Chapter 21: What If I Put On a Boyfriend Act?

Lunch break ended, but even after the chime to resume classes rang, the teacher in charge didn't come in.

The other students started to get restless. The reason, of course, was not that class wasn't starting...

「Oi, did you hear that rumor? About Kiyama kissing a third-year senpai in a classroom after school.」

「I heard he took a first-year girl home with him.」

「The rumor I heard was that he was secretly meeting up with a female teacher.」

「Eh? Seriously? I heard he has a bunch of girlfriends at other schools...」

They're all debating which rumor is true, but unfortunately for them, they're all wrong and all correct.

The answer is, he's done his thing with every single one of them, and to be more precise, even I don't have a grasp on how many partners he really has.

It was while I was enjoying this situation, smirking to myself. It wasn't the teacher for 5th period, but our homeroom teacher who came rushing into the classroom in a panic.

「Haah! ...Sorry for the short notice, but all afternoon classes have been changed to self-study! Everyone, please spend your time quietly. I have to go back to the faculty room, so be quiet.」

After saying his piece, our homeroom teacher rushed out of the classroom again.

It's probably an emergency meeting. He must have slipped out in the middle of it just to give us the message.

I couldn't stop laughing inside. The evidence we spread is without a doubt having an effect.

Well now, Kiyama, how are you going to get out of this mess? I'd love for you to tell me how you're going to take responsibility for the seeds you've sown yourself!

Even if it's been decided that it's self-study, how many of them will actually study diligently?

At the very least, I can confirm that a few people have left this classroom at this very moment.

When I look around, no one has a textbook open. And why would they? No matter how they try, their attention is drawn to the rumors of the scandal involving the school's most popular figure, Kiyama Souta.

I left the classroom to check on the finished product of my work.

I know where I'm headed.

I arrived at the classroom three doors down from mine, Kiyama and Meari's classroom.

Hiding in the shadow of the door, I took a peek inside──should I think "as expected" or "what a shame", but Kiyama was nowhere to be seen.

He's probably been called to the faculty room by now. It's honestly a little sad that I can't see him in a panic.

Well, it can't be helped. More importantly for now...

「W-What's wrong, Meari? Why are you crying?」

「Hic... s-s-so-sorr...y...! ...'cause...！」

Meari, shedding tears, and a girl from her entourage, worrying.

Yes, this is what I wanted to see!

This time, when I spread the data, I asked Yuu to extract only Meari's data. And that data is now in my smartphone.

Therefore, no one knows that Meari was dating him. Since no one knows, no one understands why she's crying.

Meari, who kept their relationship a secret, desperately trying to endure so that it wouldn't be found out by those around her... her appearance is more pathetic and vile than any I had ever seen before, and yet──I could even feel a certain beauty to it.

While feeling excited inside, I deliberately let out a cough in a spot where I couldn't be seen from the classroom door.

「Gohon! Nnh...」

I heard the sound of someone standing up from their seat from inside the classroom. That someone should be a girl I know well.

「Kou-kun!!」

The one who came jumping out was, just as I expected, Meari, her eyes swollen with tears.

「What on earth is wrong? Why do you look like you're about to cry so much?」

Laughing inside, I desperately put on a worried face and approached Meari.

「K-Kou-kun...!」

The moment she saw my face, she began to shed tears as if a dam had broken.

Ahh, ahh! I've been waiting for this moment!

「Oi, oi, are you okay, Meari? Here, I'll lend you a handkerchief.」

「Y-Yeah... thank you, Kou-kun...n」

「Don't cry, Meari. I'm on your side, right?」

「Uh... hic...!」

「I'll listen to any of your troubles. Of course I will.」

「...Uh ...kuh...!」

I can tell that every one of my words is seeping into Meari's heart.

That's right, the thing you wanted so badly that you even betrayed me for it's now in the palm of my hand.

All your pain and sadness, all of it is mine!

Haahhahahahaha!!!!

And now I'm going to crush it and throw it away!

Is there anything more exciting than this?!!