As usual, Izumi was on the receiving end of a harsh counterattack, fleeing towards the committee room.
As he went down the stairs from the rooftop, he deeply regretted his earlier actions.
(I really should’ve just said it normally! But then again, that would’ve been embarrassing too…)
Needless to say, the entire class was in an uproar later during the afternoon lessons over tales of Izumi agonizing alone in the hallway.
…After Izumi left the rooftop.
Nanase finally looked away from the door he exited and plopped down on the bench.
Bringing both hands to her cheeks, she let out a bewildered cry right there.
“Wh-What was th-that just now—?!”
She wasn’t just sitting there.
Her strength had left her, rendering her immobile.
“Geez, geez, geez—!! Izumi Sumie-kun, my heart can’t take it when you pull surprise counterattacks like that sometimes!”
Her face flushed bright red as she writhed in agony, just an ordinary young girl despite her usual mature poise.
“You really don’t know how hard I work to keep my composure, do you?!”
…But there was no one around to hear her bitter lamentations.
【Heroine Race】
It is a grueling fight for survival where lives are at stake.
【Heroine Race】
It is a ruthless war war of righful wives without honor or humanity.
【Heroine Race】
It is a microcosm of this world, clearly dividing winners from losers.
The Right to Participate
It was not limited to only those who entered on time—.
After school that day.
In a cozy little cafe tucked away in a bustling downtown area.
In the cafe’s dining room, Izumi was dressed in a modest waitress uniform, seeing off a female customer.
“Thank you very much. Please come again.”
As the cheerfully waving woman left, Izumi let out a relieved sigh.
This was Izumi’s part-time job.
The cafe’s specialties were the master’s carefully brewed coffee and generously portioned, delicious napolitan pasta.
“Was that the last customer?”
The one addressing Izumi was a fellow part-timer, a woman.
A cool college girl whose short ponytail suited her well.
She was one of the cafe’s waitresses and Izumi’s senior by about a year.
Her refined composure complemented the unisex waitstaff uniform nicely. In fact, some female customers were regulars just to see her.
“Yes, it’s almost closing time so I don’t think anyone else will come in.”
“Shall we start cleaning up early then?”
As they split up the task of wiping down the tables, Izumi said to her:
“Thanks again for covering my shift last Saturday.”
“No problem, we help each other out when needed.”
“I really appreciated it. I was worried about one of my school friends acting strange…”
“Human relationships can be tough anywhere you go.”
As they chatted, the woman glanced back at Izumi briefly.
Watching his serious profile as he cleaned intently—her cheeks flushed slightly red.
(…I really do like the caring Izumi-kun too♡)
…Those with keen intuition may have noticed it already.
Yes, this is that pattern.
No, wait. Maybe it’s different this time. Surely three in a row can’t become four. That would be too unbelievably dense, even for him.
But alas, such hopes do not exist in this story!
The college girl let out a dreamy sigh.
(Izumi-kun. He may seem like a casanova at first glance, but I can’t get enough of that unexpected earnest side…It’s miraculous having a guy like him as a co-worker.)
And as is customary, she then let out a small dejected sigh.
(…He doesn’t have a girlfriend, does he? As a high schooler, he wouldn’t be able to take so many shifts if he did. I never hear about any girls from school either, that friend on Saturday was probably a guy too?)
Harboring such worries alone, she continued to suffer in silence.
(But I’m in college…it would be too scandalous to seriously go for a high school sophomore!)
…It was then that Izumi suddenly said to her:
“Oh, that’s right. I want to thank you for covering my shift. Is there anything you’d like?”
“…?!”
Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected offer.
But on the surface, she played it cool, not wanting to seem too eager.
“N-No, it’s alright, you don’t need to worry about it. You’re always helping me out at work too.”
“I can’t just let it go. You had to miss practice on Saturday, didn’t you?”
“Well, that’s true but…”
Then, as if receiving divine guidance, an opportunity presented itself—what the sages refer to as [ＴＡＮＡＢＯＴＡ].
“W-Well, if that’s the case…”
Gulping hard as if steeling her resolve.
“Could you spend some time with me after work this weekend?”
“Sure, what did you need?”
“W-Well, there’s something I want a guy’s opinion on…”
It was an obvious excuse.
In the kitchen area, the cafe master smiled affectionately as if watching over them.
Perhaps the small bud of romance born in this tiny cafe would finally bloom after a long time – he was filled with such warm hopes.
The woman too allowed her hopes for a bright future to swell.
(D-Does this mean a date? So Izumi-kun might also…can I get my hopes up?)
—It was then that the cafe door opened.
The thick, sweet atmosphere dissipated with the late-arriving customer.
Hurriedly reverting to her usual cool demeanor, she attended to the customer.
“W-Welcome. Just one?”
It was a soft-looking girl.
Just as she worried about a girl being out alone this late—
“Oh, Izumi-kun!”
The girl’s face instantly brightened as she saw him.
(…Huh?)
Not even sparing a glance her way, the girl approached Izumi.
And Izumi responded casually:
“Nanao. You actually came?”
“Yeah, I had something to do nearby so I thought I’d walk home with you.”
“Jeez, a girl really shouldn’t be out alone this late you know.”
The two chatted so familiarly, while the college girl stood utterly frozen…
And in the woman’s line of sight, that girl wore a somewhat bewitching smile as she nonchalantly grasped Izumi’s finger, gazing up coyly:
“Were you worried about me? How sweet of you~”
“…?! Don’t say stuff like that in public!”
Contrary to the couple’s heated atmosphere, a dreadful chill had descended upon the cafe.
…Let’s restate this once more:
This is not a heroine race.
This is a story of Nanase Nanao’s unstoppable conquest.
A modest little romance story of a single girl!
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
Afterword
This is Nanana nana (七菜 なな).
Drawn by the sweet scent of royalties, I’ve arrived in MF Bunko J!
Please pardon me, this is simply my default setting!!
[I want to write a wonderful romantic comedy where everyone is happy, shining like precious gems—]
For this novel, I submitted the premise while filled with such firm conviction.
A sugary sweet love story in a straight line without a single tear shed, everyone living happily ever after from start to finish. My passion knew no bounds, unsatisfied with just one, I kept submitting draft after draft.
That’s how I ended up pitching all sorts of romantic comedy scenarios before we ultimately decided on a battle royale…I wonder how it came to this? How mysterious…
No, truly I never wanted to do anything so cruel.
For there to be a winning heroine means there must also be losing heroines.
Behind every victor’s smile, there are definitely losers drowning in tears.
I simply cannot bear such harsh reality. I’m just too tenderhearted, you see. Truly, Nanana nana is a kind soul. Those of you who’ve read this far understand, don’t you? You can sense it now, can’t you? That’s the truth of this world. You mustn’t doubt it.
And so began [ChanTsuki]!
TLNOTE: Chanto suki tte ieru ko musō
Will there be a second volume, I wonder?! It all depends on sales! Please support me! If fortune smiles upon us, let’s meet again here!
☆★Special Thanks☆★
To the illustrator Chihiro Ayaka Sensei, my editor I-san, and everyone involved in production and sales – I’m truly grateful for your hard work. I pray we can work together again on the next volume.
And to all my readers, I hope our paths will cross once more.
September 2024, Nanana nana
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