Chapter 5

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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—The next morning.

I was sitting on top of the lockers at the back of the classroom with Ryosuke and the others, killing time like usual.

“Man, Maaya-chan really was on a whole different level of cute.”

“Yeah, that smile is a national treasure. And those b00bs too.”

Yamada and the others were talking about yesterday's karaoke.

As always, their conversation had zero class.

Maybe because they were talking about my childhood friend, I couldn't shake off that complicated feeling.

Still… the fact that I didn't try to stop them just showed how much I'd already been tainted.

“Maaya Okabe… yeah, her guard really is solid…”

Next to me, Ryosuke clicked his tongue, biting his nail in frustration.

Yesterday, he had tried to make a move on Maaya, but she dodged everything.

I had subtly interfered too, but honestly, she handled it just fine on her own.

In the end, I still couldn't tell if her guard was strong or weak.

Well… that mysteriousness was just part of who Maaya Okabe was.

“Maybe you should just give up on her already.”

I casually suggested that to Ryosuke.

“Hell no. Now I'm even more fired up. Girls like that—iron walls—are the best. Taking your time to dye them in your own color… that moment is unbeatable.”

Not even a hint of hesitation.

If anything, it just made him more motivated.

Same twisted tastes as always.

Honestly, it would've been easier if he just gave up.

Now I had even more to worry about.

What should I do…

There had been plenty of girls Ryosuke had set his sights on.

Most of them ended up falling for him in the end.

The one saving grace was that he didn't force himself on them.

He went after their hearts, so technically it ended up being mutual…

But the real problem was what came after.

Once he got bored, he'd toss them aside without a second thought.

And when he did, he'd say, “I don't even like you.”

A complete piece of trash.

…Not that I had the right to say that.

Different circumstances, different reasons—but I did the same thing.

I had no right to judge him.

Maybe… I should just accept that I belong on this side now.

Once your heart is tainted, it doesn't go back.

Acting like a good person now would just be convenient hypocrisy.

If I'm going to struggle like this, maybe it'd be better to just pretend these memories never came back—

…Hm? What's that…

By chance, I glanced out the window at the courtyard below.

And there, I saw a girl being cornered by a guy.

It was in a blind spot—none of the other students had noticed.

Even from a distance, it didn't look good.

Wait… that girl—

Rin…?

Even without looking closely, I knew.

It was one of my childhood friends—Rin Hoshikage.

Just like Maaya, she stood out immediately.

Beautiful girls really do attract attention… getting hit on this early in the morning.

But this wasn't just casual flirting.

Even from here, I could tell Rin was uncomfortable.

…

I didn't really want to get involved with her.

But ignoring it would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

I guess I'll just check it out on the way to the bathroom.

“Hey, I'm heading to the bathroom real quick.”

“Taking a dump?”

“Don't s**t yourself!”

I brushed them off and hurried toward Rin.

---

“—I told you already! I hate delinquents like you!”

Rin glared at the guy, clearly disgusted.

It was more intense than I expected.

Looking closer, I saw he was gripping her arm.

She was trying to shake him off, but he was built pretty solid.

With her slender frame, she couldn't break free.

“Don't say that. My family's rich, you know? We can have a lot of fun.”

“I'm not short on money. Let go.”

“Come on~ It'll be fun. Just once, okay? Please?”

“I said I hate delinquents! Let go!”

Rin refused firmly.

But the guy wasn't letting go.

Haven't seen that type in a while…

Guys who push this aggressively weren't that common anymore.

Did our school really have someone like that?

Shirosaki Academy—our school—was about average in terms of academics.

Fairly well-disciplined too, so you didn't usually see such obvious delinquents.

Even Ryosuke had some sense of boundaries.

Well… in his case, he was messed up in a different way.

So this felt off.

…Either way, at this rate, Rin's in trouble.

Since I'm already here, I might as well help her.

On the way to the bathroom… yeah, just on the way.

I didn't feel great about it.

Like I might lose myself again.

Still, I stepped in.

“—Yo. Looks like you're having fun.”

“—!?”

Rin's eyes widened in shock when she saw me.

“Huh? Who the hell are you? Don't get in the way.”

“Don't say that. Let me join in.”

“The hell…? You after this girl too?”

He glared at me, clearly irritated.

“Don't get the wrong idea. I'm after you.”

“…Huh?”

“You said you've got money, right? Come play with me.”

“Y-you screwing with me…?”

“I'm not. I'm bored. Every day. So entertain me.”

An eye for an eye. A pain in the a*s for a pain in the a*s.

Even creeps tend to snap out of it when they meet someone worse than themselves.

And luckily—or unluckily—I've got a bad reputation to back it up.

“Tch… you're disgusting. Whatever, I'm out.”

Clicking his tongue, the guy finally walked away.

Honestly, I was relieved he backed off so easily.

If I'd resorted to violence in front of Rin…

it wouldn't just be disgust—she'd probably hate me for it.

Now then… if anything, this is where the real problem begins.

As you just saw, Rin clearly shows strong disgust toward delinquents.

And that includes me—even though we used to be childhood friends.

If anything, I might be the main reason for it.

I don't know all the details…but one thing is certain—I'm deeply hated by her.

The biggest reason is probably…that I made Maaya cry.

To Rin, Maaya isn't just a childhood friend—she's her best friend.

There's no way she'd easily forgive what happened back then.

“W-what…? It's not like I asked you to help me or anything.”

“I didn't help you. Don't get the wrong idea.”

“—!”

Rin glared at me sharply.

“I… still haven't forgiven you.”

She made her rejection crystal clear.

Maybe it was from what just happened, or maybe it was her anger toward me—but her voice trembled.

“…I see.”

I didn't apologize.

I didn't make excuses either.

There was no point.

Nothing good would come of it.

It was all in the past now—something that could never be undone.

“Just because we're in the same class now, don't you dare go near Maaya…!”

“Even if you didn't say it, I wouldn't.”

“Hmph… I really hate delinquents.”

She spat the words out and turned away.

…And yet, for someone who claims to hate delinquents, Rin herself dresses pretty flashy.

Brightly dyed hair, a short skirt with a cardigan tied around her waist, and flashy accessories all over—

Honestly, she looked more like a delinquent than I did.

Well, more like a gyaru than a delinquent.

But with her sharp attitude, anyone looking from the outside would just see a delinquent.

“What's with that look? You look like you want to say something. Creepy.”

As I was thinking that, she glared at me, as if she'd read my mind.

“Just so you know, this is for self-defense.”

“…Self-defense?”

“I dress flashy so weird guys won't bother me.”

…Isn't that having the opposite effect?

I held that thought back.

If I said it, she'd probably glare at me again.

Rin really hasn't changed.

She's always been a bit off in her own way.

She tends to mess things up, and she's too stubborn to admit when she's wrong.

Maybe she hasn't changed that much either.

“…Anyway, I'm heading out. See you.”

The atmosphere was getting worse, so I turned to leave.

“W-wait!”

But Rin stopped me.

“…What is it?”

“Hey… your memory… it still hasn't come back?”

Of all things, she asked about that.

It had been a while since anyone brought it up.

Honestly, I thought everyone had already moved on.

“…Sorry.”

After a brief hesitation, I gave a quiet answer.

The old me is gone.

Even with my memories back, this is who I am now.

I've changed too much—into someone Rin hates.

Even if I told her the truth, it would probably just disappoint her more.

“I see… but if it ever does come back, tell me, okay?”

Her unexpected words caught me off guard.

“…Why? You hate me, don't you?”

“I hate the you right now. But the you from before… I liked him.”

“… ”

Seeing the faint sadness in her expression made my heart waver for just a moment.

Maybe… there's still a chance she'd accept me.

If I properly apologized, maybe things could go back to how they were…

For a second, I let myself believe that.

A convenient, unrealistic illusion.

But I immediately shut it down.

That's impossible.

Even if she forgave me, there's no way we could go back to laughing together like before.

Like I've said again and again—I've changed.

“If it ever comes back… sure.”

Leaving just that behind, I turned and walked away for good this time.

Even as I said it, I knew—

that last line was nothing but cowardice.