A Supporting Character’s Love Story - Chapter 56

POV Makoto Shinji

I want to skip the sports festival.

I was looking at the form in my hand that I had to submit when this thought popped up in my head.

There were a total of 8 events and I was supposed to choose at least three of them. First there were the 100m dash and the 200m dash that I was no way going to participate in. If I came last my the one who would be to blame would be me and nobody else.

Next on the list were long jump, tug of war, cavalry battle, and the relay race. Long jump can be ticked off. It has the same problem as the races. Tug of war was a viable one for someone like me. A single person’s strength didn’t matter much. As for cavalry battle? Maybe if I could be at the top instead of the person carrying I could consider it. And the relay… count me out. This was the complete opposite of the tug of war, a single person’s incompetency could cost the whole game. But although I was not going to participate in the relay I wanted Nishikawa to definitely take part in it. If there was an event that screamed main character this was it.

What is even left? My eyes moved to the last event on the list. Treasure hunt? I guess I don’t have much choice do I?

After deciding on the events I was going to take part in I turned my face to the person sitting beside me.

“What are you thinking of choosing Nishikawa?”

“I don’t really know. I am quite good at athletics so I was thinking of choosing one of the races, and maybe the long jump? But those are individual events and I don’t really want to be in the spotlight.”

Wow. I was impressed by the fact that his choices were the complete opposite to mine. But this was not enough. He was already unconfident.

I decided to give him the boost in motivation he needed.

I beckoned Nishikwas to bring his ears closer and lowered my voice, “Hey, Nishikawa this sports festival is a perfect chance to impress Hiwari san.”

His breathing instantly became more rapid and a tint of red was visible on his face. It was working. I needed to push a little more.

“No matter what they say, most girls like cool guys, and what better way to impress her than standing out from the others in the high-stake events?”

I could already see the determination forming in his eyes.

.

.

.

“Kaname san.” I walked over to her seat to submit her the form I had just filled. As the planning committee member from our class this was her responsibility.

“Ah, Yes!” She said as she turned towards me with a jump.

From her reactions it seems like Kanade has already begun isolating her. Slowly weakening her like a python slowly suffocating it’s prey before swallowing it.

This was another thing I had to pay attention to. Three days had passed and I hadn’t been able to even take the first step to stop Kanade. She was always surrounded by other people like the king piece in chess and I found no opportunity to even bring up the topic.

“Hey, Kaname take this.” She said passing the same form as me to Kaname san.

Speak of the devil. Just as I was going to return Kanade appeared behind me. It seems she was also here for the same reason as me.

“How do you like working as the planning committee member Kaname san? I heard you are so busy you aren’t able to spend time with your friends anymore?”

Of course, that was not the only reason for her being here. She was going to take this opportunity to damage her further.

Upon hearing her words, I could feel anger in the look Kaname san gave her, but one second later it all deflated into nothingness.

“Why are you asking her this sort of questions Kanade? Do you feel pity for her?” I spoke up, causing her eyes to shift onto me.

Seiji had told me to resolve this situation. The first thing I could do was to at least stop the situation from getting any worse.

“What’s up with you Makoto? Are you trying to be a knight in shining armor for her? But don’t you already have a girlfriend?”

“I-”

I was about to respond when I felt a familiar pressure descending and the air turned dry instantly.

“Tch. I am leaving.” Kanade said as she turned and left.

“Thanks Akari.” I said to the girl who had just arrived here.

“She was getting on my nerves already, don’t worry about it.” Then turning to Kaname san she didn’t say anything and only submitted her form before leaving.”

That was lucky timing, but as Seiji had said it was only a short-term solution. It wouldn’t take long for her to try something like this again.

I turned to Kaname san but she wasn’t even looking upwards. It was probably due to Akari’s pressure.

If she didn’t even have this much of willpower why did she even try to go up against Kanade? A truly foolish move.

Seeing her condition, I didn’t say anything and just left like that.

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POV Kanade Hagihara

F*ck. Why is Makoto interfering in this matter? It should have nothing to do with him.

Because of him not only did I not manage to do what I aimed for, I even almost pissed off that Nakano.

*bang*

I slammed the locker door shut in frustration.

“Kanade san please don’t take out your anger on restaurant property.” A flat voice called from beside me.

“Shut up nerd.” I snarled back at him.

“Don’t take it out on me either.” He shot back without even looking me in the eye.

This little piece of…

I was going to punch the wall but held back when I remembered I was wearing my fake nails and they could break very easily.

Just then the door swung open and another person entered the room. It was the manager. His eyes lit up when he saw us both.

“Oh. Kanade chan and Arakawa kun. It’s good that you’re here. Quickly get ready and start your shifts for today.”

“Yes, Matsuzaki san.”

“Yes.”

Both of us replied simultaneously.

“Hey Arakawa you are on the register today aren’t you?” I asked him after the manager left.

“I don’t think that has anything to do with you Kanade san.”

“Look here Arakawa. I am in a bad mood today. So you better answer my questions okay?”

We stared at each other before he finally sighed. A feeling of pleasure coursed through my body when I saw him finally accepting defeat.

“You’re right, I am on the register today.”

I had the waitress shift today but I was in no mood to interact with people right now. I was going to ask him to switch duties with me but before I could he opened his mouth first.

“I see. You can’t help it if it is that time of the month can you?”

At once all the satisfaction I just had turned into anger once again. But before I could react he escaped the room, shutting the door behind him.

“That little nerd…” I slammed my fist against the table only to realize the shock broke my fake nails.

“F*ck” I cussed out loud.

“Kanade san are you coming?” Just then the manager’s voice called out and I had no choice to force myself to calm down.

“Yes, I’m coming.” I replied in a forced polite tone.

I had started this part time job a few months ago to help with the money for my cosmetic purchases. The place was quite far from the school which was perfect so that no customer recognized me here. Unfortunately, what I didn’t know at the time was that a classmate of mine was already working here.

I walked to the register where Arakawa was standing.

“Hey, switch with me for today. I am not feeling well.”

“If that is so you can inform the manager and take a holiday today.”

Again. He refused me again.

Normally, whenever I asked something people always agreed to it. It was very rarely that people outright refused me, but that was exactly what this otaku did.

“If you do that I will forget all the things you did today.”

He turned towards me and spat out a syllable.

“No.”

Even when I laxed the conditions he rejected me. This was the first time I had met somebody like this.

Just then the restaurant doors opened and the customers came in forcing me to leave. I mouthed to Arakawa, “You will regret this”, before leaving though. Even if I could not do anything to him here I could always do it at school. That place was my playground.

And unlike what he acted here, at school Arakawa was only an invisible loner with no friends at all. All he did all day was play games on his phone alone with a creepy smile on his face all day. When I first saw his behaviour I couldn’t help but laugh. It was so satisfying to see this pain in the ass suffering all alone after the many times he had pissed me off.

The only good thing he had ever done in my eyes was that he didn’t tell anybody about where I worked. But maybe that was a side-effect of him not having any friends to talk to.

“Welcome. This way please.” I said with a smile to the customers who had just entered. But the moment I saw who it was my body froze.

“Ah.”

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