A Supporting Character’s Love Story - Chapter 57

POV Makoto Shinji

So she wasn’t lying when she told Kaname san that she had a part time job. But thinking about it made sense as well. She was constantly buying fancy make up products and jewellery all the time and the money had to come from somewhere.

I had previously thought she was just some rich kid with a lot of pocket money from her parents, but seeing her working made me see her in a new light.

Me and Akari were sitting on a table next to the window of a small restaurant while the waitress was glaring at us from behind the counter while wiping the plates and cups with a towel.

“Hey Shinji, I don’t think the staff here are good at customer service.” Akari spoke loud enough to be heard by her.

Suddenly, a crashing sound was heard which made me turn my head in response. Shattered pieces of glass were on the counter while half of a broken glass was in Kanade’s hand.

She broke a glass with her grip strength?

“See. I told you.” Akari once again spoke loud enough to be heard by Kanade.

Damn. She is really pissed at Kanade, isn’t she?

The one thing I was really glad about was that the restaurant was a small one and it was still evening. Because of that the only customers here were us two.

I had truly never expected that I would run into Kanade while she was on her part time. Me and Akari were on a date as usual and had just finished watching a movie in the theatres when I suggested eating at this restaurant. At the time I had no idea that Kanade actually worked here.

“Hey, Akari why are you so angry at her?” I asked her softly.

Even if the relationship between them was not good before it wasn’t to this level. And the thing that happened before in class shouldn’t have incited this level of anger in her.

“What do you mean why? I have always disliked her a lot.” Akari replied nonchalantly.

“But then you weren’t like this before. Although you didn’t talk to her before you didn’t take shots at her openly like this.”

“Haah… Fine. Let me tell you from the beginning then. I first met that girl in the beginning of my freshman year in highschool. You might not know this but we fought quite a bit at that time.” Akari started speaking, “And it was not me who was picking fights it was her. Everyday she would try to get in my way and I was forced to retaliate to her. One day I had enough of her shit and decided to shut her up forever.”

A shiver ran through my spine as I looked into Akari’s eyes.

Maybe Akari sensed my fear or something because the next second she spoke reassuringly, “Don’t worry it wasn’t anything too brutal. I just took her to the rooftop for a nice little chat.”

Unfortunately, her innocent smile only freaked me out more. I wanted to ask what happened on the rooftop that day but my instincts warned me to stay quiet, which I listened to. They were usually right in situations like this.

“After that we became like what you know, not messing in each other’s business. But today she stepped on my bottom line. Of course, I want to retaliate”

“Your bottom line?” I asked confused. What did Kanade do to her?

This time however Akari didn’t respond and only looked at me like I was an idiot.

“Stupid” She spoke softly as she lowered her head down.

Hey. I heard that. Although I want able to hear it clearly I could make it out through the shape of her lips. But why was she calling me stupid.

At once my brain started analysing all the possible situations before it centered onto one possibility.

By any chance is she referring to me by her bottom line?

The thought made me slightly blush and I turned my face towards the window to escape the awkward atmosphere.

“Clink” Just then the sound of cutlery made me turn my head.

“Tch. Here you go. Your orders.” Kanade looked at us in annoyance as she left.

Instead of being annoyed at her attitude I only felt more embarrassed knowing she saw our awkward interaction.

After that, all the time we were eating I could feel Kanade’s eyes on us.

“Without talking much me and Akari quickly ate our pastas in silence rushing to leave the suffocating atmosphere emanating from Kanade.

As we were leaving Kanade smilingly walked up us before slightly bowing down.

“Thank you for coming. If you visit again I will be sure to show you the couple menu we have.”

Akari only snorted at her cheap jab and walked out while pulling on my arm.

“Haah. That was so embarrassing. Being seen as a couple by strangers in public is way different from being seen ny our classmates.”

“…” I was lost in thought and didn’t respond to her.

“Shinji?”

“Oh sorry. I was thinking about something.”

“What happened?” Akari asked with slight worry in her eyes.

“Did you notice the person at the register?”

“What about him?”

“Do you recognize him?”

“No. Pretty sure this is the first time I have seen him. You know him?”

“I am pretty sure he is our classmate.”

“No way. How could I not recognize him?”

“No. I am pretty sure he is in our class.”

I was very confused. All this time there was another person I knew standing in my vicinity and I didn’t even recognize him with my perception? How is that even possible? If I didn’t interact with him while paying the bill I would have never recognized him. It was also thanks to the database I had created in my head on the first day of class that I was able to match his profile.

Name. Arakawa Koji. Status. Loner. I have never even seen him talk to anybody else. Normally spends time playing games on his smartphone during breaks.

Now I had another piece of information. He worked at the same restaurant as Kanade. Now there were two possibilities. Either I had made some kind of mistake and mixed up their faces, or he had some sort of trait that caused his presence to be so light. Coupled with the fact that he and Kanade were co-workers I could almost see another story being written here.

“Anyway. If he is really a classmate I will know tomorrow.” I said as I stopped thinking about it.

After walking in silence for a while Akari spoke with a hesitant tone, “Shinji. What do you think of Kanade?”

Shit. What kind of question is that? How do I answer it?

“What do you mean?” In the end I took a defensive stance.

“That time in the classroom what was your reply going to be?”

Suddenly it clicked in my head. She was talking about Kanade’s trait, Automatic Agreement. Since she had butted heads with her it was only natural for her to know Kanade’s usual tactics. That must also be why she got so angry at her.

“Don’t worry. She is not skilled enough to manipulate me.”

“But looking at her action at the end it seems she is not going to back down from a fight.”

“About that… You see it was me who tried to interfere in the first place, so it is only natural for her to do that.”

I explained to Akari about Seiji’s request and the relationship between Kanade, Kaname, and him.

It took a full 20 minutes to explain to her all of that. I even had to explain about my relationship with Seiji.

“How… messy.”

I almost laughed at her response.

“That’s true.”

“Why is that Kaname trying so hard even after being rejected? After so long shouldn’t she know there is no hope for her becoming Nakamura’s girlfriend?”

When she said that another girl’s face flashed in my mind.

If it was a few months back, I would have a 100 percent agreed with her. Everytime a character tried to get together with protagonist I felt extremely angry at them, especially when the protagonist was already dating somebody. Like you want to break up a perfectly good relationship just for your own happiness?

But after spending time with Shimabukuro, I realized that those characters that I had thought were only present a jealousy arc were actually the same as any other character. The only difference was that they happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, or more like they weren’t at the right place at the right time.

Without a proper finish to their love they continue to get further lost in it. All because of they aren’t able to accept defeat. Afterall being defeated because of a silly thing like luck is stupid. Unlike hate all I feel for those characters now is pity.

“But shouldn’t Nakamura try to solve his problems on his own? Why does he have to pull you into it?” Akari asked as she pouted in dissatisfaction.

“It is precisely because he is entangled in it that he can’t solve this problem himself without hurting anyone. Also, I have also received his help so many times. It is only right to pay him back for it.”

“Fine. I get it.” Akari responded with a sigh. “But I swear if you get played by Kanade I will personally come and beat sense into your head. After repeated experimentations that is the best way to remove her brainwashing.”

“Haha. That’s funny.”

“…”

She was joking right?

Right?

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