Chapter 3: Awkward Atmosphere

「I'm heading out...」

I leave through the front door and head to the elevator. I pressed the down button, and the elevator came down shortly after.

The morning after that night. I was a little sleep-deprived.

First the incident with Honoka, then Shigure's fake relationship proposal. I can't keep up with what's happening anymore.

I really want to believe that what I saw yesterday was just a hallucination brought on by shock.

Being a beautiful girl's boyfriend would probably be an once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. But I don't want to fake a relationship with that Shigure. I don't want to get dragged into trouble with that senpai.

When I got off the elevator and exited the entrance, I saw familiar brown hair. It's Honoka.

Honoka lives one floor above mine. So we often go to school together in the mornings.

「Ah, Kanato! Good morning! Let's go to school!」

Honoka calls out to me as usual.

Until yesterday, I would have happily gone to school with her. But having witnessed yesterday's incident, I didn't feel like being next to her.

After agonizing over what to do, I spoke up to Honoka.

「Hey, how about we stop going together from today?」

「Eh...」

Honoka froze with a blank expression.

I owe Honoka for all the kindness she's shown me. But I don't feel like repaying that to her now. Honoka was just pitying someone like me. If I'm going to be pitied, it's better to keep my distance.

「W-Why? Did someone say something to you?」

「...I've been thinking lately. If someone like me goes to school with Honoka, your fans will look at me strangely and cause more trouble. So it would be better if we went separately.」

「No, that's not true! I want to go to school with Kanato...」

「You might want to, but I don't. We should go to school separately.」

「B-But! Even if someone says something, I'll handle it! Tell me if anything unpleasant happens!」

Honoka's voice was as straightforward as it used to be.

But that straightforwardness was too bright for me.

「Even if I tell you, nothing will change! It's always "why you" no matter how many times we go through this! ...Anyway, let's go separately today.」

When I said it firmly, Honoka nodded dejectedly.

I said I'd go ahead and headed toward school.

I lied. I really wanted to confront her about what I heard yesterday. But I couldn't. I was scared.

Scared of being told to my face by Honoka that she hates me. Scared of being told that everything until now was a lie.

If that was going to happen, I thought it was better to lie. Even though I hate lies.

I walk alone on the road we usually walk together. My heart aches, but this is for both our sakes.

There's no obligation for us to go to school together anyway. When I'm with Honoka, false rumors get spread, and nasty people compare us and make fun of me. It's somewhat easier being alone.

Enduring the pain in my chest, I walked for about ten minutes until I could finally see the school gate.

The area in front of the gate at this time is overflowing with students going to school. The main entrance is already packed.

Just as I was trying to get inside quickly by walking fast through the school gate area, someone tugged hard on my sleeve.

I stop myself from stumbling forward. Following my gaze from the sleeve to the hand, then the arm, I saw Shigure there.

「Ignoring me like this, you've got some nerve.」

「I just didn't notice. ...What?」

「What do you mean "what"? You know what this is about, right?」

Yesterday's events under the bridge came to mind.

I turn toward Shigure with a sigh. Judging by the sharp eyes glaring at me disapprovingly, it seemed like she wouldn't let me escape.

I can tell that students around us are glancing our way. Getting caught in such a conspicuous place was the worst possible misfortune.

「So? What's your answer? You didn't come without thinking about it, did you?」

「I'm thinking of loudly announcing the color of your panties here.」

「Why would you do that!!!」

「...I've my own issues. Can't you postpone this?」

「Impossible.」

It was a faint hope, but apparently there's no room for negotiation. I seem to have to make the biggest decision of my life right here, right now.

「Ehh...」

「If you don't decide here, I'll spread rumors.」

「Huh, if it isn't Shigure-chan~!」

I hate to say it myself, but my bad premonitions tend to come true. This time was no exception.

Bleached hair that hurts to look at and a muscular body. There stood the rumored Minazuki-senpai.

「Have you thought about my confession? I'm getting pretty tired of waiting...」

「He's my boyfriend.」

「Ha?」

「Eh?」

Minazuki-senpai's sharp gaze pierces through me. I could tell the target had shifted to me.

That Shigure bastard dragged me in without hearing my answer. She naturally links arms with me as if she'd brought her real boyfriend.

Apparently, my escape route has already been cut off. If I want to survive, I just have to charge forward.

「...Heh~, so you really did have a boyfriend. I thought it was a lie.」

「I told you before, didn't I? That I've a boyfriend my age who's kind of plain but doesn't look bad.」

「...It seems my Shigure has caused you trouble. I'd appreciate it if you didn't let her be too much of a bother.」

I glare back at Minazuki-senpai, who's scrutinizing me like he's appraising me. I feel bad about lying, but it can't be helped in this situation. If I'm going to resent anyone, I'll resent Shigure afterward.

While I was internally trembling at the thought of physical violence, Minazuki-senpai turned toward the school building.

「Well, whatever. If that's the case, I'll give up.」

Surprisingly, Minazuki-senpai said it casually. It's obvious those words are lies, though.

「...That's definitely a lie.」

I mutter while watching Minazuki-senpai's retreating back. I intuitively understood that my school life from now on would become a path of carnage.

「He's gone. We'll be doing this for a while, so I'm counting on you.」

「How shameless after dragging me into this...」

「Come on, don't just stand there dazed, let's go. We'll be late.」

「Hey, wait!」

Pulled by Shigure's hand, I was dragged toward the school building.