Why wasn't I the one who got the male lead's script?

"Well, although I got a little distracted and bored during the game, I kept playing because I wanted to know what the next ending would reveal."

Kato leaned gently on the edge of the bed, curled up her body, wrapped her arms around her legs, put her little head on her knees, and turned her head to look at Hoshimi who was sitting on her left.

To her right was Tomoya Aki, who was still soundly asleep, snoring loudly. Of course, since Kato hadn't even turned to look at him, not even out of the corner of his eye—he hadn't noticed his current predicament at all.

"Besides, since I've been recommended this, I think finishing it properly is the only way to show respect to the person who recommended it to me."

She seemed to be saying something that was a matter of course, but Xingjian still couldn't help but look at her sideways.

In this day and age, there are indeed not many people with such simple and gentle thoughts.

"…I'm sorry, Kato."

Whenever Xingjian thought of this, he would feel guilty and uneasy.

"Originally, I said I'd bring you to the study session and that you could leave after dinner... but it turned out like this."

He had expected Kato to show obvious dissatisfaction with him, but she didn't.

Kato just pouted thoughtfully, the calm expression on his face difficult to read.

"It's true that this is a bit excessive... but was it Hoshimi-kun's idea?"

"……no."

Hoshimi was silent for a moment, then told the truth - although if Aki heard this, the latter would probably think it was a stab in the back.

"That's it."

The short-haired girl swayed her body gently, looking extremely relaxed and comfortable - she showed no signs of discomfort or fear at all for being forced to stay in a boy's house.

"...Kato, you have such a nice personality. Sometimes it's easy for others to take advantage of you without you even realizing it."

Hoshimi gives heartfelt advice.

"Eh...but I don't think I have a good personality. Rather, I'd say I'm a bit of a badass—though I'm certainly not good at rejecting people."

There was something intriguing about Kato's tone.

"Besides, sometimes I'm not good at saying no, and it's not out of consideration for others—it might be more because I'm worried about losing points in my impression."

----

----

Seeing you guys are about to explode, in order to calm you down I'll give you another free one, even better, but my liver hurts a bit...

There's no need to say anything about the protagonist's character being ruined. If someone is being used, they won't notice it immediately. It's not like the friend filter will fall apart at first sight. Don't ask. If you ask, I'll just say I have a similar experience (laughs).

All in all, the good news is that there won't be anything particularly disgusting after this chapter (dog head). I'll try to do another four or five chapters tomorrow and then take off directly to Wuhu over the weekend???? Oli Gei!!! (But my liver still hurts a little)

Aki Tomoya can't predict the future: Chapter 10: A heart-pounding overnight stay (?) (Part 3)

"But in the end, no matter what you think, when someone around you makes a mistake or does something extreme, you will still choose to be tolerant, right?"

Well, for example, you find yourself being fantasized about as your future wife by someone else, and they’re pursuing you relentlessly.

"Why not learn from Eriri and Kasumigaoka-senpai? Don't be too proud like them, but being more assertive will always help you avoid losses."

"Hmm... Hoshimi-kun, are you praising those two? But I think they went a little too far in some places..."

Hearing this, Kato blinked, looking thoughtful.

"For example, being completely immersed in your own world, focusing only on those who are important to you, and not caring about what others think. Hmm... in short, it's a bit selfish, right?"

"—"

Xingjian was stunned.

This was the first time he saw a hint of dissatisfaction in Kato's eyes - it was also the first time he heard Kato criticize others.

"...Hoshimi-kun should be able to understand that feeling."

Her eyes flickered and finally fixed on Xingjian's face beside her.

"It's better to say that only you can understand it" - she didn't say this, but her expression probably showed it.

“…That’s not entirely true.”

Hoshimi felt uncomfortable with Kato's calm revelation of everything about him. Perhaps it was because he felt a little embarrassed—in short, he was looking for an opportunity to make a sophistry.

"The relationship is usually pretty good."

"But, those two are maintaining a relationship with Hoshimi-kun because of Aki-kun, right?"

Although it was less than an acquaintance——Ignoring the relationship between the two parties.

“…Well.”

"Besides, Hoshimi-kun didn't leave any contact information with them, right?"

"Uh……"

This is quite right.

Hoshimi and Kasumigaoka Utaha usually don't talk much in the club, let alone keep in touch. The last time Kasumigaoka called him out was their most recent contact.

As for Sawamura Eriri, he still had contact information—but the two of them were just friends on the same server. When Eriri wanted to farm materials, she'd urge him online, and if Hoshimi happened to be online, she'd join her on the dungeon run.

That's just the relationship.

“…As expected.”

Kato looked at Hoshimi's complicated expression, and as if he had received the expected answer, he wisely stopped talking.

"To be honest, I don't really like this."

The girl tilted her head, and her small hands crossed in front of her legs moved slightly, and her small feet also moved their toes.

"I guess Amami-kun told you from the beginning that we were friends from now on, so you, Hoshimi-kun, just reluctantly joined this club like me."

"……indeed."

"But is this really the case?"

The word "friend" represents more than just a relationship that can be determined through a game option.

“…………That’s true.”

Hoshimi, who easily understood what Kato wanted to express, curled her lips, a rare look of depression on her face.

This common language is simply terrifying.

"Besides, I've also been treated as a bystander, so I can relate to how you feel. It's not pleasant at all."

"So, if Hoshimi-kun could consider me a companion in this club with many eccentric members, I would be very happy."

--I see.

So that's why she said those words on the tram this morning.

"And I don't think Sawamura-san and Kasumigaoka-senpai's strong personalities have ever caused them any harm..."

When muttering this, Kato deliberately lowered her voice so that Xingjian couldn't hear what she was saying.

"Actually, at that time in the afternoon, Xingjian-kun, you were planning to leave directly, right?"

Before Hoshimi could ask for specific details, Kato brought up the topic in a calm tone, successfully shutting up his mouth that was about to ask questions.

“Ah… yeah.”

Now that I've been seen through...there's no need to pretend to be ignorant.

"It seems that Hoshimi-kun doesn't consider me a companion."

Kato said this self-deprecating remark with a natural smile, and for some reason it became a little scary.

"Actually, I was a little angry at first... well, only a little. I was wondering if I was being left aside again because my presence was too low."

"Ah, no. This has nothing to do with presence. Rather, I'm the one who should feel guilty—well, anyway, I'm very sorry."

Xing Jian initially wanted to defend himself, but in this atmosphere, admitting his mistake was the best decision, so he simply apologized.

In fact, when he thought about his decision to leave in the afternoon, he felt a little regretful.

Kato was so gentle to him, but he just wanted to follow the agreement between him and Tomoya, and just leave Kato at Tomoya's house and leave - to be honest, it was a bit bad.

It was obvious that Kato agreed to come to Aki's house because of his invitation.

"Well, there's nothing to apologize for, Hoshimi-kun. After all, you're still here in the end."

Kato looked at him in silence for a moment, and finally shook his head understandingly, indicating that he didn't care.

"Logically, you should be working today. Just like the last time we met."

"That's not the case. I don't have a shift on the weekends so I can be lazy for a day."

"Eh... I thought Hoshimi-kun was just working part-time to earn money for his studies, but why does he sound so tired?"

Well... because it's more than just a work-study program.

"Because if you want pocket money other than living expenses, you have to earn it by working."

Seeing that Kato had no intention of blaming him, the black-haired boy relaxed his body and stretched his legs against the edge of the bed.

"And sometimes I have to take time off on weekends to go to family gatherings with my dad's remarried partner. That's mentally exhausting."

"Eh... Hoshimi-kun is from a blended family? Sorry to bring up this topic. You must be under a lot of pressure, right?"

"It's fine."

He didn't know why, but he felt that he could tell Kato these things.

"Besides, I'm not the only child in this reconstituted family. The aunt also has a sister who's a few months older than me—her pressure is no less than mine. She can still handle it calmly, so there's naturally no reason for me to be deliberately hypocritical."

"Eh... she's a sister who's not related by blood."

"Yeah, but we get along well for now."

In fact, he didn't feel very confident when he said this.

"Well, I always thought Hoshimi-kun was a very cold person towards others."

Kato swung her feet gently, and because she had her hands wrapped around her calves, her entire curled-up body swayed as well.

"Although he usually seems to have a warm smile and is very approachable, he is actually very indifferent to everything...even to the malice and disregard of others."

"No...I just think it's troublesome."

Smiling and the like are just actions that one becomes accustomed to in order to avoid others thinking that one is deliberately putting on a sour face and asking for a beating. Ultimately, it is a harmless disguise for self-protection.

"I can't make everyone like me, and changing their minds is a fantasy. So I don't want to put my limited energy on something that has no results."

He gently placed his head on the edge of the bed, his distracted eyes looking at the dim ceiling.

He wasn't born with this cold temperament.

Scenes from my childhood flashed through my mind.

The relationship between the parents, who had been harmonious at the beginning of their marriage, gradually deteriorated. When the little Xingjian, who was only a little over ten years old, tried to mediate, she was met with the response, "Don't meddle in adult matters, kid."

So he couldn't do anything and could only hide in his room, enduring his parents' endless quarrels, stuffing cotton in his ears, and staying in the room all day.

So much so that when a relative later asked him, "Why didn't you try to persuade your parents when they were arguing?" he would just turn his head away and stop talking.

He has always been troubled by what he can interfere with and what he cannot interfere with.

No one taught me, no one explained to me, but they were always the first to criticize me when I did something inappropriate, which was funny.

My parents always blame each other. I point out your shortcomings and you point out my faults, and finally we start to engage in a verbal battle.

As time went by, even when Xingjian woke up and saw a big hole on his parents' bedroom door kicked by his parents, he could still look away calmly and go to school with his schoolbag on his back.

After being used and backstabbed by his best friend in middle school, he suffered from puberty syndrome and became an insignificant background light bulb.

He finally stopped living with his parents in recent years and has been thinking about what it takes to have competent interpersonal relationships with people of his age, but in the end he has not come to a definite conclusion.

Before he knew it, he had become a completely inconspicuous lightbulb in the group, neither popular nor a thorn in anyone's side.

But he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

If you don't pay attention to others, you won't be noticed, you won't get into trouble, you won't be hurt by anyone, and you won't hurt others - your life will be more pure.

Compared with the hurt and pressure brought by the family, the disregard and indifference of peers at school is not much better.

It doesn’t matter if you just play an insignificant passerby role, and it doesn’t matter if you are not noticed by most people.

As long as you don't get hurt, it's fine.