ALL NOVEL chapter 21
21
3. The Same Hole’s Badger
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t scare my little sisters too much.”
“Big brother, you’re turning into a thug…”
“Go for it, Takeru, you can do it!”
“Hidetoyo-kun has completely relied on Tojumon-kun.”
If he can resolve it without me stepping in, that’s fine by me.
Come on, Takeru, show us something befitting the hero!
“Sorry, I don’t actually have any business with Tojumon-kun.”
“Ah, yes.”
“The one I have business with is that stupid guy over there.”
“You’re being called out, Hidetoyo.”
“…………”
Useless!
Incompetent hero, try harder!
That’s why you’re voted in 20% of the polls for the most disliked character in the original work.
I may not have the right to say this, having received 60% of the votes myself…
“That guy over there is good at ingratiating himself, isn’t he?”
“You’re good at getting in our way, aren’t you?”
“Ugh, how insincere! Don’t mimic my words!”
Why does trouble always come looking for me…
She’s like a typhoon of a woman.
A completely different person from the mere distraction that was Tsugaru En.
“Ms. Tsugaru, you seem to be misunderstanding something. To begin with, Hidetoyo-kun is not a bad person.”
“Oh, Emi!”
Although Emi is scared of Tsugaru, it seems she can help if it’s just to back him up.
“You’re being forced to say that, there’s no way I’d listen.”
No matter what I say, it probably won’t get through to her anymore.
It’s clear that my trust and credibility are zero.
Being unreasonably hated is somehow sad…
“I’m not saying it because I was told to—why does Tsugaru-san dislike me so much?”
“I’m irritated by Sasaki-san, but I don’t dislike you. It’s just irritation.”
“Why did you say ‘irritated’ twice? It really irritates me. You definitely hate me, don’t you?”
“I don’t hate you yet. But it seems like I might start to in the future. It’s an accumulation of irritation.”
“Accumulation of irritation? What’s that?”
An irritation spiral had formed between Tsugaru and Emi.
And such a pointless conversation is a waste of time.
“Hey, Tsugaru-san.”
“I don’t really want to talk to you.”
“Just listen without saying anything. I won’t do anything dangerous.”
I indirectly drive the point home with “I won’t use the gift.”
Tsugaru, seemingly convinced, reluctantly waits for my conversation in silence, and I begin to weave my intended message.
“Regardless of me, please don’t openly dislike Emi. Let’s ‘break the chain of sorrow.'”
“…Huh?”
Got her.
It’s unbelievable, right? That the title of the original work would come up here.
It feels a bit forced, but to Takeru and the others, it will just seem like “he’s using difficult words,” and Tsugaru should be able to read the intention that “I forced it in to convey that as the most important message.”
“Tsugaru-san, my circumstances are similar to yours. We’re both in the same boat.”
“No way, that’s…”
“The real Tsugaru-san is someone who gets along with Emi, right?”
“…”
“Please be nice to her. Emi approached you on her own volition because she wanted to be friends with you, Tsugaru-san.”
I barrage Tsugaru with information that the inhabitants of this world shouldn’t know.
I hope it gets through.
“I understand. Akechi Hidetaka, I still can’t trust you, but you don’t seem to be the person I thought you were…”
“Yeah, that’s enough for now. Let’s talk again.”
“Sure. ‘In the same boat,’ huh? Lovely, I’d like to have a proper talk with you next time.”
With her long hair swaying, Tsugaru walked away from us.
…I hadn’t ruled out the possibility of someone like me existing.
But it’s an impossible story, for those who know the original work to not be curious about each other.
“So, Tsugaru-san, it looks like you’ll get along with Emi and the others, right?”
“…Rather, it makes me not want to get along.”
“Why?”
“I might have become a rival…”
What kind of rival, I wonder?
I can feel Risa’s exasperated gaze on me, and Takeru is holding back his laughter.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Since Emi said not to worry, I decided not to.