Chapter 15: Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Rumors

「I like you! Please go out with me!」

It’s Monday of the new week, during lunch break. A group of girls I didn’t know called me out behind the school building. When I went there, a girl I also didn’t know was waiting, and… she confessed to me.

「…Sorry, but I can’t go out with you.」

Swallowing the awkwardness, I replied. The girl, her eyes moist, looked at me with dissatisfaction.

「Is it because… you’re going out with Saori Sakaki?」

「Well, how should I put it… It’s not necessarily about that. I mean, regardless of that, I don’t know anything about you…」

Not knowing how to answer, I just mumbled something evasive. The girl raised her voice and shouted.

「Sakashima-senpai is being tricked! She’s… not the person you think she is! I… heard about it!」

「Heard what, exactly?」

「That she’s… secretly dating other guys behind your back, and all sorts of things!」

「That’s just a rumor, right? You really shouldn’t take that stuff too seriously.」

「That…」

The girl cast her gaze downward. I let out a small sigh.

「Anyway, I’m sorry, but I can’t go out with you. …Whether it has to do with Saori Sakaki or not, I just don’t know anything about you.」

「No way… I think about you a lot, Sakashima-senpai…」

「…Sorry, but I have something to do now.」

With that, I left without waiting for her response. Sure enough, the girl didn’t try to chase after me.

「…Haah, what am I even doing?」

I sat down on the emergency stairs a short distance away from the back of the school building and let out a small sigh.

Being called out by a girl I don’t know and suddenly getting confessed to—it’s not like that never happened before. I’m pretty conspicuous, and though it’s weird to say it myself, I’m fairly good at both studies and sports. I quit soccer, but I still do weight training and running, and I keep up with my studies seriously too.

So I don’t get confessions five times a day like Sakaki-san does, but every few months or so, something like this happens.

…Well, that hasn’t happened since I started dating Sakaki-san, though.

「Why do girls always come in groups to call you out when they’re confessing? That part’s a little scary…」

I heaved a deep sigh again.

「But I wonder if someone is spreading weird rumors again…」

Apparently, there’s a rumor going around that I went on a date with someone from Mikagami Girls’ Academy. I was prepared for that, so it can’t be helped. For some reason, though, along with that, some bad rumors about Sakaki-san have also been circulating.

They’re saying I’m basically her errand boy, or that she’s secretly dating all sorts of other guys behind the scenes—nonsense like that is spreading from who knows where.

「In a situation like this, it’d be weird to say we broke up…」

My classmates—especially Mori-kun—were angry about those strange rumors. It turned out they were more concerned about us than I had realized. …Of course, there are also people who badmouth us, but it’s not like everyone is against us.

Still, with all that’s going on, I haven’t been able to tell anyone that Sakaki-san and I have broken up. I can’t find the right moment to bring it up.

「Well, it’s got nothing to do with anyone else anyway, since we already finished talking about it between the two of us.」

Regardless of how others see it, I was worried about how awkward it would be to sit next to Sakaki-san in class for a while. But then again, we didn’t talk all that much before anyway. If I don’t say anything, she won’t say anything either.

For better or worse, in that respect, nothing has really changed from before.

「But as for who’s spreading those rumors about her… I really don’t know.」

I do know that I have plenty of enemies—someone even stole my phone—and that some people see me as their rival. …But that’s not the case for Saori Sakaki. I’ve never really heard negative rumors about her—

「Well, it’s not that I’ve never heard any at all.」

She has turned down a lot of guys. That’s actually part of why she’s so popular, but it wouldn’t be strange if there’s someone who resents her for that. Maybe there’s someone who thinks she ‘stole’ a guy from them.

Actually, she’s been dating me to avoid such hassle, and she mostly keeps her distance from everyone—she doesn’t seem to have many real friends besides Miwa-kun. So if some weird rumor spreads, there’s no one to stand up for her.

Until now, that was why I’d been on her side, but from now on, she’ll have to handle that herself.

「Well, it’s none of my business anymore, right?」

I told her clearly that we should break up, and so it’s over between me and Sakaki-san. If I keep worrying about her, it’ll just be a nuisance. …She still has Kozaburo Miwa, and she can handle most things on her own anyway.

「Once the rumors settle down a bit, maybe I’ll tell Mori-kun or someone that we broke up.」

There’s also the matter of my phone. I’m not planning on just letting that go. I intend to make those responsible pay for what they did.

「That said, I don’t have any leads on who did it at all.」

Deciding I’d head to the cafeteria for lunch, I stood up.

「Hey, I’ve been looking for you.」

But a voice called out from the top of the stairs, as if trying to stop me.

「…Oh, it’s you, Miwa-kun. Do you need something? I’m about to go get lunch, so if it’s important, please make it quick.」

「Don’t worry, I won’t take much of your time. I don’t really want to have a long conversation with you either.」

Kozaburo Miwa said this with the same attitude as always, descending the stairs until he was standing right in front of me. …It’s that sweet-smelling perfume again. It might be expensive, but I don’t really like this scent.

Like a detective pointing out the culprit, Kozaburo Miwa pointed his finger at me and spoke.

「You’re the one spreading these bad rumors about Saori, aren’t you?」

「…So that’s what this is about. It’s not me. Why would I do that?」

「It’s obvious. You want to isolate her so that she has no one else to rely on but you.」

「What kind of logic is that? I’d never do anything like that. Besides, Sakaki-san and I are…」

I hesitated a bit there. Should I tell Miwa-kun that we broke up? Normally, there’s no reason to hesitate, but with these weird rumors floating around…

「No, maybe that’s not it.」

「…Huh? What are you talking about?」

When he tilted his head, I said:

「We already broke up.」

「…Huh?」

He looked utterly shocked, mouth hanging open in a way that didn’t suit his usual refined demeanor. I went on talking, not letting that bother me.

「It’s not exactly because of what you told me before… but the fact is, we broke up.」

「…Is that true?」

「Why would I lie about that? You can ask Sakaki-san and find out right away, right?」

To be honest, I really don’t like this guy. But Sakaki-san said he’s an important friend to her. So, well, I figured at least I could tell him the truth.

That was my intention, but…

「Don’t lie to me…!」

Miwa-kun grabbed me by the collar with a terrifying look on his face. …What the hell? Why is he so angry?

「Let go. What’s your problem? If anything, shouldn’t you be glad we broke up, since it’s what you told me to do?」

「That’s why I’m saying you’re lying! If you two really broke up, then how come yesterday I… no, sorry. I’m losing my temper.」

At that, Miwa-kun released me. …Yesterday? Did something happen between him and Sakaki-san yesterday?

「Anyway, we’re done. Just like I said. So from here on out, you can do whatever you want. However you two end up, it’s got nothing to do with me anymore.」

I was about to add something like, ‘I hope you’ll protect her in my place,’ but I held back. It’s not my business as an outsider anymore.

「Well, I’ve said what I needed to say, so we’re done here, right?」

I turned to leave, having said my piece, but Miwa-kun spoke up as if blocking my way.

「You bought a new phone, didn’t you?」

「…What?」

How does he know about my phone? I glared at him, and he laughed.

「Rumors spread where the person in question doesn’t see them. You’re a famous figure, so all sorts of talk gets around.」

「…Well, I’m not hiding it, so fine. But what’s your point in telling me this?」

「If something weird gets discovered on that phone, it could be bad for you, right?」

「What, you plan to spread my search history of dirty videos? That’d be a problem. Then everyone would find out I like big breasts.」

I tried to joke. Miwa-kun also… laughed.

「I’m just kidding. If you really did break up with Saori, that’s all I need to hear. If you’ve decided to stay away from her, I have nothing else to say to you.」

「Then don’t bother me anymore. I’m not your enemy or hers.」

「…I see. You’re actually a pretty decent guy, huh? I guess I can see why you’re so popular. And I can see how you managed to seduce Saori, too.」

「Don’t say I ‘seduced’ her. That sounds so shady.」

「Oops, pardon me.」

He offered a polite bow that felt oddly refined, then flashed a sly smile. …I really can’t stand this guy.

「Also, just to be clear, I’m the better man between the two of us, okay? So don’t get the wrong idea.」

「I didn’t ask. Just go already.」

「…」

He gave me one last meaningful look before finally walking off. Right then, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break.

「…So I missed lunch. And we have PE this afternoon. I really can’t get motivated now.」

Our high school holds its sports festival before summer. …But we don’t take it that seriously; it’s more like a recreational event.

Today’s afternoon PE class was supposed to include some practice for it, but…

「Come to think of it, what event was I assigned to again?」

Apparently, they decided that sort of thing during homeroom while I was skipping out in the nurse’s office. But with everything that’s been happening, I never got around to asking about it.

「I’m not fond of that kind of atmosphere anyway.」

To be honest, I’m not big on noisy events like this. Thanks to the image I’ve been cultivating of being a flashy guy, I always end up having to take the lead in these sorts of things.

…Thinking about that, I’m already feeling weighed down.

「Oh well. Time to get myself psyched up.」

Before heading back to the classroom, I bought a sweet coffee from the vending machine and chugged it. That should be enough to power me through the sports festival practice—or so I thought, but…

「Seriously, what a mess.」

My assigned event for the sports festival turned out to be the three-legged race. And my partner was—

「…Um, let’s… do our best… together.」

—the beautiful girl with glossy black hair, Saori Sakaki.