Chapter 14 Narumi Honoka ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
This marks the start of a new arc. This segment is rather brief. Perspective: Narumi Honoka. This narrative takes place prior to the teleportation-roughly 3 to 4 months in the past.
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”Hey, Honoka. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
It occurred during the lunch break on a certain day. My best friend, Oshiro Yuuko, approached me while wearing a God-strange expression.
”What is it? Just so you know, I can’t lend you any money, and I definitely can’t lend you my chest.”
”No, it’s not that… I mean, even though you’re tiny, your boobs are huge, aren’t they? I’m so jealous…”
”Don’t call me tiny!”
Yuuko spews these sexual harassment-like comments. Even though I am self-conscious about being short, and the fact that my chest is quite large for my frame. Because of that, the boys’ gazes are always piercing my chest.
”Ahaha, sorry, sorry. But it’s not that. It’s, well, a serious talk. However, talking here is a bit…”
Yuuko presses her hands together in a momentary apology. The previous remark was a joke, but it seems the consultation itself is anything but.
”Mm, I get it. In that case, let’s go somewhere where there aren’t many people around.”
After I say that, I pack up my finished bento and stand up from my seat.
”Hm? Honoka-chan, are you and Oshiro going off to get all handsy with each other?”
Sugita-kun, who had been watching us, says something vulgar, but I simply ignore him. Ignore, ignore.
”That’s right! So, you’d better not come peeping, okay? ♪”
On the contrary, Yuuko makes a joke of it, winking with a smile on her face. At those words, the entire classroom erupts in laughter. Realizing it is indeed a gag, Sugita-kun smirks and waves a hand, saying, “Oh, go have fun then~.”
”Well then, let’s go, Honoka.”
With Yuuko saying that, we departed from the classroom.
As a side note, at that time Sugita-kun was bullying Sasaki-kun. Well, I suppose it can’t be helped since he’s an otaku who hides his eyes with his bangs and is just plain gross. Honestly, if you ask me, Sasaki-kun and his friends are just a total ‘no way.’
* * *
We arrived at the back of the school building, the kind of place where delinquents would loiter in old manga. In this day and age, such stereotypical punks don’t exist at this Manabu Academy ¹. No, they might be there, but I’ve never seen them. It is Susumu Manabu Academy ², after all.
”So, what was the consultation about?”
”U-um, well, you see…”
Yuuko begins to fidget while her face turns red.
”Hah! Don’t tell me you really brought me here to fool around with me!?”
”No, that’s not it! I mean, I do want to rub those scandalous, plump breasts, but that’s not it!”
”You can’t! Even if no one is here, you still can’t, okay!?”
…Now that I think about it, she has definitely rubbed my chest in public before while shouting about how jealous she was. Anyway, setting that aside.
”…The conversation is getting derailed. So, what is it really?”
”Honoka was the one who derailed it first…”
Wait, was that so?
”Um, well, you see… it’s a love problem, or rather… I found someone I like…”
Whoa. It’s a love consultation.
”You found someone you like! I see… so, did you confess yet?”
”No, not yet…”
”Eh!? That’s not like the proactive Yuuko I know.”
”Because, if I get rejected…”
In short, she was terrified of being told ‘I’m sorry’ and getting turned down.
”Hmm, I think you’ll be fine though. You’re quite the beauty, Yuuko, so the person you confess to will surely be happy.”
”That’s so irresponsible… and are you really the one to say that?”
”Hm? That?”
”Honoka, you’re tiny and incredibly cute, and you’re super popular with the boys, aren’t you…”
”Don’t call me tiny! No, look, I’m only thought of that way because my chest is big…”
Honestly, I really hate how those lewd gazes are always piercing my chest.
”Sigh, no self-awareness at all…”
Yuuko looks at me and lets out a deep sigh.
”No, more importantly, it’s about you, Yuuko! Nothing will come of it if you don’t properly convey your feelings to the guy. Look, I’ll even help you out.”
”Really?”
”Really, really. So have some confidence and just confess to him.”
”Yeah, thanks… wait, could it be that you actually just want to watch me confessing?”
”No-no-no, that’s not it at all.”
Sorry, that was kind of the case. I won’t say it out loud, but if you get dumped, I’ll at least be there to pick up the pieces.
”By the way, who is the guy you’ve fallen for, Yuuko?”
”Um, well… it’s Akiyama-kun…”
”…………Eh?”
The person Yuuko had fallen in love with… was Akiyama Ryunya, the same person I had my eye on.
* * *
Akiyama Ryunya… Akiyama-kun is a classmate who belongs to the baseball club. He’s a power hitter, and I’ve heard he’s even being scouted by the pros. On top of that, he has great looks and is popular with the girls. As it happens, Yuuko and I serve as managers for the baseball club.
Since we were watching him from so close every day, it was only natural for us to develop feelings for Akiyama-kun.
I was conflicted. Should I choose Yuuko, my best friend, or Akiyama-kun, my first love?
Ultimately, I gave up on my first love. I schemed with a certain collaborator to ensure the two of them would be alone together, and fortunately, they became a couple.
On the other hand, I also began dating my collaborator, Koganei-kun—he was also a star hitter for the baseball club; a bit of a show-off, but popular nonetheless. When Koganei-kun confessed to me, I accepted, and we officially became lovers.
So, looking at the outcome, everyone was happy. It was a happy ending.
But sometimes, I still think about it. What if I had betrayed Yuuko and dated Akiyama-kun instead? What if the girl standing beside Akiyama-kun wasn’t Yuuko, but me?
Even now, that thought haunts me—
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Summary:
Narumi Honoka discusses a love consultation with her best friend Oshiro Yuuko behind the school building. Yuuko reveals she has fallen for the popular baseball star Akiyama Ryunya, who happens to be Honoka’s own crush. Honoka decides to sacrifice her feelings for her friend’s happiness, facilitating their relationship while entering a relationship of her own with a teammate named Koganei.
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Character Insight:
Honoka exhibits a complex mix of altruism and repressed desire. While she acts as the ‘perfect friend’ by setting up her crush with Yuuko, her lingering thoughts of ‘what if’ suggest a deep-seated dissatisfaction and potential for regret. Her dismissive attitude toward those lower in the social hierarchy, like Sasaki, highlights a certain level of class-based arrogance that contrasts with her outward ‘cute’ persona.
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Behind the Scene:
This chapter serves as a tragic irony setup, establishing Honoka as a ‘sacrifice’ for the upcoming vengeance arc. The author uses a ‘bokukko’ character type to blend tomboyish energy with a highly feminine physical appearance to maximize the character’s popularity before her downfall.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Honoka – A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki.
• Narumi – Narumi Honoka. A member of the relief team with healing magic. Despite her cute, short, ‘transistor glamour’ appearance, she is cold-hearted and mocks Sasaki. Black hair, black eyes.
• Yuuko – A female student and best friend of Narumi Honoka. She is a manager for the baseball club. Described as proactive and quite a beauty. She has her hair in a ponytail and is always stuck like glue to Ryuya.
• Sugita – The leader of the Sugita gang and the primary bully of Natsumi Sasaki. His grandfather is the Superintendent General and his father is a Police Superintendent, so the two of them covered up all his crimes. Because of this, he does whatever he wants wherever he goes.
• Sasaki – The protagonist. Height 168 to 171 cm, weight 57 to 59 kg. He has a baby face, but he hides his eyes with his bangs. He was bullied by the Sugita gang just because his name sounded like a girl’s name.
• Susumu – Koganei Susumu. Height 166 cm, weight 56 kg. A mood-maker in the baseball club. He was only after Honoka’s body and worked with Oshiro to steal her from Akiyama.
• Ryunya – Height 177 cm, weight 70 kg. Oshiro Yuuko’s boyfriend. A hot-blooded, handsome guy with a buzz cut. Member of the baseball club.
• Koganei – Height 166 cm, weight 56 kg. A mood-maker in the baseball club. He was only after Honoka’s body and worked with Oshiro to steal her from Akiyama.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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