I Joined the Sentai Heroes Who Were Beautiful Girls Other Than Me but the Heroines Were All Yanderangers

31. Uguisu and Home Cooking 4

“Huh?”

The unexpected question made me squeak. This makes it seem like I have something to hide. Before I could find the words to cover it up, Uguisu-san pressed the attack.

“For example, Kuwabara-san?”

W-why is Himawari’s name coming up now?

Could it be that she saw me when I went to Himawari’s room earlier, or is my behavior wondering just so suspicious that she’s about it? The fact that I made Uguisu-san wait while I went to see Himawari. The fact that I’m unusually close to her, a middle schooler. Various speculations pile up, and a sense of guilt that I shouldn’t have starts to emerge.

Unable to bear Uguisu-san’s gaze, who is waiting for my response with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, I gulp down the green tea in the blue glass in front of me and somehow manage to reply in a muffled voice.

“N-no way, something like that”

My eyes dart around. My brain is working overtime, searching for an excuse to get me out of this situation, and now I try to connect with the field by putting the omelet in my mouth. However, I can’t taste the softness of the eggs, the spiciness, or the flavor of the ground meat. I can’t taste anything. What should I do? How do the world’s most popular guys handle situations like this?

“Sora-san is a kind person, so I’m sure you’re kind to many girls, just like you are to me?”

She’s not wrong. I do try to be kind. But that’s just what’s expected of me as a fellow hero, and it’s not my fault. I’m not cheating or two-timing. I’m not dating anyone, and I’ve never said anything to suggest that I am. So I’m not guilty of anything. And yet, I can’t help but feel shaken by Uguisu-san’s smile, which is gradually clouding over.

“You don’t have to be in such a hurry to answer.”

“W-well, I’m not in a hurry, you know?”

It’s the worst lie I’ve ever told. The air is heavy. We were having a nice omelet dinner until just now, so why did things suddenly turn out like this? Strangely, my brain is also starting to feel heavy.

“I know that Sora-san is kind to everyone. It’s your duty as a Sentai hero. Yes, it’s your kindness and sense of justice that require you to be close to other heroes. I understand all of that, and I would never misunderstand or blame you for it.”

Uguisu-san started talking on her own, ignoring me as I spun my wheels like a hamster on a spinning wheel.

“However, I was just worried that if you were too kind, some people might misunderstand. You see, the other heroes besides us are a little strange, so if they were to take it seriously, Sora-san might be in danger.”

Danger. Danger?

Could it be that Uguisu-san knows the true nature of the other heroes?

“These girls may seem like lovely young girls on a daily basis, but once they put on their hero suits, they’re strong enough to push aside even the police with ease. No matter how strong Sora-san is, he might not be able to resist if he’s attacked by force.”

“Well, they wouldn’t do something like that…”

As I gave a superficial denial, Uguisu-san slammed the spoon she was holding onto the table with a loud clatter.

“Whoa!”

My shoulders twitched in surprise.

“Sora-san is being deceived!!”

Uguisu-san looked furious, her expression like that of someone who had just lost a loved one. However, when her eyes met mine as I cowered in fear, she seemed to snap out of it and softened her expression.

“My apologies. I got a little too excited.”

The light green gingham tablecloth was splattered with bright red ketchup from the force with which the spoon had been slammed down, making it look like a murder scene. Uguisu-san took a tissue and lightly wiped the dirty placemat and spoon.

“Sora-san is kind, so it may be difficult for him to suspect his comrades. However, I can’t help but worry when I think about what might happen. I’ve been with the members longer than you have, and as a fellow woman, I can see their true nature to some extent.”

It seemed that Uguisu-san didn’t know anything specific, but her intuition as a woman had hit the mark. It was true that I was in danger, and that there was a non-zero chance that I could be attacked with excessive force , so her concern was not unfounded.

“Even Koshiba-san is still a child, so I don’t think it’s good to let your guard down too much.”

Himawari’s name came up again. As if she had suddenly remembered something, she used the spoon she had just cleaned to poke a hole in the center of the omelet.

“I know it’s presumptuous of me, but I’m worried about Sora-san, so I’ll give you a word of advice. She’s scary, you know. Sometimes she has a cruel look on her face, and her hero weapon is quite dangerous. As a child, she may have distorted thoughts that adults can’t understand. It’s good to be moderately close, but I think it’s dangerous to get too involved.”

Clank, clank, the sound of Uguisu-san’s spoon hitting the plate as it pierced through the thin skin of the egg echoed through the air. She stabbed the omelet over and over again, crushing it in different places as if to vent her pent- up feelings or to suppress something.

“Sora-san is kind. That’s why he’s keeping an eye on Koshiba-san, even though she’s just a child and a hero. That’s a wonderful thing about you, but it worries me. She’s especially strong when she’s in her hero form, even though she looks so fragile, and she lives alone at that age, so there must be a reason. I want Sora-san to live a peaceful life. Please understand.”

The omelet, which was gradually becoming more and more mangled, felt like it represented someone in Uguisu-san’s mind, and it sent a chill down my spine. It was such a blatant display of malice towards Himawari. I knew that she disliked Akane- san, but I couldn’t help but feel that I was somehow responsible for the reason she had suddenly started to regard Himawari as an enemy.

“Well, I’m not particularly close to Himawari…”

“Even if Sora-san doesn’t think so, she might be mistaken.”

Who was dangerous, who was really cruel, I was curious, but I couldn’t distance myself from them just because of that. I had my reasons for having to stay close to the heroes, even knowing the risks.

However, I couldn’t find the words to convince the girl in front of me. I couldn’t think straight, no matter how hard I tried.

“If you like, I can be Sora-san’s bodyguard. I’m not as strong as Suou-san or Koshiba-san, but I can at least take you away if anything happens.”

I don’t need that. I was about to answer, but my head felt light and wobbly, as if I were drunk on time and space. What was this? Was I tired? Something felt wrong with my body.

“I’m worried about Sora-san, so it would be hard for me if something happened to him. Why don’t we spend more time together? That way, I can protect Sora-san at all times. Of course, you ‘re welcome to live in this room as well.’

Uguisu-san’s earnest words sounded distant. What was this? What was going on?

“Uguisu-sa…”

A strange feeling enveloped my entire body, and my consciousness faded away.

“I’m…sorry, Sora-san.”