Volume 2 - CH 5.2

[Hinagi PoV]

“Erika, are you satisfied? Eliminate the people you don’t like and expel them from school. Is this what you wanted to do!”

“Lies! Lies! Mutsuki, you are being deceived! Wake up—-“

“It is you who must wake up!”

President Kedou grabbed Tojo-senpai by the chest and pressed up against her.

A dry crackling sound was heard and Tojo-senpai staggered back with a slap.

The classmates of Tojo were looking on in amazement.

Those who had been following behind gasped at the unusual scene. President Kedou and Tojo-senpai, no matter what kind of relationship they have with each other, one thing is clear: Yukito must have just been caught up in the middle of it.

A few months after entering the school. Yukito has always been in the center of the conversation, but his reputation is terrible.

He has been called a bad influence all over the place. In the first place, suspensions are rare.

But when it comes to a freshman in the middle of a whirlwind, he attracts attention whether he wants it or not. Everyone is just curious and will do whatever they want to humiliate him. At this rate, even if Yukito returned to school, it would be a needle in a haystack.

“Why is that boy flying in the sky ……?”

While looking at her phone, Yuuri was muttering something.

I’m sorry, Yuuri. Inaudible apology muttered in my chest.

The original reason for this is because I relied on Yukito so easily. No matter how much I apologize, I cannot be forgiven.

I have hurt him and caused him pain over and over again.

But I made a promise. On that date, Yukito relied on me.

I have to do something! I swore I would help him, that it would be my turn to help him!

“But I don’t know what to do ……. I can’t do anything …… on my own.”

I was in such a hurry that only my feelings were spinning out of control. I hate myself for being so stupid.

I am now being shown my inadequacies. I am not a good communicator. Ever since I entered the school, I have only followed Yukito and have not actively engaged with others.

In times like this, Yukito would always be able to figure out what to do immediately.

Tears were spilling down my cheeks because of my helplessness. What have I done all this time?

I have always asked for help, so I didn’t realize how difficult it was. I had never noticed the pain and the suffering.

“Be calm, Hinagi Suzurikawa. If you can help, it doesn’t have to be me. I am a defeated heroine. Then it can be someone other than me. Yukito doesn’t care what it takes. Then I’ll do it too…”

I remember the words of Yukito. “Don’t be so narrow-minded,” he had said.

So many people have gathered here to worry about Yukito.

It is the footprints that Yukito has left behind. It’s not vague. Rumors are not vague.

People who know Yukito, people who have touched Yukito, have overturned the false image of Yukito.

“…..I see, so that’s what this is all about. ……”

Now I finally understand the meaning of those words. The vision opens up and my thoughts become clearer.

I have always relied on and always looked at Yukito, and that is something I have always lacked.

It is the power to break out of a situation, the power to recover from it, something that could be called life experience.

What else did Yukito say? Remember, Hinagi! Yes, Yukito…

“Suzurikawa-san!

“Sato-san?”

“I can’t take this anymore! Why is it only Kokonoe-kun? I’m the one who caused this!”

Two people rushed to me. She, Sato Koharu’s jealousy made me suffer. It’s just resentment.

But there was no grudge. I didn’t hate her. Because I understand her feelings so painfully.

I loved him so much that I didn’t want to give him to anyone. I don’t want to give himto anyone.

Even now, Miyahara-kun is next to her, supporting her. The ideal two people. How could I have forgotten ……?

“How could I have forgotten ……. I didn’t tell Yukito.”

Taking a deep breath and looking around me, I see a lot of beautiful and colorful things abounding. That’s right.

I have seen only dirty things. I thought everything around me was the enemy.

But it wasn’t true. If I am calm, I can see it.

Kamishiro told me that she wanted to be my friend. I was also supported by President Kedou, Yuuri-san, Sato-san, and everyone in the class. Even the teachers are willing to help.

There are a lot of people who are on Yukito’s side. I’m so proud of my childhood friend.

Yukito told me. Let’s all think together. It’s not enough if I’m the only one thinking about it.

I don’t need any more solutions that sacrifice one person.

” Sato-san, I have something I need your help with.”

“! Yes, anything is fine. This time we must do our best!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Sato-san responds. Sato-san is strong because she is not alone.

“Excuse me! I have something I want you to hear.”

I call out to the President. There is no need to hide anything anymore. Because I have Yukito next to me.

The childhood friend who made me believe that I could overcome any difficulty.

“Wait for me, Yukito. –I’ll make sure I get your place back.”

I inadvertently had the precious experience of flying a kite in the sky. Am I a ninja or what? Nin Nin Ikeoji was not an elder brother, but a general. He made and served us his own sushi, which was exquisite, and the sophisticated interior of the restaurant was distinctly different from ordinary eateries. Above all–.

“I can’t find it on the Internet……. Is it a secret society of evil?”

Even with the power of search engines, which cover the entire universe, I could not find any details about the restaurant.

The owner told me that the name of the restaurant was because it was only open on certain days, but that I could come and visit anytime. Next time, I will invite the mothers and others.

“But then again, Yukito, what are you doing here at this time of night? Don’t you have school?”

Himiyama-san is smiling as usual, but she also looks somewhat worried.

Even though I am under house arrest, I can’t really stay cooped up and never step out of the house. In fact, it would be unhealthy.

On my way home from the feast, I encountered Himiyama-san, who boasts of a threatening encounter rate, probably because she was out shopping, and now I’m here.

No, it’s fine, though, right? This person has a strange sense of distance. …… Yeah.

“I’m ashamed to say that I’ve been suspended from school.”

“I baked some cookies. How do you like them?”

“Thank you. They’re so good!”

“…… Suspension from school is a very dangerous thing. Did you do something wrong?”

“Certainly, I’m ‘evil’ in terms of attributes, but I didn’t do anything like that.”

Himiyama-san would be a “fairy” in terms of attributes. In other words, Himiyama-san is very effective against me, and I can never beat her in terms of type affinity. Even today, she is sitting next to me, and her hand is on my thigh as a matter of course.

Why!? Why is she doing that? Pien!

Anyway, there was no reason to hide it, so I told the truth.

In my experience, I have learned that when I hide things or do other things, somehow misunderstandings and misconceptions cause more commotion. I don’t make the same mistake. Honesty is the best, right?

So, can you please take your body away from me just a little more?!

“That is unacceptable!”

“Himiyama-san?”

“It’s hard, isn’t it, Yukito-kun ……”

For some reason, Himiyama-san was hugging me. The smell of thin cargo is sweetly stimulating to my brain’s marrow.

I feel like I’ve been hugged by someone a lot lately, but I’m not a hugger.

“I’m here to help you. Prefectural councilor, what’s that? So what? I can’t allow such a small person to hurt my little Yukito”

“No, that Himiyama-san, what on earth are you doing? Eh? Your what?”

Himiyama-san stood up and started calling somewhere. I hear voices like “big brother” and “grandpapa. I don’t want to hear what kind of dark scheme they are up to. If I did, I’m sure I’d be in trouble. My six sense is whispering to me, but my six sense is notoriously unreliable.

Himiyama-san comes back with a smile on her face.

“Yukito-kun, everything is going to be fine now.”

“I have a feeling I shouldn’t ask why.”

“Ufufufufufufu. Forcing you to wear a wet, soggy robe is a punishment that needs to be meted out, don’t you think?”

“Oh, my Lord, please be gentle!”

“Don’t worry. it will all be over soon.”

“Ah, this is a bad one.”

There are some things that should not be touched in living life well. That’s how it is.

I’m a man who can’t cross a stone bridge after knocking it down and smashing it open.

I’m going to live my life safely and lullaby to death!

“Right! Yukito, if you like, will you try calling me Mom?”

Eh? My mother is Ouka Kokonoe , and she’s the only one…”

“Then, will you try calling me Mama?”

“What do you mean with then!? The conversation hasn’t changed. Plus, my mom just recently switched classes to mama–“

“I saved you. You helped youout. Fuu”

“Pyah.”

She breathes in my ear with a puff of her breath. The sweet breath makes me dizzy. I was supposed to have been saved before I knew it, but for me, this situation was more of a pinch.

HImiyama-san, who was supposed to have saved me, was not going to help me out of this situation.

Himiyama-san is a beautiful woman, so if she does something like that too much, my reason will ……

“Ufufufufufufufu. It’s okay, Yukito. I’ll spoil you as much as I can. …… come ……look?”

What’s there to look at? Eh? Wait! Wait! What–!?

I can’t even describe it.

Is there any way out of this hellish paradise? I was in a desperate situation.

By the way, I’ve been thinking. When can I go home?

[Himiyama PoV]

There is still warmth on the sofa where he was sitting a moment ago.

I miss the heat that remains in the fingertips that I gently touched. I can’t believe that I’m craving human skin like this again.

I feel lonely. I tell this to no one in particular. The good times are fleeting, and once Yukito-kun is gone, I’m back to spending my days alone and aimlessly.

If I had never met him, I would never have known about it.

The reunion was sudden, and the regret torments me again. Yukito-kun didn’t remember me. But it was not because it was insignificant to him.

I casually asked him about the past.

[I try to forget about the past. It’s all bad memories.]

It was impossible for me to remain calm. I tried to hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes, but he was so upset that he gently took care of me. I wish I had never known – his kindness.

If I learned about it, only a more cruel fact would have remained.

I, the ugly devil, who trampled him down and caused the heinous act.

Drops of water trickle down my cheeks. I realized I was crying when a drop of water fell on my hand.

When was the last time I cried …… My memory is vague, and before I knew it, my heart, which was covered with thick ice, was so frozen.

I thought I was a cold woman. I thought I would never cry again.

And yet, somehow, my heart was shaken. It was as if it had returned.

A coin on the table. It was the same coin used in the magic trick that Yukito-kun had shown me earlier. It was in the palm of my hand before I knew it.

A lucky sixpence coin with the Queen of England on it.

When he heard that my brother was getting married, Yukito-kun went out of his way to prepare it for me.

A few years ago, he bought it to see what he could do with it because he was having too much bad luck, but when he heard about the wedding, he couldn’t have it. I tried to refuse, saying I couldn’t accept it, but he gave it to me, saying he didn’t plan to use it.

I’m sure my brother would be pleased. He’s not like me. I want my brother to be happy.

I picked up the ring case and held the coin over my hand.

“…… Yukito, am I allowed to be happy too?’

Another coin. The one given to me, not my brother.

I am jealous. As if seeing through such a state of mind, he had prepared two coins for me from the beginning.

[Himiyama-san, I hope you will be happy too.]

He spoke so carefree, he who is kinder than anyone else, and now, like me in the past, someone is tormenting and hurting him again, without a care in the world.

“I won’t allow it. …… Never.”

The anger that wells up in me and the guilt I feel for continuing to deceive him.

I don’t think I’m atoning for my sins, nor do I expect to be forgiven for this.

The demon that had been lurking in the darkness was illuminated by the light and easily brought back to the surface.

I will dispel the darkness, and I will not allow any entity to cloud my light. Maybe everything is inevitable.

After retiring from elementary school and supposedly brokenhearted, she still got up and took the employment exam again to become a high school teacher. Then they met again. As fate would have it.

I met him. As if drawn together, forgetting about each other.

“…… This can’t go on like this forever. –I will protect him this time.”

An elation long forgotten. I let my emotions soar and clutch the coin in my hand.

Keep the determination in my heart not to let go of the good fortune he has given me.