Shimotsuki-san Likes the Mob (WN)
Chapter 16
Ryoma Ryuzaki is obsessed with his childhood friend Shiho Shimotsuki.?
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He seemed to be disturbed by the fact that she had eaten lunch with another boy.?
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He wondered why Shimotsuki and I were together.?
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He wants to know what we were doing together.?
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“It’s nothing, really. I don’t think there’s anything that Ryuzaki should be concerned about.”?
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I hesitate and let my thoughts wander.?
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The reason why I am hesitating to give a definite answer is because depending on the answer, I might get in trouble with Shimotsuki.?
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For example, let’s say I told him the whole truth.?
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Suppose Shimotsuki explained that she really didn’t like Ryuzaki and was only having lunch with me because we had become friends.?
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A normal person would back off when they realize that they are disliked.?
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But Ryuzaki is no ordinary person. He is a ” protagonist “.?
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‘She doesn’t like me? No, Shiho just doesn’t know the real me! If she gets to know the real me, she’ll like me! So let’s try to approach her more!’?
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It’s not surprising that such a thought process was formed.?
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Ryuzaki is that type of protagonist.?
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Usually, he’s slow and indecisive.?
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But when he is determined, he will go straight for it.?
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The protagonist is a creature that gets more motivated the more he or she is pushed.?
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Oh, I’m spiteful.?
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It was one-sided, and the pressure that seemed to be trying to fill in the other person’s thoughts was making it difficult to breathe.?
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I’m sure that Shimotsuki, the target of this pressure, will suffer even more than me.?
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That’s why I can’t tell him the truth. Shimotsuki rejects Ryuzaki like that.?
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She called me a friend even though I was just a plain, ordinary mob character.?
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She saw the value in me and admired me.?
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I’m very happy about that, but on the other hand, I don’t have anything to give back to her, so I actually feel a little guilty.?
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There was nothing I could do to make her happy.?
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At least, I wanted to be careful not to cause her any trouble.?
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“Nothing? It’s not like you’re alone with her in a deserted place like this. …… Are you hiding something about Shiho from me? Is there anything bothering you, that you can’t tell me about?”?
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What do I say??
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What should I say to the protagonist who is so delusional that he can’t see what’s best for himself??
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“Maybe Shiho’s asking you for advice so she doesn’t bother me? If so, please tell her. …… We are childhood friends and I don’t care if she bothers me. If you’re not telling me, it’s all right! Just tell me exactly what’s going on and I’ll do the talking!”?
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How can he think of something so convenient??
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If I say something badly, it might put a heavy burden on Shimotsuki.?
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Perhaps Ryuzaki is in a hurry.?
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I think he’s also concerned about me in a corner of his mind.?
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Maybe Shiho Shimotsuki’s special someone is me and he’s getting anxious.?
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That’s why he’s searching hard for a reason.?
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He is looking for a convenient reason to convince himself.?
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If that’s the case, then I have to erase it.?
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I need to erase my existence from his mind.?
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As long as I’m not there, Shimotsuki can go back to her normal life.?
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For Ryuzaki, as a childhood friend who is sickly and likes to be alone, she can spend her time without much interference.?
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Yes, that’s right.?
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All I have to do is erase my presence from Ryuzaki’s mind.?
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I’m good at that. It’s a simple thing to do, because the only advantage of being a mob character is that you don’t have much of a presence…