Mobs don’t need emotions?

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    –Fool them.?

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    –Fake it.?

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    –Deceive.?

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    That’s what I told myself, and I smiled smugly at Ryuzaki.?

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    “Nothing really happened, okay? Well, I knew Shimotsuki-san was a girl with a hard side. I wanted to hit on her, but she didn’t even give me a chance.”?

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    The character, a dog that plays around with the heroine.?

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    In the end, it’s just a stage set to give the impression that he is no match for the heroine.?

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    “Hit on her? Did you try to seduce Shiho?”?

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    “No, because she’s so cute. …… It was hard to say, but yeah. I somehow managed to ask her to have lunch with me. Shimotsuki-san is kind and …… reluctant, but she ate lunch with me.”?

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    As soon as I said that, Ryuzaki relaxed, as if he was at once relieved.?

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    “What, that’s what you mean. …… You were just a challenger.”?

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    “Heh. Well, I didn’t make any progress in the end! But since there is such a beautiful girl in my class, I wanted to give it a try. …… I called her here and tried to hit on her somehow, but then Ryuzaki came. It made Shimotsuki-san go crazy, so she left.”?

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    I put a smile on my face.?

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    The pain that prickles in my heart is probably due to the fact that I still have some pride left from mistakenly thinking that I was once the protagonist.?

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    I don’t need that.?

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    I’ll just be a mob character.?

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    I don’t mind throwing away anything that disturbs Shimotsuki.?

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    –Flirt.?

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    –Heckle him.?

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    –Wag my tail.?

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    Just act like a pathetic high school boy.?

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    Be a nameless character that makes Ryuzaki feel like he’s insignificant.?

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    “Well, maybe that was a rejection. …… There’s nothing I can do about it, Shimotsuki-san has a high standard! But I’m not giving up. …… I’ll try again, again and again!”?

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    I’ll pretend to be foolish.?

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    I play the part of a pathetic clown who falls in love with an ungrateful woman.?

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    Seeing me like this, Ryuzaki was clearly distracted.?

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    “So …… you called her here and created a situation where the two of you are alone. I misunderstood, I’m sorry. You’re right, there’s no way Shiho would hide anything from me. …… We’re childhood friends, so it’s only natural.”?

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    Then, he conveniently complimented the setup.?

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    This is the arrogance and weakness of the protagonist.?

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    I was relieved at first that I was able to deceive him so easily.?

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    Then, I decided to set up a strategy so that I would not be bothered by Shimotsuki in the future.?

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    “Your childhood friend is strong! But I’m not going to lose either. …… Someday, I’m going to get along with Shimotsuki-san somehow!”?

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    I played the role of a cheerful and stupid boy.?

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    This should make Ryuzaki think that I’m just a mob character trying hard to get her attention, even if I’m talking to Shimotsuki in the future.?

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    “Watch me! I can do it too if I try!”?

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    I must have looked like a hothead. Ryuzaki laughed, clearly dismissive.?

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    “Huh. …… Well, good luck with that. Shiho is a girl with a lot of difficulties, so I think it’s probably impossible. The only person who understands her is me, her childhood friend.”?

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    He seemed to be in a good mood.?

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    Ryuzaki smiled refreshingly and held out his hand to me.?

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    “I was wrong about you, Nakayama. You’re a pretty funny guy. …… Let’s be friends from now on.”?

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    …… What was funny about that??

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    Does he think it’s funny that I am a mob character and I’m messing with the main heroine??

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    He thinks me and him are friends??

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    You’ve got to be kidding me.?

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    “I can’t.”?

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    “…………Huh?”?

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    It didn’t work.?

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    No matter how hard I tried to pretend, I couldn’t.?

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    No matter how much I fool myself, no matter how foolish I play myself, …… there is one feeling I can’t lie about, no matter how hard I try.?

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    –I hate you, Ryuzaki.?

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    Of course, I’m not going to say that I hate him from the bottom of my heart.?

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    I immediately smiled fondly at him, since saying that much would defeat the purpose of eliminating my presence as a mob character.?

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    “Because you’re my biggest rival! If I take advantage of my position as Ryuzaki’s friend, I’ll never be able to get along with Shimotsuki-san. I know I can’t win, but let me try!”?

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    I gave him a good reason.?

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    Then Ryuzaki, who looked puzzled for a moment, seemed to be relieved.?

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    “I was surprised when you suddenly glared at me. …… If that’s the case, I guess I can’t help it. I’m not going to be your friend, but I’ll be glad to work with you from now on!”?

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    Ryuzaki said nodding his head. He probably recognized that I was just a small fish.?

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    I think I’ve succeeded in fooling him somehow.?

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    Now Ryuzaki will not get involved with Shimotsuki.?

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    “So, I’m going back to class. And Nakayama, make sure you’re not late, okay?”?

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    With those words, Ryuzaki finally left.?

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    After making sure that he was gone, I slowly exhaled.?

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    “Phew. ……”?

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    I sat down and clenched my fists as I collapsed on the spot.?

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    “Huh!”?

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    I slammed into the ground and let my anger out.?

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    “…… That hurt.”?

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    I looked at my bloodied fist and regained some composure.?

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    I flattered him. I humbled myself to the main character. It was still frustrating, but ……, well, it’s okay.?

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    “I am a mob character. I don’t need to feel emotions.”?

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    I muttered sarcastically and forced myself to laugh.?

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    I don’t need to look in the mirror to know, I’m sure the smile I’m wearing right now is so distorted, it’s unbearable to look at.