Chapter 20: What If I Started the Revenge?

I hurried to my classroom, lost in thought about what was to come.

I can't mess up the procedure, there's no such thing as overdoing a mental simulation.

As I was lost in the image, I hear a woman's voice calling out to me.

「Kou-kun, is now a good time?」

It's Meari, my ex-girlfriend (for sure), the stupid woman I saw canoodling with Kiyama this morning.

「Yeah, what's up? Something happened? Mm?」

A little while ago, I would have been incredibly irritated, but now I have completely regained my composure. Thinking about what was to come, you could even say my spirits were high.

So I was able to reply in a friendly manner.

「Yeah, actually... you're in a good mood today, Kou-kun. Did something good happen?」

「Yeah. Well, I guess you could say that. I'm not in a bad mood, need to talk about something? Don't hesitate to tell me.」

「Somehow, when Kou-kun is happy, it makes me happy too! That's how you should be, Kou-kun!」

Ahh, that's how I should be. I was pissed off because of you, but in a way I'm now getting back to my old self thanks to you.

I'll thank you for that.

「Thanks. So, what's up?」

「Ah, sorry. Right, I almost forgot. You see, I have a little favor to ask...」

「What is it? Tell me anything.」

「Well then, after school today──」

After setting up the appointment one-sidedly, my ex-girlfriend (for sure) was called away by her cronies and left the classroom. Judging from the conversation I eavesdropped on this morning, she probably plans to dump me after school.

But unfortunately for her, that "after school" is never going to come.

……And so time passed, and it became lunch break.

Just as Yuu told me yesterday, I went into the computer room.

「Yo, I've been waiting for you.」

Yuu called out casually, and at his feet was a strange object.

「What's with that beat-up old laptop of yours?」

I couldn't even tell how many years old it was, but there was a beat-up, paint-chipped laptop that just screamed "old".

「The guys in the computer club here lent me something they built for fun from junk parts they had stored in the warehouse. Guys in these kinds of clubs must really not be popular with girls, when I told them the situation, they said I could use it as I pleased. They even said it was okay if it broke.」

We just came up with a concrete plan last night. When on earth did he make arrangements with the computer club guys? He's a fast worker.

「It's just a computer built from old junk. It's slow to start up, and it's a pain to do anything on it. But we're only using it this one time. If we use the school computers, we'll be detected immediately, but not with this thing.」

When I peeked at the computer, a strangely nostalgic desktop screen came up. Wasn't this the default for the OS from two generations ago?

「So, first, we attach this USB router. Then connect the pocket WiFi I brought.」

A countermeasure for the fact that we can't use the school's servers, huh.

Yuu proceeds with the work skillfully.

Did he always like tinkering with machines like this?

「And then, I'll dump all of Kiyama's contacts into the burner email I made beforehand. ...The prep work is already done, so there's no need to input them one by one. And this is the main dish! I'll just attach the file packed with evidence of Kiyama's misdeeds to the email. They probably don't even dream that we have something like this. Kuh kuh kuh...」

「You've got a wicked look on your face. But I know how you feel.」

The work progresses steadily, though the machine is certainly slow. It took some time, but now all that's left is to press a single click.

「Alright, from here on out, it's your job. I saved the best part for you.」

Yuu moved away from the computer, his attitude plainly saying, "I'll leave the finishing touch to you".

「Yeah. Now that we're here, leave the rest to me. ...I'll make you pay for all the trouble you've put me through. I hope you enjoy your taste of hell!」

「Whew, scary, scary. But, well. When I think that we can finally get one up on that annoying bastard... the laughter just won't stop! Hyahyahya!」

With Yuu laughing boisterously in the background since no one else was around, I slowly pressed the send button, delivering a one-way ticket to hell to Kiyama and Meari.

「When this is over, let's get the senpais and Taki who helped us together. How about a karaoke party at your part-time job?」

「Oh, sounds good. Go ahead and drop some serious cash!」

「Just you watch, I'll show you the biggest splurge of my life.」

Just as the revenge began, I found myself wanting to trade such lighthearted banter... I wonder what state of mind I'm in?