V4Ch23: Red Truth

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

“Before I say anything else, there’s something I have to tell you.”

Akazawa looked straight at me.

I’d known her since we were little, but this was the first time I’d seen that expression on her face. She looked as if she was burdened with something, like she’d made up her mind about something important. That was the impression I got.

She was probably about to say something really significant. I braced myself so that no matter what kind of bombshell she dropped, my mental state wouldn’t be shaken.

“I’ve always liked you, Sho-chan!”

“…Eh?”

What came out of her mouth was completely unexpected.

“And it's not just that I liked you—I loved you!”

“…”

What the hell is this?

I'd been mentally prepared for a serious conversation, but her words totally caught me off guard and left me dumbfounded. Still, the fact that she would go out of her way to say something like this probably meant there was more to come.

“You remember how I used to struggle with my hair color when we were kids, right?”

“Y-Yeah…”

Akazawa used to hate her hair.

I knew very well how much trouble her red hair had caused her. People constantly asked about it. Kids can be cruel—they just blurt out whatever comes to mind.

Being shy and quiet, Akazawa was hurt every time someone asked, “Why is your hair red?” Even though the kids didn't mean any harm, it made her feel like she was being told she was weird for being different.

…Come to think of it, I was always the one who stood up for her.

I explained things to classmates, to teachers. Back then, I just felt like it was the natural thing to do—like it was my responsibility to protect her.

“Whenever I cried, you were always the first one to come running. You'd hug me tight and say kind words. To me, you were like a hero who always came to save me. Like a prince on a white horse.”

Akazawa looked dreamy as she spoke.

Her sudden confession and dreamy expression startled me—but strangely, the content didn't.

As a kid, she had clung to me all the time.

She'd always follow me around and we always played together. So hearing now that she used to like me didn't come as some shocking revelation. Honestly, if she told me she hadn't liked me, that would've been the bigger shock.

And it's precisely because of those sweet memories that her behavior in middle school hit me so hard.

What I wanted to know was what happened after that.

“Back then, you were super popular. Of course you were—you were cooler than anyone else, great at sports… Of course everyone liked you.”

“…”

Can't say I noticed, since Renji—the real protagonist—was always around.

“But I was nothing. Always timid, anti-social… someone totally unworthy of you. That's why I couldn't confess.”

Hard to believe now, but Akazawa used to be really gloomy.

Somehow she had changed—become cheerful and popular, suddenly out of reach for someone like me.

“And you know what made me change? It was you, Sho-chan.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Remember when you told me I should try becoming an idol? Thanks to that advice, I started to change. Bit by bit, I became brighter. I started having fun every day. I gained confidence in myself.”

“…”

“Those were good times, weren't they?”

Yeah, they really were good times.

With Renji, Akazawa, and Aoyama… every day sparkled. I treasured those days I spent with my friends and childhood pals.

“…But I ended up throwing all of that away.”

Suddenly, Akazawa's expression turned tragic, like it was the end of the world.

“I kept regretting everything. I was devastated when you disappeared, furious at how stupid I'd been. My family got disappointed in me, Momoka was seriously angry, and I had to desperately apologize to Yuri-san… My high school life wasn't fun at all—”

She started muttering like it was the end of the world.

“Hey, calm down!”

I grabbed her trembling arm.

“S-Sorry. I just… started remembering how stupid I was in middle school.”

“It's exactly that time I want to hear about. It’s time to tell me.”

“Y-Yeah… you’re right.”

Akazawa gripped the arm I'd used to steady her, took a deep breath like she was trying to calm herself. She finally seemed to settle down.

I was a little concerned that she was still holding my arm, but I didn't want to risk her panicking again, so I let it be.

“Okay, where should I start?”

“Before that, there's something I want to say too. About the rumors that were spreading about me back in middle school.”

“Um, about that—”

As soon as I mentioned the rumors, Akazawa visibly panicked. And from her reaction, I immediately understood what it meant.

“You don't have to say it. I already know everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nekoda told me. She confessed it was her.”

Akazawa froze, surprised that Nekoda had known about my secret identity.

“It was yesterday after school. Nekoda hadn't realized who I was at all. I wasn't planning to say anything, but she saw me talking with Renji. That's when she apologized—said she was the one who spread the rumors.”

She was not the person I had expected.

It was a shock to find out that Nekoda, someone I had always thought was on my side, had been the one behind it.

“…I see. So you found out.”

“After hearing that, I saw you in a different light. Renji didn't know either, so even though you and Nekoda had a falling out, you never told anyone she was the one who spread the rumors, did you?”

“Because Hazuki-chan is my best friend. And besides, I was the root cause of it all.”

So Akazawa had a fight with Nekoda, but never revealed that her best friend was the one behind the rumors. She didn't sell her out.

That, I could respect. If she had thrown her friend under the bus, I probably would've lost all respect for her.

But—

“I've already forgiven Nekoda. Sure, she was at fault too. Even if she did it for a friend, spreading nasty rumors about someone without permission is wrong. But after seeing how I acted back in middle school, I can't really blame her for misunderstanding.”

“…”

“I get that you used to like me. That much makes sense. Which is why I have to ask even more—why did you act like you hated me so much in middle school? What happened to make you treat me like that?”

“I never hated you, Sho-chan! Not even once!”

Her outburst made me blink in surprise.

“It's not just ‘used to like.' I still like you!”

“Wait, huh?”

“I've always liked you. Even during middle school.”

“…Are you serious?”

I tried to recall that time.

Every day at school, she'd mock me. Constantly comparing me to Renji or other guys—it was brutal.

It gave me a serious inferiority complex. There's no way you can claim to like someone while treating them like that.

“Don't lie.”

“I'm not lying.”

“Then what was with that attitude?”

“…That was, um… I'm sorry.”

She bowed her head. But an apology isn't what I want right now.

“If you're really sorry, then just tell me why. You said you'd talk, right?”

“…”

“Did someone threaten you or something?”

Back then, I never would've considered that possibility. But after reconciling with Shirase, Aoyama, and Kuromine—and hearing their sides—I knew better now.

In Shirase's case, there was nothing to really defend, but since we hardly interacted, it didn't hurt as much.

Aoyama pushing me down the stairs wasn't on purpose—she'd been sick and out of it. It was more of an accident. She even apologized constantly through Discord.

And Kuromine was basically a victim herself. Stories had spread without her knowing, twisting things beyond her control.

Maybe Akazawa had her own reasons too—some misunderstanding or circumstance she couldn't speak about at the time. Like someone who hated me forcing her to act that way.

I needed to know. Especially after she just said she's always loved me—my first love and childhood friend.

“…I wasn't being threatened or anything.”

“Huh?”

“But yeah… you're right. I promised myself I'd tell you everything and apologize. I've always meant to say it, but now that I'm finally in front of you, I'm kind of freaking out.”

Akazawa murmured and then looked me in the eyes, her expression now one of determination. Seeing that resolve in her gaze confirmed that there was something serious she'd been keeping hidden.

If there was a real reason behind her behavior back then—

“It's a… habit of mine.”

“…Eh?”

“A kink.”

“…A kink? Wait, what are you talking about?”

Akazawa took a small breath.

“Sho-chan was always so amazing, so cool—you were like a prince to me. And when I'd praise Renji-kun or other boys in front of you, you'd get jealous. Seeing you consumed with jealousy was adorable, and it made me feel unbelievably good. I realized that being the one to make you jealous was the best feeling ever! I knew it was wrong, but I just couldn't stop. Watching you glare at me in jealousy—it was so satisfying!”

“…”

Guilty.