A Supporting Character’s Love Story - Chapter 62

POV Kanade Hagihara

“I’m really sorry Kanade sama.”

“Wow! If I had a nickel for every time a person bowed to me today, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. Right?”

“…”

In front of me Arakawa had assumed a dogeza position while I was sitting on the plastic chair as if I was some queen on a throne.

“But why are you apologizing Arakawa? Have you done something wrong?” I asked him sarcastically.

“Because I eavesdropped on your conversation with Kaname san.” He replied without looking up.

“Hmm… But was it your idea to that?”

“No, not at all. In fact it was Makoto san who dragged me with him. You can ask anybody in class.”

Already sold him out, huh. I thought he would act stupid. Should I prod him further?

“Is that so. Then it’s not your fault right?”

“Y-yes. Exactly.”

“Then why are you bowing down?”

“That…”

“Pfft… You look exactly like a dog right now.” I force out a laugh as I ridiculed him.

That statement made Arakawa turn his face towards me.

“Who told you to look up? Stay like that while I think about to do with you.”

This doesn’t feel good.

Usually when I do this to others I feel pleasure. Even though today I got what I had wanted to do from a long time. Unlike the Arakawa who always snapped back at me, today for the first time he was listening to all my commands. I almost didn’t mind what Makoto did with Kanade. As I revelled in the pleasure of Arakawa bowing down to me, my mind wandered to the questions in my heart.

Haah… This is a pain.

Although I know all of this was Makoto’s planning I myself don’t know why I was more angry at this otaku.

Just then the manager’s voice came calling my name from the kitchen. “Kanade san start your shift.”

“Yeah I’m going. But what about Arakawa?”

“Ah, yes. I forgot he was already here. Tell him to start as well.”

Uwaa… Arakawa was really forgotten by him. But why doesn’t he react to it? Since he is neglected shouldn’t he try to stand out more?

Bah. These things are his problems. Right now I need to do something else. I turned my head toward him on the ground.

“Otaku kun.”

“Y-yes.”

He is scared of me.

“You know your punishment right?”

“I need to do your work as well.”

“Very good.”

At least he is perceptive about things like this.

“U-until when do I have to do this?”

Till when he asks.

“Until you figure out why I am angry at you.” I replied as I left the room with him remaining there alone.

The rest of the day passed as I stood at the register while Arakawa did all the work. From serving others and taking orders, to cleaning up the place after closing.

I did feel somewhat sorry for him, but when I remembered how it was because of him I was trampled by Makoto and Seiji I felt my anger flare up again. But that brought me to another question. Why was I angry at Arakawa?

Although I acted like that in front of him I was filled with confusion. The whole Kanade thing — I couldn’t care less. But when I think about why I submitted and forgave her my heart is filled with uncertainty. Was I really that afraid of a recording of me acting cruelly? Or was it something else. I really don’t know what to make of it. Was it really because of Arakawa that I was forced to act the way I did? But if that is true doesn’t that mean…

No way. That’s a ridiculous thought.

I quickly shut down my thought process and my eyes fell on the sweeping Arakawa’s body. I decided to use him to calm my frustration.

“Hey Arakawa, I have a few assignments I need to complete.”

“R-right.” He said as he averted his eyes from mine.

What a dull reaction. This was the same reaction others had gave me multiple times throughout the day. But this time I didn’t derive enjoyment from his fear as I always did.

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POV Shinji Makoto

The next day I met when I saw Arakawa I was taken aback at his appearance. Although he wasn’t someone with clear eyes and neatly combed hair, today he looked as if he had been awake the entire night. His bead head and panda eyes were clear indicators.

He didn’t even look at me and walked straight to Kanade’s desk before giving her a book and then returning to his seat.

Maybe Kanade felt my stare as she turned towards me towards me and gave me a devilish grin before turning back as if nothing had happened.

This girl is really cruel. I thought she like him. But looking at his condition I can’t say that for sure anymore.

During lunch I went to his secret lunch place and found out what had happened.

Can’t say I didn’t expect it. But I had thought she would show a little bit of leniency to him.

Aww man. Now I feel bad. If I didn’t involve him in this situation wouldn’t have happened.

.

.

.

“So the whole thing is over?”

Me and Akari were sitting on a park bench relaxing after another day at school.

“Yeah. Case closed.” I replied as I leaned backwards on my arms.

“I heard Kanade shouting at you yesterday though. Is that fine?”

“Damn. You were able to hear it till the classroom. How loud did she shout. But it’s really no problem. I mean if she tries to do something to me can’t I just hide behind you?”

To be honest though, I didn’t think she was going to come after me. Right now, she must be confused as to why she even surrendered because of just a recording, and taking out her frustration on others.

“You’re shameless you know.” Akari said as I was basking in the afterglow of completing a mission.

“Okay. I won’t ask you to do it for free. How about I give you a nice payment for it then?”

“And what is that? Don’t just kiss me and call it a day okay? I am not that easy.”

Woah. How did she know? But that’s fine. I still have something.

“Look at this video.”

I took out my phone and showed her the video I took of Kanade.

“Is this enough?”

“You blackmailed her with only this much?”

The doubt in her voice was apparent.

“Well, y’know. If you have skills like mine-”

Akari didn’t even let me finish before she interrupted, “You must have something more on her right? If you give me that I will agree to protect you. Okay?”

“Well. I won’t tell you the full thing, but I can tell you about it partly. Okay?”

“Okay.”

She accepted instantly. She really doesn’t like Kanade huh? But it’s good that she did. The less interference there is from outside, the faster the progress is. Especially in delicate situations like Arakawa’s.

It was something like Schrodinger’s cat. As soon as you observed it, the situation would go from existing between two uncertain states to solidifying into one. I was only able to interrupt without interfering because of my observer trait.

“The thing is that she is kind of interested in this guy from our class.” I broke it to her vaguely.

“Huh? From our class!”

“Y-yeah.” I replied surprised by her sudden exclamation.

“I don’t believe it.”

“Well. I am about 50 percent about it.”

I was going to tell her I am 100 percent sure but Arakawa’s face had popped into my mind making me uncertain about it.

“50 percent confirmation is nothing.”

“But if not that, then how could I have forced her?”

This was also why I was confused. There is no way she was scared of the recording I had in my hands. Too many people had played this sort of tricks on her and she always came out on top. So the deciding factor had to be him. Right?

“Ah. Wait. Are you talking about…Was it Yama?…no… what was it…”

Akari started speaking something but trailed off mid-sentence.

“What?”

“I vaguely remember that you brought along another person when Kanade left with Kaname yesterday, but I can’t remember who it was. Forget the name, I can’t even remember his facial features.”

Wow. Arakawa’s trait is really something is really something. If he tried he would be the perfect criminal. It is lucky that his personality isn’t twisted because of something he experienced in his childhood. Otherwise that would be a real life supervillain origin story.

“Don’t worry about it. Maybe you just remember it wrong.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

She didn’t seem very convinced, but with the lack of evidence she had no choice.

“So now you will protect me right?”

“No. It’s still not enough.” She replied as a matter-of-factly.

Her rejection took me by surprise.

“But you said-”

I didn’t manage to finish my sentence before my lips were blocked by hers.

We separated after a few seconds.

“Haa… Didn’t you say you didn’t want it?”

“I said I need more than just a kiss. I never said that I didn’t want it.” Her eyes sparkled beautifully as she said that.

“If you aren’t satisfied with that I can pay you extra.”

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