ALL NOVEL chapter 97
97. A Great Wave
“I’m sorry for being late. I got a bit caught up in the preparations.”
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“I’m Mashiro Amanatsu. Today, I came to help my friend Ryusuke. Nice to meet you.”
As the tension in the classroom thickened due to the conflict among the main characters, I stepped into the room alongside Mashiro.
The gazes that had been directed at Fusegawa Raito and Reo just moments ago now turned toward us, but I raised my head without hesitation and faced forward.
Himeno let out a huff and turned away, yet her expression was calmer than before.
Fusegawa Raito wore a face that looked as if he had bitten into a bitter bug, while Hanazaki Yuna stared at me with a frightened expression.
Amidst this, Reo raised his hand toward me with his usual refreshing smile.
“Good morning, Ryusuke, Mashiro-san. Looks like the tasting event preparations are all set.”
“Yeah. I had Mashiro help me out. We just managed to finish in time.”
“I was waiting forever, Shindo. But well, it’s not bad, is it? Good job.”
“Thanks, Himeno. It really helps to hear you say that.”
“I-I’m not complimenting you or anything! Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Ahaha, no worries. I probably won’t misunderstand.”
“Hey… what are you laughing at? It’s throwing me off.”
Himeno averted her gaze out the window, looking flustered, while I couldn’t help but smile, realizing that the tsundere attitude I often saw in the original story was now directed at me.
(Really, Himeno isn’t straightforward at all. That’s what made her cute and garnered her so many fans.)
Himeno interacts with others in a prickly manner, but it’s simply because she can’t be honest; deep down, she’s a kind-hearted girl.
That’s why she has always watched over her childhood friend, Fusegawa Raito, more closely than anyone else, being the first to notice any changes in him.
And now, she’s on my side to uncover the truth behind the changes happening to the protagonist.
For Himeno’s sake, I must resist the fate laid out in the original story.
With that resolve in my heart, I climbed up to the podium with Mashiro.
“Ryusuke, it’s okay. I’m here with you.”
“Thanks, Mashiro. That means a lot.”
Mashiro whispered softly so only I could hear. I felt my heart ease at her words.
Just having her stand by my side was reassuring.
The strongest beauty, Mashiro, captivated the gazes of our classmates, and I felt the hostility directed at me, the villain, begin to wane.
Standing next to me, Mashiro was cuter, prettier, and kinder than anyone else in this world… and she was always my ally, the best heroine I could ask for.
Feeling proud to be able to move forward with Mashiro like this, I looked around the classroom.
Even though the most popular students, Reo and Himeno, were on my side, there were still likely more classmates who didn’t think kindly of me.
Through the first semester’s final exams, I managed to prove that I wasn’t the delinquent I had been before. However, that didn’t erase the numerous wrongdoings I had committed in the past as Shindo Ryusuke.
Moreover, the mob characters were essentially on the protagonist’s side.
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The fact that Rei and Himeno are on my side as the villain is an irregular situation, and I must somehow convince everyone here.
I vowed not to waste the opportunity that Rei and Himeno had created for me, and after bowing my head to my classmates, I spoke in a slow tone.
“Thank you for gathering here early this morning. I think everyone knows, but we were planning to hold a tasting session to decide on the menu for the cultural festival’s sweets café.”
I lowered my gaze to the aluminum tray placed on the teacher’s desk.
On it were the sweets that Mashiro and I had made, neatly arranged.
“But… I heard what was said earlier. A famous pastry shop is going to provide sweets for our class. So, I also heard that my proposed menu options are no longer needed, and that I am already unnecessary.”
The class fell silent.
The cold words directed at someone who had been working hard for the success of the cultural festival were an undeniable fact, and they were aware of how harsh those words had been.
Those classmates who had said I was unnecessary awkwardly averted their gazes, and after glancing at them, I continued speaking.
“However, I don’t intend to blame those who voiced such words. I thought it was inevitable. I am disliked in the class, and everyone has distanced themselves from me. It’s no surprise that someone wouldn’t think well of a guy like me trying to get involved in a major event that could determine the class’s fate.”
I could see the expressions of my classmates change to one of surprise at my words.
They were likely taken aback by my calm demeanor, speaking without anger or accusation.
Of course, I was filled with sadness.
There was no way I could be unaffected by the heartless words from everyone.
But since Mashiro was standing beside me, watching over me, I was able to face everyone without becoming emotional.
When I briefly glanced at Mashiro standing next to me, she was gazing at me with shining blue eyes.
With a gentle smile, she whispered softly, “It’s okay, Ryusuke,” encouraging me tenderly.
Receiving Mashiro’s trust and expectations firmly, I turned back to everyone once more.
“I understand that the proposal prepared by Fusegawa is attractive. If it can be realized, our class will surely achieve great success at the cultural festival. But… please give me just one more chance. I intend to do my utmost to make this cultural festival a wonderful memory for everyone.”
I bowed deeply, pleading with all my sincerity.
I could tell that Mashiro was also bowing her head beside me, her hands clasped together as if in prayer.
Rei and Himeno quietly watched over us, while all my classmates stared at us with bated breath.
Silence flowed through the classroom.
It wasn’t a heavy, suffocating silence, but rather one that seemed to be searching for some kind of catalyst, and that stillness was shattered by a single voice.
“Well, isn’t that good? Since Shindo-kun is doing his best… right?”
A quiet girl with glasses sitting by the hallway murmured softly.
Her whisper soon spread quietly like ripples.
“I, I agree. I think Shindo has a point, and if possible, I want us all to work together to make it a success.”
“I, I won’t oppose it. I understand Shindo-kun’s feelings…”
“We can decide after the tasting session, right? Actually, I was looking forward to it quite a bit.”
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With the murmurs of the girl in glasses as a starting point, voices of agreement began to rise one after another.
And it spread throughout the entire class, eventually becoming a great wave that surged toward me, enveloping the classroom.
At the center of that wave, I found myself on the verge of tears, yet I held it back with all my might.
The voices from my classmates were much warmer than I had expected, and I felt my heart gradually warming up.
I slowly lifted my face and gazed at Mashiro standing beside me.
“Mashiro… I did it.”
“Yeah. You did a great job, Ryusuke.”
With a smile, Mashiro gently placed her small, soft hand over mine.
The gentle warmth that enveloped me and the feelings conveyed from Mashiro supported me.
And the gazes directed at me from my classmates were no longer the cold stares they had been before.
Reo and Himeno smiled with relief, and after exchanging glances with Mashiro, I bowed my head once more to everyone.
I was truly grateful for the support I received from the class, knowing that I could take this first step.