Chapter 12: What is a Real Relationship?

「...Excuse me.」

I leave the faculty office and head toward the main entrance.

I glanced at the hallway where I was talking with Honoka earlier, but she was already gone.

My mind was still filled with thoughts of Honoka.

There must have been much better ways to handle it. If I had told a good lie or two, that situation would probably have been settled peacefully.

But I couldn't do that. As a result, I ended up hurting Honoka.

Even though she was talking behind my back, the fact that she had helped me was true. If possible, I didn't want to hurt her.

「...Haa.」

I exhale as if expelling my growing regret. Still, a murky feeling remained in my chest.

Suddenly my smartphone in my pocket vibrated. It's probably Shigure, I think as I take out my smartphone, and sure enough, it was a message notification from Shigure.

I thought I'd be scolded for being late or something, so when I looked at the message expecting complaints, I was shocked into stillness.

『Help me.』

I started running toward the entrance.

▼▽

I arrived at the entrance thinking "It would be the worst if that message was a lie", but I realized that at least the worst-case scenario I had envisioned wouldn't happen.

However, at the same time, I realized something else. Looking at the crowd that had formed in front of the entrance, I knew something even worse was going to happen.

「Hey, that's...」

「Uwa, Minazuki-senpai is at it again...」

「Ahh geez, this is the worst...!」

I push through the crowd and enter inside. In the middle of the crowd were, as expected, Shigure and Minazuki-senpai.

「Tsukishiro-kun!」

As soon as Shigure confirms my presence, she runs to me. I stood between Shigure and Minazuki-senpai and his companions, glaring at the detestable blonde hair.

「More trouble again, Minazuki-senpai. I can't approve.」

「You again... Well, whatever.」

Minazuki-senpai looked at me with genuine annoyance, then showed me his smartphone screen.

The screen displayed photos from Shigure's secret account. You could tell from looking at the camera roll that it's not just one photo, but dozens of photos saved.

「...!」

Behind me, Shigure gasped. I shield her behind me and glare at Minazuki-senpai.

「This is Shigure-chan, right?」

「Who knows? Maybe it's a case of mistaken identity? There are fifty thousand people in this world who look similar.」

「Anyone can see it's Shigure-chan. There aren't many women with this kind of figure. What do you think?」

Doing this deliberately in front of students shows Minazuki-senpai's bad personality. Shigure remained silent at his question.

「There's no proof that photo is real.」

「There's no proof it's fake either, right? ...Anyway, she probably did this out of desire for recognition, right? Your true nature is that of a lewd woman who shows her underwear to unspecified people.」

Shigure grabbed my sleeve tightly as if frightened by Minazuki-senpai's words. Unlike before, that hand is trembling slightly.

I felt anger. At this bastard making such a spectacle. At this atmosphere where no one tries to help.

「...I can't overlook insults toward my girlfriend. Someone like you who only thinks about the lower half shouldn't be insulting Shigure.」

「Haha, that woman is deceiving people, you know? You too. In the end, you're just a fake boyfriend she made to escape from me. If you want to say you're real, do something couple-like.」

Minazuki-senpai and his companions laughed vulgarly.

Even I had reached my limit. I can't beat three people, but I could at least punch that blonde bastard in the face once.

Just as I was about to take a step forward. My sleeve was suddenly pulled hard and I lost my balance.

A cheek touches my face. Pulled in by the momentum, my face approaches Shigure's face and—

Chuu

A soft sensation overlapped with my lips. My mind goes completely white from the sudden attack, and something like cheers rise from the surrounding students.

That surprise attack was only for a moment, but it was soft, warm, and above all, Shigure's resolve was conveyed to me through that strike.

I wasn't the only one stunned; Minazuki-senpai was too.

「...It's not fake. This feeling is real. This person isn't someone trash like you should be mocking. Don't make fun of my Kanato!」

Shigure's shout resonated painfully. Shigure's maximum insult toward Minazuki-senpai seems to have stuck deep in his heart. His trembling fist told that story.

「You bitch...!」

「Shigure, get behind me—」

「Oi, what's all this commotion!」

What broke the atmosphere that seemed about to burst was the voice of the judo club advisor. Seeing the advisor who came from somewhere after hearing the commotion, Minazuki-senpai shows agitation.

I make eye contact with Sena in the crowd. I definitely received the intention of his wink.

「Thanks Sena...! Shigure!」

I took Shigure's hand and fled the school.