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.
And then, a week later.
I was able to leave the hospital safely.
My home felt comfortable after such a long time, and even the air seemed soft.
That said, I couldn’t just rest all the time.
I had started to feel nervous about the school life that was about to begin.
I slipped my arms through the sleeves of my uniform and grabbed my crutches.
Although my recovery was going well, I had insisted on leaving the hospital early, so I was told to be careful and not push myself too hard for a while longer.
”Alright.”
With renewed determination, I grabbed the doorknob.
Alright, it’s time for school life to begin.
”Good morning,, “‘’Touko-chan!””
”…”
The moment I opened the door, there stood the beautiful Futami twins.
I mean, who would’ve thought I’d run into them within a second of stepping outside.
By the way, the reason they know my address is because they accompanied me home when I was discharged.
”What’s wrong? You look surprised.”
”Could it be that you’re feeling blue and don’t want to go to school?”
As always, the sisters greeted me warmly.
”Um… you two really don’t have to go out of your way for me now that I’ve been discharged.”
”We’re not doing this out of obligation. I just want to.”
”Yeah, walking together makes the gloom of school more bearable.”
Despite everything, the two of them were determined to start school with me.
Though there had been twists and turns, their story, which should have faded away according to the original scenario, was continuing like this.
”Ah, thank you… And I’m glad that Saki and Soyoka are attending the academy with me.”
It was for this moment that I made my resolve on that bridge.
Now it feels like everything is paying off.
”Don’t be silly. How could we not attend when Touko is going to the academy?”
”That’s right. School might be unpleasant, but leaving Touko alone is even worse.”
The two of them showered me with kindness without holding back.
Though I no longer needed such overprotection, their sincerity touched me deeply, and I couldn’t help but hold onto their hands.
I felt like I was drowning in their warmth.
”Well then, let’s go. Saki, Soyoka.”
Walking side by side with the sisters on the path to school, I never imagined this day would come.
◇◇◇
Let me take a moment to organize the situation.
This world closely resembles “She Doesn’t Know the Pure White Flower Yet,” the yuri dating simulation game I used to play. It’s commonly known as KanoHana.
I, Touko Shirahane, am originally a background character, and I regained these memories when I saw the Futami twins standing on the bridge railing.
And the school where I’ll soon study is “Shizuba Girls’ Academy,”
A prestigious institution attended by many daughters of noble families.
There are some regular students, but their numbers are few.
Incidentally, it seems I’m also one of the regular students, fitting my role as a background character.
I live alone in a cozy one-room apartment.
Yeah, it’s totally sufficient for me.
”This is Shizuba Girls’ Academy…?”
Ahead, the school buildings of Shizuba Girls’ Academy came into view.
Well-maintained flower beds and lawns surrounded the campus, with a fountain flowing at the center of the main gate.
The exterior walls of the school building gave off a warm, reddish-brown hue from the bricks, though there were noticeable scratches and faded spots, adding to the sense of its long history.
Overwhelmed by the vast grounds and majestic school building, I stepped inside.
”Heave-ho, heave-ho.”
Even though I’ve been practicing walking with crutches and managing steps isn’t an issue, I still feel the difficulty of moving around compared to before my injury.
The gap between my remembered movements and my current ones feels stark.
Still, I managed to make it to the classroom door.
”…She’s here.” “…She’s arrived.”
The atmosphere between the two was unbearably heavy.
Thinking about it, I couldn’t feel cheerful either.
”Ah, sorry, sorry. I’ll open the door for you, Touko.”
”That’s right, we should sit down quickly or Touko-chan will get tired.”
Nevertheless, the Futami twins tried their best to lighten the mood.
――Rattle, rattle
Saki opened the classroom door.
The classroom, familiar yet distant.
The moment we entered, I felt the morning buzz stiffen slightly.
”Umm…”
Though no one directly stared at us, I could feel everyone’s attention shifting toward the Futami twins.
”Here, sit down, Touko-chan.”
”Ah, thank you, Soyoka.”
However, the Futami twins didn’t react to the tense atmosphere.
When we reached my seat—second row from the window, last seat—Soyoka pulled out my chair for me.
”…Touko-chan’s chair.”
”Huh? Soyoka?”
For some reason,
Soyoka was staring intently at the chair she had pulled out.
Her gaze seemed oddly sensual—is that just my imagination?
”Ah, sorry! It’s nothing—I just thought about how this chair would touch Touko-chan’s butt.”
”Uh… what?”
”Aha, it’s fine, really. Just a random thought—I was imagining being the chair supporting Touko-chan.”
”I think that’s a bit much?”
Soyoka kept saying strange things with a smile.
”Here, Touko. I’ll hold your crutches, so sit down.”
”Ah, sorry, Saki.”
Seeing my hesitation, Saki prompted me to sit and took my crutches.
”…Touko’s crutches.”
”Huh? Saki?”
For some reason,
Saki was gazing fixedly at the crutches in her hands.
Her expression seemed oddly sensual—wait, is this déjà vu?
”Ah, sorry! It’s nothing—I just thought about how warm these crutches are from Touko’s body heat.”
”Uh… um?”
”It’s fine, really. Just a silly thought—I was imagining being the crutch supporting Touko.”
”Why are both of you suddenly talking from the perspective of objects?”
Saki was also saying strange things.
I see… They must be disoriented by the long-awaited return to school.
Yes, that must be it.
I decided not to dwell on it further.
”Well, Touko, let me know if you need anything.”
”Touko-chan, don’t push yourself too hard.”
With those words, the Futami twins headed to their seats in the central area.
Watching them from afar, I noticed the classmates’ gazes often lingered on the twins.
Their looks were cold, subtly hinting at the difficulty of thawing the frosty relationship between the twins and the class.
”Miss Shirahane, congratulations on your discharge.”
”…Eh?”
The person calling my name was the girl sitting next to me. Her braided brown hair was styled in a half-updo, her posture upright, and her kind eyes left a strong impression.
Her bright smile and gentle demeanor exuded approachability.
Moreover, she even knew my name despite me being a background character.
”Ah, thank you… Miss Aizawa.”
Tsugumi Aizawa, she was the protagonist of KanoHana.
”And also…”
Miss Aizawa tilted her head and glanced toward the center of the classroom, where the Futami twins sat.
She seemed to have something to say as well.
”The Futami sisters… their presence feels much softer now, doesn’t it?”
”Eh… you noticed?”
In that brief moment, she seemed to have picked up on the change in the Futami twins.
”Yes, it’s wonderful.”
Miss Aizawa smiled gently, her eyes crinkling.
As expected of the protagonist… her heart seems deep and forgiving.