Chapter 1: False Accusation

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Translator: Soafp

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“Help! Someone, please help me! It’s a kidnapping!”

The colors faded, and everything turned into a gray landscape. In the cold winter wind, scattering the leaves from the trees, the girl spoke.

Hinata Inoue, who was both a classmate and in a relationship with Atsushi Kouka, held her little sister, Angel, protectively in her arms.

“…Ha?”

Atsushi, the accused, stood frozen in confusion, utterly clueless about the crime he was being accused of.

Soon after, passersby restrained him and handed him over to the police.

Due to Hinata’s false testimony, Atsushi was framed and detained for a crime he didn't commit.

Luckily, Hinata's parents wanted a settlement with compensation, and no formal charges were filed, meaning Atsushi avoided punishment.

However, the negotiations were anything but peaceful.

“Kneel. Get on your knees!”

Hinata’s father demanded an apology from Atsushi and his parents by forcing them to kneel.

“Dad…?”

Atsushi was visibly shaken as he saw his father kneel on the floor, pressing his palms to the ground in a deep bow. His mother, kneeling beside them, urged him to do the same.

Atsushi, forced to apologize with sincere remorse, felt overwhelmed by frustration and humiliation.

He couldn't comprehend why this had happened. He wanted answers, but neither Hinata nor Angel ever showed up, so he couldn’t confirm the truth.

When word of the incident spread, rumors quickly circulated throughout the community.

Atsushi’s family was labeled as the offenders, leading to the inevitable breakdown of their household environment.

“I never raised a child like this!”

A hysterical, crazed scream echoed through the living room.

“No… I didn't do it—”

“Shut up! Do you even understand what you've done?”

Though Atsushi continued to plead his innocence, his voice was never heard.

With veins bulging from his forehead, his father's cheeks twitched as he bared his teeth and grabbed Atsushi by the collar. This was a side of his father he had never seen before.

Terrified by his father's sudden change, Atsushi instinctively braced himself.

“Stop it! This is wrong!”

His older sister, Suzune, pulled their father away and stepped in front of Atsushi, shielding him.

“Do you really not trust me?”

“I don't.”

The cold, indifferent response from his father caused Atsushi's chest to tighten, his face contorting in shock.

“Why did this happen? What are we supposed to do now…?”

The room fell silent, except for the sound of his mother quietly sobbing. Suzune held Atsushi in her arms, trying to comfort him as he silently wept.

“I never thought something like this would happen in my class.”

This was the anguished thought of Atsushi’s homeroom teacher, Yahata.

Parents, having caught wind of the rumors, were constantly complaining, and Yahata lamented how they had been overwhelmed with addressing these concerns. Atsushi and his parents could only bow their heads in apology.

Given the circumstances, it was no surprise that Atsushi became an outcast at school, shunned by all.

Rumors spiraled out of control, with accusations ranging from violence, drug use, and theft to even domestic violence against Hinata, escalating into baseless gossip.

“Please listen, I didn't kidnap anyone! Believe me!”

No matter how much Atsushi pleaded, none of his classmates were willing to listen.

“Hinata! Please, tell them the truth!”

Driven by unbearable anxiety, Atsushi desperately turned his gaze toward Hinata, grasping at straws.

Hinata flinched, her shoulders twitching slightly in response, but she quickly turned her face away and kept her mouth tightly shut.

“Are you saying Inoue-san is lying? What could she possibly gain from making something like that up?”

As voices rose in defense of Hinata, other classmates began to agree, and soon, accusations against Atsushi started pouring in.

In the end, Hinata never answered, and the misunderstanding among the classmates was never cleared up.

“Don't come here anymore.”

“I don't want to see your face.”

“You're the worst.”

“I'm done being your friend.”

“S*x offender.”

“Liar.”

The merciless shouts of abuse filled the air, and Atsushi stood still, his face emotionless as he held his breath.

It was only a matter of time before even his friends abandoned him, and Atsushi became completely isolated.

No one wanted to associate with someone with such a bad reputation.

At this point, Atsushi no longer had the energy to resist. All he could do was silently endure the bullying.

“Do it, come on! Get him!”

Suddenly, with vulgar laughter echoing around him, Atsushi felt a sharp impact on his back.

His vision blurred as he lost his balance and collapsed onto the floor.

“Serves you right.”

“What a weakling.”

Laughter erupted around him, a sign that they were thoroughly enjoying the whole ordeal.

“Why don't you just admit your guilt already? Oh, and by the way, you're in the way, so why don't you hurry up and die?”

The one speaking, with a twisted grin on his face, was Tatsuya Hayashi, the class clown and ringleader of the bullying.

The other classmates turned a blind eye, pretending not to see what was happening.

Don't cry. I won't cry…

Atsushi fought back the tears threatening to spill over, when suddenly, a female student appeared in front of him.

“Stop it!”

With her arms outstretched to shield him, the girl who stood in front of Atsushi was Honoka Hitomi, his childhood friend.

“What a loser, getting protected by a girl. Ugh, now I'm bored. Let's go.”

Hayashi, looking annoyed, waved his hand dismissively and left the classroom with his entourage.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt?”

Now in the nurse's office, Atsushi was getting treated for the scrapes he got when he fell. Honoka, tending to his wounds, gently placed a bandage on his cheek and murmured with a heavy heart.

“I'm sorry… I should've helped you sooner.”

Atsushi, noticing her concern, forced a smile to reassure her.

“I'm sorry for worrying you. But don't worry, I'm fine now.”

He tried to act cheerful, but Honoka didn't miss the faint shadow that crossed his expression.

──After school, on the way home.

Atsushi dragged his feet with a tired expression, frowning at the glaring evening sun reflecting off the ground.

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“Atsushi? Atsushi?”

Suddenly, a voice called his name, and when he turned around, he saw Suzune peering at him with a concerned look.

“Sorry, I was just spacing out.”

Atsushi smiled as he said that, but it was clear that he hadn't been himself recently.

However, not knowing how much she should pry into his personal matters, all Suzune could do was offer words of comfort.

“If you ever need help, just let me know. I'll always be on your side.”

Suzune sat beside Atsushi and put her arm around his shoulders.

“Thanks, but I'm really okay…”

He didn't want to cause unnecessary worry.

Even now, Atsushi hid his true feelings and tried to act strong.

Seeing his awkward smile, Suzune felt her heart ache, and she had an overwhelming urge to hug him tightly right then and there.

Suppressing that feeling, she instead gently pulled Atsushi close.

[First-person perspective]

The moment I stepped into my room, all the tension I'd been holding onto vanished, and I collapsed onto the floor, leaning back against the door.

I buried my head in my hands and let out a quiet sigh.

Mentally, I was exhausted—completely at my limit.

“Why… Why did things turn out like this…?”

There was no point in lamenting, but still, the frustration gnawed at me.

I hated how much trouble and worry I was causing for my sister and Honoka.

Even though they told me they were fine, I didn't want to ruin their lives because of me.

Especially with my sister being busy with university—she didn't need any more stress.

How long can I keep telling myself, “It can't be helped,” while losing everything?

As I look down the bleak, shadowy path ahead, I feel like nothing matters anymore.

“What did I do to deserve this…?!”

Overcome with indescribable frustration, my face twisted in pain.

I can't take it anymore. I'm tired. I can't bear it.

My normal life has been stolen from me, and no matter how hard I try to escape from reality, those disappointed stares, those malicious voices, won't leave my mind.

Is there even a point in trying to keep going?

I don't even know why I'm living anymore, or who I am.

How many times have I been crushed by this endless despair?

There's no place I can call home anymore.

I just don't want to suffer anymore.

I don't think I can keep living if it means enduring this kind of pain.

──If… if I were to die, would I finally be saved from this hell?

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