The Pain of an Inferior: A Blistering Love Comedy That Begins After a Broken Heart - Chapter 164

Chapter 164 – Guardian Angel Rush

At a time when the commotion caused by Shinku’s incident had yet to settle, Himari was seen engaging in a conversation with a dejected Shun in an upbeat manner.

“Shun~, Let’s go out on date for a change of pace~”

Himari rarely talks in a cute and flirty way, let alone to a boy.

Because of that, all the girls around her were giving her a stink eye.

“I’m not in the mood right now. Besides, aren’t we suppose to check around the school festival with the others?”

“I guess so?. But still, isn’t it fine every now and then..?”

Himari persisted, plunging Shun into deep thought.

He was clearly shaken at the fact that Shinku, whom he thought was down bad for him, was stolen by another man before he knew it. His unstable emotions were negatively affecting the mood in his surroundings.

Thinking that this moment of weakness was a good opportunity, Himari pressed on in making passes at Shun.

Himari was a little curious about the enigmatic Haruka, but that was different matter. After all, the only two boys that she was considering in becoming lovers with was Shun and Akito. On the other hand, she didn’t consider Rui due to his short stature and his tendency of always wearing a grumpy expression on his face.

“….There’s no helping it, I’ll hang out with you.”

Shun decided to go on a date with Himari while giving off an air of exasperation.

He wore a somber expression his face while he waited for her response. Maybe he imagined that Himari would be taken by Haruka as well.

I don’t know what’s happening, but I guess having less rivals is a good thing.

While Himari still had some reservations about the incidents that caused Haruka to form a harem, she appreciated the benefits that it brought.

Himari, who had a precise understanding of her own allure, now had the confidence that she was the best in looks, talent, and achievements among the girls who were aiming for Shun, save for Miyako since she was a special case. She wouldn’t yield that position to anyone, not even to her best friend Mika.

“Then, it’s settled. Where should we go? A VR date should be fine.”

Himari sat on a free seat and pulled her chair closer to Shun.

“How about we climb the leaderboards on a highly rated amusement park.”

“Rank climbing is a pain in the butt!”

Shun was gloomy at first, but as he talked about what to do on his date with Himari, he naturally regained his smile.

“What’s up, are you two going somewhere together~?”

Mika, who just returned to the classroom, walked over to them.

“That’s right. Today I’m going out alone with Shun.”

Even when it came to her best friend Mika, Himari didn’t hold back as she wore a daring, teasing smile as she clung to Shun’s arm.

“Eh?, it’s not like I’m gonna bother you guys or anything.”

Mika smiled wryly while sitting on the floor next to Himari.

“The mood before the festival starts is kinda nice, isn’t it~?”

“I get what you mean. If anything, the day before the festival starts is where the tension is at it’s highest.”

“I know right.”

“I wonder about that….”

“Is Shun’s dance number going to be alright?”

“No problem at all. The choreography isn’t that difficult.”

“Anyways, a friend from another school is gonna watch you dance, Shun-kun~”

“Really? Do you have a picture of her?”

“No, I do?n’t”

With a hearty laugh, Mika formed a cross with her index fingers. Despite complaining, Shun’s expression remained gentle.

“Ossu, Good work~”

While the three were enjoying chatting with each other, Akito and Rui entered the classroom, their mood became livelier than usual.

Such an atmosphere would then be shattered by the entrance of a certain individual.

??Obi Haruka

He entered the classroom accompanied by Ise Ria, who was a rank E citizen. Even after such an incident had happened, he walked with confidence towards the place where Yunika and Shinku were sitting.

All the smiles on the guys’ faces vanished in a blink of an eye. Shun clicked his tongue while turning his head away in a sulky manner. Rui was unconsciously shaking while fumbling with his pockets.

They were clearly irritated.

The men were losing face at the fact that they lost the woman they were after by a man who was clearly inferior to them. The damage it dealt to their self-esteem was severe.

Moreover, it was a relentless torment to be confronted with something they didn’t want to see every day as they come to school from now on.

Himari might not fully understand the men’s feelings, but she thought that it was probably not very pleasant and quite tough for them.

In such a situation, it was impossible to regain the lively mood. Himari had no choice but to back off.

“Yahoo?, Reika.”

“Ah, Himari-chan.”

Himari decided to chat with Reika who was reading alone in her seat. She sat down at the vacant seat next to Reika’s.

“Himari-chan’s clothing line is doing well, isn’t it.”

“Naturally, I’m quite proud of it.”

Reika’s compliments didn’t come across as mere formalities. Himari genuinely appreciated her words of praise.

Reika was an ideal girl who finds and compliments the good in others. She would never utter anything negative towards anyone. That made her popular with both the introverted and outgoing guys alike. It seemed like she was having a hard time coping with all the attention towards her.

“I overheard that you two are going on a date?”

“Well, yeah. We’re thinking of going to some highly-rated amusement park.”

“I hope you have a great time.”

Even upon hearing that Shun and Himari were going on a date, Reika didn’t show any malicious reactions.

In the first place, Reika was the kind of girl who would simply smile modestly when being approached by Shun. Maybe she doesn’t have any particular feelings about it.

That’s why Himari was fond of Reika. She thought of her as a straightforward and neutral person.

“Come to think of it, Reika. How do you feel about Obi?”

That proud Shinku ended up in a relationship with Haruka. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to think that Reika was already in a relationship with him too. -Himari decided to ask.

She had never suspected Reika before since she got along with everyone. But now that Himari thought hard about it, she had often seen Reika talking a lot with Haruka.

After Tsuyuri’s concert, she had seen Reika getting chummy with Haruka, clinging to his arm even.

Yunika, Tsuyuri, and Shinku fell into Haruka’s hands one after another. Himari couldn’t be too sure to conclude that Reika didn’t fall as well. Rather, isn’t it quite possible that it had already happened without asking the person herself? Reika already mentioned before that she got along with Haruka’s older sister, the hints were already there.

“Hmm??”

Reika shot a quick glance at Haruka who was sitting a few seats away, happily chatting with Ria and Yunika.

Immediately, she returned her gaze back to Himari and smiled.

“I think that he’s a wonderful boy?”

As soon as Himari comprehended Reika’s words, she felt as if time had came to a halt.

Reika’s expression was too bewitching that Himari gulped involuntarily.

“…Ah, I-Is that so.”

Himari stuttered, barely managing utter a reply back.

She suddenly recalled the picture of Haruka and Reika that she had seen posted in the latter’s log before.

Himari wanted to know the truth, so she decided to delve into it deeper.

“Are you going out with him, I wonder…?”

Reika’s cheeks flushed red as her eyes swam.

Himari trickled into cold sweat at seeing Reika’s reaction, the latter then answered.

“E-Ehm… It’s a secret, desu?”

Reika wore a teasing smile while saying that.

If she was not in a relationship with him, she should’ve just simply said that she wasn’t. There was no need to be vague about it.

Therefore, Reika might be in a similar situation as the others.

Himari was left speechless and fell into silence.

Before she knew it, another friend of hers had fallen into Haruka’s clutches.

?Why is this happening?

What is it about Haruka that draws them in so much?

Himari sneaked a sideways glance at the seats near the window.

“Danna-sama, it’s quiz time. Try solving it~?”

Yunika, who had started calling him “Danna-samaHusband/Master” in a playful manner at first had somehow became the norm, presented a quiz to Haruka.

The days when she had a distinct resemblance to Shinku and exuded a sharp aura was now gone. Yunika had long been transformed into an airheaded, whimsical girl.

“A quiz? Let me see.”

“Tada!”

Yunika shows the quiz to Haruka.

[TaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaHarukaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaDaisukiI love youTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTaTa]

[Hint: Tanuki]

Himari slammed her head on the desk with a loud thud.

“Is something wrong?!”

Reika rushed to Himari’s side and asked in concern, startled at her sudden action.

“What’s wrong here is Yunika’s brain…”

TL notes:

Author made some revisions in this chapter.
Updates:
1. Himari now remembers that she saw Reika clinging to Haruka during Tsuyuri’s concert, not to mention Reika hanging out a lot with Haruka lately.
2. Miyako now mentioned in Himari’s monologue.

Also author said in a recent Q&A that Akito and some of the students with excellent status who attempted to beat up Haruka got acquitted from any punishments. The others got an “x” mark on their profiles just like Haruka did in the earlier chapters.

More Q&A here