Life In The Reverse World

Ch. 117.2 - Sae, the “Best Bro,” Strikes from the Shadows Pt2

For lunch, Harutaki headed to the student cafeteria with the three members of the Murai squad.During the lunch break, after handing out the omamori charms, everyone lounged around eating snacks from the vending machines, chatting and laughing together.

Before they realized it, time flowed away like hot water draining from a bathtub after the plug was pulled.

The moment itself was short, but soaking in it was incredibly comfortable and enjoyable.

Miho suggested that everyone go to Kyoto during the holidays. Haruto immediately raised both hands in agreement as usual.

But Miho openly turned to Ren for his opinion, and Ren—still wearing that gentle smile—carefully considered everyone’s thoughts before suggesting a compromise.

In the end, everyone agreed: if they had the time, they’d go.

After all, the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto only took about two hours. If they woke up early enough, they could even make it a day trip.

Good times always passed quickly.

Inside the group chat on LINE, Harutaki received a message from Nogami asking him to come to the unused classroom after school. The five of them—including Chouko, Sae, and Minako—were planning to celebrate Chouko’s return.

Though…

Shouldn’t they also hold a celebration for him, the “hero”?

Grumbling internally, Harutaki slung his bag over his shoulder and headed toward the unused classroom in another building.

Incidentally, the five-person LINE group was named:

“Princess Nogami’s Harem.”

…

Knock, knock.

“Come in…”

After hearing permission from inside, Harutaki slid open the classroom door.

The girl who responded quickly was Nogami Izumi.

She shot a disdainful glance toward the door, her tone dripping with contempt.

“…So you do know how to knock this time? Hmph. I thought a dumb dog like you didn’t understand human etiquette.”

“…Last time?”

Harutaki looked confused for a moment, but his memory quickly clicked.

Ah.

So she was still holding a grudge about the time he startled her and made her drop that bag of cream cheese bread.

“What ‘last time’?!” Nogami snapped hurriedly. “I’m just saying you don’t know how to knock!”

I know, I know—you’re panicking, but calm down first.

He could tell she was worried he might bring up the time she was secretly sitting alone in the unused classroom eating bread.

“Thank you for the advice, Nogami-san. I’ll remember it from now on.”

“Hmph. If you embarrass yourself by being rude, it reflects badly on me, your master. But… but in the future, you don’t have to knock when coming here…”

Apparently his tactful reply put her in a good mood.

The change was obvious.

Her slightly upturned rose-colored eyes lost their usual sharpness, narrowing like a cat being petted.

“I—I mean, dogs have dog doors when they go home. They don’t need to knock. There isn’t a dog door here, but stupid dog Harutaki can just come in directly…”

She pointed at the sliding classroom door.

Her cheeks were tinged red like the evening sky, and her words stumbled awkwardly.

Nogami like this was way too cute.

Harutaki forced himself to look away, suppressing the impulse to kiss her like last time.

Sure enough, Chouko and Minako were desperately holding back laughter, their expressions already cracking.

Meanwhile, his “best bro” Sae looked perfectly calm, as if she’d long since gotten used to her friend’s behavior.

Sae leaned back in her chair with her hands behind her head, rocking it back and forth so casually that it made Harutaki worry she might flip over.

“Izumi, even if there’s no dog door, dogs don’t necessarily knock,” Sae said lazily. “I saw some animal videos on YouTube—smart dogs can open doors themselves.”

“Ho–Hoshi… Hoshikawa is a special dog…”

Why does it have to be a dog?

Harutaki felt completely speechless and decided not to start arguing about it.

He set his backpack on the large table formed by several desks pushed together.

Ziiiip.

Honestly, he’d always thought opening a zipper quickly like that looked cool and sounded satisfying.

But the scornful look from Minako nearby made him question that belief.

“…Ahem.”

He cleared his throat awkwardly and pulled out the souvenirs he bought yesterday afternoon in Kyoto.

To properly show his appreciation to all the girls—including his three sisters—he had gone to several different shops to collect these gifts.

One thing had to be said: a historic city like Kyoto had far more choices for souvenirs than Tokyo.

No wonder people joked that Tokyo was just a nouveau riche city, Harutaki thought—though he personally felt Tokyo and Kyoto were both laughing at each other from fifty paces away.

Tokyo lacked historical depth, while Kyoto’s economy was steadily declining.

“First up—omamori charms.”

He pulled out several colorful brocade charms.

He had already given one set to Ren, Haruto, and Miho earlier. Since he couldn’t sacrifice his sisters’ choices just to give gifts to the girls he liked, he decided—

“Health, Family, Love (Romance), and Academic Success. Pick whichever blessing you like.”

The extra charm could go to Chouko or Nogami.

Or he could give it to one of his sisters later.

After all, charms were like RPG buffs—technically, they could stack.

The blessings of the gods were mysterious like that.

Still, at 700 yen each, they weren’t exactly cheap. And considering the number of girls around him…

Harutaki could only try to give everyone one, instead of stacking a full set on each person.

Besides, giving someone a pile of charms would feel weird anyway.

“Hm… Health, Family… only four?” Sae leaned over his shoulder casually while examining the charms in his hand. “What about yours and Chouko-chan’s charms?”

Right.

His and Chouko’s charms.

Harutaki instantly felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles.

Why did his “best bro” always find these dangerous blind spots?!

There was no way he could admit that he and Chouko had bought love charms together.

If Nogami found out, she’d definitely explode on the spot.

This was bad.

Seriously bad.

But…

There was still hope.

He, Hoshikawa Harutaki, was not fighting alone.

He turned toward Chouko and shot her a desperate look for help—

…Hey! Why are you retreating over there first?!

“Oh right…” Chouko said innocently. “Hoshikawa, what charm did you buy for me again?”

You’re turning this back on me?!

Chouko flashed him an apologetic smile, then looped her arm around Nogami’s and leaned affectionately against her shoulder.

“Hoshikawa likes making decisions on his own. He didn’t even listen to my opinion and just ran off to buy the charms.”

Who was the one who jumped into his arms, bit his ear, and begged him to buy a pair of love charms?!

Harutaki ground his teeth in frustration.

But there was nothing he could do.

All he could do was watch as Chouko stuck out her soft pink tongue at him.

The tiny beauty mark above the left corner of her lips moved along with the gesture, like a mischievous little fairy sitting on her teasing smile—playful and adorable as it mocked him.

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