Chapter 75: I’m Not Wrong

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Translator: Soafp

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Lunchtime ended, and the fifth period was P.E. class. The students gathered in the gymnasium, and the activity was basketball, played separately by gender with a net in the center.

Ginji, who had contributed fairly well to his team, switched out and sat down next to the net. Sitting beside him was Tanaka from the table tennis club.

“Hey, Ginji. Look over there.”

Tanaka nodded toward the other side of the net just as Aika made a beautiful layup in basketball.

Seen this way, she was every bit the school idol. Most of the boys on break were glued to Aika.

“As expected of the Princess of the Four Seasons.”

“…Yeah.”

To begin with, it wasn't really a fair match. Even though it was a game, if someone were to bump into Aika too hard and hurt her, that girl would be frowned upon by everyone. So the others were clearly going easy on her, and Aika kept racking up points as if it were only natural. The timer buzzed, and the teams switched. Next up was the team Sora was on.

“Oh, now it's Takagi-chan's turn. She mostly sat out when she was in her male appearance, so I've no idea if she can even play sports. You know anything, Ginji?”

“I don't think her coordination's bad… but she probably doesn't have much stamina.”

She was the type to stay holed up in her room, so she likely tired easily—or so Ginji thought. But Sora received a pass and scored with a layup. It was practically a replay of Aika's move earlier.

“No way! That's awesome! Even though she's so short!”

“…”

Sora flashed a V-sign at Ginji, who waved back. As an aside, she did indeed run out of stamina afterward and couldn't move anymore—but she still helped her team by acting as a stationary turret, continuously scoring from under the basket.

After class ended and Ginji was about to return to the classroom, the P.E. teacher called out to him.

“Hey, Momoi, got a sec?”

“Yeah? What's up?”

“The male P.E. committee member isn't feeling well. Can you return the scoreboard and timer to the equipment room?”

“Got it. But… why me?”

“The girl on the committee said you know where the equipment is stored. I'm counting on you.”

Anyone who had ever helped clean the gym would know where the timer went. The teacher didn't seem to think it was strange and left the gym. Ginji did as asked and carried the scoreboard and timer to the storage room.

Inside, the air smelled a bit moldy. Light streamed in through the window, but it was still dim. As Ginji turned on the light, he saw Aika sitting on a vaulting box. With her foreign-looking hair color and clearly defined features, Aika looked undeniably beautiful in the light.

“…Are you on the P.E. committee?”

“No. I just asked someone who is to help me.”

Ignoring her, Ginji placed the timer in its designated spot and turned to leave—but the door shut from the outside.

He sighed and turned back toward Aika.

“I've got nothing to say to you.”

“Well, I do. If you're dating that girl, break up with her immediately.”

“…We're not dating. Yet.”

Aika blinked in surprise at Ginji's words. Then she jumped down from the vaulting box, stood with perfect posture, and clasped her hands behind her back.

“You've spent so much time together, and you're not dating? Don't tell me… you're interested in me?”

“Not funny. What, trying to act like Hazuki now with a bad dramatic act?”

Ginji reached for the door handle, but it wouldn't budge—it had been fixed from the outside.

“Me? Even if it was just acting, I'd never pull that kind of stunt with someone like you. This is just a friendly warning. If you stay with her, you'll regret it. You don't know what she really is. If you did—”

“No matter what reason you give, what you did to Sora was wrong. If I want to know about her, I'll ask Sora directly.”

“You're seeing it all wrong. She doesn't even realize it herself. That's why I taught her.”

Ginji let go of the handle, leaned against the door, and faced her.

“…Fine. Let's hear it then. What do you, Aika Shiki, think of Sora?”

“Alright, listen carefully. She was always timid, hiding behind me like a shadow. Her father was too absorbed in his work, and by the time we were in elementary school, her mother had already left home. That's why my father took special interest in Sora… We spent time together because of our parents' circumstances. We'd draw together and get compared all the time. Naturally, I was always praised more.”

“Praised… huh.”

Aika had been speaking proudly, but flinched slightly at Ginji's words.

“Yes, I was better than her. But… well, she was decent enough that I allowed her to stay by my side. She followed me everywhere. Devoting herself to me—that was her happiness. And yet… she went and painted that picture in the middle school art contest…”

“A picture?”

Ginji looked at her sadly and asked.

“Yes, a painting. The final, important art contest in middle school. When I saw the painting she made… I realized just how terrifying she could be. You'll see it too someday, I'm sure. Fufu, can you guess what kind of painting Sora made?”

Aika leaned in, but Ginji didn't flinch as he answered.

“…Probably a painting of ———, right?”

Aika's eyes widened. Then she broke into hysterical laughter.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! So you do understand. That makes sense now. You're afraid of Sora, aren't you? That's why, despite spending so much time with her, you never confessed. AHAHAHAHA! Of course. Nothing stays the same forever. That girl will unconsciously keep hurting you. She's disgusting. Can't do anything right. She should just fall apart alone already.”

As Aika laughed maniacally, clutching her stomach, Ginji spoke in an exasperated voice.

“That's enough. I'll hear the rest from Sora. And for the record—I'm not leaving her.”

“Aha…huh? What did you just say?”

Aika's smile froze, and she took a step back.

“Shiki, I get the fear you felt—at least a little. But you still made the wrong choice.”

“And what exactly did I get wrong?”

“You ran away from Sora. You didn't want to face the truth, so you tried to erase her instead.”

“…I take it back. You don't understand. I'm not wrong!”

Her pained scream wasn't directed at Ginji—but at herself. Ginji, seeing that there was nothing more to say, turned and pounded on the door.

“Hazuki, I know you're out there. We're done here. Open up.”

The door slowly creaked open, and Mio nervously peeked inside. Without a word, Ginji stepped out, leaving Aika standing frozen in place.