Chapter 10: Bad Friends
The next day, I woke up before 6 a.m.
The reason for waking up early was to hang out the laundry, clean, and prepare lunch.
Yesterday, being my first day attending school as Shindo Ryusuke, I forgot about lunch. Eating in the cafeteria would cost too much, and without a part-time job, I couldn’t afford it. So, I decided to make a bento using leftovers from yesterday, wrapped it in a lunch cloth, and took it to school.
My mom woke up next and was surprised to see me up earlier than her.
She was stunned to see me preparing dinner last night, heating the bath, taking in and folding the laundry, and studying diligently in my room.
These were actions she couldn’t imagine from the old me. Although she had heard from my sister that I had turned over a new leaf, she was so moved by my serious behavior that she wept with joy.
Seeing me continue with the chores in the morning, she was delighted, convinced that Ryusuke had turned over a new leaf.
If I keep working for my family like this, I’ll eventually regain their trust. I plan to continue doing as many chores as possible.
After spending the morning productively, I got ready for school and put on my uniform.
Today is the second day since my reincarnation.
I need to avoid any trouble and ensure a peaceful day.
While I was putting on my shoes at the entrance, I sensed someone beyond the door. Someone’s there...?
It was too early for a delivery, and my mom had already left for work. I was planning to leave earlier than Mai today, and she was still relaxing in the living room.
So who could it be? I cautiously opened the door—and was surprised.
There stood two men.
One had tiger-striped hair dyed yellow and black, tanned skin from the tanning salon, multiple piercings in his ears, and a stern expression. The other, with a similar number of piercings and a frivolous look, had blonde hair. They stood in front of the door.
One of them spoke.
“Yo, Ryu. What’s up with you, man? Wearing a uniform and all. Are you seriously going to school?”
“Uh, yeah...?”
The memories of Shindo Ryusuke that I inherited and my original knowledge of the story overlapped.
The two men standing in front of the house were Shindo Ryusuke’s delinquent friends, Kogane Takuya and Obayashi Mitsuru.
They had been friends with Ryusuke since middle school. Even though they went to different high schools, they remained delinquent pals, often causing trouble together. They eventually become undeniable villains standing in the protagonist’s way alongside Ryusuke.
I couldn’t hide my surprise at the sudden appearance of these delinquent friends.
While I was confused, the blonde guy, Obayashi Mitsuru, reached out and put a hand on my shoulder with a concerned expression.
“Ryusuke, we were worried about you, man. No matter how many times we called your phone, you didn’t answer. What happened?”
“Yeah, exactly. Since we couldn’t reach you, we came to your house because we were really worried.”
“Oh... right, I’ve been ignoring my phone.”
I hadn’t checked my phone at all since reincarnating. Yesterday, I had indeed received a lot of notifications, but I was too tired to check them and only set my alarm.
I was acting completely differently from the usual Shindo Ryusuke. Naturally, his friends, Kogane and Obayashi, would be worried. Not being able to contact me on my phone must have made them even more anxious.
This was a problem... I should have given them a vague response via text yesterday.
I want to stop being a villain and avoid a doomed future. If I stay close with Kogane and Obayashi, who are delinquent characters, my ideal youth will only drift further away.
For now, I should excuse myself and head to school. I can’t afford to be late.
“Sorry, Mitsuru, Takuya. I’m at the limit for my attendance days, and if I don’t start going to school, I might have to repeat the year. So, I’m sorry, but I have to go to school now.”
“No way. Ryu, didn’t you say you didn’t care about school? That you didn’t mind getting expelled, suspended, or repeating the year?”
“Yeah, Ryusuke. You said it would be more fun to get expelled after causing a ruckus with that guy in your class with all the girls... what’s his name again? Fusegawa... right? You said it’d be fun to cause trouble and get expelled, then we’d hang out and mess around again.”
“Uh... did I say that...?”
This was bad. They were using what Ryusuke had said before I reincarnated to convince me. If I went along with them, it would lead to the same development as the original story.
In the original, Shindo Ryusuke repeatedly caused trouble for the protagonist, Fusegawa Yorito, alongside his delinquent friends. Each time, the protagonist, with the help of the heroines, retaliated, and Ryusuke kept committing bad deeds until he was finally expelled and arrested, exiting the story.
If this continued, my high school life would be on a straight path to ruin. I needed to escape this predicament and convince my delinquent friends.
“But, you know, a lot happened, and now I feel like I need to go to school seriously. Yeah, really.”
Ah, my vocabulary. I need more words.
“The guy who’s been slacking off is saying that... Anyway, let’s go have fun. My dad’s car is free today, so let’s go for a drive.”
“Ryu, it’ll be fun. We’ll get some booze, pick up some girls, and have a blast!”
This was bad. They were openly planning to drive without a license and drink underage. They were thorough villains with no room for sympathy.
As I struggled to find a way to decline, a savior appeared to resolve the situation.
“Huh? Onii-chan, why are you still here? I thought you left before me.”
Mai stepped out of the front door and stood beside me, looking up at Kogane and Obayashi with a glare.
“Hmm? Mitsuru-san, Takuya-san, what’s going on? Do you need something from my brother?”
“Oh, Mai-chan. Listen, your brother’s been acting weird.”
“Yeah, he suddenly said he’s going to school, and we’re confused too.”
It seemed that Mai knew my delinquent friends. She talked to them without any hesitation despite having two intimidating delinquent characters in front of her.
“Haha, it looks like my brother didn’t tell you, did he? You see, he decided to turn over a new leaf and go to school seriously starting yesterday.”
“Turn over a new leaf? No way, suddenly like that...?”
“Mitsuru-san, Takuya-san, why don’t you follow my brother’s example and go to school too? You know, Mashiro-san, who you always hang out with, goes to school every day, right?”
“She’s inherently serious. Even if we hang out late at night, she goes to school the next day. She doesn’t drink or smoke, and she gets really angry when I try to take my dad’s car. I guess she’s just worried about us.”
“Mashiro-san is a good person, isn’t she? And yesterday, I talked to her on the phone, and she was really happy that my brother came to school. She’s looking forward to seeing him again today.”
“Really, Mashiro is happy? Hey, Ryusuke... could it be?”
Kogane and Obayashi exchanged glances and nodded before letting out a big sigh and putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Damn. You finally got motivated... that’s why you started going to school, huh?”
“Huh? Wait, what...?”
“Mitsuru, I think so too. It’s been a long time... I thought Mashiro would lose patience with you being so cold to her. Good for you, Ryusuke...!”
“Sorry... hold on, I don’t understand what you’re saying...?”
“Don’t be shy. You finally fell for Mashiro, didn’t you? That’s why you decided to turn over a new leaf and go to school, right?”
I could only gape at their faces, but Kogane and Obayashi nodded, smiling. Then they slapped me hard on the back.
“We’re not stupid enough to get in the way of a friend’s love life. We’d rather celebrate it.”
“Heh, Ryusuke. Be happy. And Mai-chan, help out your brother if he’s in trouble. He’s strong in fights but hopeless in love.”
Seeing Kogane and Obayashi’s reactions, my sister Mai looked up at me with a mischievous smile.
“So that’s what it was, Onii-chan! For Mashiro-san, huh? Alright, as your sister, I’ll fully support you!”
I looked at the three of them in confusion. No, I understood what they were saying.
In other words, they thought I had fallen for my childhood friend Amanatsu Mashiro and decided to turn over a new leaf and go to school for her.
Mashiro was indeed a precious person to me. The only person, besides my family, that I had feelings for in this world. But I planned to keep my distance from her to avoid her doomed future.
However, I couldn’t miss this chance to use their misunderstanding. Kogane and Obayashi, my delinquent friends, were supporting me going to school under the guise of cheering on my love life. If I went along with this, I could free myself from their influence and move more freely.
—Alright, this might work.
Hiding my inner turmoil, I smiled and spoke.
“Y-Yeah, I decided to change my relationship with Mashiro. I finally realized my feelings.”
“Woohoo! Hot stuff, Ryusuke!”
“Oh, Ryu got soft...! I’m so glad you’re serious about Mashiro now.”
“Yeah, I’m planning to do my best... That’s why I decided to go to school to meet her. Sorry, Mitsuru, Takuya. I had to turn down your invite...”
I scratched my head apologetically. Kogane and Obayashi, overwhelmed with emotion, raised their voices.
“Ryusuke... sorry, we didn’t know and forced you.”
“Ugh! I’m moved! We’re rooting for your happiness!”
“Me too... sniff. I’m so happy my brother finally realized Mashiro-san’s feelings...”
“Uh, thanks.”
“Well then, Ryusuke. Let’s hang out another time.”
“If Mitsuru and I were in the same school as you, we could watch you and Mashiro flirt around.”
“That’s right, Mitsuru-san. Let’s support them from afar.”
“Yeah, I guess we have no choice but to watch from a distance.”
“Uh-huh. Onii-chan, do your best. Cherish Mashiro-san’s feelings.”
“Y-Yeah... I will.”
Forcing a strained smile, I managed to reply. The three of them patted me on the shoulder and left with big smiles.
“...Phew. I managed to dodge that.”
I let out a sigh of relief and started walking to school. I was lucky to escape from my delinquent friends’ clutches in such a way. I had to thank my sister Mai.
