"Handsome guy, don't be so stingy. It's not too late to refuse after you meet my friend."
"Besides, we really think you're reliable, so we're asking for your help. Just do us a little favor—sit with her for a while, act like you're her boyfriend. It'll scare off that bad guy who's been following her around."
Several girls looked at him with wide, pleading eyes, their expressions almost too earnest.
Nozomi sighed internally, a familiar headache forming. There was something strangely convenient about all of this. Maybe it was the game life system at work again, nudging events along. Or perhaps it was the mysterious will of the world pulling strings behind the scenes?
Still, he wasn't the type to back down from a request like this. Especially not when so many sparkly-eyed girls were staring at him like he was their last hope.
After a moment of dramatic silence, he nodded with a faint, charming smile.
"Alright, alright. Since you all trust me so much, it'd be rude to turn you down."
"It's rare for girls to trust a guy on first sight. I'll be your friend's shield, but I'll need the details. Who is this guy harassing her? And how bad is the situation?"
He paused, adding with a nonchalant air, "Oh, and I'm Hozuki Nozomi, from Sobu High School."
At that, the trio relaxed, visibly relieved.
"Thank you so much, Nozomi-kun!"
They each introduced themselves quickly. The leader, with the confident air and dyed blonde hair, was Keiko Ishihara. The cheerful brunette was Marina Sonoda, and the quiet but serious-looking one was Yuri Nakamura.
"Wait... Keiko Ishihara?" Nozomi tilted his head in surprise. "Are you, by any chance, related to Ishihara Satomi?"
Keiko blinked, caught off guard. Then she smiled sheepishly and nodded.
"She's my older sister."
Nozomi's eyes widened.
"You should've led with that! Satomi-nee owns the cat café I recommended to Kanda. I'd definitely help a friend of hers."
Keiko looked even more embarrassed, cheeks tinged pink. She'd heard her sister mention the mysterious 'big boss' who always brought rare cats to the shop, but she didn't expect to actually meet him like this. And to think she was about to rope him into a fake boyfriend scheme...
Still, she trusted her instincts. Nozomi didn't seem like a bad person.
"Okay then," he said with a grin. "We're friends now. So tell me everything."
The three girls sat down beside him, and Keiko took the lead.
"So, here's the deal. We have a close friend named Mayama Asaka."
The name triggered a spark in Nozomi's memory—red hair, twin tails, and a fiery temper. Mayama Asaka, better known as Sasanqua. A classic tsundere. She was one of the more popular heroines in the original work 'You're the Only One Who Likes Me.' Alongside Sumireko, Sasanqua had also confessed to the protagonist—one of the only girls he didn't turn down.
And now, it just so happened her friends had stumbled upon him. Coincidence? Or the work of the system again?
Keiko continued.
"We were out with Sasanqua the other day when we ran into Ono Yu. He's this huge guy from our school—the captain of the karate club. Turns out he's also part of some shady gang outside."
Nozomi's brows twitched.
"Wait... gang affiliation and karate? That sounds like a headache."
"Exactly," Marina chimed in. "He took one look at Sasanquaa and got obsessed. Started following her around, showing up at the school gates, even trying to walk her home. Total creep."
Yuri added, "Sasanquaa panicked and told him she already had a scary, possessive boyfriend—someone really strong, from another school."
"Ono didn't believe her," Keiko sighed. "He said unless he saw the guy himself, he wouldn't stop. So... Sasanquaa said her boyfriend was super handsome, super tall, and would totally beat Ono up if he laid a finger on her."
Nozomi raised an eyebrow.
"So I'm supposed to be this... psychotic, overprotective boyfriend?"
The three girls nodded in unison.
"You've got the looks, and you're not afraid of anyone. Please, Nozomi-kun!"
He smirked.
"You really want to pass the trouble onto me, huh?"
The girls froze, flustered.
"W-well, you are our only hope..."
Nozomi chuckled, then waved a hand.
"Fine, fine. I get it. I'll play the role. Bring Sasanquaa here. Let's give this Ono guy a show he'll never forget."
The girls cheered softly, visibly relieved.
With a slight glint of mischief in his eye, he added, "Oh, and since I'm supposed to be her clingy, borderline-obsessed boyfriend… if I act a little too familiar, you'll understand, right?"
The three girls nodded instantly.
"Absolutely. Sasanquaa will totally get it. In fact, she'll be grateful! Besides, with how good-looking you are, she's the one who benefits here."
It wasn't like they liked Ono Yu at all. Their tough-girl getups were mostly a defense mechanism to avoid being harassed—not because they actually wanted to act like delinquents. Deep down, they were just ordinary girls trying to protect their friend.
"Wait here, Nozomi. I'll send you Sasanquaa's photo. See for yourself—she's really cute!" Keiko grinned as she tapped on her phone.
Nozomi took a glance at the picture. Twin red ponytails, a tsundere glare, and cheeks flushed with subtle embarrassment. "Yeah… she's cute. But don't forget, I'm actually supposed to meet someone else today. You'll help me explain later, right?"
"No problem!" they chimed together.
They sent him a few more pictures, then slipped away tactfully. Sure, they said they'd explain everything… but honestly, they hoped this little coincidence might lead to something more. Sasanquaa had helped each of them in their own way, and they wanted to repay her—by setting her up with a strong guy who could keep her safe.
Meanwhile, Keiko quickly messaged Sasanquaa about what had happened.
Asaka Mayama, aka Sasanquaa, gasped as she stared at the photo. Her eyes went wide and her heart skipped a beat. "Y-You asked a complete stranger for help?! Are you sure this is okay? What if it troubles him?"
Yuri waved a hand dismissively. "Oh come on, Sasanquaa. What's the alternative? Do you want to date Ono Yu?"
Sasanquaa paled. The image of that burly, menacing senior loomed in her mind. She shivered instantly. "N-No way!"
"Exactly," Marina said, crossing her arms. "Then trust us. You go out there, we'll be right behind you."
"…Okay," Sasanquaa took a deep breath. Her hands were trembling slightly, but she knew what had to be done.
She sent a message to Ono Yu, saying she was going to meet her boyfriend at the park.
Then, adjusting her uniform and tying her ponytails a little tighter, she walked toward the rendezvous point—step by nervous step.
*********
Attached is Mayama Asaka. A maine heroine in Oresuki.
For the hard part, I can't find the sources from which the rest of the gyarus belong. If you have an idea, please comment. It's highly likely there's mistakes in their names from the raws.