Chapter 38: Lightning vs. fried horse mackerel

Translator: Soafp

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For now, I need to hear what Kikawa Moegi has to say and understand why she said those things. I have to bring the favorability level back to a minimum and avoid being reported to the police. I’ve been thinking solely based on the assumption of reporting, but it doesn’t necessarily mean she will actually do it.

However, with such an abnormal low point, it wouldn’t be surprising if she did. Maybe I should consider that possibility and act accordingly. I can’t really do anything significant. That’s why I have to do everything I can, no matter how small.

I opened the door to the 2-A classroom and entered. I saw Hihara Karen sitting at her seat and reading a book. She noticed me.

“Oh, Izayoi, what’s up? Did you come to invite me for lunch?”

“Eh, no, um, I have something to discuss with Kikawa-senpai…”

Behind her seat, Kikawa Moegi was glaring at me with a piercing gaze. Super scary. Uh-oh, if I were to become her guardian spirit, she might report me…

“What? I have nothing to talk about with you.”

“I’m sorry. But I have something to discuss with you. Just give me five minutes.”

“….”

She squinted her eyes and looked at me. The second-year students in the classroom started whispering among themselves.

“Eh? Now it’s Kikawa-san?”

“The third person, huh?”

“Hey, maybe those rumors were true after all…”

Misunderstandings deepen even further, but familiarity is a terrifying thing, and I’ve already grown accustomed to it. It’s like mental training…

“Fine, I’ll give you five minutes.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, shall we go?”

“Yes.”

“Wait a moment. What’s your business with Moegi? Make it clear. Izayoi.”

“Well, it’s not really a big deal…”

What should I do? It feels like if I tell her, it might strain the relationship between her and Kikawa Moegi. Besides, this isn’t something you casually talk to someone about…

“Just wait a moment, Karen-chan. I’ll set you free.”

“What are you talking about, Moegi?”

“It’s our conversation, so don’t worry about it. Karen-chan, please wait here. It’ll be over quickly.”

“What are you really saying, Izayoi? What kind of business do you have?”

“I’m sorry, it’s nothing important.”

“That’s all you ever say… Fine. I’ll wait here. Go quickly.”

“Yes, excuse me.”

“See you later, Karen-chan.”

We left the classroom. I’m grateful that Hihara Karen has backed off. If I tell her I came to ask why she’s treating me so harshly, it might harm her reputation…

“Where are you taking me?”

I don’t want to be asked by others… Is there anyone on the rooftop? Maybe behind the school building?

“Is it okay if we go behind the school building?”

“…As I thought. Alright, let’s go there.”

“Thank you.”

“As I thought?” What does that mean? It feels like she’s having a major misunderstanding, but well, I’ll understand everything once I hear her out.

We headed towards the back of the school building.

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[Karen PoV]

What’s wrong with Izayoi? Inviting Moegi and going somewhere together!! It takes quite some nerve to invite her in front of me.

Now it’s Moegi? Are you tired of me? That can’t be true, right?

I’m curious. What are they going to talk about? …Izayoi even jokingly tried to kiss me forcibly, so it shouldn’t be a problem if I make a slightly bold move, right?

Quietly without making a sound, I opened the door and left the classroom. I started tailing the two of them. They went downstairs.

Where are they planning to go?? Moegi is supposed to dislike guys… Could it be that they already have a special relationship? Pretending not to get along but actually being lovey-dovey behind the scenes? It’s a common plot in light novels where a heroine who dislikes guys falls in love and becomes lovey-dovey with the protagonist.

[Hey, that’s not allowed. This is school, you know?]

[I’m sorry. I can’t resist, Kikawa-senpai…]

[Mou, it can’t be helped. When it’s just the two of you, it’s Moegi, remember?]

[Moegi…]

[Izayoi…]

I might have jumped to conclusions. Moegi’s aversion to men is deep-rooted. It’s not possible for such a development to happen unless Izayoi is like a protagonist in a light novel… Wait, come to think of it, Izayoi is just like a protagonist in a light novel!! Could it be that he secretly started pursuing Moegi and they ended up dating in that process…

[I can’t take it anymore. Please go out with me.]

[I’m not into guys, but you’re special.]

[Oh, Kikawa-senpai…]

[Moegi, remember?]

[Yes… Moegi…]

Damn it, damn it, damn it. I’m definitely going to listen to their conversation!!! It wouldn’t be surprising if this kind of development happened with Izayoi.

“What are you thinking?”

“UPI!”

“Why are you making such a startled noise?”

“Don’t surprise me like that when you approach me!”

There, standing before me, is the person I currently envy the most, Gindou Kohaku.

“Why are you here too?”

“I invited him for lunch, but he said he had something else to do… Well, I was just curious about the priority he gave that ‘something else.'”

“I see…”

So, she’s also tailing Izayoi. Well, I can’t cause a scene here. Let’s continue tailing them. But her reason for tailing seems rather shallow.

Is it just me, or does she have some yandere potential… or am I imagining things? And I shouldn’t be thinking about this right now.

“Don’t make any noise while following them.”

“You should be careful too.”

Unwillingly, we continue together from this point. Damn it, she looks cute up close, just as I thought.

“That’s Kikawa Moegi from the second year, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Why is she with Izayoi?”

The atmosphere suddenly changed. For a moment, I even felt a bit nervous.

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m here to find out.”

“I see…”

We continue to sneakily follow them. The two of them went outside. Where are they planning to go? They haven’t said a word. And they’ve arrived… at the… the back of the school?!?

Eh? No way. Seriously?

[Hey, isn’t being outdoors a bit too intense?]

[I’m sorry. I can’t hold back…]

[Well, it can’t be helped.]

Izayoi!! Control yourself!!! No, this is just my imagination, so it doesn’t mean this kind of development is set in stone… But Izayoi is also a guy, and desires can sometimes get the better of him…

“So, what’s up?”

“I have one thing I want to ask you, Kikawa-senpai. Why did you speak so harshly to me on the day of the sports festival?”

“Oh, that? There’s just one reason. I told you the truth because you’re a worthless and hopeless guy. What? Did you expect it to be an expression of love? Are you just too self-conscious? Your brain is messed up because you only think about sexual desires.”

Eh? Moegi? Do you want me to kill you? Do you think you can say that to my Izayoi without consequences? My previous anxiety is completely gone, replaced by anger that fills my mind.

Gindou Kohaku, who is standing beside me, seems to feel the same. The highlights in her eyes fade away, replaced by burning hatred.

“Why do you hate me so much? I’ve heard the rumors that you dislike guys. But I don’t think you’re the kind of person who would go out of your way to insult men.”

“…Ugh, creepy. It’s like you know everything about me. What? Did you stalk me and investigate like those two?”

“No, it’s just a hunch.”

“Huh… Well, whatever. Whether you did or not, the fact remains that I think you are worthless, okay? Is that all? I don’t have time to waste on someone like you.”

“Enough of this!!!”

“I can’t take it anymore!!!”

The two of us jumped out from our hiding place. One punch is all I need!!!

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[Izayoi PoV]

Hmm, it seems like her favorability rating is still low. Why did it come to this? She doesn’t seem willing to answer even if I ask.

“Well, instead of saying that, just answer…”

Thump thump thump, I hear the sound of something running from behind. W-What’s going on?

When I turn around, two beautiful girls are running towards us with angry expressions. T-This is scary.

“Ah, it’s the two of them…”

“Hey, what’s your intention?”

“Do you find it fun to badmouth Izayoi-kun?”

Amazing, the three original members of the “Masou Shoujo” have encountered each other!! It’s quite exciting. It’s truly unlikely for the three of them to gather and have a face-to-face conversation before summer break. I’m moved.

But I need to stop Gindou Kohaku and Hihara Karen from verbally attacking her…

“Eh? I-I did it for the two of you…”

Oh, she’s on the verge of tears. She’s unexpectedly easily frightened, and her mental state is quite fragile. I need to stop this before it escalates.

“What? What’s that?”

“You’re the most unpleasant person.”

“Eeek! I-I’m s-sorry…”

“Wait a moment. I think there must be some reason behind all this, so let’s hear more of the story.”

The two of them had faces that didn’t seem convinced.

“Why? Why are you defending her even after she said all that to you?”

“That’s right. There’s no need to defend her.”

“B-But, generally speaking, I think there must be a significant reason to say something like that. S-So let’s hear the whole story, just once.”

“…I guess you’re right.”

“…Let’s hear her out, for now.”

Phew, that’s good. At least they’ve calmed down a bit. I’m glad they got angry for my sake, but I need to stop this from going any further.

“But before that, let me slap her once.”

“N-No, senpai, you can’t…”

“He is right, Hihara-senpai.”

In the end, they’re still not calm. However, Gindou Kohaku steps in to stop her. She’s truly reliable. In moments like this, she’s someone I can count on, no matter what.

“It can’t be the palm of your hand. It has to be a fist.”

No, I can’t rely on her at all!　Please, don’t be the violent type!　Kikawa Moegi is scared out of her wits!

“Gindou-san, isn’t a punch too much?”

“It’s fine. Ideally, I’d love to punch her in the nose and break her bones. But I’ll settle for a slap on the cheek without any lasting damage.”

“No, no! Violence is not the answer!”

“This isn’t violence. It’s retribution.”

“It’s still violence! Let me talk to her, please! I’m begging you!”

“…If Izayoi insists on it.”

“There you go, Moegi. Hurry up and talk. But be aware that two fists are waiting depending on the circumstances.”

Without me realizing it, Hihara Karen’s open palm has transformed into a clenched fist. Nervously, Kikawa Moegi begins to speak.

“B-Because, you see, that man has been using the two of you as objects to satisfy his sexual desires and has been holding you captive. I wanted to free you, but I couldn’t find any evidence…”

“Ha? Who? Who said such baseless things?”

“Izayoi would never do such a thing. Please don’t joke about it.”

The two of them tighten their fists. I need to hear more!

“HII… Well, uhm, there were rumors circulating around the school, in newspapers, and on the internet about the two of you going through unimaginable experiences.”

“I hadn’t heard about those rumors…”

“B-But it’s all credible. Look at this!”

Kikawa Moegi takes out her phone and shows a particular screen. It could be considered an underground network within the school, filled with rumors. And there, it was written about me.

“Kuroda Izayoi forcefully takes advantage of two beautiful women.”

“He was hospitalized shortly after enrolling. Familiar with fights. That led to speculation about domestic violence.”

“He makes the two captives do heroine-like things outside, carefully avoiding detection.”

Oi oi, this is outrageous. Who would write something like this? They’ve added a touch of truth to make it seem believable.

“What is this? None of it is true!”

“…”

“And there’s more…”

The next thing that appeared was a photo. It was a scene where I jokingly tried to kiss Hihara Karen. The image was taken from a considerable distance, so it’s a bit blurry, but it seems like she didn’t want it. Was I being photographed…?

“At first, it was just rumors with an uncertain truth, so I kept an eye on things. But on the day of the sports festival, this photo was uploaded. That’s when I became convinced that everything written about him was true. There were also rumors that Kuroda Izayoi had completely erased the evidence. So I thought I could become evidence myself.”

“I see. That’s what happened.”

“I thought if I casually bad mouthed and spread rumors of him being an abusive man, I could make him lose his temper and assault me, then he would be thrown into a cell while freeing the two girls.”

Oh, it’s a similar approach to mine. It’s quite forceful when you hear it from someone else. But seriously, who the hell wrote this? Can I punch them?

“But if you’re the advisor to the two girls and you’re forcing them to keep secrets, it’s pointless. I wanted to save them as soon as possible… Have they really been through such terrible things?”

“No, they haven’t. Even in this photo, we weren’t kissing. Izayoi saved my family. He’s even more favored by my parents.”

“Izayoi-kun is a very kind person. The rumors are complete lies.”

“….Really? You’re not being forced to say that? You’re not saying it against your will?”

“I’m telling you it’s not true, right? Well, I guess I have no choice. Listen carefully! I’ll tell you everything about Izayoi.”

From there, the whole incident was explained. Oh no, how embarrassing. They even recited verbatim the passionate lines I said to Hihara Karen’s parents.

“I-Is it okay now?”

“Amazing, Izayoi-kun!!”

“How about that? Are you still doubting?”

“Well… What about Kohaku? The rumor was that she was being stalked and blackmailed. There was also a theory that he planned everything to save her.”

“I’ll tell you everything.”

From there, she spoke about how I carry a dictionary in my pocket, how I saved Kohaku from the delinquents, and how I protected her no matter what horrible things were said about me. She told the whole story.

No, I told you, I’m embarrassed!　

“How cool”

“Cool isn’t?”

“What? Is she hooked? Cool!! Please, I really want you to spare me.”

“Please don’t do that. It’s really embarrassing.”

“R-really? Then, what’s written here…”

“It’s all lies.”

“It’s a lie.”

“Izayoi is kind, you know. He doesn’t resort to violence. Shall I show you my body? There are no injuries or bruises anywhere.”

“Me neither.”

“I-it’s a lie. It’s a misunderstanding…”

“Do you have something to say?”

“Yes, yes.”

Kikawa Moegi turned towards me apologetically.

“Um, I’m sorry for saying terrible things.”

Then, she bowed her head.

“It was a misunderstanding, then it can’t be helped. Please don’t mind.”

“Eh? Is that okay? I mean, normally, if someone said those things to you, wouldn’t you be angrier?”

“If it was a misunderstanding, I can’t blame you.”

From her perspective, she probably didn’t want them to experience the same kind of suffering. She already knew that she had her own circumstances, so I didn’t feel angry.

“I’m really sorry.”

She lowered her head. When she feels sorry, regardless of gender, she apologizes. She may have some biases, but she’s fundamentally a good person. That’s why she had so many fans.

“I’m sorry, both of you. I think I made you uncomfortable…”

“If it’s okay with Izayoi, then it’s okay with me.”

“If Izayoi-kun is fine with it, then I am too.”

Phew, I managed to clear up the misunderstanding. It was thanks to them. The saying “Kindness is for the sake of others” is truly accurate.

“Now, how do we take down this website?”

“First, let’s report it to the school. After that, we’ll try to identify the person behind it…”

“No, we don’t have to go that far.”

Certainly, it’s unforgivable, but there are other things to do. I’m sorry, but I don’t have the luxury to worry about it right now.

“We should go that far.”

“Yes, we should.”

“Is that so?”

They pressed me with overwhelming determination, and I ended up agreeing. I’m grateful that they’re doing it for my sake, but I’m not sure about it.

“Let’s report it to the school right away.”

“But it’s difficult to track someone on the internet. What should we do?”

“We’ll think about that after we report it. Internet technology is beyond our capabilities.”

“That’s true. What should we do if we manage to identify them?”

“We’ll make them experience hell.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s destroy their brain for even thinking about something like this.”

“No, no, that’s too extreme!! I’m not bothered by it, so don’t go overboard!!”

For now, I managed to settle it by just reporting it to the school.

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