Chapter 26: More Painful Than Expected

「It was rough today... being looked at strangely by everyone around.」

On the usual way home. I tried talking to Shigure, but no response came back.

This incident seems to be getting to even Shigure, and unusually, she's visibly affected.

Previously, when her back-account photos were leaked, she showed signs of being troubled but never let it show on the surface. Just as I'm changing, Shigure is changing too.

「...What's wrong, Shigure? This isn't like you.」

「...It's nothing.」

「It can't be nothing. ...Aren't you worrying too much? Those rumors aren't true, right? You don't need to worry so much about it, just be confident like before.」

「That's not it. ...It's just painful.」

It was just when I stopped walking at her unusually weak words.

「Yo, Shigure-chan. Long time no see.」

At the worst possible timing, the worst thing happens. Faced with the appearing Minazuki-senpai, I stood between the two to protect Shigure.

「...It has been a while, senpai. You've been quiet lately, what happened? Could it be that getting thoroughly scolded by your advisor was effective?」

「I wasn't talking to you. Just move aside.」

「I can't do that. ...You came to poke at Shigure after hearing about the current rumors, didn't you? Did you think you could have your way if you got dirt on her?」

At my provocation, Minazuki-senpai's eyebrow twitched slightly. That small change gave the suspicions I felt about Misumi's case a bit more reality.

「...Did you think you could do it with someone loose?」

「You...!」

「Tsukishiro-kun, no!」

Suspicion became conviction.

At that moment, a dull pain runs through my right cheek. A fist from a man who trains daily is different indeed. Even knowing it was coming, avoiding it was impossible for me.

From the impact on my cheek, I stagger back slightly. Minazuki-senpai, breathing heavily, apparently didn't have the courage for a follow-up attack.

「...Haha, you finally did it, senpai. Even though you were restraining yourself. Impatient men are disliked, you know?」

「Remember this...」

I watched Minazuki-senpai's back as he left and collapsed on the spot. The impact of the punch is still shaking around in my brain.

「Tsukishiro-kun!」

「Ahh, that hurt... Doing that just because we're off campus...」

「Are you okay!? I'll treat it right away...」

「I'm fine. I just got punched. No strange injuries.」

「B-But...」

I calm down the panicked Shigure. Apparently me getting punched really affected her, as Shigure was unusually flustered.

「That was pretty tough... Let me rest a bit.」

「...I'm sorry. Because of me...」

「It's not your fault. That person did everything on his own. A punch like that, I just need to tough it out. ...Ow.」

Shigure's expression was deeply downcast. The sense of responsibility weighing on her back is probably making her feel this way.

I want to somehow wipe away that sense of responsibility. I felt that strongly.

「...Worrying won't heal my cheek.」

「...Yeah.」

Shigure's dejected voice seemed like it would fall endlessly.

▼▽

I hadn't realized that seeing someone get hurt in front of me would be so painful.

Tsukishiro-kun got punched while protecting me. Even though he was hit by Minazuki-senpai, who was superior in both build and strength, he put on a brave front while staggering.

I'd seen plenty of people get hurt before. In the end, whatever happened to anyone else is someone else's business, and I feel nothing about it. That's what I thought.

Tsukishiro-kun is a kind person who faces me sincerely. Even though he says he hates liars, I think deep down he can't abandon people.

Seeing such a person get hurt in front of me was painful to watch.

Pain runs through my heart as if I'd been slashed, and even though I wasn't injured, it begins to throb. Seeing his expression as he smiled for me even though it was my fault made my heart squeeze even tighter.

「Shigure, see you tomorrow.」

「...Yeah.」

Looking at Tsukishiro-kun's swollen cheek makes me hate myself. I can never protect the people important to me. In the end, I can only protect myself.

「Shigure, don't think strange thoughts.」

「...I know.」

I part ways with Tsukishiro-kun and get on the elevator. The feeling of sinking against gravity was too heavy to bear alone.

▼▽

The next day. Shigure Ren didn't come to school.