I don’t like imagining Tsuchiya embracing a handsome guy, but that completes the mission. After that, I just need to spread the word about them dating. Then Tsuchiya will fall from the princess throne. If Ayane doesn’t screw up, she’ll obtain the princess throne and everything will be settled nicely.
The backup plan I had prepared of hooking her up with a handsome guy is possible. In this case, since it’s the princess Tsuchiya who’s fallen for him, I just need to negotiate with the handsome guy.
The other party apparently rejected her once, but if I work hard, I should be able to manage something. Guys are simple creatures, and if she appeal with her face and chest and such, he should be swayed. I can assert with confidence that the possibility is higher than me trying to woo Tsuchiya from here.
And with that, I can say goodbye to this life.
I’ve already given up on Tsuchiya. Alright, let’s do this.
“Got it. I’ll help.”
“……Is it okay?”
“Of course. Lending a hand in a pinch is what friends do.”
When I spoke of this friendship steeped in calculation, Tsuchiya made an emotional expression.
“Yuma-kun has always been kind. You always listened to my problems sincerely and helped me. Thank you so much.”
I can’t say I don’t remember the consultation content.
After expressing her gratitude, Tsuchiya’s face became tense.
“So, that’s why I want to tell you and only you, Yuma-kun.”
“Tell me?”
“My secret. Since you’re going to help me, I think it would be rude not to show my sincerity. Besides, you’re probably going to find out anyway while helping me make up with her. So I’ll tell you with my own words before that happens.”
A secret?
At this timing?
Could it be that the person she confessed to is someone special? Maybe an adult. If her target was a teacher, that would make things difficult. The worst-case scenario would be if they were married with children. In that case, I’d be completely helpless.
However, reality surpasses imagination.
“You see, I’ve always admired cool girls.”
“……?”
“So, the person I confessed to was also a girl.”
Yep, mission’s over.
As long as she doesn’t hook up with some handsome guy, the princess’s popularity won’t drop. In fact, this coming out will probably raise her evaluation even more among certain people.
While reeling from shock as if I’d been hit over the head, a question arose.
“Wait a minute, isn’t the person you like that [Tsubasa]?”
“That’s right. The person I like is Shiranui Tsubasa-chan.”
“……”
Shiranui Tsubasa is one of our academy’s princesses.
A princess with overwhelming popularity among girls, always surrounded by female students. A princess who captivates girls with her prince-like demeanor.
I often see her with Tsuchiya. Their relationship is worthy of being called best friends.
“You’re surprised, right?”
“Y-yeah, I’m definitely shocked!”
“……It’s weird, isn’t it, after all.”
Tsuchiya looked anxious as she asked.
“That’s not weird at all. We live in an age that values diversity, right? Even guys can admire handsome men. And if it’s someone like Shiranui—a handsome girl like that—I totally get it.”
While my head hadn’t caught up with reality, I tried choosing words that seemed safe.
I didn’t say it well, but Tsuchiya seemed relieved by my words.
“Thank you. I thought you’d say that, Yuma-kun.”
“They say tastes and preferences vary from person to person.”
I’m being made to capture princesses because of my own hobbies, after all.
“There are many people who can’t understand that, so I’ve been suffering because I couldn’t tell anyone. But I thought it would be okay to confide in you, Yuma-kun. Back in middle school, you were really supportive of me, remember? Thanks to you, Yuma-kun, I became best friends with Tsubasa-chan. That advice to aim for the same high school was really accurate and helpful. If I’d just confessed on impulse, we might not have even become friends.”
Did middle school me really give that kind of advice?
I’m genuinely happy that Tsuchiya trusts me. I’m happy, but I can’t help feeling complicated about it—that’s unavoidable.
“So, about making up with her—do you think it’ll be okay?”
Asked with an anxious face, I hastily replied.
“Y-yeah! Leave it to me.”
“Really!? Then, I’m counting on you.”
Tsuchiya stood up and bowed deeply.
“Just sit back and relax. I’ll contact you when there’s progress.”
The sudden coming out threw me off balance. I answered on impulse without organizing my thoughts.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
The night of the day I received that shocking coming out from Tsuchiya.
I was lying on my bed in my room.
There was regret about taking on a troublesome job on impulse, but more than that, I was so surprised by the secret Tsuchiya revealed that I couldn’t muster the motivation to do anything.
Tsuchiya never had any rumors about guys. Even though she’d been super popular since middle school, there were absolutely no stories about her having a boyfriend or anything of that sort, and even after entering high school, there was zero trace of any man.
So this was the secret.
My head felt like it was going to explode from the secret the goddess was carrying.
“……And of all people, her target is that princess-prince.”
Himegasaki Academy General Election 5th Place—Shiranui Tsubasa.
She has the nickname “Princess-Prince of Fire.” I want to say, which is it, princess or prince, but this time I’ll praise it as an exquisite nickname.
The princess-prince’s characteristics are easy to understand. They’re extremely easy to understand.
Shiranui Tsubasa is a handsome girl.
The type who seems like she’d shine as a top star in the male role at some theatrical troupe. Androgynous features, tall height, husky voice, short-cut hair. If she weren’t wearing a girl’s uniform, you’d almost mistake her for a guy.
Apparently her personality is gentlemanly too.
Apparently, because I don’t know much about Shiranui.
Shiranui was selected as a princess for the first time this year.
She’d always been in the upper ranks, but the reason her ranking suddenly rose this time was because she gathered support from underclassmen. There are even whispers that she might aim for the top next year.
Yes, she boasts overwhelming popularity among girls.
She’s been getting attention since last year, but apparently she’s more popular with underclassmen than upperclassmen. Now fan clubs and such have been established, and she’s constantly surrounded by girls.
She’s often been seen acting together with Tsuchiya since their first year. I didn’t think much of it, assuming they became close because they were in the same class.
So that guy was the handsome transfer student.
Back in middle school, I’d heard rumors about a handsome guy who transferred to the neighboring middle school. I never thought it was a girl. All I’d heard from Tsuchiya was the name “Tsubasa,” and from the talk about being handsome, I’d mistakenly thought it was a guy.
I didn’t even try to look into it myself. I mean, when you hear “handsome,” you think it’s a guy and lose interest.
Tsuchiya came to consult with me, but at that time she didn’t mention gender. She probably wanted to hide it. While times are changing to recognize diversity, this isn’t a simple matter.
She revealed her secret because of the shock of heartbreak and anxiety. And because she trusts me as a friend. She must have believed I wouldn’t go blabbing about it.
Of course, I have no intention of blabbing.
I don’t have romantic feelings for Tsuchiya anymore, but that doesn’t mean I dislike her. Being bitter because my own love didn’t work out would be way too lame. Besides, if she likes girls, I was never a candidate to begin with.
That’s exactly why my feelings are so complicated.
The coming out from Tsuchiya, whom I used to like, was like an attack from outside my consciousness, violently shaking my brain.
“……”
At times like this, I should empty my head.
I opened a video site. After browsing random videos for a while, my oshi’s stream started.
[I’ve descended energetically today as well. A small light for your heart—I’m Feni the Phoenix, an independent VTuber who makes every day fun to live!]
What came from the screen was a sweet voice.
[Everyone, konFeni! Today is a chat stream. I’ve been doing nothing but games lately, so let’s change things up and just talk.]
A girl with burning red hair, with a character design of an anthropomorphized phoenix.
Currently, the VTuber I’m oshi-ing (support) the most is this Feni the Phoenix.
Compared to top-tier VTubers, she’s inferior in concurrent viewers and recognition, but as an independent, she’s doing reasonably well. The proof is that she got monetized in less than half a year.
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
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