[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 56Nikaidō-san, You've Changed, Haven't You?
This was a little bit before Himeko bumped into Haruki and her crew.
Isami Ema, a classmate of both Hayato and Haruki, was the type of girl who's always at the center of the crowd, rocking bright hair and a super bubbly personality.
"Ema, my bad. A lot's gone down today, so I don't think I can walk home with you."
Near the end of lunch break, the one who hit Ema with that was none other than Mori Iori—her boyfriend and childhood buddy.
Even though Iori sounded like he felt bad, the look on his face and the tone of his voice were straight-up like a bratty boy who just found a shiny new toy. Even now, his eyes were glued to a corner of the classroom, focused on the group huddled around the transfer student, Kirishima Hayato. Just a minute ago, even Kaidō Kazuki was hanging out there, making everyone turn their heads.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just make sure you tell me everything later, okay?"
"You bet!"
Even though her boyfriend was basically blowing her off, Ema didn't seem to mind at all and just rolled with it.
It's that easygoing trust you only have with a childhood buddy like Mori Iori, plus she was pretty curious about the whole situation herself.
The transfer student, the latest tea among the girls... ...lately, there's been a lot to keep Ema interested.
Especially with all the noise surrounding Nikaidō Haruki.
I mean, Haruki's a total star. She's got that pure, elegant look, a super chill personality, and she's top-tier in both sports and grades—she's basically "perfect" personified. Everyone gets that.
But Haruki always felt a bit too "out there," like some untouchable idol who was hard to actually talk to—at least, that was Isami Ema's take until just the other day.
(Nikaidō-san has definitely changed.)
But things are different now.
"...Yo."
"...Hehe."
Even now, just as Haruki gets back to the classroom, she's trading vibes with Kirishima Hayato in the next seat. And when you catch that look on her face—a mix of "Are you serious?", teasing, and a tiny hint of pure affection—it's like, what else do you need to see?
Haruki, who was once seen as a "Flower on a High Peak" and some lone wolf is finally showing her face as just a normal girl.
(...Wait, what?)
Ema felt someone watching her and turned around.
Right there, Ema's eyes met a group of girls who had that same "I need the tea" look in their eyes. Without saying a word, they all just shared a knowing nod.
And just like that, an unofficial "Let's Watch Over and Support Nikaidō Haruki Club" was born.
◇◇◇
"Nikaidō-san, got a sec? Mind if we chat for a bit?"
"Sure, I don't mind. What's up?"
That day after school.
Ema wasted no time approaching Haruki. In response, Haruki hit Ema with that classic, elegant, and picture-perfect smile.
Normally, this wouldn't be a weird sight at all.
Ema's part of this tiny, struggling Basketball Club, so she's always bugging Haruki about club activity paperwork or asking Haruki to fill in as a sub.
"Oh, sweet! So you're free today."
"Well then, you're comin' with us!"
"Let's hit up the Wads in front of the station, yeah? I've been dyin' to try their new menu!"
"Girl, aren't you on a diet? That's gonna go straight to your hips."
"Don't be a buzzkill!"
"Mya?!"
But today was different.
The "Watch Over Haruki Club" sprang into action instantly. The other girls swarmed in and basically "captured" Haruki before she could even react.
Totally blindsided by their sudden move, Haruki let out this bizarre squeak, her "perfect Nikaidō Haruki" mask slipping for a split second. That only made the girls smirk even harder at her.
"...!"
"—Nice!"
As she was headed out, Ema locked eyes with Mori Iori—her boyfriend and childhood friend.
Looks like Iori'd handled things on his end too by "capturing" Kirishima Hayato. They flashed each other a quick thumbs-up, like, "Mission accomplished."
They really were a match made in heaven—or heck, depending on who you ask.
The place Ema and the crew dragged Haruki to was a burger chain right by the station.
It's the ultimate hangout spot for students on their way home, just like them, so the place was absolutely packed.
You could see kids from other grades and even different school uniforms, everyone just vibing and laughing over random stuff.
Even in a crowd like that, Haruki's presence was so loud that people couldn't help but steal glances at her every now and then.
But right now, with her pretty brows all bunched up in frustration, Haruki was fumbling through her answers to her classmates' questions.
"—Kilos. Um, I’ve actually gained, like, four whole kilos......"
"No way! Even with that, your weight is totally normal, girl!"
"Gaining four kilos and still looking like that... ...are you flexin' on us?!"
"Man, even if my diet actually worked, I'd never hit those numbers!"
Their questioning was relentless.
Since they finally had the chance, they were raining down questions on Haruki like they were tryna corner her.
To be fair, Haruki isn't used to this kind of "girl talk" energy.
And why would Haruki be? Up until now, she'd built this massive wall around herself and never bothered with anyone, and nobody was brave enough to try and get close to her either.
And just like that, everything started spillin' out—how Haruki'd gained four kilos, her ice cream addiction, the fact that she's a total homebody who plays video games all day, and even the clothes she just bought with her childhood buddy, Himeko. Haruki was just blabbering it all.
Haruki was totally swept up in their vibe, and with every answer, she kept thinking, "Why the heck am I telling them all this?!" while her face turned a deeper shade of red from pure embarrassment.
Isami Ema and the other girls were absolutely living for it. They were finally getting a peek behind the "mysterious curtain" of the great Nikaidō Haruki, and they were hyped.
To them, Haruki wasn't some untouchable idol anymore—she was just a regular girl like anyone else.
And because of that, their questions started getting way more personal.
"Oh yeah, tell us more about that childhood buddy of yours."
"She's a total cutie, right? I totally get why you're so proud to talk about her."
"Do you girls hang out a lot? You gotta introduce us sometime!"
"I bet she's popular. Wonder if she's got a boyfriend?"
"Speaking of boyfriends... ...Nikaidō-san, you got a man yet?"
"Mya?! B-Boyfriend?!"
That question came out of left field.
"Hmm, based on that reaction, I'm guessing no."
"Bummer. But wait, this means..."
"They do say love changes a girl, after all~."
"Yeah, yeah. So you've got a crush, huh? Is it Kaidō-kun? Or maybe someone else—?"
"No, I... ...I-I don't have anyone like..."
Since it was a topic Haruki almost never even thought about, she totally lost her cool, though she had no idea how the other girls were gonna read her reaction.
"I mean, some girls like Ema don't really change even after getting a boyfriend."
"Oh, but Ema does get super mushy and brags about her boyfriend sometimes, right?"
"You guys have been together for a while, haven't you?"
"Well, things don't change that easily. I mean, Iori is both my boyfriend and my childhood buddy—it's like we're stuck with each other for life."
"True that."
"A childhood buddy, huh..."
"A-A childhood buddy... ...who's also your boyfriend?!"
Now it was Haruki's turn to raise her voice.
For Haruki, those were words she absolutely could not ignore.
Haruki stood up so fast her seat screeched against the floor.
Startled by Haruki's sudden outburst, the girls all stared back at her in shock—which snapped Haruki back to reality, making her slump back down in total embarrassment.
"I mean, eh, it's just that lately, something's been going on between my childhood buddy and Kirishima-kun... ...so I've been overthinking things in a really complicated way..."
That was a pretty weak excuse.
But hey, it was more than enough to hook their interest.
And honestly, it wasn't even a total lie.
"Oh, I get it now. It was Himeko-chan, right? It totally sucks when someone tries to steal your childhood buddy away."
"Did you, like, introduce them or something?"
"But for real, that reaction from Kirishima-chi... ...Was it seriously love at first sight?"
"Kirishima's not even a bad-looking boy... ...Wait, if that's the case, then why was he chasing after Nikaidō-san this morning?"
"A-Au..."
But with their wild imaginations, the girls just kept running with the topic until Haruki couldn't keep up anymore.
Haruki was painfully aware that today, she was basically a leaky faucet when it came to her secrets.
It's not like Haruki's some mystery freak, but she knows there are things she'd rather keep to herself—and stuff that would just make everything a total mess if it got out.
"U-Um, okay, I really gotta head home now!"
Basically screaming "That's enough for today," Haruki jumped up and tried to make a break for it.
"Oh!"
"Wait, it's already past 6 PM?!"
"We should probably get going too... ...hey, wait up!"
Haruki tried to bolt out of the shop before they could catch her, but right there, she ran smack into the one person she definitely shouldn't have met in a place like this.
"H-Hime-chan?!"
"Wait, Haru-... ...chan...?"
It was Himeko, looking like she was also on her way home from school.
While Haruki was frozen, not knowing what to do, Isami Ema and the rest of the squad caught up from behind.
"Oh, hey! It's that childhood friend of Nikaidō-san's!"
In an instant, Himeko was swarmed right along with Haruki. This time, the lockdown was way tighter than anything before.
There was no way they were getting past these girls with their sparkling, hungry eyes—Haruki felt a wave of pure defeat wash over her.
Author's Notes:
Meow.
∧＿∧
／＼（ ・∀・）／ヽ
（ ● と つ ● ）
＼/⊂、 ノ ＼ノ
し’
Open for any ASCII Art (AA) ideas...
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Read in other languages:
• Indonesian / Bahasa Indonesia
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This was a little bit before Himeko bumped into Haruki and her crew.
Isami Ema, a classmate of both Hayato and Haruki, was the type of girl who's always at the center of the crowd, rocking bright hair and a super bubbly personality.
"Ema, my bad. A lot's gone down today, so I don't think I can walk home with you."
Near the end of lunch break, the one who hit Ema with that was none other than Mori Iori—her boyfriend and childhood buddy.
Even though Iori sounded like he felt bad, the look on his face and the tone of his voice were straight-up like a bratty boy who just found a shiny new toy. Even now, his eyes were glued to a corner of the classroom, focused on the group huddled around the transfer student, Kirishima Hayato. Just a minute ago, even Kaidō Kazuki was hanging out there, making everyone turn their heads.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just make sure you tell me everything later, okay?"
"You bet!"
Even though her boyfriend was basically blowing her off, Ema didn't seem to mind at all and just rolled with it.
It's that easygoing trust you only have with a childhood buddy like Mori Iori, plus she was pretty curious about the whole situation herself.
The transfer student, the latest tea among the girls... ...lately, there's been a lot to keep Ema interested.
Especially with all the noise surrounding Nikaidō Haruki.
I mean, Haruki's a total star. She's got that pure, elegant look, a super chill personality, and she's top-tier in both sports and grades—she's basically "perfect" personified. Everyone gets that.
But Haruki always felt a bit too "out there," like some untouchable idol who was hard to actually talk to—at least, that was Isami Ema's take until just the other day.
(Nikaidō-san has definitely changed.)
But things are different now.
"...Yo."
"...Hehe."
Even now, just as Haruki gets back to the classroom, she's trading vibes with Kirishima Hayato in the next seat. And when you catch that look on her face—a mix of "Are you serious?", teasing, and a tiny hint of pure affection—it's like, what else do you need to see?
Haruki, who was once seen as a "Flower on a High Peak" and some lone wolf is finally showing her face as just a normal girl.
(...Wait, what?)
Ema felt someone watching her and turned around.
Right there, Ema's eyes met a group of girls who had that same "I need the tea" look in their eyes. Without saying a word, they all just shared a knowing nod.
And just like that, an unofficial "Let's Watch Over and Support Nikaidō Haruki Club" was born.
◇◇◇
"Nikaidō-san, got a sec? Mind if we chat for a bit?"
"Sure, I don't mind. What's up?"
That day after school.
Ema wasted no time approaching Haruki. In response, Haruki hit Ema with that classic, elegant, and picture-perfect smile.
Normally, this wouldn't be a weird sight at all.
Ema's part of this tiny, struggling Basketball Club, so she's always bugging Haruki about club activity paperwork or asking Haruki to fill in as a sub.
"Oh, sweet! So you're free today."
"Well then, you're comin' with us!"
"Let's hit up the Wads in front of the station, yeah? I've been dyin' to try their new menu!"
"Girl, aren't you on a diet? That's gonna go straight to your hips."
"Don't be a buzzkill!"
"Mya?!"
But today was different.
The "Watch Over Haruki Club" sprang into action instantly. The other girls swarmed in and basically "captured" Haruki before she could even react.
Totally blindsided by their sudden move, Haruki let out this bizarre squeak, her "perfect Nikaidō Haruki" mask slipping for a split second. That only made the girls smirk even harder at her.
"...!"
"—Nice!"
As she was headed out, Ema locked eyes with Mori Iori—her boyfriend and childhood friend.
Looks like Iori'd handled things on his end too by "capturing" Kirishima Hayato. They flashed each other a quick thumbs-up, like, "Mission accomplished."
They really were a match made in heaven—or heck, depending on who you ask.
The place Ema and the crew dragged Haruki to was a burger chain right by the station.
It's the ultimate hangout spot for students on their way home, just like them, so the place was absolutely packed.
You could see kids from other grades and even different school uniforms, everyone just vibing and laughing over random stuff.
Even in a crowd like that, Haruki's presence was so loud that people couldn't help but steal glances at her every now and then.
But right now, with her pretty brows all bunched up in frustration, Haruki was fumbling through her answers to her classmates' questions.
"—Kilos. Um, I’ve actually gained, like, four whole kilos......"
"No way! Even with that, your weight is totally normal, girl!"
"Gaining four kilos and still looking like that... ...are you flexin' on us?!"
"Man, even if my diet actually worked, I'd never hit those numbers!"
Their questioning was relentless.
Since they finally had the chance, they were raining down questions on Haruki like they were tryna corner her.
To be fair, Haruki isn't used to this kind of "girl talk" energy.
And why would Haruki be? Up until now, she'd built this massive wall around herself and never bothered with anyone, and nobody was brave enough to try and get close to her either.
And just like that, everything started spillin' out—how Haruki'd gained four kilos, her ice cream addiction, the fact that she's a total homebody who plays video games all day, and even the clothes she just bought with her childhood buddy, Himeko. Haruki was just blabbering it all.
Haruki was totally swept up in their vibe, and with every answer, she kept thinking, "Why the heck am I telling them all this?!" while her face turned a deeper shade of red from pure embarrassment.
Isami Ema and the other girls were absolutely living for it. They were finally getting a peek behind the "mysterious curtain" of the great Nikaidō Haruki, and they were hyped.
To them, Haruki wasn't some untouchable idol anymore—she was just a regular girl like anyone else.
And because of that, their questions started getting way more personal.
"Oh yeah, tell us more about that childhood buddy of yours."
"She's a total cutie, right? I totally get why you're so proud to talk about her."
"Do you girls hang out a lot? You gotta introduce us sometime!"
"I bet she's popular. Wonder if she's got a boyfriend?"
"Speaking of boyfriends... ...Nikaidō-san, you got a man yet?"
"Mya?! B-Boyfriend?!"
That question came out of left field.
"Hmm, based on that reaction, I'm guessing no."
"Bummer. But wait, this means..."
"They do say love changes a girl, after all~."
"Yeah, yeah. So you've got a crush, huh? Is it Kaidō-kun? Or maybe someone else—?"
"No, I... ...I-I don't have anyone like..."
Since it was a topic Haruki almost never even thought about, she totally lost her cool, though she had no idea how the other girls were gonna read her reaction.
"I mean, some girls like Ema don't really change even after getting a boyfriend."
"Oh, but Ema does get super mushy and brags about her boyfriend sometimes, right?"
"You guys have been together for a while, haven't you?"
"Well, things don't change that easily. I mean, Iori is both my boyfriend and my childhood buddy—it's like we're stuck with each other for life."
"True that."
"A childhood buddy, huh..."
"A-A childhood buddy... ...who's also your boyfriend?!"
Now it was Haruki's turn to raise her voice.
For Haruki, those were words she absolutely could not ignore.
Haruki stood up so fast her seat screeched against the floor.
Startled by Haruki's sudden outburst, the girls all stared back at her in shock—which snapped Haruki back to reality, making her slump back down in total embarrassment.
"I mean, eh, it's just that lately, something's been going on between my childhood buddy and Kirishima-kun... ...so I've been overthinking things in a really complicated way..."
That was a pretty weak excuse.
But hey, it was more than enough to hook their interest.
And honestly, it wasn't even a total lie.
"Oh, I get it now. It was Himeko-chan, right? It totally sucks when someone tries to steal your childhood buddy away."
"Did you, like, introduce them or something?"
"But for real, that reaction from Kirishima-chi... ...Was it seriously love at first sight?"
"Kirishima's not even a bad-looking boy... ...Wait, if that's the case, then why was he chasing after Nikaidō-san this morning?"
"A-Au..."
But with their wild imaginations, the girls just kept running with the topic until Haruki couldn't keep up anymore.
Haruki was painfully aware that today, she was basically a leaky faucet when it came to her secrets.
It's not like Haruki's some mystery freak, but she knows there are things she'd rather keep to herself—and stuff that would just make everything a total mess if it got out.
"U-Um, okay, I really gotta head home now!"
Basically screaming "That's enough for today," Haruki jumped up and tried to make a break for it.
"Oh!"
"Wait, it's already past 6 PM?!"
"We should probably get going too... ...hey, wait up!"
Haruki tried to bolt out of the shop before they could catch her, but right there, she ran smack into the one person she definitely shouldn't have met in a place like this.
"H-Hime-chan?!"
"Wait, Haru-... ...chan...?"
It was Himeko, looking like she was also on her way home from school.
While Haruki was frozen, not knowing what to do, Isami Ema and the rest of the squad caught up from behind.
"Oh, hey! It's that childhood friend of Nikaidō-san's!"
In an instant, Himeko was swarmed right along with Haruki. This time, the lockdown was way tighter than anything before.
There was no way they were getting past these girls with their sparkling, hungry eyes—Haruki felt a wave of pure defeat wash over her.
Author's Notes:
Meow.
∧＿∧
／＼（ ・∀・）／ヽ
（ ● と つ ● ）
＼/⊂、 ノ ＼ノ
し’
Open for any ASCII Art (AA) ideas...
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages:
• Indonesian / Bahasa Indonesia
←Previous Table of Contents Next→