Volume 1 - CH 13

Chapter 13 - Betrayal

The last day of summer vacation.

There were two other people in my cramped apartment, Shintarou and Seiran.

Since we still had some unfinished summer homework, we all rushed through it on the last day, and it was the first time the three of us were together here.

"Ah, the heat! It's stuffy, too. It's too much for just men! How about inviting Narushima-san here?"

"Ah, that's a good idea. Her apartment is right next door anyway."

Shintarou agreed to Seiran's suggestion, but.

"No. They've already finished their homework, and if they come here, they'll just chat at most."

I subtly refused.

What I said earlier has some truth to it, but on the other hand, it's actually difficult for me to meet Narushima-san.

No problem. We definitely won't get caught.

"Ugh..."

My heart suddenly raced and I immediately clutched my chest.

Shintarou was confused by my behavior.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

"Ah, nothing. My chest is just a little sore. Ahaha."

Of course, I haven't told anyone about this day. I won't.

"I borrowed the toilet for a while."

Seiran left his seat and Shintarou and I were left there.

"Hey, Junya.

Shintarou stopped writing his homework and looked straight at me.

"W-what's up?"

Even though he was just calling me, his voice confused me.

I felt guilty that I was only with Shintarou at this time.

"So, do you remember what we talked about at the family restaurant the other day?"

"Huh? Ah, about Narushima-san?"

At that point, Shintarou was confused as to whether or not to express his feelings, so I stopped him.

"Anu... it's all my fault. I couldn't support you back then."

"Ah, that's not it, that's not it! In fact, I'm very grateful."

Shintarou shook his right and left hand, then continued.

"Well, to be honest, I was a little surprised at the time. But after the summer vacation we spent together, I thought about it again. I think it would be better for the five of us now."

"Shintarou..."

"Ahaha, but actually, I still like Narushima-san. But if it's because of my declaration of love that things are going well, and it's going to strain the relationship between the five of us, I don't want that to happen. This is just a secret between you and me. Thank you for stopping me back then."

Heavy. Really hard.

"Oi oi, I heard you. What's the secret between you two?"

Seiran just came out of the bathroom and sat down next to Shintarou, putting him stiff hands on his small shoulders.

"Uwaah, did you hear that? I was talking very quietly."

"Don't underestimate my hearing. Anyway, if you really like Narushima-san, just tell her directly. You don't need to worry about what happens to the five of us. Right, Junya?"

Seiran pointed his fist at me.

"Fist bump," that was our favorite gesture. It symbolized the wounded youth and the pledge of solidarity.

"A-ah..."

I also pointed my fist at him in a low voice.

He slammed him hard hand into mine.

Normally that didn't bother me, but this time it was very painful.

"Okay? The point is that Junya and I support you. And now we're going to make a 'Shintarou love support alliance.'"

"I told you, I'm not going to confess my feelings! I'm better off with the five of us as friends!"

"Uwaaah, your voice is really loud. I can hear it from Narushima-san's apartment, right?"

"Ugh..."

He lowered him voice while covering him mouth, then looked at me.

"I'm really sorry, Junya. I made a mistake that day. Even though I know best that Junya is a person who puts friendship first. You're also half serious about that "alliance without a girlfriend," right?"

It was a stupid alliance I made when we were in middle school.

"Ahaha... How could I be serious? It was just a joke..."

Then Shintarou looked at me with a complicated look.

"But that... You see, a lot of things happened to you back then, Junya."

"Ah..."

About Kazumichi and Megumi. That seemed to be what he meant.

A story where a couple formed in a group and I was left alone.

Of course, Seiran already knew about it.

Then I was the one who bragged about the "girlfriendless alliance" to them.

"Ah, that's not it, that's not it!"

I tried to explain.

"The alliance, I didn't mean it seriously! That's obvious, isn't it? That was probably a very stupid thing for me to say back then. But really, if you guys are going out with anyone, I'd love to hear about it!"

"I understand that. But still, Junya is the one who doesn't want to have a girlfriend. So, at the very least, you don't want to bring your relationship issues into the group. Right?"

"That's also true. But it's just something I've decided for myself!"

"Yes, I understand that too. So, let's put it this way."

Shintarou clapped his hands and looked at me and Seiran.

"Alliance without girlfriends will be renamed to Alliance without dating people in the group."

───!?

"Hmm? So you're really not going to tell Narushima-san about your feelings?"

"Of course. I don't want to worry Junya like I did in 2nd grade. So at the very least, none of us should confess our feelings to anyone in the group, and no one should date anyone in the group."

Wait.... Wait a minute...

"Yeah, that's good, right? After all, I had no desire to date in the first place. If Narushima-san and Asagiri-san are with us, it'll be more fun. Right, Junya?"

"I-I want to... go to the bathroom for a while."

I ran and left my seat.

At the toilet hole, I vomited the contents of my stomach.

"Hueeeekkk....」"

A feeling of guilt and disgust spread through my body.

But no matter how long I spit it out, that feeling would not leave my body.

"What have I done? .... Really, what have I done?"

The day Narushima-san confessed her feelings for me and kissed me even though I didn't want to.

I didn't believe it either. But I was too scared, so I couldn't do anything.

The feeling of being unable to resist suddenly arose in my heart.

At that moment, I fell in love with Narushima Yoru.

It had never occurred to me before, and it shouldn't have.

His love for Seiran suddenly turned to me.

A small animal that I thought was safe finally showed its fangs from a place I didn't recognize.

And it sparked a poison in me that made me feel pain and pleasure at the same time.

Then I was destroyed from within.

Then, with violence, she forced me to take the form of a man and made me her lover.

Even my vague love for Asagiri-san is now shattered.

Narushima Yoru looked at me with a complicated gaze and whispered words of love like a curse until I was bewitched.

Koga-kun, go out with me. Be my boyfriend.

"──Ugh.──

Just remembering his declaration of love at that time, a sweet and sickening feeling entered my body and made my body tremble with fear.

I shook my head.

Impossible, impossible. It was definitely impossible.

For how could I do that?

I won't find a girlfriend, especially not with someone from the group.

I'm the one who used to brag about it.

I also said stupid things that I couldn't stand, like "Alliance without girlfriends."

And after everything I said, I'm the one who's dating someone from the group?

Ah, that's right. If I wanted to, I would have gone out with Narushima-san, I guess.

But ...., isn't that called treason? Isn't that very bad?

Because I told Shintarou not to confess his feelings.

What's more, she also felt the scars of my past, so she decided to keep his feelings unspoken.

The friendship between the five of us was more important,

Don't bring romantic issues into the group anymore,

And the result of all that is "The Alliance doesn't date people in the group," you know?

Everything has come to this point.

Actually, I never thought about dating Narushima-san.

But even if my mouth is torn open, I won't be able to say it.

That's why it's better if I just keep quiet at this time!

Those beautiful words whispered in my ear and made me feel sick again.

The hesitant me at that time felt superficial, embarrassed, and very scared.

But in the end, I couldn't refuse Narushima-san, but I couldn't accept her either.

So I let her down.

Wasn't my attitude really that bad? I was trash and the worst.

"....Ugh....huuuu....tsk"

I closed my eyes and cried.

"Trash... I really am trash."

And worst of all, I didn't respond to his declaration of love.

"And I... felt happy... because of his kiss that day..."

I have fallen in love with a friend of mine named Narushima Yoru.

Scary. Narushima Yoru is very frightening. And I'm afraid of being attracted to her. I'm afraid that my thoughts will turn into an obsession with her.

Since then, I've never been alone with Narushima-san.

But when we were all together, I often ran into her.

We'd go to family restaurants, karaoke, and arcades together.

Even when there were five of us, Narushima Yoru still used the cat figurine she always used, and treated me as she always had. She really acted as if nothing had happened. She did it so perfectly.

It made me think that the events of that night were just my wild imagination.

But that's not possible.

Because when I slowly pressed my finger against her lips,

I could clearly feel the touch and warmth of her lips.

I once again slammed my fist against the toilet wall.

"What's wrong, what's wrong? Are you okay, Junya?"

"Are you okay?"

My two best friends sensed that something was wrong and called to me from outside.

Not knowing that I was a damned traitor.

"Hey, Junya. Are you okay?"

Seiran is my friend who is most like me. He would rather play with her friends than go out with her boyfriend. When I was in middle school, her words were deeply engraved in my heart.

And I'm sure it never crossed his mind that I would put friendship aside and go out with Narushima-san.

"If you're not feeling well, why don't you go to bed? We'll go home after."

Shintarou is my oldest friend. In middle school, I thought he was a fool for suddenly leaving the group. And even though that one best friend of mine was in love with Narushima-san, I stopped him from confessing his feelings.

And I'm sure it never occurred to him that Narushima-san had confessed her feelings to me and even kissed me.

"For now, let's go home. As for GKD, let's talk about the three of us again another day. If your condition is really bad, you'd better go to the hospital instead."

An unfamiliar abbreviation from Seiran that I didn't understand disturbed my ears as I heard the sound of them preparing to go home.

"GKD...?"

"Yes. It stands for Gurupu-naidewa Kanojowotsukuranai Doumei (Alliance of People Not Dating in Groups)."

"A Romaji abbreviation, right..."

I replied in a weak voice, imagining my broken heart.

Shit... Shit, shit, shit!

Nope. I can't take it anymore.

I've always avoided her. But I think I should tell Narushima-san tomorrow.

GKD is the right alliance for me, so that's enough.

I have to tell her that I can't go out with you.

Even though I couldn't refuse a kiss from her, and I didn't know what to say. Nevertheless, I had to say it.

I waited until Seiran and Shintarou had left my apartment.

I flushed the blood-colored vomit into the toilet hole and onto the floor and then left the bathroom.

...........................................................

Now that the long summer vacation is over, we are here for the opening ceremony of the second semester.

The five of us were chatting as usual after homeroom.

Looking at it, you'd think nothing had changed during the summer.

"Hey. Where are you guys going after this?"

"Of course we want to go to karaoke!"

"Ah. I brought the discount coupon I got the other day."

"Ahaha... It's not too late. Shall we spend some free time first?"

Narushima-san's cat figure is also very perfect today.

It really doesn't seem like anything has changed. Just the five of us are always having fun.

But the summer is over, and something must have changed in us.

In fact, the change is so great that it's unimaginable.

These are my feelings and Narushima-san's feelings.

And right now, I am going to put an end to those feelings.

I will say that I can't go out with Narushima-san, and then I will ask her to stay as before.

I think that's just mean, selfish, and arrogant.

Still, I have to tell her.

It seems that this group of 5 is very special to me. I don't even want to think about one of us leaving. They are all precious friends to me...

And I want to continue to be friends with Narushima-san.

"Ah. I need to use the restroom for a moment."

I left her and hurried to the men's room.

There, I took out my hand phone and send a message to Narushima-san.

It was a secret communication between the two of us for a long time.

Koga Junya: [Sorry. Can you meet me on the roof now?]

Narushima Yoru: [Okay. I'll tell the others to wait at the school gate.]

Her answer was too quick.

Maybe she's been looking at her hand phone since I left the classroom?

The sun was still hot, and under the blue sky, on the open roof of the school, I still waited for her.

And finally she came.

With her black hair blowing in the wind over her cheeks, she walked with grace and charm.

With a beautiful smile that she never showed to anyone,

Narushima Yoru came.

"Ufufu. It's been a long time since we were together."

"A-ah..."

"Because I always wanted to be alone with Koga-kun, so now I'm really nervous. Also, I've always refrained from coming to your apartment and not contacting you, you know?"

"S-so, huh...?"

Ever since I was here alone with Narushima-san, my heart was always loud.

She kept looking at me with a beautiful and eerie smile, as if she was shooting my heart and making it melt.

"Ah. By the way, did you call me here because you wanted to ask me out?"

"Anu, about that... I think..."

"Ufufu."

Narushima Yoru slowly put her hand around my neck, as if she really wanted something.

Then she closed her eyes, and because our bodies were so close, she slowly brought her lips to mine.

"Wa..wait a minute! I'm still ....mmmmm."

I should have enough time to resist.

I was once again enveloped in that ugly passion and couldn't move.

Again I received a forced kiss from her.

After a while, she released his lips and licked them.

She slowly confirmed the taste of that kiss after a few days of not seeing each other.

"Ufufu, I was afraid you were avoiding me. I've always wanted to kiss Koga-kun, so I'm very happy now. Hey, can I come to your room today?"

"No, I don't think so. I don't want to betray the others. So I can't..."

Even though I didn't refuse her kiss. I guess that was the worst thing to say.

But Narushima-san said,

"So you mean you like me, but you can't go out with me?"

"That... so..."

"Ufufu, I'm glad to hear that. It must be Koga-kun..."

This time, she pulled my head roughly and gave me a deep kiss.

She said this over and over again as she continued to kiss me.

"Chuuu... You see... ....mmmhhh... .... you like me... .....mmmmmhhhh... but you don't want to ruin the relationship between the five of us, so you can't go on a date with me... ....mmmmmmhhhh... is that what you mean?"

"Nnnn──puah...I said wait a minute! Listen to what I'm saying."

"I've been listening to you all along. But is this what you meant?"

My despicable and pitiful face was reflected in her eyes───and I nodded.

"Ufufu, this is why I like Koga-kun. I hate him, but I like him. I love you."

She pinched my cheeks with both of them. It seems like she really enjoys teasing me.

"Actually, I... can't stand Narushima-san."

"Huh. Is this kind of me too much for a virgin king like you? Could it be that you're a little afraid?"

"Ah, you finally understand. I'm really scared, you big-breasted cat."

Even though she was joking as usual, it still made my heart flutter.

"I also want the relationship between the five of us to stay like this forever. But I think we'll be fine. So, let's go out and hide this from everyone."

Narushima-san put his index finger to his lips and whispered softly.

"Go out and hide this from everyone?

To me, that's an annoying betrayal.

It's a misguided whisper from a girl who doesn't need to be heard.

But,

Narushima Yoru displayed her will as if it were a thick fog that stole my sight, my breath, and even my mind.

"I value friendship. I also value love. So I'll give priority to both. Isn't that okay?"

"That's too crazy. What you're saying is so opposite. Besides, isn't that like being a child?"

"Yes. In that case, it's okay for me to be a little brat."

In that thick fog, Narushima Yoru once again stole a kiss from me.

This secret kiss was both sweet and bitter.

One day, it might taste like licking ice cream off the palm of your hand.

Really, will nothing change?

Even if I go out with Narushima-san, no one will know.

Will there really be no change in the relationship between the five of us?

I don't know, I don't know.

But I'm sure of one thing.

Narushima Yoru is a very complicated girl.

She looks like an adult on the outside, but she's still a child on the inside.

She looks mean and strong-willed, but she is actually innocent and lonely.

She looks eccentric, but she's actually a solid person.

She's scary, but she's actually filled with affection.

She's my friend, but she wants to date.

She is a very interesting girl.

◇

Koga Junya and Narushima Yoru are having a secret meeting.

Miyabuchi Seiran, Tanaka Shintarou, and Asagiri Honoko are still waiting for them at the school gate without knowing what happened.

─Yesterday's summer vacation was fun.

I'm already tired for the second semester.

─Midterm exam when is it.

The three of them chatted about it, but suddenly Shintarou said his quip.

「But, those two are quite long too... What are they doing anyway.」

「Junya went to the restroom, and Narushima-san was called by the teacher. But yeah...」

Seiran without any intention, again without any intention, said a joke.

「Don't-don't, are they doing something?」

「Eh!?」

Only Asagiri Honoko responded excessively.

「That thing, what does it mean?」

「Hmm, there's no particular meaning. After all, I was just joking."

「Duh, even if you're just joking, don't say things that make me worry like that...」

「Ah? Why is Asagiri-san worried?」

「Eh, it's... it's nothing. Ah, why did they take so long...」

Honoko didn't say anything else.

She still wanted to be in this group a little longer, so she couldn't say it.

Under the clear sky in early September, you can still smell the scent of summer.

And under that blue sky, there was a girl who didn't know that two people were having a secret meeting. She just kept staring at the blue sky, thinking of a man.

All she had in her heart was a fragment of love from the summer.

And then the season changed from summer to fall.

Little by little, the five little children grew into adults.