Arc 1 – Episode 11: “I Thought We Were Friends… – Part 2”

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“I love you, Kyoichi-san.”

After the kiss, an unexpected confession escaped her lips.

The moment she said it, there was no turning back.

I knew I had to reject her—

“…I’m sorry!”

But before I could, Aria-san bolted down the hallway, as if trying to escape.

“Sigh…”

Left alone, I sat there, nursing the bruises and a headache from my fall down the stairs. I began to think about my next steps.

First, I decided to put off dealing with Aria-san. I needed to handle the student council president’s business, visit the nurse’s office, and finally consult Ichigo.

With my plan settled, I headed to the student council room, where the president greeted me warmly.

“Welcome. By the way, weren’t you with Kakyoin-san?”

“Kakyoin-san… well, we kind of tripped on the stairs on our way here. I tried to catch her, but things got awkward, and she ran off.”

“Tripped on the stairs?! Are you hurt? You should go to the nurse’s office right away!”

The president said, her expression filled with genuine concern.

“Are you sure? What about your business…?”

“It’s nothing urgent. I’m too busy to go with you, but if you can walk, just go on your own.”

With that, she practically pushed me out of the student council room.

With no reason to stay, I made my way to the nurse’s office, only to run into Ichigo.

“Kyo-kun, I heard you fell down the stairs. Are you alright?”

Ichigo asked, her face full of genuine worry.

“I’m heading to the nurse’s office now.”

“I’ll come with you.”

And just like that, I found myself walking to the nurse’s office with Ichigo at my side.

The nurse examined me, found a few bruises, and applied cold compresses. She advised me to get a proper check-up at the hospital later.

“So, what are you planning to do about Aria-chan’s confession?”

On our way back, Ichigo suddenly asked, stopping me in my tracks.

She already knew about the confession—of course she did. Since middle school, my phone had a tracking and eavesdropping app that Ichigo had made herself.

Not to prevent me from cheating—but to provide live commentary of it, which… yeah.

“Obviously, I’m going to turn her down. I can’t be with two people at once.”

“I’m fine with it, though.”

“But neither Aria-san nor I would be happy with that. It’s too disrespectful.”

Cheating with a friend was one thing, but actually deceiving someone and dating them was another.

“Why do you think she even fell for me? I remember she was super wary of me at first.”

“That's because you're handsome, Kyo-kun~.”

Can't argue with that. So it really was just about looks, huh?

If that's the case, maybe she'll just brush it off as a phase or a misunderstanding.

Walking side by side with Ichigo again, I continued the conversation.

“Kyo-kun, do you hate Aria-chan?”

“Hate? Not really. I thought we were friends.”

Although, after that kiss, it's hard to imagine we'll stay just friends.

“Aria-chan probably has her first crush on you, you know? It'd be kind of sad if her first love ended in heartbreak without ever having a chance.”

“Just because you love someone doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be with them. Besides, two-timing someone is way worse.”

“So, what if I told you I set up Aria-chan to fall for you?”

“…Huh?”

I stopped again and stared at Ichigo, dumbfounded.

Ichigo looked right back at me, completely unfazed.

“Kyo-kun, you've always done whatever I asked. You worked hard to become cool, smart, and athletic, and now you're super popular. So don't you think you deserve the reward of having more than one girlfriend?”

Not even close.

Was Ichigo… behind Aria-san's interest in me this whole time?

I was completely played.

I'd thought she was just supporting me to cover our relationship in school, but this?

“If I told Aria-chan the truth, she'd be devastated, don't you think? Betrayed by her friend, realizing her first love was orchestrated by someone else, and that it was never within reach to begin with.”

Is she… using Aria-san's feelings as leverage?

“She might even shut herself in, and her grandfather would be furious with us. We'd probably get expelled.”

Not only would Aria-san's life be ruined, but ours too.

“Kyo-kun, don't you think there are times when it's better to be happily deceived? Why not date Aria-chan for a little while, make some nice memories, and end it before things get messy?”

Ichigo whispered like the devil herself.

“I'll allow it if it's just two-timing. As long as Aria-chan never finds out about us, you can break things off peacefully when the time comes.”

Pretend to date Aria while keeping things with Ichigo a secret, and break up before anyone gets hurt.

Her suggestion sounded like the perfect solution to my conflicted mind.

“I'll… think about it.”

I couldn't bring myself to reject Ichigo's proposal outright.

The next day in class, Aria-san acted normal in front of everyone but glanced at me far more often than usual.

“Kuzuha-kun, did something happen with Kakyoin-san?”

It was only a matter of time before Itou-san noticed and asked me during break.

“Yeah, kind of.”

“Yesterday, you went to see the student council president together, right?”

“Did she ask you to join the student council and you turned her down?”

Of course, Suzuki-san and Kobayashi-san jumped into the conversation.

“Something like that.”

I couldn't exactly say she kissed me and confessed.

Not when I was already surrounded by three girls in class, and with Aria-san still watching me, it was obvious a lot of classmates (mostly the guys) saw me as a target.

If word got out about yesterday, bullying might be the least of my worries—I could end up getting lynched.

I could fight back, but it wouldn't stop things from being a huge hassle.

As I made small talk with Itou-san and the others, I stole a glance at Aria-san.

She was staring at me with eyes full of dark emotions.

Creepy.

If I reject her, is she going to stab me or something?

With that fear in mind, the day passed, and it was lunchtime.

“Kyoichi-san, I'd like to talk. Would you join me for lunch?”

Before I could do anything, Aria-san approached me, speaking loud enough for the whole class to hear.

Using my first name, no less.

Naturally, the room was buzzing with whispers.

“…Fine.”

Sticking around would only make things worse for me, so I nodded.

“Then follow me.”

With Aria-san leading the way, I walked out of the classroom, feeling the jealous glares of the guys and the curious stares of the girls on my back.

She took me to an empty classroom—the same one where I'd introduced her to Ichigo.

“Kyoichi-san, you like Ichigo-san, don't you?”

Facing me, Aria-san asked as if she needed confirmation.

She mentioned something similar yesterday, too.

There was no use trying to lie here.

“Yeah, like I told you yesterday, I care about her.”

“But I love you too, Kyoichi-san.”

“Aria-san, I—”

Before I could say anything more, she raised her hand to stop me.

“Kyoichi-san, date me. If you don't, I'll go to my grandfather and get Ichigo-san expelled.”

“What…?”

I was stunned.

The Aria-san I knew was someone who hated using her family's power like this.

“Are you really willing to go that far just to date me?”

“Maybe expulsion isn't enough. You might get transferred to another school, too. Or maybe Ichigo-san will be kidnapped and never seen again. How does that sound?”

“Aren't you friends with Ichigo?!”

“We're friends. For now. But who knows what'll happen in the future.”

“…”

I was speechless.

The anger I felt at her threat toward Ichigo was undeniable.

But a part of me couldn't help but feel sorry for her, knowing it was Ichigo and I who'd twisted her into this.

Aria-san used to be such a kind, genuine person.

“So, will you date me, Kyoichi-san? As my real boyfriend?”

“Do you really think doing this won't make me hate you?”

“I'll make you forget all that hate, and your feelings for Ichigo-san, too.”

She spoke confidently, but I knew for sure—there's no way she could ever make me forget about Ichigo.

But rejecting her here would only lead to more trouble.

Maybe Ichigo was right. Dating Aria for a while, then breaking up, might be the best option.

After all, Ichigo herself was the one who wanted this.

“You'll regret this.”

Even so, the guilt of deceiving her made me warn her.

“I won't. Not at all.”

Taking my words as agreement, Aria-san grabbed my face with both hands and brought her lips to mine with absolute confidence.

I didn't resist, letting her kiss me.

But between my anger, guilt, and pity, I couldn't even feel her lips at all.