Chapter 2.5: The state of mind of Mio Sakuragi part 2

Translator: Soafp

---

[Mio PoV]

Even in times like these, time continues to flow in equal measure.

I am not even given enough time to regret what I have done, nor am I given the grace to somehow recover from my crying because I cannot protect the people I love.

After Taiga left the classroom…while I was frozen in place, everyone in the class was throwing horrible words at him one after another, as they pleased.

“I was so surprised that we had been friends with such a scum……people really are not what they seem.”

“I feel so sorry for Rena…. And is Sakuragi okay? I guess in a way I’m glad for her. You could have been played by that a*****e.”

How can you say that to a friend who you were laughing with just a few minutes ago…….

At this rate, they must have forgotten that Taiga left his bag with his entire smartphone yesterday.

Even if they did remember, he could have returned the phone with it and made it look as if he took it out of the bag.

Everyone in the class is already a complete enemy of Taiga.

I know, right? They don’t mean it maliciously. I know that they are angry at him for my sake.

If I were his childhood friend and not his girlfriend, I would probably misunderstand him like they do.

But still…….. This is too much!

It seems that when something too painful happens, people can calm down a little bit. I tried to protest to everyone while wiping away the tears that were still streaming down my face.

“Wait…”

I was about to say. A petite girl raised her hand.

“Um! May I have a word?”

It was Tachibana-san, the President. She had a very serious expression on her face and her voice, even for her, was loud enough to attract the attention of the class.

“E-everyone, please calm down for once. I’ve been thinking about it calmly, and I think we should talk to the police about this matter. I don’t care about the n-n-naughty pictures when Yagami and Saito-san were officially dating, but if he really tried to attack her even after they broke up, I think that’s an indisputable crime!”

I think what Tachibana-san is saying is right. Rather, we should definitely talk to the police.

I wonder how seriously they will treat it. From Rena’s testimony, she was his girlfriend until the day of the incident, so I wonder if they will take it seriously.

Of course I have never been in the care of the police, nor do I have any particular knowledge of such things.

I didn’t actually watch the video. Depending on the degree of complication, it might be treated as just a lover’s quarrel between a couple of students.

Still, I would rather bet on the possibility that Taiga’s innocence will be proven in a proper place than that he will be treated as a criminal.

Or rather, since Taiga is innocent, he should be properly proven.

“I agree! Taiga is not a person who would do such a thing! Because… because… I know that he is kinder than anyone else! He was with me yesterday!”

Finally… I managed to squeeze out a few words while sobbing.

I could tell that everyone was surprised that I was able to speak up after not being able to say a single word until a few minutes ago.

But soon, everyone’s eyes turned to pity.

“Poor Mio-chan. You still believe in him even after all this…”

“Mio…you were deceived. It’s okay. You are just confused right now. Leave the rest to us, your classmates.”

No, I’m not! I’m not being deceived! I’m begging you, please listen to me!

“A-Anyway! I’m asking you to objectively investigate whether or not Yagami-kun really did something terrible. Uhm? Are you listening to me??”

Even Tachibana-san, who has little to do with us, is actively speaking up in this atmosphere.

And yet……..I, as a lover, can’t help but to try!

“Everyone, please listen to me.”

“….There’s no need to talk to the police.”

Then it was Rena-chan who raised her voice as if to obstruct my voice.

Rena-chan is considered to be the victim of this event. My voice was drowned out as if it had never been heard, and everyone was focused on her next words.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s enough that I was able to expose his true self in front of everyone. I’m not going to make it too big of a deal. I don’t want to make it too important. I’m sorry but there is a part of me that still wants to forgive him…”

Rena-chan said with tears in her voice.

I’m at a loss for words.

This girl understands her current position perfectly. She’s a very good schemer.

She is a tragic heroine who was dumped by her boyfriend and almost assaulted by him. And this poor girl is the most popular girl in her class.

“So I’m going to erase all the photos and videos he took of me right here and now.”

Wait.

That’s a definite no-no. I have heard that if the police get serious, they can recover videos and such. But I doubt if they would even investigate the case properly, and that would be an absolute no-no.

Rena began to operate the phone while crying…probably acting like a famous actress.

“Oi…are you sure you want to do that? Well, if she’s okay with it, that’s fine.”

“Rena…how kind of you…. I can’t believe he did this to you and you’re still willing to forgive that piece of s**t.”

At that moment, something inside me snapped.

Rena-chan, that woman…the traitor who I thought was my friend, was never protecting Taiga.

Stop kidding around. Enough already….. stop kidding around….

Enough is enough alreadyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Taiga didn’t do anything wrong! Even yesterday, he was with me the whole time after school!?!?

Don’t be fooled, guys! Rena, that woman has been lying to you from the very beginning! CUT IT OUTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!”

I run toward Rena-chan, shouting louder than I’ve ever let out before.

I’ve never been this angry at another person before. I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve even been angry.

Why didn’t I raise my voice for him earlier? I know it’s already reached the point of no return.

But ……….still……………..! There is still something I can do!

Just when I was on the verge of desperately reaching out and grabbing the phone from the lying b***h…

I was suddenly seized by someone from behind.

“Let go of me!”

“Calm down! It’s okay! It’s okay! You’re just confused. See? You’d better rest now. Hey, girls! Don’t just stand there, hold Mio together.”

“”Y-yes!””

Rinto? Why?

If you’re smart, Rinto, you know that if the video is erased, Taiga’s position would be even worse, right?

I apologize to Taiga in my mind while being seized and unable to speak.

(I’m sorry, Taiga…. I couldn’t do anything after all…)

When I looked up from the ground at the face of my former friend, Rena Saito, I felt the corners of her mouth turn up a little.

This b*tch

“LET GO OF MEEEEE!!! TAIGA IS MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

After that, I could only cry and scream until the teachers noticed the commotion and rushed over.

---