Chapter 6: The Price of Mischief

Hey, it’s me—the jerk who Tses and messes with his friends.

Personal update: I fractured my right wrist. Real bad.

Guess divine retribution finally caught up with me.

You know what they say—"With great power comes great responsibility." And by "great power," I mean my dumbass decision to shield a kid and snap my wrist like a twig.

All because I wanted to play at being the heroine.

I’ve been reflecting deeply on how much chaos I’ve caused everyone… so for now, I’ll accept this punishment and lay low.

"…This is such a pain."

Sitting at the bus stop, I sighed.

Currently en route to school.

Normally, I’d be scheming my next prank, but today? Yeah, no. Not happening.

Living with a wrist brace is hell when your parents aren’t home. Single-handed survival is suffering. It’s only been two days, and already, laundry and dishes are piling up.

You can’t do anything with one hand!

"Ah, the bus is here."

I stood up as it arrived, grabbed my bag—
—and immediately dropped my bus pass.

Shit.

"S-Sorry—!"

Flustered, I bent down to pick it up before holding up the line, but someone beat me to it.

They scanned it for me, handed me my bag back, and even offered me a seat.

…Wait. Too kind.

This person’s past life was probably Mother Teresa.

"Grint… san?"

"Good morning, Kii-san."

The angel of mercy who just blessed me? None other than Hikari Grint—one of Rekka’s heroines and the same girl who once invited Koku-me to tea.

Or, put simply: blonde, ringlet curls, rich-girl vibes.

Most people call her Hikari, but since we’re not that close, I default to Grint. And she does the same—calling me Kii instead of Apollo.

(For all I know, she doesn’t even know my first name. Rekka only ever calls me Pokky.)

"Rekka-sama mentioned you were injured in a monster attack. How dreadful."

"Could’ve been worse. You’re the one constantly risking your life in battles, though."

"Fufu… How kind of you, Kii-san. But there’s no need to worry. I enjoy what I do, after all."

Her saintly smile made my teenage boy's heart skip a beat.

I had to look away.

We’re not even proper friends—just friends of friends. Yet she helps me without hesitation. Hero Club members really don’t discriminate.

"Uh, you don’t have to carry my bag—"
"Nonsense. I’ll take it to the classroom. We’re in the same class, and you’re injured—you should rely on others more."
"Huh? W-Wait, uh… thanks."
"You’re quite welcome."

Rekka’s heroines are all like this—pure-hearted, always helping others.

No wonder regular guys get the wrong idea. And Rekka? Blatantly adored by all of them?

Yeah, no surprise he gets death glares.

The price of a harem, huh? Tough life, buddy.

"…Oh my. We’ve arrived. Shall we?"
"H-Hey, at least let me scan my own pass—!"

At this point, Hikari’s practically nursing me.

Then again, this is probably Rekka’s influence.

That guy’s so obnoxiously kind—helping lost tourists, escorting grandmas across streets—that he’s the only person in the world who’d be late for class because of it.

"By the way, Kii-san, why not rely on Rekka-sama? You are friends, no?"
"We live in totally opposite directions, and… I dunno, feels bad bothering him when he’s always so busy."
"…In that case, I shall assist you until you recover!"

…Why?!

Do you have a crush on me or something?!

"…Grint-san, is there something you wanna ask me?"

"Eep!"

She actually squeaked.

…Cheesy. But cute.

"W-Well… I heard you’re acquainted with Koku-san?"
"I mean, yeah, but…"

As I’d explained to Rekka, Koku and I met recently.

We couldn’t pretend we’d known each other forever (too many contradictions), so I spun a new story:

I’m now an undercover informant, gathering intel on villain groups for the Hero Club. Koku is a temporary ally—I pass her info, she shares secrets in return.

Rekka flipped when he heard I was putting myself in danger. Like, actually angry.

…Sorry, man. Maybe I should’ve tweaked the story better.

But I convinced him this was a chance to learn about Koku, and that our relationship was strictly professional—just online intel swaps, no deep ties.

Because if we got too close, Koku might end up as my heroine.

And I’m strictly the friend character.

I even dropped a "You’re the only one who can reach her" line on Rekka to hammer home that Koku is HIS problem.

Pretty sure he bought it.

So yeah, officially, I’m just a temporary informant—which means I shouldn’t know where Koku hangs out.

But then—

"Please, I must apologize to Koku-san properly! And perhaps share tea and deepen our bond!"

Hikari’s earnest plea has me sweating bullets.

Didn’t see that coming.

I figured she’d loathe some shady, standoffish wannabe heroine like Koku—y’know, classic romantic rival stuff. But nope. Turns out, I was the one with the warped perspective.

The Hero Club girls? Genuinely good people. My bad for misjudging them.

"Ah… yeah, sure. I’ll ask if she’s free later."

"Really?! Thank you ever so much, Kii-san!"

"Don’t mention it."

But maybe don’t grab a guy’s hand just ’cause you’re excited? That’s how misunderstandings happen.

Ugh. I caved to Hikari’s enthusiasm and made a promise I can’t keep. Classic me—folding under peer pressure.

Now what?

Even if I transform, my wrist won’t magically heal. And if Koku shows up with the same injury? Suspicious as hell.

…Maybe I could take off the brace while transformed? Is that safe?

"—Oh! Hey, Pokky!"

"My, is that Rekka-sama by the gate?"

"Huh? …Oh, yeah, it’s him. Was he waiting for us?"

Near the crosswalk, Rekka waves from the school entrance.

I told him not to fuss—no chores, no escorting—but of course, he ignored me. Even though I specifically said my injury wasn’t from "informant work," just bad luck during the fight. (His texts have been 99% "QUIT THAT JOB.")

…Worrywart.

"Mornin’. Oh, Hikari’s carrying your bag? Here, I’ll take over."

"Good morning, Rekka-sama! This is my assigned duty, so please refrain."

"Haha, you’re too serious. C’mon, no need to hold back."

"Ohoho, the Grint family always sees missions through!"

"Why are you two fighting over my bag…?"

Are they competing in kindness now? Cut it out—this is embarrassing.

"I’m gonna head in—"

"Wait, Pokky, you can’t change shoes one-handed!"

"I shall fetch your slippers!"

"No, I’ll do it—"

"Did you say something?"

Just stop.

A fractured wrist doesn’t warrant this level of coddling.

…Kinda pathetic, honestly.

But… if they’re this worried, maybe saving that kid was worth it. Even if they’re smothering me.

"Hikari, you handle the slippers. I’ll take the bag."

"I can multitask! You needn’t—urk—release the bag—"

"It’s fine, Hikari."

"Rekka-sama, you’re the one who—OH NO! THE NOTEBOOKS!"

"Sorry, Pokky!"

"JUST GIVE ME THE DAMN BAG ALREADY!!"

Their "helpfulness" has officially crossed into harassment. I’ve hit my limit.

---

That afternoon, at home.

"Ah—"

"……Huh? …W-Wait, K-Koku?!"

I’d just gotten back, changed into loungewear, and—on a whim—tried transforming without the wrist brace to see how it looked.

And, well… damn. Even in casual clothes, she’s cute.

Then the doorbell rang.

And like an absolute idiot, I answered it.

Still in girl form.

Only to find Rekka standing there, holding a bag of food.

Yep.

The ever-mysterious, aloof Koku was now standing in the doorway of his friend’s house—drowning in oversized, boyish loungewear.

Rekka’s jaw? On the floor.

"Wh-Why is Koku…? Wait, where’s Pokky…?"

"…………"

Silence.

I could practically hear my own brain short-circuiting.

In that split second, I had to come up with something—anything.

After a deliberate pause, I spoke.

"…Just come in for now."

"Ah, s-sure… ………Wait, huh?!"

Without missing a beat, I ushered him inside like this was totally normal. My back to him, heading straight for the living room—

—while internally screaming, heart hammering like a drum, sweat waterfalling down my spine.

WHAT THE HELL DO I DO NOW?!