her glasses is unforgivable, I thought. But what about Nanami now? She hasn't removed her characteristic glasses, and unlike the confident smile in the game, she was showing a smile that exuded bashfulness, very Nanami-like and adorable.

To describe that radiance, the expression "angel" is no longer sufficient. A beauty that could even reach goddess level. And there's only one thing I should say to her, who faced her complex head-on.

「Thank you so much......!」

「What's that...... thank you too.」

「Uhh...!」

Along with gratitude, she shows me her best smile. The sheer power of it is making me react in a creepy way, and Shiori, sitting next to Nanami, directed a cold stare at me.

「Ibuse-kun...... you've become similar to Nanami...」

「E-Ehehe... r-really?」

Being told she'd become similar to Nanami, for some reason it was Nanami who got embarrassed rather than me. After that, we had a light breakfast and headed to the venue together, all three of us.

「So, we'll be over there. Ibuse-kun, you go that way. After you finish registration and changing, let's meet up here again. Ah, don't lose the paper you get at registration, okay? If you do, you'll have to pay out of pocket.」

「Okayー, I'll be carefulー.」

After arriving at the venue, I received instructions from the efficient Nanami and headed to the men's changing room. Even so, I never thought the day would come when I'd participate in this kind of event as a cosplayer. How should I put it... this is a perk of the job.

Thinking about such things, I finish registration and quickly start changing. I hear the women's side gets more crowded, so I don't need to rush, but making those two wait feels dangerous. Besides, there are other people here, so it's important to be early.

That said......

「His face is too powerful, isn't it?」

「Not just his face, but his body is insane too...」

「Wonder what he's gonna cosplay.」

As usual, Ibuse Reo seems skilled at attracting attention from those around him. I've been getting glances and whispered about ever since registration. I understand the feeling, but it's a bit embarrassing. Let's just quickly change and head to the meeting spot.

「So hot......」

I finished changing and went outside, but it's too hot. A military-style costume in midsummer is honestly tough, and I have nothing but respect for cosplayers who endured this.

In this intense heat, while drinking the sports drink I brought and waiting at the meeting spot, two women approached me.

「U-U-Um...... is that... "Hangun's" Wolf... right?」

The woman who called out to me was clearly older than me, but was extremely nervous, probably because of Ibuse Reo's intimidating presence. I tried to smile as gently as possible so as not to scare her and answered her question.

「Yes. That's right.」

「Uwaaah...... see, I told you, I told you! The season two effect was real! See!」

「No, no, wait wait. This is impossible, the quality is too insane?? He looks like the real thing, exactly like the original, this is crazy! He's not someone you should meet in the wild!」

Having become somewhat familiar with this world's subculture scene, I know that Hangun is a rather minor work. The first season of the anime had questionable animation quality... oh wait, this isn't the time to think about that.

「E-Eh! U-Um! May I take a photo!?」

「...Go ahead.」

「M-Me too!」

「I'd be happy to, as many as you'd like.」

The photo session began naturally, and I kept striking Wolf-like poses. While I am enjoying this event to the fullest, a pair of girls who are already drawing attention from around them came walking from the direction of the women's changing room.

「What, you're already popular.」

「...You two are plenty conspicuous too.」

As I was talking with Shiori, who was wearing her costume magnificently, the women who had been photographing me froze when they saw Shiori and Nanami.

「Eh, eh, eh... eh?? Could you... be acquainted with them...?」

「Yes. The three of us are participating together.」

Shiori answers the woman's question. Nanami, standing next to her, was blushing but still bowed her head politely.

「Seriously...... eh, is this a dream...?」

「I don't know... but I think at least today is my death anniversary...... there's no other way to explain this.」

The shock having exceeded their brain's capacity, they were looking at each other half in tears.

For their sake, I gave Shiori a look, and Shiori, understanding, spoke to them.

「Would you like to take a photo?」

「Hyeh...... y-yes... please......」

「Gladly. Come on, Yomi. You too.」

「I-I'm......」

Shiori, having thoroughly read both the manga and novel, called out to the character Nanami was playing, Opeko a.k.a. Yomi, and extended her hand. Just as Nanami was about to decline, one of the women cut in faster and bowed her head to Nanami.

「Please! We'd love it! Both of you!」

「Eh, me too... is that okay...?」

「Of course!! You're sooo cute!!」

「...Thank you.」

Pushed by their enthusiasm, Nanami glanced my way. I smiled back at her, conveying the feeling of "it's okay", and Nanami smiled very happily and stood proudly beside Shiori.

After that, people gathered around us as we took photos of all three of us and got into discussions about Hangun, and before I knew it, I had forgotten about that male cosplayer and we ended up being busy dealing with various requests for a while.

Having continued photographing under the blazing sun, Nanami was clearly starting to look unwell.

「So hot...」

Although we had been hydrating regularly, this heat was apparently too much for the indoor-type Nanami to endure. She was spinning her head around unsteadily and looked like she was about to collapse any moment.

「Oi. Are you okay?」

「I'm... fi, ne......」

I tried to check on her, but continuing seems difficult. Judging so, we decided to take Nanami to a paid rest area.

「Sorry, you two... thank you.」

「Don't worry about it. If you collapse, that would defeat the whole purpose.」

Nanami sits in a chair and is being cared for by Shiori while slowly drinking a sports drink. Despite the air conditioning in the rest area, the flush hasn't left Nanami's face. She must have been in quite a critical state.

「Hey, Kinoshita. Shouldn't we call it a day?」

「.......」

At my suggestion, Nanami's face became sad. She must be the most frustrated about this result herself. She might insist on staying. Even so, Shiori is here, so she should help convince her. Here I have to harden my heart......

「...Yeah. Let's do that.」

「Eh... are you okay with that?」

As I was thinking about what to say next, Nanami agreed to my suggestion with a smile. Shiori, who had been fanning her with a fan, also stopped her hand involuntarily. Seeing us like that, Nanami giggled and slumped her upper body onto the table, speaking about her reasons with a happy expression.

「Today was really fun. So many people praised the costumes I made and you two, and everyone was so happy, it really felt like a dream. Of course I feel frustrated too. But more than that, I'm satisfied. Besides...」

Nanami stared directly into my eyes and showed a slightly mischievous smile.

「You'll go along with me next time... and the time after that too... right?」

「...A man doesn't go back on his word.」

「Fuhehe...... thanks.」

While having this somewhat embarrassing exchange with Nanami, Shiori, who seemed flustered for some reason, cut into our conversation.

「N-Nanami! Me too! I'll go along with you as many times as you want! Okay!? So...!」

「Eh, really!? Thanks, Shiori-chan!」

Contrary to the flustered Shiori, Nanami happily shook Shiori's hand up and down.

As we were enjoying a summer of youth like this, a certain man entered the rest area and approached us the moment he spotted us.

「Excuse me for interrupting... could that be "Hangun's" Seria cosplay?」

The man who came over spoke to Shiori first. The moment Shiori saw the man's face, her expression switched to work mode. I've seen this guy's face many times, so I know. This is that male cosplayer.

「Yes... that's right.」

「I knew it! It's been getting so much attention, I was looking for you, and the quality is truly amazing! I've been a big fan of this work for a long time... I never thought I'd see something this incredible...」

The man speaks to Shiori in an excited manner. His gaze isn't quite at Shiori's eyes, but rather further down, and he shows no sign of looking my way at all. He sure has been able to deceive people with that.

「Not just Seria... is that Opeko-chan over there? Wonderful... the attention to detail... I'm a big Opeko fan too. Her foreshadowed character arc is great, isn't it... the author's skill really surprised me.」

「...Thank you.」

While wearing a slightly bitter expression, Nanami expressed her thanks at the man's compliments. Then the man finally turned his eyes to me and got to the main point.

「The Wolf cosplay suits you, and is that hawk design perhaps meant to represent Seria? It's wonderful how you've added originality. By the way, do you have any plans after this? We're thinking of having an after-party, and if you'd like...」

「「............」」

I see, so that's how he operates. How thick-skinned can he be... no wait! That doesn't matter! I seriously can't let this slide without saying something!

「U-Um...」

Nanami seemed to feel the same way and was about to speak up. But I stood up before Nanami could and got in the man's face.

「This hawk design isn't original, you know.」

「......Eh?」

Being suddenly confronted by a large man, he is showing an expression of surprise. But I didn't care about that at all and calmly expressed my dissatisfaction.

「This is from a super emotional costume from a spin-off novel called "Handgauntlet ~Beasts of the Battlefield~" which depicts the story after the original ended. Don't tell me you didn't know? If not, it's a really good story, so how about checking it out? If you're a "longtime big fan", I'm sure you'll love it.」

「Ah, well......」

「...Well, that aside... may I ask you one question?」

「W-What is it?」

「Opeko's real name. You know it, right?」

The man had been bracing himself for what kind of question might come, but seeing it was "such an easy question", he started speaking confidently.

「Yeah, I know. It's "Yomi", right? Actually, her name was hinted at from early on. The impact of that foreshadowing payoff was really amazi──」

「Wrong, it was added later. In the fanbook, the author themselves wrote that they suddenly made her a main character because she got popular. All those theories were just coincidences, and the author denied them all recently. Don't tell me you haven't even read the fanbook? You haven't even checked the author's statements? Even though she's your favorite?」

「...No, I read it, but that was, well, a long time ago...」

I've pretty much figured out this guy's method. I noticed it while looking through the photos on his account, most of his cosplays were of minor works. And his cosplay changes to a different work for each event. And the way he's flustered now. As I thought, this guy...

「You're a poser, aren't you?」

「......No... I have watched it properly...」

I don't want to say being a casual fan is bad. But this guy specifically declared himself a big fan. And yet he only has this level of knowledge. He thinks it's okay to be sloppy just because the work is minor. He targeted fans of works with small communities and tried to get close with half-baked knowledge. Even if he gets something wrong, people hesitate to correct him because he's famous. These days there's a trend of being kind to casuals. This guy was exploiting that psychology. Frankly, he's looking down on fans.

「Instead of wasting time gathering women at after-parties, go home and do your homework right now.」

We're gathering attention from around us, but I don't care about that. In fact, if we're gathering this much attention, people will spread this story on their own.

Thinking that, I made my voice even more intimidating and glared at him with murderous intent.

「...Don't you ever come near my women again.」

「Guh.........」

The man showed a frustrated expression and left the rest area. People around us were looking at us and pointing their phones, with looks of "I just saw something amazing", but I didn't care and sat back down in my chair.

「Good grief... you really have become similar to Nanami.」

「...Maybe so.」

Shiori smiled wryly while looking somewhat exasperated. It's less that I've become similar and more that I was actually like this from the start, but... well, let's go with that.

「Ibuse-kun...!」

Suddenly Nanami grabbed my hand and squeezed it with all her might, wearing a beaming smile.

「Thank you...! You said everything I wanted to say, it was so cool! That was so satisfying! I really... I'm so glad I'm friends with Ibuse-kun!」

「Y-Yeah...... thanks...」

To be honest, I was reflecting a bit that it was quite a selfish and pushy action, but... just having been able to see Nanami's smile like this makes it more than worth it.

「......Let's get out of here for now. You've rested enough, right?」

「「Ah, yes...」」

Having attracted way too much attention, we became uncomfortable and left the room, and after that, we changed into casual clothes and decided to go hunting for doujinshi, our other objective.

Sunday, August 4th. Having fully enjoyed both the cosplaying and doujinshi hunting yesterday, we were having a party at my place during the day with all four of us gathered, serving as both a celebration for yesterday and a belated congratulations party for Akari that we hadn't been able to hold. Why my place? Because Akari insisted. Besides, it happens to be the midpoint from everyone's houses.

「Senpai~. Show me too. That cool finishing poseー!」

「...Absolutely not.」

「Now, now. Why not show her?」

「Ah, Sera-chan, isn't the meat done cooking?」

Since we are here, we borrowed a hot plate from Shiori's house, pooled our allowances to buy some slightly expensive meat, and also bought drinks and snacks to hold an extravagant home party.

This party is ostensibly for the two reasons I mentioned, but for me, it's also a momentous day celebrating the completion of all my original objectives. I've successfully saved all the heroines except for Mizukami Noa's route, and now everyone can spend time smiling like this. I didn't expect us to become this close, but I'll accept that as a bonus.

And so the lively party continued, and while I was washing the hot plate that had finished its job, Nanami, who had been showing our cosplay photos to Akari, came rushing to the kitchen looking flustered.

「I-Ibuse-kun!!」

「Hm? What's up?」

「Look at this!」

What was displayed was a clip from a certain stream. Apparently from an exposé-type streamer. I don't really like this kind of stuff... hm?

「This man...... that cosplayer...」

「Yeah! Apparently, something crazy happened!」

I skimmed through the clip with Nanami. To summarize the content simply.

A woman who has been involved with the male cosplayer appears on an exposé video streamer's broadcast with all sorts of information. Apparently the man is like a semi-yakuza, involved in underage drinking and statutory violations. He claims he needs money for cosplay and makes women pay for him, then turns cold once their payments slow. Overdosing is commonplace. She'd even had illegal drugs pushed on her...... apparently he was quite a serious criminal.

「...The world is a scary place.」

「Yeah...... I... I'm really glad I'm friends with Ibuse-kun...」

Just thinking about what could have happened... it's a chilling story. I'm really glad I stopped Nanami that day. Being a worrywart has its uses.

「Senpaiー! What's thisー!」

「Hm? What... oi!?」

When Akari asked me that, I looked toward the living room to see what she'd found, and there was Akari holding up some porn mags, the legacy of Ibuse Reo.

「Senpai is a boy after all~」

「Idiot... where did you dig those up from!」

I hurry back to the living room and snatch the magazines from the smirking Akari. This horny brat. Don't tell me this was her goal in suggesting my place.

「T-That's not good, Ibuse-kun! That kind of thing should wait until you're eighteen!」

Shiori, who had properly seen everything with a red face, scolds me. Barging into a guy living alone's home, searching for his treasures without permission, and then lecturing me, how unreasonable can you get?

「Alright, Kaichou-san! Let's search for more! Let's find evidence and arrest this evildoer!」

「Oi, behave yourself! I'll throw you out of the house!」

「...That's right. Let's arrest him!」

「Wha... why are you joining in too, Kaichou!?」

「Sneaking quietly......」

「Wait, Kinoshita too... don't I have any privacy!」

Akari, who still isn't satisfied, plus Shiori, who is fired up for some reason. And Nanami sneakily searching through gaps in the shelves. If I stop one, another moves. I was at the mercy of the three of them, but I thoroughly enjoyed this too-peaceful moment.

「Hey, Senpai!」

Such fun times passed in the blink of an eye, and while I was walking the three of them to the nearby station, the energetic Akari raised her hand and made a suggestion.

「As a reward for the tournament! Let's go to a pool!」

「If you're okay with it.」

「Yaaay!」

I had no reason to refuse the hard-working Akari's suggestion, so I readily agreed. Then Akari turned her overly bright smile toward Shiori and Nanami.

「Senpais too! Let's go!」

「Eh... is that okay with you, Akari-chan?」

「Of course! Let's all play together!」

「I-I couldn't possibly...」

「What are you saying, Nanami-senpai! We're already good friends! No need to hold back!」

Akari is expanding the conversation in a way that drags Shiori and Nanami into it. They hesitated a bit, but after exchanging glances, they both nodded.

「Good grief... if my cute kouhai asks, I have to say yes.」

「Yeah. Let's play together, Sera-chan.」

「...Yes! Thank you!」

And so, as per Akari's request, it was decided that all four of us would go to the large leisure pool facility that's a summer vacation staple. Though it's a reward for Akari, I'll also accept a little more enjoyment as a reward for all my hard work up to now.