Chapter 22 – Cleaning Up the Mess

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Some of the guys had started spreading this twisted belief—that if you dated Mahiro, she'd go all in sexually, like she was some kind of “Witch of Service.” No basis, no truth, just perverted high school gossip taken too far.

So, this was Fuyutsuki City, huh? Then the story that was about to unfold could only be described as B***h Karibtoworks.

And it all began in the backyard after exams were over.

“So? How's Mahiro doing? She isn't bothered by all the rumors flying around, is she?”

“Jeez, you call me out of nowhere and that's what you lead with? Why don't you just ask Mahiro yourself?”

“Well, I did say I wouldn't go near her anymore.”

“…If you're worried, then maybe—”

Temari gave me a look that was half exasperation, half something she didn't want to say out loud. She came all the way here just because I messaged her on LINE, but she clearly wasn't in the mood for my half-assed concern.

Figures. Some assholes from the soccer team—about to graduate and therefore immune to consequences—decided to go out with a bang by throwing Mahiro's name in the mud. They exaggerated s**t, twisted words, and made her sound like some kind of sex freak.

Her name turned into a running joke, her reputation warped into something grotesque, like a surreal painting where nothing looked quite right.

Chihiro-san was already dealing with more than enough—working double shifts, trying to raise Mahiro on her own. Now she had this s**t to worry about too. If things kept going like this, the poor woman would end up throwing up more than just monjayaki—she'd be heaving out her goddamn uterus.

Single mother, raising a teenage girl on her own… yeah, that part earned some respect, at least.

“So, how is she?”

“…She knows about the rumors, obviously. But she doesn't let it show. At least, not in front of us.”

“…Hmph.”

She might've looked composed on the outside, but she was still just a girl. Everyone's got their limits, and Temari's expression told me she knew Mahiro was reaching hers. Even if she didn't say it, she saw it.

“It'd be nice if we could somehow put a stop to the rumors…”

“Impossible. You can't shut people up. The only thing that stands tall in this world is a dick.”

“That's not even funny.”

“Shut up. Anyway, what happened to Hashizume?”

Right after exams, Hashizume and his soccer gang straight-up vanished from campus. Not that I gave a s**t, but since we were on the topic, I figured I'd ask.

“Well, from what I heard, Hashizume and a couple of others got ‘accepted' somewhere and were already ‘shipped out.' But I don't know if that applies to everyone who left.”

“Accepted…? Shipped out? What the hell? I thought he got expelled.”

“Apparently, the punishment was even harsher than expulsion. They're being sent to Danshoku High School in the great northern wasteland for ‘re-education.'”

“Danshoku High…? You mean that all-boys school famous for its sports program?”

“Yep. They've got an even harsher Spartan curriculum than Hodogaya Yacht School. Turns out, sending problem students there is better than dragging them through legal s**t.”

“Not sure if it's ‘re-education' or ‘castration' at that point… Besides, doesn't that place have some other infamous rumors?”

“…Exactly.”

“Well, s**t… nothing left but to pray for them.”

Even Temari knew about it. Not surprising. That place had a reputation. According to what I’d seen online, every graduate of Danshoku High walked out with a looser a*****e than when they went in. Nobody said it directly, but the implication was obvious.

I mean, at least they'd be ready for diaper play in the future.

Maybe I should send them a care package. Hemorrhoid cream, lube, a little note that says, “Stay tight, boys.”

“Yo, Nakani—what the hell are you doing here?”

“…Huh?”

I snapped out of my thoughts just as a familiar, annoying voice hit me from behind. It was Mob C and his little gaggle of background noise—those filler characters who always seemed to pop up when you least wanted them to. What the f**k were they doing here, of all places? The goddamn backyard? Seriously?

“By the way, you heard about Yoshikawa?”

“…What about her?”

“They say she got railed by the missing soccer club guys. Whole f****n' train ran through her. Nasty s**t, man. You sure you didn't get a taste, Nakani?”

The way he grinned made my stomach twist. Mob C was a walking pile of grease in human form.

“Hey—”

Temari's voice cut in, probably about to tell him to shut the hell up, but I raised my hand and stopped her. Well, not like literally stopped her—I just kinda blocked her with my arm. Wait, that phrasing sounds like I just called my right hand my girlfriend. Not entirely wrong, but moving on.

“Say, C-boy~!”

Turning toward him with a smile straight out of some shady-a*s used car dealership ad.

“You hear the rest of it? Turns out it wasn't just the soccer guys. There was someone else—someone who got real friendly with that girl who tried to kill herself.”

“…Huh?”

“And now the school's all fired up trying to figure out who that extra guy was. Principal even told all the teachers—if they catch anyone even joking about it, they gotta report it. Doesn't matter how small the gossip is.”

“……”

“Kinda f****d, huh? One wrong word and boom—you're neck-deep in s**t. Doesn't matter if you're innocent either. Once suspicion lands on you, proving you didn't do anything? That's the real nightmare.”

“……”

“So yeah, flappin' your mouth without thinking? That was dumb as hell. You never know who's listening—and worse, who's looking to pin it on someone.”

I glanced at Temari. She caught the signal and gave me a tiny nod.

That was all it took.

Mob C and his little posse turned pale. Like they just realized they were standing in a minefield with both feet stomping down.

“I-I don't know s**t! I didn't hear nothin'! Later, Nakani!!”

And just like that, the idiots bolted out of the yard like cockroaches under a flashlight.

“Hah… dumbasses.”

“Hey, Yuuya. That thing you said—was any of it true?”

“Of course not. Only idiots panic over a bluff that obvious.”

Not like I thought it would kill the rumors completely. But Mob C was the kind of spineless loser who'd believe anything once you threw in a few keywords like “suspect” and “burden of proof.”

Hopefully, the bullshit I fed him would spread like a venereal disease. Syphilis had more dignity than him anyway.

“…You're actually kinda nice, Yuuya.”

“What the hell gave you that idea?”

“You did it for Mahiro, didn't you? That lie.”

“…Not really.”

“Liar.”

“……”

Temari smirked, folding her arms behind her back and leaning in with this smug-a*s expression like she thought she had me all figured out.

Annoying as f**k.

Sure, I got a little pissed hearing them talk s**t about Mahiro. But now she was twisting it into some feel-good after-school special narrative like I was some white knight or whatever. Misinterpretation at its finest.

…Whatever. Not worth correcting. Let her believe whatever the hell she wanted. Maybe Mahiro would even benefit—get labeled as some “innocent s**t” and skyrocket in popularity. Now that would be hilarious.

“…Hey, Temari.”

“What?”

“Your smug-a*s face is gross. Knock it off.”

“The hell?! What kinda way is that to talk to a girl?! Mmmrrghhh!!”

She snapped and started smacking my shoulder like a tantrum-throwing gremlin. It was so dumb I couldn't help but laugh.

“Quit it! I'm fragile, damn it! What if I snap a bone!?”

“Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UUUUUUP!!”

…Yeah.

It didn't actually hurt, but I still didn't feel like stepping away.

Annoying as she was, Temari hadn't called me “physically repulsive.”

Guess that's something.

No, I'll take that as a win.