The story we started

The next day, the parents of that group of students came to the school to complain. The principal patted his chest and promised to handle it, saying that he would definitely give the students justice, and then accepted the "gift" from the parents.

The principal then summoned the innocent student into his office, reprimanded him, and threatened to expel him if he did not kneel down and apologize to the parents of those students.

The principal was admitted to the hospital because of broken legs on the night he was summoned, and he lived next door to the students.

On the third day, the principal returned all the money with his legs in plaster and his face bruised and swollen. No matter how the parents made a fuss, he would no longer handle the matter. The "fairness and uprightness" he showed when collecting the money had become a complete joke.

Calling the police was useless, and the parents who did call the police were also kindly invited into the hospital.

Connections are useless. Afterwards, those connections called and scolded those parents, and then cut off all social contacts.

From then on, the bullies in this school knew that there were some people they really couldn't afford to offend, so they all learned the ability to observe people's words and expressions and identify their targets.

After seven days, Xu Guoliang was identified by that group of bad guys as "someone who can be provoked."

Just when he was cornered and beaten, the man who later became his friend appeared.

That guy is a real oddity in this school full of bad people. While all the boys around him are discussing that girl's better kung fu, he likes special effects dramas that are quite "childish" compared to them, so he is also one of the targets of bullies.

When he passed by the corridor and saw Xu Guoliang being bullied by those bullies, unlike others who were watching the joke, he chose to stand up without hesitation.

——Then the number of people being bullied and beaten increased from one to two.

Afterwards, Xu Guoliang, lying on the ground with footprints all over his body, asked him why he helped him, when he could have easily followed the example of the people around him and not cared about it and wouldn't have ended up like this.

And he, who was also lying on the ground with footprints all over his body, spoke righteously.

"Never give in to violence! And never leave the weak who are being bullied by evil! This is what Kamen Rider and Ultraman taught me!"

...After that day, Xu Guoliang had a close friend in his life, someone who also liked special effects drama heroes.

The two of them talked about everything, exchanging their favorite knight and Ultraman toys, and discussing loudly in the class about the latest special drama. It was like two rabbits mixed into a group of crocodiles, the scene was extremely weird.

During this period, the school also had new changes. A man who seemed like the son of destiny transferred to this school. His family was rich and powerful and he was handsome. As soon as he arrived, he stirred up the school, won the heart of the school beauty, fought wits and courage with the school bullies, represented the school to participate in various competitions, and won various awards...

It’s just like the protagonist of a youth TV drama finally arrives at the campus that serves as the stage for the story. Once he arrives, the curtain of the story is drawn for him.

But this has nothing to do with Xu Guoliang and his friends. When the wind and clouds were dancing in the school, they were still talking about why ExAid didn't come out with the next episode soon. I want to see how Yongmeng is doing! Did he die of gaming sickness?

The "protagonist" student passed by the window outside their classroom countless times during his school days, attracting the attention and jealousy of a bunch of boys, the amazement and infatuation of a bunch of girls, but not the two people who were immersed in their own discussions.

While he won numerous awards outside and left a deep impression on the students in the school, they didn't care about all the changes and continued to live their own lives.

Because to them, no matter how brilliant the student's story is, it has no meaning at all. It has nothing to do with them, the marginalized people living at the bottom of the school.

Just because that student is the "protagonist" of this "story", and they are just "supporting roles", and can only be added as one of the countless background boards in the finale. They are not even the main supporting roles with names. They are just like passers-by and extras in TV dramas. Not to mention their names appearing, there is not even a shot of their faces.

The only difference is that extras only appear in TV dramas and movies, while they live other people's lives.

It is estimated that after the story is over, the records they left behind are just:

"Before the protagonist transferred here, he was one of the poor students who lived at the bottom of the school and was bullied."

This is a general summary of the youth of the two people, simple and clear.

——That’s how it should be.

As a result, on the day of the college entrance examination, which marked the end of high school career, something big happened.

——Xu Guoliang’s friend died in a car accident.

The reason was to save a little girl, who was the daughter of the local secretary. At that time, the secretary took his daughter to inspect the college entrance examination site. His daughter broke free from her parents' hands because of playing and ran onto the road. As a result, a car happened to rush over at a very fast speed.

He happened to pass by there, and just like before, he rushed up without hesitation and pushed the little girl away.

The price he paid was that he was hit by the car and thrown more than 20 meters away, dying on the spot.

The college entrance examination is the day with the most concentrated traffic in the country. As a student, he saved the daughter of the secretary. For a moment, he overshadowed the "protagonist" of the school and became the "heroic boy" that all media competed to report.

What's even funnier is that his interest in special effects dramas, which was originally ridiculed, has become a virtue of "a childlike innocence and a hero hidden in the heart". After the exam, the commendation meeting originally planned for the "protagonist" in the whole school was cancelled, and instead a commemorative speech was held specifically for him.

At the end of high school, the person who had always been a "supporting role" became the "protagonist" in a funny and unfunny way.

While attending the speech meeting, Xu Guoliang, who was sitting in the front row, had a blank mind. His palms were tightly clenched in his arms as a birthday gift, a Dragon Knight CSM card box, which his best friend bought for him with the money he earned from working.

When it was finally Xu Guoliang's turn to speak as the "protagonist's" best friend, he walked up to the podium in a daze, holding the microphone but unable to say anything.

What should I say?

What kind of Kamen Rider does he like? What action figure does he care about the most? Is the TV series he is most looking forward to, Ultraman Geed, which will be released next year?

Countless memories of his close friend came to his mind, but he couldn't utter a single word. The audience in the audience looked at the speechless Xu Guoliang curiously, just like the audience in front of the TV looking forward to the performance of the people behind the TV.

Xu Guoliang did not see sadness in anyone's eyes in the audience, because the person who died was just an insignificant little character, a "supporting role" who could not have any impact on their lives.

At that time, an idea suddenly popped up in Xu Guoliang's mind.

If today's speech by a close friend was not given as a "supporting role" as it has always been, or a "protagonist" for a while, but had always been held as a "protagonist", what would be the reaction of these people in the audience?

Sadness, pain, anger, or something else?

This thought only flashed through his mind. With the manuscript handed to him by the principal, Xu Guoliang mechanically read out the speech polished by his Chinese teacher from the manuscript in one hand, while with the other hand hanging by his side, he squeezed the card box, making a clicking sound.

A question had been rooted deep in his heart since that day.

——Can’t a supporting role become the protagonist?

Every time this question comes to my mind, the face of my best friend also comes to my mind.

He had been to Xu Guoliang's home many times before his death. Because he was deeply influenced by special effects dramas, every time he came, he did not say "I'm here." Instead, he said:

【"I'm back!"】

It was as if he was not a guest but a member of this family.

"...Tsk, I still remember these things."

Breaking away from his memories, Xu Guoliang said self-deprecatingly, put down his hands, and looked up at the scene on the screen in front of him.

On the light curtain, Hiratsuka Shizuka and Zaimokuza Yoshiki gave each other a thumbs-up under the setting sun, fulfilling their vows.

Xu Guoliang watched all this in silence, but an idea gradually emerged in his mind.

- If this story does not use the "protagonist" originally destined for this world, but continues to use the "supporting role", what kind of ending will it develop into?

There was no reason, Xu Guoliang just wanted to know this, he wanted to know it very much. This curiosity was just like when he was following the drama, looking forward to seeing new developments in the story.

Maybe... it's also because of the resentment that has been hidden in my heart.

He wanted to witness once what it would be like to have a story that was not started by the "protagonist" but by the "supporting role".

It’s just because Xu Guoliang was once a "supporting role" in other people’s lives, and not the protagonist even in his own life.

"The world, the future—let it be!"

The past unwillingness came flooding back along with the memories, and Xu Guoliang's open palm gradually closed its five fingers, with a touch of wantonness and unrestrainedness in his eyes.

"I've been living such a miserable life these years. After coming here, all kinds of problems have come to me. I've been living in fear. I finally have a chance to choose. I just want to do something I want to do!"

"Anyway, even if I fail, the world and I will be buried together. I told you that you have found the wrong person! Gaia——"

"Men are just such creatures that sometimes go crazy! You're unlucky to find an irresponsible bastard like me. Don't let yourself be deceived by others in your next life!"

He raised his hand again, an even more blazing golden light lingering between his palms, and suddenly slapped it towards Zaimokuza, who was smiling with approval from his teacher in the video.

"Just let me continue watching, Zaimokuza Yoshiki—"

"As a "supporting role", what kind of story can you create?"

As Xu Guoliang spoke, his palm once again covered Zaimokuza's face on the light curtain, and a golden glow even brighter than the first time bloomed in all directions.

“Now, let’s move on to the second chapter of the story!”

1. Two-in-one response from all parties

hum-

As the last font appeared, the mosaics on the mobile phones, TVs, or computer screens of everyone in the world slowly faded away with a buzzing sound, returning to the content displayed before the video appeared.

Tokyo city, Shuchiin Academy, Student Council Room.

"The video disappeared!? Has it been restored?"

Shirogane Miyuki looked at the LCD TV in front of him that had returned to normal and was broadcasting the original news channel. He quickly took out his mobile phone from his pocket and turned on the screen. What was displayed was the profile of a girl with black hair and red eyes. It was none other than Kaguya Shinomiya, whom he had secretly photographed and set as the screensaver.

"fine……"

Seeing this screen saver that was exactly the same as the one before the video appeared, Shirogane Miyuki breathed a sigh of relief, then secretly glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya who was sitting on another sofa with a guilty conscience.

"Well, I'm back to normal here, President."

Shinomiya Kaguya held up her old-fashioned keypad phone and shook it towards Shirogane Miyuki who was looking over. The screen of the phone displayed a bunch of new incoming messages, and the number was still increasing.

"Really? All the stuff in my phone is back. Luckily, it's still there. That's great! Pace~"

Chika Fujiwara opened her phone and looked at the photos of her beloved dog in her album. She rubbed her soft face against the phone with a look of happiness on her face.

"It looks like this video is indeed over, which is a bit of a shame."

"We're clearly seeing the most interesting part, but I still want to know what happened to Mr. Zaimokuza and Mr. Kousaka later."

Shirogane Miyuki immediately turned off the screen of his phone before Kaguya Shinomiya noticed, and said with a lingering feeling.

"...You are quite right, President. The fact that all electronic devices failed before was also quite good. At least people can watch a large-scale fantasy movie starring real people peacefully."

Shinomiya Kaguya frowned as she looked at the messages on her phone. Most of them were from the Shinomiya family, excluding her eldest brother, second brother, and third brother. Then there was her "father" who was old enough to be a grandfather, the current head of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Gan'an, who was called the "Showa Monster" by people in the circle.

The meaning that these messages want to convey is basically the same, all of them are the hope that they can get in touch with the "protagonist" who appeared in the previous video, the unconfirmed life form No. 4, the future "Zaimokuza Yoshiki", and it also comes with various collected biographical information about Zaimokuza.

What made Shinomiya Kaguya feel particularly disgusted was that, although her "father" did not say it explicitly, his words showed that he wanted her to drag Zaimokuza Yoshiki onto the Shinomiya family's chariot, and if possible, also bring along Kousaka Kyosuke who had performed well before.

Even at the end of the message, Shigong Yan'an vaguely revealed that "any method will do."

Based on her understanding of her family, it goes without saying that “any method is fine” also includes Kaguya Shinomiya’s “method”.

I really don't hide my hyena nature at all... What do you think I am?

Kaguya Shinomiya suppressed the surging anger in her heart and sent a message to her three brothers and "father" one by one, saying "I know, I will take action depending on the situation." Then she turned off her phone, and the corners of her mouth curled up in a sarcastic arc at an angle that Shirogane Miyuki could not see.

It's a pity, my "family", although I can't say I fully understand, but according to my previous psychological analysis of Zaimokuza-san in the video, it is impossible for him to join such a cold-blooded and ruthless family as the Shinomiya family.

——Because he is a true “hero”.

And how could a hero choose to stoop to the company of hyenas?

"Shigong, what's wrong with you? You look very unhappy, are you okay?"

"Kaguya-san, are you okay?"

The voice in her ear brought Kaguya Shinomiya back to her senses from her displeasure. She turned around and saw the worried expressions of Shirogane Miyuki and Fujiwara Chika.

"…I'm fine. Sorry for making you worry."

Shinomiya Kaguya blinked her crimson eyes, looked at the two people in front of her, and a smile slowly appeared on her face, like melting ice and snow, with a smile that was no less thrilling than that of Yukinoshita Yukino.

Although Zaimokuza-san is a person who is very worthy of making friends, the relationship between us can only be that of friends at best.

I don't need him to be a hero and protect my smile.

She looked at Shirogane Miyuki who turned his head with a red face because of her smile, and her smile became even sweeter and more sincere.

Because I have found the "hero" who can protect my smile and belongs only to me~

Ishigami family.

"Is it finally over? Then it's time for——!?"

Looking at the bright red fonts fading away on the computer screen, Ishigami Yu, who was already a little tired, yawned. Just as he stretched, his eyes suddenly widened.

"Humph!"

On the screen, the black-armored knight with two swords slashed down with a sword burning with black and red flames, knocking down the undead who was standing still with an ice sword in his hand. The entire health bar was cleared to zero with one blow!

Looking at the screen in front of him that dimmed after the character died, Ishigami Yu, who was stretching, became stiff with a lazy expression frozen on his face.

…I forgot, before the video appeared, I was still playing life and death racing with Teacher Yan.

youdied～

“No!!!!!!”

Looking at the two bright red English words appearing on the screen, Ishigami Yu, who had died almost twenty times before finally winning, held his face with both hands, and his whole style instantly changed into "The Scream", with his mournful wails lingering in the house.

"Save, save!? My save is finally back!!!"

Keima Katsuragi, who had been slumped in his computer chair like a sun-dried mummy, was almost in tears when he saw the six screens in front of him turn back into the previous beautiful girl galgame.