The Innocent School Idol is My Cousin Who Lives with Me and is a Spoiled Brat - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: “The Birth of a Bakappuru” (TLN: Baka-Couple / Foolish Couple)

Translator: AJ1703

“Kakeru, shall we go?”

　The next morning, after getting ready, Mirei smiles and hugs me.

　We are going to spend the rest of the day as fake lovers, so we are going to school together.

“Can you act properly?”

“It’ll be fine. We just have to be friendly, similar to how we are at home.”

　If I try to be conscious of it, it will make me look suspicious, so I guess I just have to act the way I usually do at home.

　It’s not my character to flirt too much, so I should let Mirei do whatever she wants.

“When we are at home, Nii-san and Mirei are like lovers, so I don’t think there will be any problem with that.”

“I see. If Mana says so, it must be true.”

　…Eh?

　Does that mean Mana thinks we are like lovers?

　Well, she knows we’re not actually dating, so there’s nothing wrong with that.

“Fufu, would people be surprised?”

“Definitely. I mean, I think there will be a mild uproar.”

　Considering Mirei’s popularity, it shouldn’t end with a “yes, I see.”

　The girls would be interested and excited, and the boys would be screaming and yelling.

“If there’s a fuss, don’t get too far away from me, okay?”

“Mhm, okay.”

　Mirei nodded her head.

　It’s really a good thing that she’s a good listener.

　I am sure that many students, both male and female, will crowd around Mirei, so I need to be close by to protect her.

　Later, when we got on the train―.

“O-Oy, isn’t that…?”

“Huh!? Why is Arisugawa-san linking arms with a boy?”

　As expected, just by bumping into a student from the same school, this is what all the fuss is about.

　There are several other students wearing the same uniforms, and not only boys but also girls are glancing at us with interest.

“Oh~, they’ve already noticed. Isn’t this great?”

“Why are you acting like it’s someone else’s problem… if it wasn’t for Mirei, we wouldn’t even be noticed, or even interested in us, right?”

　People wouldn’t be interested in a man and a woman who didn’t know each other well being attached to each other.

　It should simply be at the level of being annoying, disgusting, or not flirting in such a public place.

　The only reason they are paying attention is because Mirei is a celebrity.

　But on the train, it seems that no one has the guts to talk to her.

　The problem― it came after passing through the school gate.

“Arisugawa-san, who the hell is that guy?”

“Why are you linking your arms with him!?”

　As expected, as soon as the number of students increased, we were immediately surrounded.

　The only ones who are now surrounding us are boys, but many students, both male and female, are looking at us from afar.

“Err, my boyfriend?”

　Mirei tilts her head and smiles innocently back at them.

　Not only that, she hugs my arm tightly and puts her head on my shoulder.

“Boyfriend…!?”

“I thought you weren’t interested in romance!?”

　Apparently, Mirei had told him that she was not interested in romance when she turned down his confession.

　This is not a lie, as it is true, but it is not convenient this time.

“I’m sorry, I was just too embarrassed to tell you that I liked someone, so I just made it up.”

　That is indeed Mirei.

　Even though she was surrounded and poked at a sensitive point, she did not move and avoided the pursuit of the boys in a normal manner.

　On the other hand, I’m put in a difficult position.

　If I speak out, I might offend the others.

　Should I watch Mirei and give her a helping hand when she is in trouble?

　It was while I was wondering this that a remark was made that changed the whole situation.

“Why, of all people, such an unremarkable, plain-looking guy…?”

“Hmm, what did you just say?”

　Mirei was the first to respond to his complaint about me.

　She was smiling and tilting her head, but her mood was different from usual.

“Mirei?”

“Hey, did you just mock Kakeru?”

　Mirei, oblivious to my confusion, lets go of my arm and smiles at the boy in question.

　I could tell by the atmosphere that she was angry, even if I couldn’t see it from her facial expression.

“N-No, it’s just…”

　The boy backed away, sweating profusely.

　But the distance did not widen as Mirei closed in.

　The students around her make way to avoid getting caught up with Mirei and the boy in question.

“You know, I don’t really care what people say about me, but there’s one thing I can’t forgive.”

‘What is it that you can’t forgive…?”

“Let’s see. I hate it when people make fun of the people I care about.”

“Hiiiii~…!”

　The boy who was running away distorts his expression as if he were frightened.

　Mirei rarely gets angry.

　So maybe this is the first time the students at school have seen her get angry.

　The gap probably makes them feel more scared.

　I never thought I would be the one to stop her…

“Mirei, calm down. I didn’t really mind, and it’s true, right?”

“It’s not true…!”

　I put my hand on Mirei’s shoulder and she got angry at me with her cheeks puffed out.

　She is completely furious.

“No, it’s a fact that I’m plain, no matter how you look at me, right?”

“That’s not true…!”

“Okay, okay, now calm down.”

　She was acting like a child, so I patted her on the head to quiet her down.

　And then, her cheeks gradually relaxed.

“Nnn…”

　Mirei has a childish personality and likes to be patted on the head.

　In the past, I used to quiet her like this.

　When Mirei’s pent-up emotions have subsided, I turn my attention to the boy I just met.

『You have to go quickly.』

　I tell him with my eyes, and he leaves as if running away.

　Now Mirei has no one left to be angry with.

　However, when I pulled my hand away―

“More.”

　Mirei grabs my hand and appeals for more petting.

　No, this is in front of everyone…

　I did it, and I’m honestly embarrassed to continue petting her in front of such a large crowd.

　But― Mirei wouldn’t let go, so I had to keep stroking.

　―I heard that two perceptions were shared among the students as a result of this exchange.

　The first is that you should never say anything bad about Mirei’s boyfriend in front of her.

　Second, that Mirei is the one who is infatuated with him, and that it is impossible to pull her away from him.

　…Well, I guess it’s safe to say that I’ve achieved my goal.

　Although it seems that we are being treated as a Bakappuru.