Chapter 3

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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Break time between classes.

About a week had passed since the new class assignments, and looking around, “groups” had already begun to form.

The honor student group, where the well-rounded types gathered.

The popular group — bright, sociable, and loud every day.

The quiet group, not very conspicuous but somehow clearly enjoying themselves.

And the delinquent group, where I found myself.

Since the new class had only just started, nothing was fully solidified yet, but the sorting was gradually happening.

Sitting around me, including Ryosuke, were four guys. Not hardcore yankees like you’d see in a manga, but all of them carried a rough, unsettled air about them.

“—Hey, you guys figured it out yet?”

“Figured what out?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Which girl in this class you’re going after.”

And just like that, they launched into the vulgar kind of talk that lived up to the delinquent name.

Not too long ago, I would have been right there enjoying it with them — but now that my memories have come back, I can’t help feeling a bit conflicted.

The me I used to be was more like my childhood friends — the type who’d be in the serious group.

They were all good people, so I naturally became someone kind around them. If someone was in trouble, I’d jump in to help without a second thought, and I carried myself with consideration for others every day.

But the me right now is no different from these guys. As I said before, I have no resistance to the darker side of things. Honestly, whatever these guys get up to is none of my concern. Unless they go truly too far, I have no intention of stopping them.

…And yet, somewhere inside me, a voice is shouting — is this really okay? Shouldn’t I cut ties with these distasteful people?

The me before I lost my memories, and the me I am now.

The gap is so vast it feels like two personalities are cohabiting the same body, and the dissonance is deeply unsettling.

So…which one is the real me?

“So, who are you guys going after?”

Ryosuke swept his gaze across the classroom with the eyes of a predator sizing up prey.

“Who else — it’s gotta be Maaya Okabe. That angelic smile, those way-too-mature-for-high-school curves. She’s seriously too hot.”

One of the group, Yamada, fixed his gaze on a girl chatting cheerfully near the front of the room as he said this.

“And rumor has it she’s still a virgin.”

“Seriously? As a certified virgin hunter, I can’t let that slide.”

“A body like that and still a virgin… that’s too good…”

The disgustingly crude conversation made my chest tighten again. And of all people, the fact that it was Maaya they were talking about stirred something deeper in me.

Because, as it happens, she’s one of my childhood friends.

I have no right to act like a childhood friend given my decision not to tell anyone my memories returned — but I still couldn’t stomach the image of her being toyed with by these guys. Maaya has a certain quality about her… an innocent purity. The thought of that being corrupted didn’t sit well with me.

“Maaya Okabe… I tried hitting on her back in middle school, but she’s got surprisingly solid defenses.”

Ryosuke muttered, his eyes fixed on Maaya.

…So he’d already tried to make a move on her when I wasn’t looking. Typical of him, really.

“But that’s exactly what makes it worth the effort. Maybe I’ll give it another shot.”

He said it with a sly, self-satisfied grin.

A third time, my chest clenched.

What is this… do I want to stop him?

I have nothing to do with Maaya anymore. Since the day I pushed her away, we haven’t exchanged a single word.

Whatever happens to her has nothing to do with me.

I’ve done plenty of the same things as these guys, so I’m in no position to say “just not Maaya.” Hypocritically waving the flag of justice now would make me sick with myself.

But if things go on like this, Maaya will—

…No. There’s no need for me to worry.

As Ryosuke himself said, Maaya is known to have solid defenses.

From what I’ve heard, she has an almost startling indifference to other people.

She’s generally kind to everyone without distinction, which makes people misread the signals — but the moment someone tries to close the distance further, her coolness breaks their spirit.

Try to talk to her and the conversation gets cut short… lean in on her and all you get back is “yeah,” “uh-huh,” “hm,” “okay” — bare minimum responses… work up the courage to ask her out and she’ll brush you off with a light “sorry, can’t”…

And apparently the fact that there’s no malice behind it only makes it sting more for the guys involved.

In my memories she was never that cold… but I suppose now that she’s one of the most popular girls in the year, she’s unconsciously developed her own way of keeping people at bay.

“Alright then — let’s go ahead and invite her. Maaya-chan.”

Before long, Ryosuke made his move. Same as ever — remarkable drive to act. The way he goes from thought to action in an instant is almost something to admire.

What do I do… is it really okay to just let this happen…?

Sure, her defenses are strong — but that only works when the person on the other end is operating within the bounds of decency. Against someone pushing too hard, she’s actually the vulnerable type.

And Ryosuke is anything but decent. I know that better than anyone, having spent the most time around him.

…Well, whatever I say won’t stop him anyway. I’ll just have to watch for now.

“Hey — Maaya-chan! Come over here for a sec!”

Ryosuke called out to her from the middle of the classroom at full volume. Not only does he act fast — his nerve is something else entirely.

And Maaya, her pretty chestnut hair swaying behind her, trotted over with an endearing little skip, completely unaware she was about to be hit on.

“—Um, did you call for me?”

“Hey Maaya-chan, want to go karaoke with us after school today?”

“Karaoke…?”

“Oh, sorry — I’m Ryosuke Yamabe.”

“Ah, yeah. We were at the same middle school, so I remember you…”

Maaya looked a little flustered at the sudden approach. But the fact that she wasn’t particularly intimidated suggested she was used to being randomly approached. After all — this was the girl competing for the top spot in looks across the whole year. Her experience showed.

“So, you free after school?”

“Um, well…”

She seemed to actually hesitate at Ryosuke’s invitation. I’d expected her to shoot it down cleanly based on what I’d heard — but she was surprisingly on the fence. Surely she wasn’t actually going to say yes…

“Who else is going?”

Wait — she sounded almost interested. Was she seriously considering it? Walking straight into such an obvious minefield… so much for those solid defenses.

“Not decided yet, but for starters me and Yamada and… Reita, you coming?”

“…Me?”

The eyes suddenly swung toward me.

…Honestly, I wasn’t feeling karaoke right now.

I still had things I needed to sort through in my head, and spending that time with Maaya of all people sounded unbearably awkward.

Ideally I’d have some time to myself — but…

If I turned it down, Ryosuke and Maaya would end up together without me there. That bothered me.

Just in case — I’d show up to keep an eye on things.

“…I’ll come if I feel like it.”

“Got it. Anyone else?”

“I’m in if Maaya-chan’s going!” “I’ve got plans today…” “I’ll pass, mate.”

Everyone gave their answers one by one.

Ryosuke also texted a few other girls to make it easier for Maaya to say yes — specifically targeting girls who already knew her. Another one of his calculated moves.

That sneaky side of him was very Ryosuke. I couldn’t help thinking he’d be a truly dangerous enemy to have.

The replies came in fast, and before long they had eight people — split evenly between guys and girls.

“—So that’s the lineup. What do you think, Maaya-chan?”

“Yeah. I’ll go, then.”

Maaya nodded without much hesitation.

Come on… seriously? What was her criteria for deciding…?

Honestly, I’d assumed that once I agreed to come, she’d back out. There was no way having me there wouldn’t be awkward for her.

Out of all my childhood friends, I’d said the most awful things to Maaya specifically. I’d been so sure she’d never want to see my face again.

That was part of why I’d said I’d go — and yet, here she was, coming along anyway.

I genuinely thought she’d be better off not going…

Well, nothing to be done about it. I’ll just have to keep a quiet eye on things from my end.