Chapter 37 – Even Though He's a Good Guy (Temari's POV)

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Yuuya fled the living room where everyone was remained.

It was way too obvious, which meant there was something in there worth running from.

I'll admit, I was a little curious about the kind of porn mags Yuuya was into, but that wasn't the point right now.

“…Are you okay, um… who are you again?”

Mahiro spoke up, directing her voice at the girl with the clearly battered face, though she didn't seem to know her name. So this was their first meeting. Just a friend of Yuuya's, probably from college. That tracked. But hadn't Yuuya said there was only one girl he was close to? The one he recently confessed to and started dating.

“Ah, s-sorry. I'm Naegi… Sara. I'm in the same department as Nakanishi-kun.”

She gave a hesitant little bow as she introduced herself. Mahiro still wore a skeptical look, and I couldn't blame her.

Neither of us knew the most important part—why the hell she looked like someone had beat the s**t out of her.

“So, Naegi-san… why do you look like that? Those bruises—maybe they won't leave scars, but they don't just appear out of nowhere. Someone hit you, didn't they.”

Mahiro's mom, Chihiro, didn't hold back. She was the first to cut to the chase. But Naegi didn't answer. Instead, Yuuya's mom spoke up, clearly already in the loop.

“Chihiro, ease up. Apparently… it's her boyfriend. She's been living with him, and he got violent. Yuuya saw it and brought her here.”

“Ha!”

“You're kidding!”

“What the hell!”

Me, Mahiro's mom, and Mahiro all shouted in unison.

What kind of trash lays hands on a girl like that? No excuse makes that okay. But… living with him? Already? College only started a few months ago.

What the hell kind of speedrun romance was that?

Then again, it wasn't really my business.

Yuuya's mom continued, filling in the blanks.

Apparently, Naegi and her now-ex had gotten close fast after starting university.

Same department, same classes. The two of them moved in together really early on. But recently, she'd stopped coming to school altogether.

Yuuya had noticed, went to check in, and found her getting smacked around by the guy—because he'd racked up gambling debt and took it out on her.

Yuuya couldn't let that slide, so he brought her back here.

Of course, the rest of us were furious, demanding she go to the cops, have the b*****d arrested. But Naegi didn't want to make it a big deal, so the whole thing ended up on pause, at least for now.

“Still though… that boyfriend of yours, he sounds like total garbage. Was he always like that?”

Chihiro's voice tight with frustration.

Naegi shook her head.

“N-no… He always seemed kind of helpless, but he was cheerful. A good guy, I thought. Nakanishi-kun, me, and him… we were all close since orientation. I used to make them both lunches, too. He was never the violent type…”

“Ohhh… so that's why Yuuya used to say things like, ‘She made me lunch. I was really happy.' That was you, huh? I should've been the one cooking for him… but thank you.”

“Y-yeah…”

…Wait, what? Hold up. That was exactly the kind of thing Yuuya's girlfriend supposedly did for him. Were we talking about the same girl here? What the hell was going on? Mahiro looked stunned too, though I doubted she realized just how obvious her reaction was. So was Yuuya lying this whole time? Bragging that Naegi was his girlfriend when she wasn't?

No, wait. Yuuya wasn't the kind of dumbass who'd make up something like that just to look cool. More likely, something happened between them. They broke up, and then she ended up with that other piece of s**t. That would explain a lot more. Which is why I blurted it out.

“That guy sounds like the absolute worst. If you'd dated Yuuya instead, you wouldn't have ended up like this.”

Sorry, Naegi. I had to poke a little. When I said it, she flinched and stared down at the floor. Yup. I hit a nerve.

“I cleaned up the room! Naegi-san, you can rest there! I'll patch you up a bit, too!”

Yuuya suddenly shouted from the top of the stairs, clearly in a panic.

He'd finally shoved all his stash under the bed.

The way he was acting now—super desperate to keep Naegi away from me and Mahiro—was almost funny.

I guess he wasn't lying after all. I could believe that.

“A-ah, uh, over here… Naegi-san.”

Mahiro, clearly not about to leave those two alone in a room, stepped up and took the lead, guiding Naegi upstairs to Yuuya's room. Naegi followed, looking a little timid. And yeah… I followed too.

Why the hell didn't you pick Yuuya, huh? Sure, he's got a sharp tongue and is twisted, but he's a good guy.

Feeling a weird mix of irritation and relief, I muttered under my breath—so quiet only she could hear.

Naegi didn't answer. Just bit her lip.

Yeah… maybe it wasn't my place to say anything.

But still…As Yuuya's friend, I had to say something.