The Innocent School Idol is My Cousin Who Lives with Me and is a Spoiled Brat - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: “You’re Quite the Devil, Aren’t You?”

Translator: AJ1703

　Break time―.

“Yeah, you’re pretty devilish, aren’t you?”

　It was Mutou Kazuki, the only male friend I am close with, who said that to me.

　I had just told him that I had invited Murakumo as a member of the school camp, but he didn’t like it.

“What’s your problem?”

“Haha, think about it. Not only Arisugawa-san, the most popular girl in the school, but also Murakumo-san, the second most popular girl in the class, were in the same group? Of course the boys would resent us.”

　Well, that’s true, and there are boys who are looking for Mirei and Murakumo to be in the same group with them with their eyes raised.

　If anything, some of them even tried to negotiate directly with me.

　Naturally, I turned them down because I knew what they were trying to do.

“It’s just the way things are, you’ll just have to accept it.”

“I wish you had consulted me first…”

“If you have a complaint, you could just tell her, you know?”

　I pointed my hand toward Mirei, who was looking at me in a good mood.

　This made Kazuki look at Mirei, to which Mirei smiled and waved back at him.

“There’s just no way I can complain to her.”

“But she’s the one who decided to ask Murakumo out, and she’s the one who actually invited her, so if you don’t like it, you have to talk to her, right?”

　I don’t think Mirei will stop even if I told her.

　Once Murakumo has heard about it, she won’t retract her decision.

“Or rather, I thought you and Murakumo were close since you talk to each other quite a bit. That’s why I thought there would be no problem.”

“No, the reason we talk quite a bit is because she comes to talk to you. It’s not so much that we talk privately, you know?”

“Oh, is that right?”

　I thought they talked a lot because I didn’t know how things were going when I wasn’t around.

　If that is the case, it is natural for Kazuki to be reluctant to talk about it.

　I know it’s a little late for that, but I feel bad about it now.

“Hey, hey, can I get in on this now?”

　I guess she got tired of waiting.

　Mirei came up to me and tugged at the sleeve of my dress.

“If you wanted to get into the conversation, why didn’t you just go over and join us?”

“I read the air once in a while, you know?”

　Once in a while? I wonder about that.

　Well, it’s whatever…

“You can come in without worrying about every little thing, okay? There’s no one to nag you.”

　Kazuki and Murakumo are like, “Don’t mind who joins,” type of people.

　They are both kind and that’s why they get along with me so well.

　…Speaking of Murakumo, I wonder what happened to her?

　Normally, she would have come over when we were talking, but she didn’t come over at all.

　With this in mind, I looked around the classroom and saw that there was one place where all the girls were clumped together.

　In the center of it, I see Murakumo’s figure.

“―Why are you in the same group as Mirei-chan…!?”

“We invited you first, didn’t we!?”

“It’s more than that, we’re―”

“Calm down, everyone. I’ve given it a lot of thought. Besides, I’ve been holding off on my answer―”

　Yeah, it seems that the girls are questioning her.

　She said she’s been asked out by some of them, but hey, isn’t that a majority of the girls in the class?

　How popular is she?

“Wow~, she’s awfully popular, right?”

“Why is Mirei acting like an outsider? Mirei is the one who caused Murakumo so much trouble, you know?”

　I turn a wry smile to Mirei, who is looking at me with a poker face.

“Because it was Murakumo-san’s decision. We don’t have any say in the matter. We didn’t force her to do anything.”

“Murakumo-san indeed made the decision, but…”

“If I go over there, the blame will be pointed at us, right?”

　That’s also true.

　Depending on how you look at it, Mirei is a thieving cat, isn’t she?

　The girls who have Murakumo are probably feeling robbed, even if the person in question doesn’t intend to do so.

　Mirei is not saying anything now because she doesn’t want to make enemies with them, but if Mirei went in there herself, she would probably be the one to take the heat.

“Well, that’s just how it is. Murakumo will be just fine.”

“Yeah, yeah. More importantly, there is one more girl that we need, what about her?”

　Mirei nodded with a smile and pointed to a girl sitting in the corner of the classroom.

　She had the same bobbed hair as Murakumo, but it was all black with long bangs, giving her a more subdued impression.

　Her name is Hanamaki Shizuka-san, I believe.

　She is petite, so I have the impression that she is a small animal.

“I hardly ever talk to her, but are you close with her, Mirei?”

“Ummm, I hardly ever talk to her either?”

“…No, then why are you inviting her?”

　I thought she wanted to invite her because they were close, but I couldn’t understand her intention to invite her when she hadn’t even talked to her.

“I figured this kind of event is a chance to make friends with someone I haven’t made friends with before, and since she’s so quiet, I thought it would be okay to assume she wouldn’t say anything bad about Kakeru.”

　It seems that Mirei is only deciding on the members based on the criterion of not saying anything bad about me.

　Certainly, she wouldn’t complain, but…

“Besides, it’s sad to say it like this, but she probably won’t be able to pair up with anyone else and will likely stay behind. Maybe it would be better for that girl if someone approached her early, you know?”

　Hanamaki-san is always alone.

　It was conceivable that she might not be able to stay in a group like this.

“What do you think, Kazuki?”

“I think she would be okay with it. She seems kind enough based on my gut feeling.”

　It would save people from being jealous, I guess.

　I know that statement is disrespectful to Hanamaki-san, but…

　At any rate, we don’t need to ask Murakumo.

　She’s the type of person who’d be happy to welcome a girl.

“I think it would be better to have Mirei speak to her than for us to ask her out, so can I leave it to you?”

“Sure, of course. But Kakeru should come along with me, is that okay?

“Me joining you…?”

“Yes.”

　Mirei nodded her head, trying to convince me not to say anything else anymore, so I had no choice but to follow Mirei.