Episode Two
A few days later during homeroom, it came time to discuss the upcoming Sports Day. All the different events were written down on the blackboard, and there was eager chatter about who would participate in each one—among the general students, anyway. The Corporate students, especially the girls, couldn’t care less. Riku and Nonoka led the discussion in front of the class and struggled to find volunteers for each event, resulting in the participants for most events being decided by lots.
This was exactly how it went down in the original game. According to Shizuki, Nonoka had volunteered for the kibasen, or mock cavalry chicken fight. Consequently, Asuka, Sayaka, an unnamed fourth classmate, and I drew for the kibasen and participated involuntarily. To reproduce this outcome in the real world, we might’ve had to rig the results of the draw, but we ultimately deemed this unnecessary as the villainess had a very minor role to play in this whole arc. All she did was begrudgingly participate in the kibasen, begrudgingly get fired up, and begrudgingly win. The extent of her interaction with Nonoka was just a snide, “Look at you in the mud—where you belong,” and nothing more. Thus, Shizuki instructed that unless there was interference with our overall victory, it really wasn’t a big deal. Therefore, we left my participating event completely up to the luck of the draw.
I had to admit I was curious about how it would all shake out. There was that game narrative restoring force I’d alluded to previously, and if it was powerful enough, perhaps I’d end up teaming with Asuka and Sayaka just like in the game. Somehow, I doubted it was. Correction: I wanted to doubt it was. Because the alternative—that there was this strong restoring force and I was still able to mess up the storyline this much—would make me look almost maliciously incompetent.
Such were the random musings that occupied my mind when it came time for my name to be pulled out of the ballot box and…
What would you know? It was for the kibasen.
Uh-oh. Was the restoring force real—and powerful? No, no, it couldn’t be. Just probabilistically, it wasn’t that crazy that I’d just happen to draw the kibasen, right? Coincidences happen, or so I told myself when I noticed the classroom had gone eerily quiet. I snapped out of my musing to find the class seeking volunteers for my kibasen team. I could feel Nonoka sneaking glances at me. Why was she sneaking glances at me?!
But before that riddle could be answered, another even more alarming riddle presented itself. Two hands shot in the air—Asuka’s and Sayaka’s.
Huh?
Riku, the moderator of the discussion thus far, arched a brow. “You two would like to volunteer for the kibasen?” There was a tinge of confusion to his voice, as if in disbelief that these two prim and proper ladies, who probably balked at even the idea of dirt getting under their fingernails, would volunteer to get down and dirty.
But to everyone’s amazement, they nodded. They then stood up from their seats and walked over to mine. Sayaka stood slightly off the side while Asuka took center stage right before me.
“Ms. Mio. There’s something we need to say to you,” Asuka began.
“Yes?” I replied, mustering up as much indifference as I could. Internally, I was screaming while doing my best to hold my composure. In the next instant, however, all my efforts were rendered moot.
In that classroom, in that homeroom, on that day—in front of everybody—Asuka and Sayaka…apologized.
“Ms. Mio. We are deeply sorry for our actions,” they said, their heads bowed in unison.
Surprise rippled across the classroom—epicenter, me. Um, weren’t these two supposed to hate me?
“Whatever could you possibly be referring to?” I replied. Of course, I knew what they were apologizing for. But I was trying to give them an off-ramp—hopefully, one they’d take to spare them the humiliation.
“For spreading unfounded rumors of your identity. We beg your forgiveness,” Asuka continued.
Nope. Didn’t take it.
Well, this was another fine pickle I found myself in. I, the villainess, was being apologized to by my underlings. What was my role here? Was it to recognize their remorse and forgive them? It didn’t seem like the villainess-y thing to do. What was the alternative? Laugh in their faces and brush off their apologies as too little, too late? That certainly sounded more like it, but…
I shot a glance at Shannon. She slowly shook her head, confirming my suspicions. Of course. We had just done so much work at the behest of Shizuki to extricate these girls from their predicament and protect the integrity of the storyline. If I were to deal them another blow here, they’d fall even further.
“Okay,” I relented. “Why apologize now, of all times?”
“Because we would like to participate in the kibasen with you,” Asuka answered.
It was illogical. In what world was it appropriate to segue from an apology about spreading unfounded rumors about me into wanting to join me for the kibasen? Unless…the storyline restoring force was forcing them to say nonsense to get the plot back on track?!
Probably not. Better find out what was really going on. “I don’t understand. Could you possibly be less cryptic?” I demanded.
“Of course; my apologies,” Asuka stated. “The other day, you looked out for us.”
“I believe I had made myself exceedingly clear I hadn’t done that for you?” I countered.
“Ms. Rikka told us why our punishment had been so light.”
“Excuse me?”
Rikka had told them what? Wait. She knew that I’d advocated on their behalf? How? And not only knew but told Asuka and Sayaka?!
I shot Rikka a violent glare. The smug look on her face screamed, you can thank me later for telling them what you couldn’t bring yourself to.
No! Why did everyone think I was some terminal tsundere physically incapable of properly expressing their feelings?! I am a villainess. A villainess!
Asuka continued, “That’s why we want everyone to know. That at heart, you are a—”
“Okay, okay, I get it. The kibasen, right? You’re welcome to join.”
Nope. I had to cut her off before whatever painting-me-as-a-good-person thing came out of her mouth next. Whatever. I might’ve hastily agreed to team up with them for the kibasen, but that wasn’t a big deal. That was exactly what happened in the original game anyway. Yeah. This is way better than having my kindness exposed—or God forbid, I end up teaming with Nonoka. “Wait. Don’t you need four people to form a kibasen team?”
The realization struck me as the words left my mouth. I then suddenly re-realized that our soapy teenage drama-like exchange had been witnessed by the entire class—and the individual most interested was the girl standing at the lectern.
Nonoka, her face screamed, let me join. Let me join!
No, no, no, not this. Anything but this! There was no way that the heroine and villainess teaming up for Sports Day could be anything but story-derailing!
Nonoka’s lips parted to speak. Before she could, I yelled, “Anyone else?!”
I managed to shock her into silence. Whew. That was close—by the skin of my teeth. Nonoka looked grumpy about being interrupted. I’d bought myself time, but not much. I had to find someone else before she realized what was going on.
Quick, I needed a friend… A friend…!
But of course! How could I have forgotten?
I have no friends!
Crap. What do I do now? Ask Shannon? But Shannon’s not supposed to know me. But what other choices did I have? This might be one egg I had to crack for the sake of the omelet. Resolved, I prepared myself to nominate Shannon when suddenly Rikka raised her hand.
The entire class, including me, was stunned into silence. A beat later, she said with poise, “I volunteer.”