Chapter 12 | The Third Betrayal

“Was it Sakamoto-senpai? That’s not true. Nakagawa-san did not go out with me of her own volition. She was forced to go out with me by Kinjo-san.”

Machida immediately denies it.

Yuuji has a good feeling toward him for defending the woman who betrayed him. But the nicer he is, the more guilt-ridden he feels.

However, Kinjo, who was listening to this, was as flustered as Youka.

“Eh, ah, this, no, I didn’t force you to do it… I-I didn’t force you to that extent!? I just suggested that you try going out with her…”

“Karen-sama?”

“Karen-sama, how are you? It’s unusual for you to be upset with a gentleman.”

“Both of you, shut up now!”

“Hi-hyah!”

—Kinjo Karen desperately denied it, but Yuuji didn’t hear about it.

Right now, Yuuji sees only Machida, the victim, and Youka, who is at the center of the problem.

“Did you say ……, Machida-kun?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Is that all right with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do you think about Youka’s two-timing?”

“No… but I heard that you two are pretending to be lovers now…?”

“I was planning on it, but from what everyone is saying, I think Youka had feelings for me. I’m surprised at that myself… but if that story is true, it can’t be called faking, can it? If you have romantic feelings for someone, it’s totally cheating.”

“…That’s true…”

“You’re wrong, Sakamoto-senpai!! It’s not cheating!! I’ve only liked Senpai from the beginning!!… I didn’t betray senpai, you know? I’m different from your childhood…”

“……”

It was a grave pit, and oil on fire, in other words.

If he had kept quiet, there was a slight chance that Machida-kun, who was surprisingly clever, might have somehow managed to settle the situation.

However, when Yuuji heard about Youka’s feelings, the negative emotions he had felt recently came rushing back to him.

The cold feelings he had felt for Airi when she betrayed him came flooding back to Youka.

“Don’t you feel sorry for… Machida-kun?”

“…that’s… but that’s just Kinjo-san forcing us to…”

Youka replies with a swim in her eyes.

But it’s almost a false excuse.

Hearing Youka’s argument, Yuuji turned his attention to Kinjo Karen for the first time.

“Hey, blonde, is what Youka is saying true? Did you force her to be so?”

“Blonde hair… you don’t remember me after all…”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, no! I don’t have anything to say–Ah, to answer your question, it was a joke, but I didn’t force her to go out with him. But it’s true that I’m the cause… very sorry”

Karen answers honestly while her eyes swim.

For some reason, the young lady does not seem to want to lie to Yuuji, even if it puts her at a slight disadvantage.

Therefore, there is no lie in what she just said.

It was all because she was agitated and Youka was on the receiving end.

But of course, Yuuji was skeptical.

He turned his attention to Youka again and asked her this time.

“Are you being bullied?”

“… That’s not the case…”

“Then what do you mean? You’re going out with Machida-kun and pretending to be dating me, right? If that’s the case, it’s bad for Machida-kun, so break up with me right now–“

“I said it earlier, but the only person I like in this world is Sakamoto-senpai!! That’s my true feelings!! I’m not serious about Machida-kun! We haven’t kissed, of course, and we don’t even hold hands!!”

Hearing those words now, Yuuji felt his strength rapidly drain from his body.

“… I see.”

──Youka speaks without thinking about Machida-kun.

As if she didn’t care about hurting him… she’s just talking to defend herself.

“You’re disgusting, Youka… you failed me.”

“Eh… no, no senpai… no no no no no no!!”

Youka… loses her composure after receiving cold words.

However, more than her cold words, Yuuji’s staring gaze was more frightening to him than anything else.

After all, her gaze had exactly the same nature as the one she was looking at Airi, so Youka… was trembling from the bottom of her heart.

“Machida-kun… I’m really sorry… I can’t make excuses for not knowing. I was dating Youka while you were dating her.”

“… no… it’s fine… yes”

“Youka…”

“……Yes.”

Yuuji exhaled shallowly and then said the words clearly so that Youka would not miss them.

“I never dreamed that I would have to tell Youka before Airi.”

“Wa, wait—”

“Farewell, let’s end our relationship.”

“…H-Ah…U-Uuu…Sorry…Senpai…”

Youka sat down and hung her head. Her body was shaking even more and large tears were streaming from her eyes. She would not be able to stand up for a while.

The only thing Youka thought about was Yuuji, and what she ended up with was exactly what she deserved.

“Um, please wait, Yuuji-sama!”

The one who couldn’t bear to call out was Kinjo Karen, who was one of the causes of this hellish situation.

She’s not as strong as Youka, but she’s also blushing as she approaches Yuji.

“… Um… I really didn’t mean to do that…”

“No, what the hell are you? Can you stop talking to me? I don’t like girls like you in general.”

“…………Eh?”

“Machida-kun.”

“Oh, yes.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s okay…”

──Finally, Yuji bowed to Machida and left the place.

No one was chasing after him…because no one in this place was in a state of mind to afford it.

“Karen-sama…perhaps you liked that gentleman?”

“No way… are you sure about that, Karen-sama!”

“I’m quitting school already!! I choose this kind of school!! Because Yuuji-sama was here, I rejected the recommendation of the best high school in Japan!! Ahh!! I just said a little bit of sarcasm to Nakagawa-san!! Nakagawa-san took it in between and started dating Tanaka-kun~……Uwaaaaa~~n!!”

“Wait for me, Karen-sama~!”

Karen started running, crying. She was crying a lot.

Without wiping her runny nose, she disappeared from the scene as fast as she could.

The two shadowy cronies also followed her and left the place.

“… I don’t care about anything anymore… Senpai… why is this… Ugh…”

This time, Youka stood up and headed for the entrance to the elevator, swaying unsteadily. She probably intends to leave early without going back to the classroom.

Incidentally, Karen, who ran away earlier, and the two followers who chased after her also left early.

Therefore, Machida is the only one left here.

“Hey, what the hell. I’m sure I’m the one who got hurt the most, so why do I have to be told like that? She never liked me at all. Isn’t saying that in front of me way too much? Goddamn it, that woman! I’m leaving too!”

Here comes an additional returnee.

Machida-kun… a victim of the super-extreme, also ran out of the courtyard like a hare, aiming for the elevator entrance.

It is a relief, at least, that there were fewer people than usual today and no one was watching us. If my classmates had seen me, it would have been a catastrophe.

The courtyard was empty, and a pleasant spring breeze was blowing gently in the air.

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