The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 42
42 Family Restaurant Meeting ② Koujou
――SIDE: Koujou――
Do we have a little time?
I said that and stopped Haya, and we entered a family restaurant together. This is the first time we’re eating out together. I wish we could’ve come here on a more enjoyable topic.
We sat down at the innermost seat in the restaurant and ordered drinks and sweets using the touch panel. While waiting for our orders, we chatted about nothing in particular.
“Ah, it’s here. Koujou-chan.”
“Eh…”
The robot brought our orders to the table along with some light music. Haya took the chocolate parfait, and I received the strawberry sundae. We placed our drinks, a pair of oolong teas, next to each other. The robot, having fulfilled its duty, pressed the button on its head and retreated to the back of the store.
“Koujou-chan’s story is about Ishizuru-kun, right?”
“!”
As the robot left, Haya, who was sitting across from me, said while breaking the cream of the chocolate parfait with a spoon.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“That’s obvious. You’re always serious, Koujou-chan. If you’re worried about something other than ABYSS exploration, it can only be about Ishizuru Shinra.”
“…”
I was caught. Ishizuru’s matter is always a concern for me. But if I’m told that I only worry about him, I feel a bit complicated…
“There was a post on the SNS bulletin board about the 1-D class’s ABYSS accident. The title was criticizing Ishizuru…”
“Are you criticizing me? Are you just making fun of me?”
“Even if that’s the case, making fun of someone on an anonymous bulletin board with a large number of people is equivalent to violence. We need to stop it.”
“But don’t students have freedom of speech too? The anonymous bulletin board is also a place for them to vent their feelings, and it’s not right to overreact, don’t you think?”
“…I don’t want to control everything completely. You should understand, right? This article is intentionally provoking Ishizuru Shoma. I want to stop it, and that’s what I’m telling you, ‘you’!”
“Koume-chan…”
“The pen is mightier than the sword. Didn’t Akane say that to me? If you’re thinking about me and trying to get Shoma into trouble, then stop it right now! I didn’t wish for such a thing!”
“…Why do you say such a thing?”
“…”
“I’m thinking about Koume-chan’s well-being and taking action, right? If things go on like this, Koume-chan will end up marrying Ishizuru-kun. Koume-chan will have to accept it, even if she doesn’t love him…”
“That’s…”
I can’t accept that.
There’s no way I can accept it.
My life is mine alone. I don’t want to spend my whole life for the sake of my family.
But—
“…I still think this method is wrong. Whether it’s canceling the engagement with Shoma or not, it needs to be done fairly and squarely, I think.”
“Such a thing is impossible!!”
“!”
“Koume-chan is too naive! You’re thinking too optimistically! That’s why you’re getting taken advantage of by that trash! What’s the right way? This is the correct way to fight in modern times! The reporting department is my weapon!”
“—”
I was overwhelmed by Akane’s intense words. I didn’t know this child had such a fierce side…
“What’s going on!? Has Koume-chan changed her mind!? Do you still love Ishizuru, your fiancé!?”
Akane’s words made me feel a bit irritated.
“I don’t like Shoma at all!!”
“Then, why are you so desperate!?”
“That’s because you’re acting on your own assumptions about my feelings and taking action, isn’t it!!”
“!?”
“It’s annoying, saying things like that…! If I don’t like it, I’ll say it clearly! There’s no humiliation worse than being imagined as a weak person in someone’s mind!!”
“That’s the reason—!? Koume, you are—!!”
“Akane!!”
“SToooP!!”
‘!!’
Just as we were arguing, Aiba Sosuke appeared before us.
Why is he here—!?
“I was worried, so I followed you…! Both of you have your own opinions, but stop fighting. Calm down a bit!”
“Suddenly appearing out of nowhere, what’s going on!?”
Hinata and Kana weren’t around, were they? I glared at Sosuke, who had suddenly intervened.
“It’s getting too heated. I can’t watch this… Koume, I want you to stop posting about Shoma on SNS. Utsumi is refusing to do so. The important thing is the negotiation between them, right? There’s no need to fight!”
“Ugh…”
As he scolded me, I felt like I was indeed causing unnecessary conflict. I didn’t want to fight with Akane either.
“So, Utsumi, will you stop it?”
“That’s… impossible.”
“Why? You’re saying that even if I, Akane, stop it, the seniors will keep writing?”
Taishi’s question seemed to calm her down a bit. She answered him in a calm tone.
“… The head of the reporting department is interested in writing an article about Ishizuru Shoma. Even if I stop it, the seniors will keep writing.”
“What do you mean by ‘interested’?”
“Don’t you know? Ishizuru Shoma has already become famous. Every student in the academy is paying attention to him. The reporting department wouldn’t miss a topic like that.”
“This is all because of Tenjuin…”
Taishi muttered in frustration, a rare expression for him.
“Then, can’t you at least connect us with the head of the reporting department? We’ll handle the negotiations afterwards. Even Utsumi would do that much, right?”
“Will you connect us with Aiba-kun and Akane-chan…?”
“Please, I’m begging you!”
“…”
Taishi clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. Early saw the desperation in his eyes and looked taken aback.
One more push.
I thought, at that moment—
“OH HO HO! I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR CONVERSATION!”
“!?!”
The loud voice belonged to Takeshiro Mihako, the leader of the PT I belonged to. Why was she here?!
Before I could even react, Takeshiro sat down next to me, swiftly ordering her sweets on the touchscreen.
“Aiba Taishi-kun? You’re standing around talking, so why don’t you sit down too?”
“I have something to say, but okay…”
Takeshiro’s unique atmosphere made me sigh, and I sat down next to her.
“—So, what brings you here all of a sudden, Takeshiro?”
“What do you mean by ‘what brings me here’? You should be aware that it’s because of you, Aiba Taishi, who’s been chasing after my friend, Early.”
“Chasing after? That’s a misleading way to put it!”
“But it’s the truth. I came here because I saw you, Aiba Taishi… If it were just a girls’ gathering with Phoenix-san and Early, I wouldn’t bother coming.”
“…Sorry about that.”
“Apologies are fine. From what I overheard, I understand that you were asking Early for a favor. However, if you want to talk, you should discuss it with me, the PT leader, first.”
“Shut up! This has nothing to do with you, Takeshiro-san!”
I couldn’t help but interrupt. I didn’t want to involve her in the commotion with Early.
“It does have something to do with me! Anyone would worry about their friends. Moreover, it’s not fair to make requests without consulting the PT members.”
“That’s…”
“…I’ll make a proposal to you. Early is a kind person, so she might listen to your request. However, as the leader, I won’t ignore the fact that the PT members are being used without permission. So, Aiba Taishi… let’s make a bet!”
“A bet!?”
“What’s with the sudden…!”
“OH HO HO! It’s not sudden! I’ve been thinking about this proposal since the topic of ‘class leader’ came up with Shadow-sensei!”
“Class leader? You can’t be serious…!”
“That’s exactly what I mean! Aiba Taishi, I’ll make a bet with you. The winner will become the class leader of 1-D! And if the class leader says so, Early’s favor will be granted, won’t it?”
We were left speechless.
In other words, Musashikouji-san wanted to take advantage of this commotion to confront Souji.
Of course, deciding on a “class leader” is a big deal, but right now, that’s not the issue at hand—
“Excuse me, could you please keep your voice down a bit?”
As I was thinking, I was noticed by a customer sitting in another seat. Musashikouji-san’s voice was too loud. I felt sorry for the people around us who were bothered by the noise. I turned my face towards the person who had noticed me, and in front of my gaze, I saw Boukata Masaharu-kun, a fellow 1-D student, standing there in surprise.
There was a moment of silence.
“Ah, Aoba!? And Musashikouji too!! What in the world is this gathering about!?”
“Boukata!? Again, you’re causing trouble…”
“Oh ho ho ho!!”
The surroundings suddenly became noisy.
I had completely missed the timing to have a conversation…
As I watched their exchange, I let out a big sigh for the nth time that day.