In order to save the villainous twin sisters from falling into darkness the mob character worked hard and as a result ended up being doted on by both of them.
“Hey, Touko.. I said I’m sorry already!”
“Ugh, Saki, you went way too far trying to shut Touko-chan up!”
“Huh? What, just me? Soyoka, you were totally going along with it too!”
“Saki-chan’s the one who started it, and my little sister just went along with her, right?”
“Ugh, it’s so unfair how you use the ‘little sister’ card only when it suits you!”
After school.
I was lost in thought in the classroom when, before I knew it, Saki and Soyoka had gathered around my desk.
“What’s up with you two?”
“Oh, Touko. You looked like you were thinking about what happened at lunch, so we got worried.”
“Sorry if we upset you, Touko-chan. It’s not like we wanted to put you down or anything. We just wanted you to understand.”
It seems they noticed I was brooding over what happened at lunch.
It’s about that thing—the whole “The Futami sisters don’t plan to get along with anyone except Shirahane Touko” deal.
My whole body could tremble from the overwhelming honor… but let’s put that aside for now.
“No, I’m actually happy about it. It means a lot that you two would say that.”
“Touko…” “Touko-chan…”
The Futami sisters let out relieved expressions.
Yeah, I mean, how could I possibly complain when these two sisters want me around? That’s not a luxury I’d ever demand.
“But I’m just worried about you two, Saki and Soyoka.”
It’s important to respect their way of thinking.
They’ve lived with that mindset forever, and at this academy, it’s been denied by so many people that it nearly broke them.
I can’t let my hands be the ones to destroy the fragile thread they’re barely holding onto now.
“Why? As long as we’ve got you, Touko, there’s no problem, right?”
“Yeah, with Touko-chan around, there’s nothing to worry about!”
The absolute trust they have in me is insane…
I could almost get excited by how much they accept me—okay, let’s put that dangerous thought aside too.
“But I think you’d have an even more fun academy life if you got along with the class.”
While respecting the Futami sisters’ views, I also need to introduce them to new perspectives.
My wish is for them to have a healthy, happy academy life.
“We’re already having fun with you, Touko.”
“Yeah, Touko-chan’s all we need, right?”
“…”
Okay, well, fine then!
…No, no, no.
Calm down, calm down.
Don’t get carried away, don’t get carried away, don’t get carried away.
The fun of being with me and harmony with everyone else are two separate things.
“Alright, here you go.”
In the midst of all this, Saki hands me my crutches.
“And I’ll carry this for you!”
Soyoka grabs my bag.
“…Uh, so we’re heading home together again?”
I figured I’d confirm, just to be sure, given how this was playing out.
“‘Of course’ / ‘Obviously, right?’”
They respond with such intensity, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Hmm, am I starting to delude myself into thinking I’m the protagonist of a yuri game or something?
◇◇◇
On the way home, we pass through the bustling shopping district.
“…Phew.”
By the time we reach the center, I let out a big breath.
Even though my leg’s bones have healed, the injury doesn’t just vanish right away.
The longer I walk, the more the pain creeps in.
It’s not enough to make me scream or anything—I can handle it—but still.
Walking only on safe, flat paths like in a hospital or rehab room is completely different from walking outdoors with all these slopes.
Combined with the exhaustion of being back at school after so long, the trip home was tougher than I expected.
“You okay, Touko?”
“You’re sweating a lot!”
Saki and Soyoka peer at my face with worried expressions.
“Haha, I’m fine, I’m fine. This is part of rehab, you know.”
Well, to begin with, I didn’t need to be walking outside this much right after recovering.
Even with the teacher’s permission, there’s such a thing as taking it step by step.
Trying to rush my recovery and jump back into the same level of activity as before was my mistake.
“Seriously, don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I’m not, I’m not.”
“But maybe you should rest a bit? If you keep going like this, you might collapse before we get home.”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
I don’t think I’d collapse, but still.
It’s after school, and since I live alone, I don’t have a curfew.
Unlike heading to school, there’s no rush, so taking a break sounds nice.
“Oh, look, over there! There’s a café!”
“Oh, perfect! Let’s rest there!”
“…”
A little farther ahead, I spot a familiar chain café.
The Futami sisters and a café.
It’s a bit late to realize, but this feels like an event way too fancy for a side character like me.
This is the kind of thing you wouldn’t even see in the original story, so my heart can’t help but skip a beat.
“What’re you spacing out for, Touko?”
“Wait, did we mess up? Do you not want to?”
They must’ve taken my silence as a bad sign because Saki and Soyoka peek at my face again, looking concerned.
Having their flawless faces get so close when I’m all sweaty is honestly a little overwhelming—I wish they’d stop.
But they don’t seem to care at all.
Are they angels or what?
“No, it’s the opposite. I’m happy I get to go to a place like this with you two.”
“…”
This time, the sisters exchange a glance.
Two perfect faces looking at each other—what a sight.
If you’re going to look at something, might as well make it something beautiful like that. It’s good for my eyes too.
“You’re such an honest one, Touko.”
“When you say stuff like that, it makes us happy, you know.”
“W-Wait, whoa!”
For some reason, they each take one of my crutches and offer me their shoulders instead.
I’ve ended up with a flower on each arm.
“H-Hold on, you two! I’m all sweaty, so you shouldn’t get so close!”
“That doesn’t matter at all.”
“Yeah, chilling with you is way more important, Touko-chan.”
My body feels like it’s floating.
No, not figuratively—I mean it!
It’s not just that I’m over the moon about going to a café with the Futami sisters after school (though I totally am).
They’re literally lifting me up and carrying me along so I don’t have to strain myself anymore.
“Hey, I can walk, I can walk!”
“We’ll listen to that once you’re off those crutches.”
“Yeah, there’s no way we can just ignore you when you’re struggling like this!”
A side character’s life getting this fulfilling after school…
Is this okay? I’m way too happy right now.