Published at 16th of August 2019 9:26 pm

Volume 5, Chapter 1: Yurika's Big Plan

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 1

Monday, November 16

“Nijino-san, u-uhm...”

Harumi mustered all of her courage and spoke up.

“What is it?”

However, Yurika had no idea how Harumi was feeling. She looked innocently at Harumi as she sipped on her orange juice through a straw.

“A-Actually, I want to ask you...”

Quite a bit of time had passed before Harumi was able to say those words. Because of that, the coffee in front of her had gotten cold. Although it was placed in a paper cup which made it cool faster, a considerable amount of time had still passed.

“Tell me! I'll do anything for your sake, Sakuraba-senpai!”

Yurika accepted her request with a smile before she had even heard what it was about. They had become friends when they ran together during the sports festival. To Yurika, Harumi was a senior she respected, and an irreplaceable friend. Because of that, the thought of refusing a request from her never entered her mind.

Seeing Yurika like that, Harumi let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Nijino-san.”

“So, what is it that you wanted to ask me?”

“T-That's...”

Harumi began hesitating. Her cheeks were dyed red as she looked down.

Keep it together, Harumi! If you back down now, nothing will change!

Harumi scolded herself and looked back up. Her face was still red, but her determination shone through.

“What I want to ask you... is about... Satomi-kun...”

Satomi-kun. The moment she spoke his name, Harumi's heart began pounding. This happened every single time she mentioned his name and she was starting to reach her limit, which was why she was now facing Yurika.

“Satomi-san? Ah, did he say something mean to you!?”

The moment Yurika heard Koutarou's name, the first thing that popped into her mind was his everyday behavior. He wasn't a bad person, but he still had a rough side. Besides, no matter how much she tried, she couldn't get him to believe in magic. Yurika figured that Harumi had been hurt by Koutarou by saying something careless.

“He can be pretty rough from time to time!”

“N-No, it's not like that!”

“But you know, Sakuraba-senpai, even though he's like that, he has a gentle side to him. So just―”

“That's not it. I know that Satomi-kun is a good person, that's why I'm so troubled!”

“...Eh?”

Harumi's tone left Yurika astounded. She completely forgot what she was about to say.

“Satomi-kun is a good person. He understands the struggles of others. He's diligent, earnest and reckless. But, that's why I'm troubled.”

Harumi's tone of voice returned to normal. Sensing that, Yurika took a sip of her orange juice and straightened up to listen to what Harumi had to say.

“What do you mean?”

“T-That's... I... want to get along with Satomi-kun...”

“Get along? But you already get along so well. You're knitting together every day in the knitting society.”

To Yurika, Koutarou and Harumi already got along quite well. Aside from their daily club activities in the knitting society, their acting in the play during the culture festival made that obvious. To her, the two of them were already in a wonderful senior/junior relationship.

“I don't mean it in that way... I mean in... uhm... a different...”

Harumi's cheeks turned even redder and her gaze fell down onto the table. She was too embarrassed to look Yurika in the face. Her fists on top of her knees were trembling as she barely managed to squeeze out a few words.

“Y-You meant it like that.”

Catching on to what Harumi meant, Yurika's cheek started to turn red as well. The two of them then looked at each other while blushing for a while. However, this time, the silence didn't last for as long.

I need to keep it together... this won't do!

Harumi scolded herself again and started speaking.

“But... Satomi-kun is... treasuring me, but because of that he doesn't want to go any further...”

“Ah... that might be the case...”

Yurika could understand what Harumi was saying.

“Satomi-san is mindful about the strangest of things.”

“...That's why I... want Satomi-kun to treat me more roughly... like he does with you or, uhm, Theiamillis-san...”

“Like me and Theia-chan?”

Those were some unexpected words. Yurika would rather be treated like Harumi. She wanted him to treat her kindly, and respect what she was saying. In short, she wanted him to believe that she was a magical girl. However, Harumi herself said she wanted to be treated like Yurika. This was quite unexpected for Yurika.

“Y-Yes. So please tell me. What do I have to do to get Satomi-kun to treat me like he treats you or Theiamillis-san?”

At that moment, Harumi was remembering Koutarou when he was practicing his acting with Theia.

If Satomi-kun treated me the same way he treats Theiamillis-san...

Koutarou definitely wasn't gentle to Theia. He had no problems voicing complaints, at times they would even end up in fist fights. But Harumi knew that Koutarou was only complaining or fighting because he trusted Theia. Compared to that, Harumi was being treated like a customer, or at best a princess. He was being too careful around her.

“... Maybe I should start by changing my appearance? Theiamillis-san has a lively impression. And you Nijino-san, you have- cosplay was it? You're good at that...”

Harumi began playing with her long hair. If it came down to it, she was ready to cut it short. It seemed that she was serious about this.

“Y-You shouldn't do that! Nothing good will come from being treated like us! Satomi-san is mean to us and has no problems hitting us on the head!”

“But, Satomi-kun has never hit me or been mean to me...”

“I haven't been treasured or treated gently―”

Ah...

Yurika noticed it halfway through her sentence and stopped herself.

I might have been treasured by Satomi-san... and been treated gently...

As always, he wouldn't believe her when it came to her being a magical girl, but he had helped her with the Hercules Beetle, and when their scenarios had been rejected, they had eaten cup noodles together to drown their sorrows. Yurika had been bullied and done something stupid and been hit for it. She had also been treasured and been treated gently. She had experienced all of it.

It might be the same for Theia-chan. In that case...

Yurika finally realized what Harumi wanted to say.

“I understand, Sakuraba-senpai! Although I might not be of much use, let this Nijino Yurika help!”

“T-Thank you, Nijino-san!”

Yurika smiled and accepted Harumi’s request. Tears of happiness formed in the corners of Harumi's eyes as she smiled back. The smile Harumi showed Yurika was so beautiful that Yurika lost her breath.

If Satomi-san saw this, he would be KO'd instantly...

Yurika couldn't help but feel that the beautiful smile was wasted on her.

“Now that I think about it, Satomi-san teases us when we're saying or doing something.”

“I see...”

Harumi started writing in her notebook. Yurika had been lecturing her about Koutarou for a while now.

I see. So Satomi-san hasn't said anything mean unprovoked...?

As she was explaining to Harumi, Yurika once again got a feel for what kind of person Koutarou was.

“But when it goes too far, he will hit me on reflex. Since he's quick to get into fights, it always ends up like that.”

“He often gets into fights with Matsudaira-san as well.”

“It seems that Mackenzie-san is special. Even though they're always fighting, they're still friends. Is that how men behave?”

“Maybe something happened that far outweighs their daily fights a long time ago.”

“Maybe... Oh right, we're talking about Satomi-san right now.”

Yurika returned them to the original topic. Right now, they needed to discuss what Harumi should do from now on.

“Simply put, I think you should be more selfish, Sakuraba-senpai.”

“Selfish?”

Harumi blinked repeatedly as she heard that word.

“Yes. Compared to me and Theia-chan, you hardly say anything at all to Satomi-san.”

“Hardly say anything... That's not what I've been trying to do...”

“Well, let's say you're feeling thirsty.”

Since Harumi wasn't following her, Yurika began explaining using an example.

“Yes.”

“What would you normally do, Sakuraba-senpai?”

“Uhm... I think I'd pour some tea for myself and ask if Satomi-kun would like some too.”

“In mine or Theia-chan's case, we wouldn't serve any tea.”

“Is that so?”

Yurika nodded.

“I'm broke, so I'd freeload off of Satomi-san. Theia-chan is a prince- I mean, a lady, so she would tell Satomi-san to pour some tea for her.”

“I-Is that so!?”

Harumi's eyes open wide, revealing her surprise.

“Yes. So he would yell at us to quit messing around.”

“I-I see... that's good to know.”

Impressed, Harumi took notes. Freeloading or demanding Koutarou to pour tea for her was something that had never crossed her mind.

“In my case, I start complaining and Satomi-san would eventually give up and share something to drink with me. In Theia-chan's case, it turns into a fist fight.”

“... That's something I could never imagine...”

After hearing Yurika's example, Harumi was astounded.

But you can't be surprised, Harumi. I need to do the same thing!

But she soon pumped herself up again.

“Even if you tell me to be more selfish, Nijino-san, I don't know how...”

“It's okay. I've read Shoujo manga for over ten years. I have already thoroughly researched the topic!”

“As expected from Nijino-san!”

She's not just a cosplayer for show. How reliable...

Harumi appreciated Yurika in a way she would rather not be appreciated in.

“To start, I think you should invite him to a date.”

“D-D-Date!?”

Hearing those words, Harumi was knocked out of breath.

“Yes! You selfishly say you want to go somewhere together. On top of that, you go out together and you'll grow even closer! It's a two-stage plan!”

Yurika put her hands down on the table and leaned forwards towards Harumi.

“I-I understand what you mean but... isn't it a bit soon... for a d-date...”

Harumi was shy and modest. Having suddenly been told to go on a date, she didn't know what she should do.

“It's okay. In this case, even a group date will do. We'll use that as an entry point and gradually turn into a date for just the two of you!”

At first they could start off with a group date. And as the date continued, the numbers would gradually decrease until it was just the two of them. It was a common happening in the Shoujo mangas that Yurika adored.

“T-Then, will you come with us, Nijino-san?”

“I understand. Let me accompany you.”

Yurika nodded with confidence. But she still hadn't noticed a fatal flaw in her plan.

Part 2

“Ah, stop spilling! Don't make any noise!”

“Don't be unreasonable!”

Theia roared at Koutarou. It was a common scene during dinner in room 106, but today was slightly different. Koutarou wasn't holding chopsticks in his hands, but rather several strange metallic tools.

“It's not unreasonable! How many times do I have to tell you to think of this as an aristocrat’s dinner party!”

“There's no way I can eat properly with these dentist tools as tableware!

“W-R-O-N-G! That's exclusively for salad! Why are you trying to use that to eat rice!?”

Koutarou was holding Forthorthe's traditional tableware. They were probably Forthorthe's equivalence of a knife and fork, but their large number and variation confused Koutarou.

“There's so many, I can't remember all of them right away!”

“I showed you an example just a moment ago! I'll do it one more time so make sure you look! You do it like this! Shee! Yhou chan eaht it jhust fine! Dhid you get iht?”

“As if I could get it by just seeing it once, idiot! It's not a 100 colored pencils set!”

“Whaht dho you mean bhy idioht!? Thaht'sh noht the prohper whay to talhk to your masther!”

“Your highness, it's poor manners to speak with food in your mouth.”

Although the culture festival had ended, Koutarou's knight training was still continuing. Koutarou could have just stopped, but he couldn't refuse when he was told it would help his acting for the second half of the “The Silver Princess and the Blue Knight”. He wanted to get to a level where he wouldn't hold Harumi's acting back.

“Heh, you're getting scolded.”

“*munch munch*”

When Koutarou made fun of Theia, she hurriedly chewed up all the food in her mouth. As she swallowed it all down, she brought her face closer to Koutarou.

“...Koutarou, it seems you really want to die.”

“That's not true. I'm all set for a long life.”

Veins appeared on Theia's face while Koutarou continued to grin. Neither of them showed any signs of backing down.

“If you want I could change the manuscript to have you stand buck naked on the stage.”

“That's impossible for you because you adore the Blue Knight. If it was just me you might, but when the Blue Knight gets involved, you can't do as you please.”

“Tsk, you've picked up some needless knowledge.”

“Your praise is an honor to me, princess Theiamillis.”

“Aaaargh! Why don't you try to show me any respect!?”

“Hmm... it's my hobby?”

“Don't ask me that!!”

Koutarou and Theia's argument began heating up. It was common for the two of them to fight, but lately it had started getting more intense.

“What does it matter, just hurry up and eat, geez!”

Sanae could taste what Koutarou did when she clung onto him. Since Koutarou and Theia were fighting, Sanae had to wait for dinner. Because of that, Sanae pouted as the two of them continued to argue.

“What's with this drill!? What am I supposed to eat with this!?”

“This is for breaking the hard shell of a nut from northern Mastir! It's a tool used for traditional dinner!”

“They're not even listening... call me when you're done, okay?”

Still pouting, Sanae let go of Koutarou and floated away.

“Geez, I can't tell if you get along or not...”

“....”

Yurika was focused on the food lined up on the table. When she heard Sanae's complaints, she looked up. Since she was broke, she ate whenever she got the chance, and since Koutarou was going to train how to eat like nobles do, Yurika had been invited as a guest. She had been eating without holding back, but hearing Sanae's complaints, she stopped moving her hands.

“Get along well or not... huh...”

Having stopped her eating, Yurika stared at Koutarou and Theia who were still arguing.

“Then bring me that nut! This drill is no problem for me!”

“You said it! In that case, I'll bring it out. Ruth!”

“Yes, your highness.”

As the situation developed, Yurika showed no signs of intervening.

What can I say, for good or bad, there's no way I could join in... I can kind of understand why Sakuraba-senpai is so worried...

Since her discussion with Harumi, she had taken a closer look at Koutarou and Theia's relationship. She felt like she could clearly understand what had Harumi so worried.

“Something must have happened while we weren't around that changed their relationship.”

“Kiriha-san.”

Yurika turned around and faced Kiriha, who was smiling as she poured herself a cup of tea since she was finished eating.

“What makes you think that?”

“If they really hated each other, they wouldn't be that stubborn.”

Kiriha put down the kettle and smiled wryly.

“I might not be able to stand idly for much longer. If I'm going to seduce Koutarou, I should hurry.”

“...That might be true.”

Yurika ignored whether or not Kiriha was serious. She felt that it would be for the better if Harumi jumped into action sooner rather than later.

If for some reason, the two of them would stop being so stubborn, there's no mistaking they would get much closer in an instant. Yurika couldn't stop herself from feeling that way.

Part 3

“This nut is as hard as your head!”

“Hmph, you're all talk. That's why I said you needed to practice.”

In the serious atmosphere, Theia carefully reached her hand over the tea table. Today’s game was Jenga. They pulled out a piece from the bottom and placed it on the top. If the Jenga fell over, it counted as a loss. Although the rules were simple, it required a lot more concentration and precise motions than one would think. Because of this, there were lots of risks one could take. As they put the pieces on top they could purposefully place it in a way that made balancing the pieces harder. They could also apply pressure to the next player. That was also the reason why Koutarou had been calling out to Theia. He was trying to interrupt her in the middle of her turn, causing her to fail.

“Theia is probably so thick headed because she grew up eating those.”

“I don't have any problems using this thick head to split your skull you know ―Uwah!?”

In her excitement, Theia had caused the Jenga to shake, however the puzzle merely shook; it didn't collapse.

“Phew... that was close.”

Theia wiped the cold sweat off her brow and placed the piece she pulled out on top. Because of the way she placed it, the Jenga began leaning.

“Tsk.”

“Fufun, as if I'd let it go your way.”

“Alright, then I'm next. Koutarou.”

“Yeah.”

After Theia was Sanae's turn. However, Sanae wasn't good at doing complex moves like this on her own, so she possessed Koutarou and used him. She clung onto his back with her arms around his neck, and began controlling his hand.

“This still feels strange, no matter how many times you do it.”

“This is the mysterious girl, Sanae-chan's power!”

Koutarou's hands that normally moved in such a rough fashion were now moving delicately and gently. The appearance changed greatly, just by the person controlling them. His hands now appeared oddly feminine.

“Ei!”

Sanae quickly brought Koutarou's hands towards the puzzle. Although they were feminine, the motion was swift, fitting of her age.

“I've been wondering for a while but, won't that have a bad effect on your body?”

“Yurika, don't just casually say such terrifying things!”

Yurika's comment disturbed Koutarou. But since Sanae was in control of his body, his hands didn't shake.

“But in anime, people possessed by ghost always scream.”

“It's fine. I have no intention of cursing Koutarou to death.”

Sanae pulled out a piece while humming.

“Sanae-sama gets along well Satomi-sama after all.”

“Yeah.”

After Ruth said that, Sanae smiled and made the piece float in the air. It flew up to the top and landed.

“Alright!”

“Sanae, you can do it without me, can't you?”

“I can place the pieces, but the problem is pulling them out.”

“Is that so...”

“...My, the two of you get along so well.”

If Sanae-chan wasn't a ghost, Sakuraba-senpai would probably have one more problem to worry about...

That's what Yurika thought as she stared at Koutarou and Sanae.

“There's no need to worry, Yurika.”

Seeing Yurika staring, Kiriha assumed that Yurika was worried about Koutarou and called out to her.

“Sanae is showing no signs of leaking spiritual energy that might harm Koutarou.”

“Really?”

“Karama, Korama.”

“Yes Ho-!”

“Leave it to us Ho-!”

Responding to Kiriha's call, the two haniwas appeared from under the tea table.

“Sanae-chan's current form is stable so she's hardly leaking any spiritual energy that might affect Koutarou Ho-”

“Our spiritual energy sensor can't detect any evil spiritual power either Ho.”

“In fact, by doing that, Koutarou is using his muscles in ways he normally wouldn’t so it might even be good for him Ho.”

“I see, then that's alright.”

Normally, an ordinary person wouldn't understand what Karama and Korama were saying, but she was a magical girl so she made an understanding expression after listening to their explanation.

“Koutarou, they're saying you're getting healthier thanks to me.”

“I was healthy from the start so I don't really feel it.”

“Geez, you're always like that! Why can't you just be more honest and say 'Thanks Sanae-chan, you're cute as always'!”

Pouting, Sanae began squeezing Koutarou's neck.

“T-The spiritual power is leaking.”

“Hmph, you really aren't cute at all.”

Koutarou hit where it hurt, causing Sanae to pout and loosen her grip on Koutarou's neck.

“That amount of leaking spiritual energy is hardly harmful.”

“Sounds like it's okay.”

“You're all so mean! I'll prank you in the middle of the night!”

Kiriha and Yurika laughed at Sanae. In return, she stuck her tongue out at them.

“Next up is Satomi-sama.”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot.”

Koutarou spaced out as he looked at Sanae, Yurika and Kiriha, but he finally recalled that it was his turn after Ruth reminded him.

“I hate slowpokes.”

“I don't mind if you hate me.”

“What!? You're telling me you don't need a princess's love!?”

“I don't.”

Koutarou dismissively waved his hand at Theia and started reaching towards the Jenga tower.

“Then, who do you want to be loved by, Satomi-san?”

“Woah!?”

Because of Yurika's perfectly timed question, Koutarou almost pushed the tower over. Fortunately, he was able to stop his hand just in time.

“T-That was close.”

“Tsk.”

Theia unhappily clicks her tongue while Koutarou put his hand on his chest and let out a large sigh of relief.

“Who does he want to be loved by? That's obviously this Sanae-chan. Right, Koutarou?”

“I'm interested in your answer as well. It'll serve as a good reference for the future.”

Sanae and Kiriha curiously looked towards Koutarou.

“Go on then. If it's not me, then who is it?”

“...”

Theia was in a somewhat bad mood after being told that Koutarou didn't mind if she hated him. On the other side of the table, Ruth was looking at him with hopeful eyes. All of the girls in room 106 were now staring at Koutarou. Who would he pick out of all of them?

“That's obvious.”

However, Koutarou didn't hesitate for even a moment.

“It's Sakuraba-senpai. If a wonderful and beautiful girl like that said she hated me, I wouldn't be able to go on living.”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeh!? It's not me!?”

“... As expected, that's who you'd go for.”

Sanae stood up and complained while Kiriha sipped on her tea.

“That woman again!? I can't stand being rated below her! Correct yourself right away!”

“I'm lower than a beetle, of course...”

Theia blew her top and Ruth sulked. The four girls each reacted in a different way.

“...Sakuraba-senpai huh...”

“How can I put this, I want her to remember me as a good junior.”

“What's wrong with me!?”

“Is a frontal attack the only way left...”

“Correct yourself! I'm more charming than her!”

“I thought this would happen, of course...”

This could be a problem. Koutarou wants Sakuraba-senpai to like him, but he's fine with the current distance between them... I need to do something to get them closer!

Unlike the others around her that were getting excited, Yurika was worrying about Harumi. Koutarou liked Harumi the most, but he didn't have any intention of moving their relationship further. That was because he was indebted to her and he deeply respected her. He didn't think of himself as someone who was suitable for Harumi. But Harumi herself did.

If something wasn't done about this misunderstanding, there was a high chance that Koutarou would get together with another girl. It wasn't just something that happened in Shoujo mangas, but in reality too.

As I thought, a date is the only way! If I go with them and manage to leave the two of them on their own...!

Yurika was all ready to get Koutarou and Harumi together-

“Just think about it! Take Yurika for example! How could I see someone with such an excessive cosplay hobby as a romantic interest!? You guys are the same!”

-until Koutarou said those words.

“What’s ‘excessive cosplay hobby’ supposed to mean!? Just when I'm feeling worried about you!”

At that moment, Yurika began scheming to get in the way between Koutarou and Harumi.

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