Chapter 6: Lunchbreak Battle

The sound of the bell rings out, announcing the arrival of lunch break.

I stretch my stiff body from class and stand up. As called during the earlier break, I've to head to the rooftop.

Honestly, I'd like to dissolve this fake relationship right now, but if I go against her, there's no telling what she might spread around. I need to head to Shigure's place before I get on her bad side.

「Wait!」

Just as I was taking my lunch from my bag to leave the classroom, a voice called out to stop me from behind.

I turned around, and sure enough Honoka was grabbing the sleeve of my uniform.

「Hey, want to eat lunch together today...?」

Honoka asks while looking up at me, gauging my reaction. The destructive power of that look was almost unbearable, but I steel myself and gently remove Honoka's hand.

「Sorry, I already have plans today. Maybe another time.」

「I-Is that about Shigure-san?」

My heart lurched at the mention of Shigure's name.

The rumors about Shigure and I've already spread. They must have reached Honoka's ears too.

My relationship with Shigure is fake. I felt a bit guilty lying to Honoka, but this is my problem. There's no need to drag her into it.

『He's gloomy, timid, and not cool at all.』

Honoka's words from yesterday still lingered in my mind.

I find myself feeling even a tiny bit of revulsion toward her. The fact that such a self exists within me disgusted me.

I averted my gaze from Honoka. I didn't feel like I could push her away while looking at her face.

「...That's none of your business.」

「It's my business! We're childhood friends...」

「Who I eat lunch with, what I do, that's up to me. Honoka doesn't need to worry about it.」

「B-But...」

「Well, I've to go now.」

I ignored Honoka's voice trying to hold me back and left the classroom.

▼▽

When I reached the rooftop, I could see a cloudless blue sky. The clear air passes through my lungs, carrying fresh oxygen to my brain.

The rooftop of our Shinshin Academy has high fences as well as wooden benches and tables installed. It's a consideration from the school so students can stretch their wings during the less crowded break times.

The rooftop at this time isn't exactly bustling, but you can see students here and there. Among them, the girl who shines brightest is undoubtedly a madonna.

「Hey, there's that liar again.」

「Stop it. I heard Minazuki-senpai is targeting her... Well, she's probably just deceiving him anyway.」

「Uwa~ what a bitch...」

The brighter Shigure's radiance, the larger her shadow becomes.

I don't know if they don't recognize me, or if they're making snide remarks about me too, but it was clear that several groups of girls were talking behind Shigure's back.

I hate lies. And I hate gossip even more.

「Um, you three over there. If you want to badmouth my girlfriend, should I call her over?」

「Eh, ah, no...」

「I think it would get your message across better if you said it directly rather than muttering here like this, don't you think?」

When I said that, the three of them hurriedly left the rooftop.

After seeing the three off, I head toward Shigure. Confirming that I've arrived, Shigure waved her hand slightly.

「Good work. You didn't have to do anything about that.」

「You were watching... I hate that kind of thing. If you're going to say something, say it to their face.」

「You don't deny what they're saying itself though. What a strange person.」

Shigure said this with a small smile. That smile itself didn't seem to contain any lies.

「...So, what do you want? A confession?」

「Didn't I finish that yesterday?」

「If that's what it was, it was a pretty bland confession...」

「Don't be greedy. You should be grateful you can sit next to me.」

「Why are you the one on top...」

The way she deflects my retort with an expression that seems to say "Isn't that obvious?" shows that Shigure is quite the oddball too.

「So what do you really want?」

「I just thought we should eat together, though?」

「...Seriously?」

「Dead serious. Even if we're a fake couple, we need to act somewhat friendly, right? So we should get to know each other a bit.」

I swallowed the words that had reached my throat at her undeniable reasoning.

Since I've been dragged into this fake relationship, I need to do my part to keep myself safe. As Shigure says, I need to be able to act close enough to seem like we get along.

「First, drop the polite speech.」

「...Got it, Ren.」

「I haven't given you permission to use my first name.」

「Got it, Shigure. ...So what else should I do?」

「Let's see... First, could you do something about those people?」

Following Shigure's gaze, there was the figure of the bleached-haired man I saw this morning.

「...Seriously?」