V4Ch24: Red Defeat

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Translator: Soafp

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I was speechless after hearing Akazawa's confession.

I'm ashamed of myself for thinking there might have been some unavoidable circumstances. Just seconds ago, I was even entertaining the idea that maybe we could reconcile, like with the other goddesses. I want to punch that version of myself in the face.

Guilty. Absolutely guilty. Unforgivable.

I shook off Akazawa's hand that had been gripping my arm. She let out a pained little “Ah…” but I wasn't in the mood to care.

…C-calm down. First, I need to verify whether what she just said is actually true.

The nightmare of my middle school years—caused by nothing more than a kink?

I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it. I desperately hoped it was a lie.

“I-is what you just said really true?”

“It's true.”

“…Isn't there some other reason?”

“I just wanted to feel superior by making others jealous. Like I said before, I always loved you, Sho-chan.”

Akazawa gave a self-deprecating smile as she spoke.

It felt like being struck in the head with a blunt object. I wanted to scream that it was a lie, but in some twisted way, it made sense.

I'd always found it suspicious. No matter how you looked at it, going from being inseparable in elementary school to that in middle school made no sense.

I kept looking for reasons. I blamed my looks, my poverty, my short height—anything. But even then, it didn't add up. I wondered if maybe I'd done or said something to deserve being hated like that—

And now the answer was: a kink?

“…”

Completely stunned. I'd heard that humans freeze up when pushed past their emotional limits—and now I knew it was true. I didn't want to know, but I did.

Akazawa went on as if nothing had happened.

“I really hate myself. I'm such an idiot.”

Yeah. You're a complete and utter idiot.

That much is indisputable. But calling it “idiotic” doesn't even begin to cover it.

“If I hadn't gotten off on it, everything would've been fine. You stopped coming to class, and that's when I finally realized what I'd done. I wanted to apologize right away, but I knew that if I tried to force my way in, it would only make the rumors about you worse.”

“…”

“So I tried to help by getting rid of the rumors. But it was all too late. You'd already transferred schools.”

She spoke with a pained expression, but my mind was on the verge of shutting down.

Don't go getting all serious right after that kind of confession. It's useless now. No matter how much pain you show, it's not getting through.

“…Do your parents know?”

“Well, they know I messed up and caused you to transfer. Momoka heard the rumors at school and told them.”

“What about the kink part?”

If they knew about that… it'd be the worst.

The fact that their daughter had some twisted kink—and that I was the victim of it. I couldn't explain why, but I really didn't want her parents to know that.

“I… couldn't bring myself to say that part.”

“I-I see.”

Relief washed over me.

“They were really mad at me. I've never been yelled at like that in my life. My mom especially—she already knew I liked you, so she was even more furious. She kept demanding to know what I was thinking. I just broke down crying.”

“…”

“She called your mom—Yuri-san—right away to apologize. Seeing her like that made me realize again how stupid I'd been.”

Well, my mom and Akazawa's mom are friends.

“By the way, how did Momoka react?”

“She was really mad. She hit me for the first time ever. I always knew she liked you, but I didn't realize it was that deep.”

Well, yeah. Of course she was.

Momoka told me she saw me as her savior. She even confessed that she'd always loved me.

I'd known I was the reason those close-knit sisters had fallen out, but hearing it directly from the person responsible hit differently. And judging by what Akazawa said and how Momoka acted, I had a strong feeling she also knew about the fetish part.

“Come to think of it, you said my mom forgave you.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you tell her about the fetish?”

“Well, that's, um—”

Judging from her hesitation, she clearly hadn't.

Once again, I felt relieved. If my mom had known and still forgiven her, I might have lost faith in her. But since she thought of Akazawa as a friend's daughter—like her own, really—of course she forgave her. Now that I knew the truth, it felt complicated, but… well, it couldn't be helped.

“…”

“…”

Silence filled the air.

Then Akazawa finally spoke.

“Um, I just want to say I'm really sorry. I need to properly apologize. And if you're willing to forgive me—”

“I'm not forgiving you just because you apologized.”

“Eh…”

Akazawa froze.

I had forgiven the other goddesses. Renji said I was being too soft, but I had my own reasons.

Aoyama regretted her actions and had been apologizing ever since. I still had years' worth of proof.

Kuromine was ashamed of how oblivious she'd been and took responsibility for her own closure. I heard that from many people.

Shirase apologized immediately. Back then, I never thought I'd reconcile with any of them, so her offer to be on my side meant a lot. I couldn't excuse what she'd done, but I could at least sympathize with her family situation.

But Akazawa was different.

This girl used me for her own pleasure. There was nothing to defend—no reason to pity her. And now, I had a lot of people on my side.

“I told you earlier—hearing that story doesn't make me want to patch things up. You're not like Shirase. I can't sympathize with you.”

“Wh-why are you bringing up Mayuki Shirase?”

“Oh, right. I never told you. I made up with her. And not just her—the other goddesses, too.”

Akazawa's reaction was obvious—she was shaken.

“Wh-why would you forgive them!?”

“Because I had reason to. I chose to forgive them—on my own. No one pressured me.”

Her face drained of color.

She must've finally realized why I joined the “White Faction.” That possibility probably never crossed her mind before.

“Th-then please forgive me too!”

“…”

“It was just a twisted way of showing I liked you! I know you're angry, and I've been reflecting on it! So please—”

She reached toward me, clinging.

“Of course not!”

Her hand was slapped away—by Momoka.

I had no idea when she arrived. I hadn't noticed her at all.

“—M-Momo!?”

“There’s no way you can just forgive her after what she said earlier. Just look at Shota Nii-san’s face. He’s totally creeped out.”

“…You heard that?”

Akazawa glared at Momoka.

“Just so you know, I already figured out what you’re into. We live in the same house—of course I hear things I don’t want to. You talk to that photo of Shota Nii-san in your room every day, don’t you?”

“—!”

Living under the same roof means hearing things, even if you don't want to.

Like how my stepsister Shion's voice leaks out into the hallway when she's on the phone in her room. It's not like I want to eavesdrop—it just happens.

“Shota Nii-san is kind, but this is too much. You did something unforgivable. Just be content with being classmates. I know even that's painful for you, but we can't help being in the same class.”

“This has nothing to do with you, Momoka! It's between me and Sho-chan!”

“It wouldn't—if it were just about the two of you making up.”

What does she mean by that?

Apparently, Momoka understood the question behind my glance.

“I overheard it last night. You were planning to confess to Shota Nii-san.”

“…What?”

“And you were so sure it would go well. You still actually think you can be his girlfriend.”

No way.

Anyone would be completely turned off after that kind of confession.

“You don't know how it would've gone!”

“I do. Unfortunately.”

“Why?”

Momoka gave a confident, smug smile.

“—Because I'm dating Shota Nii-san now!”

She declared it with a triumphant air.

“…Eh?”

Huh!?

Akazawa and I had the same stunned reaction.

Hold on. She did confess, yes—but I haven't given her an answer yet.

I was frozen in shock, but Akazawa reacted even more. She was so stunned she didn't move a muscle.

Amid the silence, Momoka stepped closer.

“…Sorry. Please go along with me on this.”

She whispered quietly.

“My sister needs a shock to the system. If you’re too soft, she’ll just try again. I admire your kindness, Shota Nii-san, but this time you need to push her away.”

So all of that was an act, huh?

“Ah, just to be sure—after what she said earlier, do you think you could ever have romantic feelings for her again?”

“…No way.”

I shook my head.

We had some nice memories. It's true Yuuhi Akazawa was my first love. I still like her face, and her figure is amazing—she's definitely my type in terms of looks. But she's no longer someone I can see romantically.

There's no way I could date her. If what she said was really her kink, then she'll probably do something similar again. If a girlfriend did that to me, it'd break me.

Eventually, Akazawa snapped out of it. She looked at me with the desperate hope of clinging to a final shred of possibility. But her eyes had lost their light.

“Sho-chan… what Momoka said… that's a lie, right?”

“It's the truth. She confessed to me right after we reunited.”

“So, yeah. He's my boyfriend now. Please keep your distance. You lost, Onee-chan. Give up on Shota Nii-san.”

With that final blow, she slammed down the word “defeat.”

“…”

I'd expected a dramatic reaction, but none came.

Surprised by the unexpected silence, I looked at Akazawa.

What I saw wasn't her usual self—but a shell.

Still standing, she had fainted on her feet.

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TL: We caught up with the raw. I think it will be a weekly release from now on since the author only uploads it on every Monday.