Chapter 44: Wavering Choices, Trapped Fate

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Translator: Soafp

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[Miyabi PoV]

A cold wind swept across the rooftop, and I stood there, frozen.

Godai-senpai’s words clung to my ears, refusing to leave.

Just moments ago, I had learned that Hajime's novel had been plagiarized, and my mind was still overwhelmed with shock. I couldn't sort my feelings, caught between confusion and anger.

As if he could see right through my turmoil, Godai-senpai slowly walked toward me. His steps had an air of confidence, as though he controlled everything.

He put one hand in his pocket and took out his smartphone with the other.

“Well then—”

His fingers swiped across the screen.

A sense of dread filled me, and I instinctively held my breath.

Godai-senpai smiled arrogantly as he turned the phone screen toward us.

“You recognize this, don't you?”

In that instant, my heart skipped a beat.

“—What?!”

On the screen was a photo of the moment when Godai-senpai and I almost kissed in the park at night.

“W-What is this…?!”

I stared at the screen in disbelief.

It was true that on that night, Godai-senpai had come on to me. But I had pulled away at the last moment. We didn't kiss.

Yet in this photo, it looked as if our lips were about to meet.

Aoi beside me stiffened as well.

“Th-That's… Miyabi, is this really…?”

“No, it's not true!” I shouted.

There's no way it could be true.

This must be some kind of mistake.

Godai-senpai raised an eyebrow, seemingly enjoying my panic.

“Wow, you're really desperate to deny it, huh?”

“Of course! This is absolutely impossible!”

Seeing me deny it with everything I had, Godai-senpai shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well, to be honest, I don't care about the truth, you know?”

“…You don't care?”

I was stunned.

“Yeah. What matters is how it looks.”

Godai-senpai lightly shook the phone as he grinned smugly.

“Look—Hajime Aizawa, the guy who's been all over the news lately. He wrote the novel ‘A Story Dedicated to My Childhood Friends.’ It's known as a beautiful story in the public eye, right?”

“…!”

My chest tightened as though a cold hand was squeezing it.

“But what if the key person in that story—the childhood friend who was the model for it—turned out to be an easy girl who'd flirt with any random guy?”

A chill ran down my spine.

“What…?!”

“Ha ha, just imagine.”

Godai-senpai laughed, still enjoying my discomfort.

“While Hajime Aizawa's pure love for his childhood friend is being celebrated, what if that childhood friend is secretly a flirt who sleeps around behind his back? Wouldn't that be hilarious if the public found out?”

“Stop it!!”

Shaking with anger, I glared at Godai-senpai.

“Oh, the story's not over yet,” he said, his grin widening.

He operated his phone again, showing a different photo.

This time, it was a photo of Hajime and me walking to school together.

We looked like a couple, casually walking side by side.

I gasped.

“…What is this?”

Aoi's voice trembled as she spoke.

Godai-senpai grinned even more broadly.

“You were just walking to school with Hajime, right? You two looked pretty friendly, huh?”

“Wait, this is from this morning!”

“I took this photo while you were walking together. Now, with this, we can explain both the original author's identity and the model for his childhood friend.”

“…!”

A cold sensation spread through my stomach.

I couldn't say anything.

If Aoi hadn't been there to support me, I would have collapsed right then and there.

“…What are you going to do with those photos?”

Aoi asked in a low voice.

“Heh… Actually, I know someone who's connected to the entertainment industry. Through them, I might be able to get in touch with a good gossip reporter.”

Godai-senpai kept his smug smile as he continued.

“If I give them these photos—don't you think they'd go for a nice price?”

“Stop…!”

I clenched my fists tightly.

“If it’s about myself, I don’t care how much I’m degraded… but I absolutely can’t allow you to drag Hajime into this!”

I gathered all my strength and shouted.

“…What do you want?”

My voice trembled as I asked.

Godai-senpai grinned.

“Well, the thing is… my friends have been bugging me to introduce them to your girlfriend. They’re just being so annoying about it.”

“…What?”

“Until recently, I would’ve been able to proudly introduce you as ‘Miyabi-chan’… But, I wonder why I got dumped? Honestly, it really shocked me. My heart's been shattered.”

Godai-senpai exaggeratedly pressed his hand to his chest, letting out a dramatic sigh.

“Seriously, after bragging about having such a beautiful girlfriend, to get dumped at the last minute is no laughing matter. Huh? Doesn't this make me look ridiculously uncool?”

He put his hands on his head, pretending to be in agony, a forced smile on his face. But his eyes didn't reflect any amusement.

“So, here's the deal—just pretend to be my girlfriend for today. Just today, Miyabi-chan, okay?”

I felt a lump in my throat.

“…If I go along with it, will you delete those photos…?”

I finally managed to squeeze the words out, and Godai-senpai nodded, looking satisfied.

“Of course! I get to save face, and Hajime and you won't get dragged into this. It's a win-win for both of us, don't you think? Besides, for you, it's just one day. Once I introduce you, it's done. Please, just help me save face, okay?”

He shrugged casually, spreading his arms as if it was no big deal, a carefree smile on his face. But the gleam in his eyes was full of satisfaction.

I fought to hold my crumbling heart together and said quietly, “…Let me think about it.”

My mind was a mess. I didn't know what to do, what was the right choice.

The only thing I was sure of was that I couldn't let this go any further and drag Hajime into it.

Aoi looked at me with concern. I could see her hand trembling slightly.

“Give me an answer by the end of the school day, okay?”

Godai-senpai waved his hand lightly, as if closing a fun little show, and left the rooftop with Takamatsu-senpai.

I stood there, barely able to keep myself together, as the cold wind blew around me.

Every time my legs wobbled and I felt like I might collapse, Aoi was there to steady me.

Her arm's warmth was the only thing keeping me connected to reality right now.