V2Ch9: New daily life, a woman who clings to him forever.

Translator: Soafp

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Since this school is in another prefecture, no information about Ryosuke was known at all. Although they had heard about the false accusation in the news, no one thought that Ryosuke was the victim of the crime.

It was also significant that the name of the high school he attended before was withheld from the public due to the school’s consideration.

Thanks to this, he is able to lead a safe school life.

─ ─ Thanks to Usui-kun, I am doing well at my new school. He introduced me to many people, and thanks to him, I have made many acquaintances.

And no one has ever apologized to me… I never thought I would feel so refreshed just because of that.

“Yamamoto, are you good at Japanese?”

“…… no, it’s average”

I was approached by a boy in my class.

However, I can’t get the conversation going, and we soon lose track of each other. But the classmates leave without showing any sign of concern.

I used to talk to people on my own without hesitation, but now I have no idea how to talk to them, or what kind of feelings I used to have when talking to others back then……. I have no idea, and I can’t remember a bit of it.

“Yamamoto-kun, have you adjusted to school?”

“……Yes.”

“Good! Let me know if there’s anything you don’t understand!”

“…… Got it.”

This time I talked to another male student.

Even though I tried hard to keep my mind fully occupied, all I could come up with were monotonous words. I can’t offer him a very pleasant conversation.

The friendly guy waved his hand as he walked away.

I try to simulate in my head what I should have said, but even that doesn’t work.

I guess the fear that was instilled in me at my previous school is stuck in the core of my being.

It’s hard to wash it away. I’ve been trying for over a year to get them to stop messing with me.…… Damn it!

(…… no, calm down ……)

I take a deep breath and calm down.

It is good to have more people to talk to besides Mai.

Thinking positively like that is good.

I don’t think about living in a small world anymore.

I’m struggling right now, but from now on I’m going to make friends with a lot of people and light up my frozen life.

[Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think!]

Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about it!

If I live a normal life, people won’t hate me so easily.

But I can’t trust them because they lived a normal life and I ended up like this!

…… Haa …… haa ……

………

When I’m alone, I think about unnecessary things.

I hope one day I can forget this fear and start talking to people on my own.……

…… I looked at Mai, who was sitting in her seat, to calm myself down.

“…………Ah.”

Our eyes meet and she winks at me.

She’s cute, and most of all, I’m glad to see her looking so well.

I have a lot of thoughts I want to tell her, but I can’t say them out loud.

I used to be able to say them frankly, but I’m a …… coward.

I want Mai to always be by my side no matter what happens in my life from now on. If only she would allow me to do so, I would like to spend all my time with Mai from now on.……

Say that, me.

My feelings for her are not simple things like …… love or trust. It’s hard to put it into words, but she is irreplaceable. She is truly vital to my life.

At the time when Mai slept with me — I probably would have broken my heart completely if I had stayed alone. I don’t know why I feel that way. That night, I was in a lot of pain.

Mai has saved my life many times.

She appears dashingly in a pinch.

She is a cute and kind hero.

I don’t know how to repay her kindness.

“See you later! Ryosuke~!”

She breaks up with her friends and rushes over to me.

I’m glad she has made some friends at this school.

“Let’s go to the store!”

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

I was still with Mai at the new school.

Because of this, a rumor spread that we were lovers from the first day we transferred to the new school. It was true, but I felt bad that Mai looked embarrassed.

Unlike me, Mai has been attending this school for half a year. There were no classmates who made fun of her like at her old school, so it seems that some boys were secretly targeting Mai.

I can clearly see how corrupt the people at the other school were.

They don’t scorn or put me down …… much less try to mend my attitude. They are genuinely trying to get along with me.

It’s been a long time since I’ve received a genuinely genuine friendly attitude. But I can’t reply with a smile. I’m at a loss for words.

………

………

But that’s okay. …… Don’t forget.

I am just a stranger to them. I’ve learned a lot in my life about how it feels to be betrayed when I trust someone wholeheartedly.

I have to use that lesson.

Don’t trust even if I feel secure.

Still, I’m thankful to be out of the public eye.

No matter how awkwardly I speak, people are always kind to me.

Now I don’t even know if I should accept their kindness.

I can’t shake off the fear of being abandoned.

But …… if the relationship continues, I feel like I can take another step forward this time.

I hate the words “Let’s work hard.”

I’ve never been rewarded for my efforts in the past…… so I’ve become bitter that hard work is pointless.

But I’m spending my days telling myself ‘Let’s do my best’ one last time.

“Ooi! Ryosuke!”

“Ah, Usui-kun.”

It’s been a week today since I started going to school.

I had an appointment with Usui-kun to eat at the cafeteria.

Usui-kun comes in with a bowl of ramen for me. I made him do something like a chore. …… He said, “I’ll buy it for you,” but I should have refused.

The cafeteria is very noisy.

The voices of unfamiliar students are inevitably heard.

“……Nooo~!”

“Pepper in your ramen tastes good!”

“Hahaha!”

“He is just joking around….borrowing something without returning it”

{I’ll never forgive him.}

{I don’t know how you got into this school.}

{Hahahaha}

T-they’re not talking about …… me, are they?

Because that’s what I’ve been told for years …… that I’m a good student!

I don’t know, I don’t know.

I don’t know. They are strangers, so I don’t know how those people feel.

Oh, I’m not good in crowded places. ……I haven’t told Usui-kun this, but I’m not good at it. Because some people laugh at me.

“Itadakima~su.”

“……Itadakimasu.”

I sipped my ramen without saying anything.

Usui-kun asked me to be honest with him if I’m having a hard time, but that doesn’t mean I can’t put up with it.

I can stand a little bit of backbiting. I don’t deserve to complain about it to a bunch of strangers, but I can’t let Usui-kun get into trouble. It’s not self-sacrifice. I’m reading the atmosphere. I’m a professional. A professional in patience. I can’t have any problems now that I’m finally able to go to school. Besides, I won’t bother you, Usui-kun. I have to be careful not to make him wish he didn’t have to go to school with me.

I’ll keep slurping my ramen while looking at Usui-kun’s face.

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“Yamamoto! Good morning!”

“Good morning, ……”

“Ah, Good morning, Yamamoto!”

“Good morning……”

People at this school talk to me happily.

“—Good night!”

“Good night, Mai.”

That day, I went home and called Mai until late.

However, as soon as we hung up, I had nothing to do. Or rather, there was nothing I wanted to do …… so nothing.

There is a very intense boredom and a deafening silence.

I haven’t played the social game I started with Mai for almost a year. Still, when I logged in for the first time in a while, I found that almost half of my friends had been deleted.

These people are terrible at cutting me off.

“…………”

I’m going to bed.

My mom is probably sleeping, so I might as well go to bed.

If I stay up too late, Nee-san will show up. She always comes when I’m weak. She’s a cowardly and cunning woman.

Still, I was supposed to have a fun school life, but …… I have not made friends with the people Usui introduced me to, and I am stuck in a relationship of acquaintance.

I’m sorry for all the help I’ve been given.

It will take a little longer for me to enjoy school.

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〜From Kaede’s point of view~

“Studio 2 is open!”

“Okay.”

Kaede replies to the staff’s call.

She got up from her chair and headed to the floor where a plain white background panel was set up.

—I’ve been working as a model since I graduated from high school.

The reason is that I really needed the money.

I don’t have time to go to college.

It would destroy me if I spent all that time.

After my mother told me what had happened, I made up my mind to stay away from Ryosuke. I never thought that I would be the cause of his illness. …… I really did something irreversible.

But that resolve is torn apart in three months.

I still can’t stand not being able to see Ryosuke for the rest of my life. I’d rather praise myself for putting up with it for three months.

Everyday life without Ryosuke by my side is hell itself. I don’t feel alive.

That’s why I decided to look for him.

But this time, it’s not going to be easy.

I searched my dad’s room, but there was no information…….

I don’t know where he’s going to be hospitalized or even where he’s going to go to school.

I’m impressed that my mom …… has taken precautions.

I guess she doesn’t trust my dad even a millimeter anymore.

(But thanks to her, I can’t see Ryosuke! I hate it!)

I was at my wit’s end, but I can’t really see Ryosuke if I just keep being pessimistic.

I think of various ways …… then I remember that I am frequently scouted in the city to become a model. This being the case,…… I made the decision to abandon my life for Ryosuke.

[Eh? You don’t want to go to college?]

[Yes.]

Mom looked surprised at my decision.

I was stopped many times, but I was not going to listen to her, and I didn’t even tell her that I was going to model. …… I told appropriate lies and deceived her.

It would be troublesome if she got a strange idea.

I had a dream of working for a big company.

I had always dreamed of being a career woman after watching a TV drama,…… and having subordinates to follow, getting adoring glances from Ryosuke, and providing for my cute little brother for the rest of my life.

But now I am working as a model, a lowly job.

I’m going to hire a detective to find Ryosuke, …… but I need money for that. And to support Ryosuke, I’ll need more money.

I was born with good looks.

And sure enough, I’ve made quite a bit of money on my appearance alone.

And that in just one month.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.”

Today, I will be shooting with a male model, Yusei Tachibana. Although he has a very well-dressed appearance, he is not quite as good looking as Ryosuke.

A man I’m not particularly interested in……

………

………

…… hmmm?

Come to think of it, he’s still in high school, right?

Maybe he knows Ryosuke.

Maybe his school is the one he transferred to by coincidence. …… It’s unlikely, but I’ll ask him just in case.

“Yusei Tachibana-kun.”

“Hmm What’s the matter?”

“You are a high school student, right? Are you going to school properly?”

“Eh? …… Well, yes. I have friends I want to see.”

“Well, didn’t a boy named …… Yamamoto recently moved in?”

“Matsumoto?”

“No, it’s Ryosuke Yamamoto.”

“Oh, excuse me, ………… Yamamoto …… Ryosuke ……?”

(Come to think of it, I think that’s the name of the guy who transferred to our school last week. ……)

“Yes……? Do you know him? Any idea?”

“No, I have no idea.”

(……I’m not going to say anything more than I have to ……. I’ve talked to a lot of girls in my life and I know that …… this woman is a little crazy. It’s best not to get involved – and I don’t want boys I’ve never talked to to hate me.)

“Then it’s fine…… thanks for your time.”

“No, …… it’s fine.”

─ ─ Yusei Tachibana never spoke until the end.

This model male named Yusei Tachibana often invites women he has performed with to dinner. If the other party is as beautiful as Kaede, he definitely asks her out.

However, he did not do so this time.

It seems that Kaede’s danger and abnormality can be understood by those who recognize it……. She is trying to hide it well, but Kaede’s skin is slowly peeling off……

(It will take a few more months to reach the targeted amount. But once the money is saved up, I can hire a detective and meet with Ryosuke after a long time. ……Day by day I can’t see Ryosuke……I can almost say goodbye to the painful days where I can’t see Ryosuke anymore……!)

─ ─ And he won’t even notice it.

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