Life Reversal ~ I Was Cheated On and Falsely Accused, but Now the Most Beautiful Girl in the School Is Getting Close to Me ~ Volume 1 Chapter 5
Chapter 5
A Reliable Adult
──September 5th ──
The fateful morning arrived.
I’d told Satoshi I was going to school today, but honestly, all I felt was dread. The thought of facing the same malice as yesterday was terrifying. Is this what it’s like to get flamed online? It felt like even complete strangers were aiming their ill will at me.
I forced down my breakfast toast, washing it down with consommé soup. Stress had my stomach in knots, and a wave of nausea rolled over me. I was in the worst possible shape.
“I’m heading out,” I mumbled to my mom and older brother, who were busy with prep work, before stepping outside. The bright sunlight seemed to press down on me, making my body feel even heavier.
A girl in a school uniform was waiting in front of my house. Could it be Miyuki? The thought sparked an instant rejection, and a cold sweat trickled down my back.
But when she turned, her silhouette was as graceful as an angel’s.
It wasn’t Miyuki. It was an irreplaceable friend.
“Ah, Senpai. Good morning.”
Ichijou Ai. The sight was so surreal that I instinctively ducked back inside.
“Eh? Hey, why are you closing the door?! I even woke up early so we could go to school together!”
My kouhai’s flustered, energetic voice only amplified the surreality of the moment.
“Oh, is that Ai-chan? She came to pick you up, huh? Hurry up and go, Eiji. It’s rude to keep a girl waiting, you know,” my mom said, rushing over to greet Ichijou-san with excitement.
“Good morning, Ai-chan! Did you come all this way for him? Thanks for putting up with my foolish son. Oh, that’s right! Do you like fried oysters? We just started serving them today, so you should definitely come by tonight. Our fried oysters with extra tartar sauce are a super popular seasonal special. It’s on the house for you, of course!”
Mom launched into her typical, over-the-top friendly chatter.
“Ah, good morning, Senpai’s mom! I love fried oysters! But I feel bad for letting you treat me so many times, so I’ll be sure to pay properly next time.”
“Oh my, you’re so well-mannered! Don’t worry about it. We do takeout, too, so just let us know anytime.”
“Okay, thank you so much! I’m already looking forward to them!”
As usual, my mom and Ichijou-san hit it off perfectly. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, with neither of them forcing a thing.
“Now, get going,” Mom said, shooing me away, and I was practically shoved out the door.
“Well then, you two have a good day.”
※
We set off on the route to school, and gradually, the figures of other students came into view.
Honestly, having Ichijou-san by my side considerably easedmy fear. We were comfortable enough to chat casually, and despite my miserable state, I found myself laughing on the way to school. She really must love fried oysters.“But are you sure about this?” I asked. “If you’re seen with me, won’t you get bullied, too?”
She simply laughed off my concern.
“There’s no way that would happen. It’s a little weird for me to say it, but I’m actually quite popular, you know. With both guys and girls.”
She was right. I’d never heard a single bad rumor about her. She was known for mercilessly shooting down confessions, but she always did so with such sincerity that she never left any hard feelings. An unspoken rule had formed among the student body that holding a grudge against her was simply uncool. She was popular with guys, of course, but her kind, nurturing personality also made her one of those rare girls who was genuinely liked by other girls.
“Well, I guess that’s true, but…”
“Senpai, you should make better use of the resources available to you,” she said. “If you walk with me, you’ll be quite safe. At the very least, the risk of someone insulting you to your face should drop significantly.”
She had a point. As we passed a few students, they just gasped in surprise, the insults dying on their lips.
“Why is the man-hating Ichijou-san walking with a guy?!”
“Hey, isn’t that the rumored ‘Aono’? Don’t tell me he’s forcing her…”
“No way. I mean, Ichijou-san looks like she’s having so much fun.”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen her look that happy.”
The reactions were all along those lines.
“If this goes well, today’s rumors might just overwrite all that slander,” Ichijou-san said with a happy smile. “Public interest is a fickle thing. Besides, girls usually prefer a good romance rumor.”
“But I don’t want your reputation to suffer because of me.”
“You’re too kind, Senpai, but you’re being overly considerate. I don’t need a reputation so fragile it would shatter just from walking to school with a good friend. Besides, anyone who’d direct malice at you without knowing the first thing about your personality is someone I’d rather not associate with anyway.”
And yet, we only just met yesterday.“You’re amazing…”
I was so happy to have such a wonderful friend that I felt like I could cry tears of joy.
“It’s still too early for that,” she said gently. “When this is all over, we can have a good, long cry together.”
Thanks to Satoshi, I’d found the resolve to come to school.
Thanks to Ichijou-san, I’d found the determination to fight alongside someone.
I was on the verge of losing faith in humanity, but it seemed I could still afford to believe. One step at a time, we moved forward.
※
As expected, we were drawing stares from everyone. With school just ahead, our unlikely pair had become the center of attention.
On one side was Ichijou Ai, a reputed genius and one of the most beautiful girls in school. On the other was Aono Eiji, the lowest of the low, the guy who had supposedly laid hands on his own childhood friend and girlfriend.
The students around us shot me looks of pure scorn, yet they were too intimidated by Ichijou’s presence to say a word. If they bad-mouthed me, the school’s idol might overhear. Fear for their own social standing kept their mouths shut.
Besides, Ichijou-san looked like she was genuinely having fun. Her smile was so captivating that no one dared to disturb her happiness. It was obvious to everyone that she was walking with me by choice, thoroughly enjoying our conversation.
“Aah, we’re almost at school,” she said. “Senpai, you’ll walk home with me today, too, right?”
It was her own way of being kind, acting as a protective charm against harassment. She deliberately emphasized the word “too,” subtly informing everyone that we had also walked home together yesterday.
“Are you sure?”
“What are you talking about? I’m the one asking you,” she replied, raising her voice just enough for others to hear. No guy could possibly turn her down after an invitation like that—an invitation countless others had been rejected for.
“I’d be happy to.”
“Hehe, then you have to treat me to fried oysters! Just kidding!”
We parted ways at the shoe lockers, promising to meet there again after school.
※
From here on, I was on my own. Steeling my resolve, I headed for my shoe locker. My shoes might be gone again. Or maybe there will be thumbtacks or trash stuffed inside. I braced myself for the worst.
To my surprise, my shoe locker was in the same clean state as yesterday.
There were no signs of tampering. Glancing around, I saw our grade-level head, Iwai-sensei, casually standing near the entrance.
So that’s what’s going on.It seemed he’d been watching over the area since early this morning to prevent any harassment. Surely, no one would be bold enough to cause trouble right in front of him.
“Yo, Aono. Morning,” he called out. “You heard from Imai, right?”
“Yes, I have.”
“I see, I see,” the teacher laughed cheerfully.
“Then, go see Takayanagi-sensei in the faculty office first. He’s been worried about you since yesterday.”
I thought I might get reprimanded for leaving school without permission, but his tone held no hint of it.
“Yes, sir.”
Though our exchange was brief, he gave me a satisfied smile.
※
I headed to the faculty office on the first floor. Honestly, I dreaded going in there under these circumstances. I’d definitely be the center of attention, and I was sure some of the teachers doubted me and would meet me with cold stares.
“Morning, Aono.”
Just as that worry crossed my mind, my homeroom teacher, Takayanagi-sensei, appeared in the hallway just outside the office. He must have been waiting for me.
“Good morning. Why are you out here?”
“Ah, yeah. Given the situation, you know. I figured you’d feel uneasy coming into the faculty office alone, so I waited.”
His tone was as slow and deliberate as ever, but I was grateful for his consideration.
“Thank you.”
“It’s the least I can do. No need to thank me. For now, let’s talk somewhere else. The hallway isn’t the right place for this. Let’s use the meeting room over there.”
Eh, don’t they usually use the student guidance office for things like this? The question popped into my head, but Sensei seemed to have read my mind.
“Would you prefer the student guidance office? The atmosphere in there inevitably puts the teacher in a position of authority. This time, I want you to talk to me as an equal, so I wasn’t planning on using it, but…”
I immediately shook my head. The last thing I wanted was to talk in a place with such a heavy atmosphere.
“Right?” he said with a nod.
With that, we entered the meeting room.
“Aono, sit here next to me. It’s easier to talk than sitting face-to-face, right?”
I could tell he was trying to ease my tension with a wry smile.
“Before I hear your side of the story, there’s something I have to say first.”
The teacher’s tone suddenly grew serious, and he straightened his posture. My own tension peaked.
“Aono, I am truly sorry. I failed to notice something was wrong with you yesterday, and I let you suffer. If I had only created an environment where you felt you could have consulted me before summer break, perhaps I could have eased your pain. I bear responsibility in this matter as well. I am truly sorry.”
The teacher bowed his head deeply.
He remained that way for over a minute. I honestly started to feel bad.
“Sensei, please raise your head. It’s not like I didn’t consult you, either. Besides, the fact that you noticed the problem this quickly is amazing, really…”
As I hurriedly spoke up, the teacher finally raised his head. “Thank you,” he said, looking at me with sincere eyes.
“Aono. I have a general idea that you’ve been through something painful. I was able to hear bits and pieces from Imai yesterday. So, it’s fine if you want to wait until your feelings are sorted out. Little by little is fine. Would you be willing to tell me what happened?”
Normally, the last thing I’d want is for a teacher to hear my heartbreak story. I’d been dumped by the childhood friend I trusted, who had then branded me a “stalker DV-man.” I didn’t want to tell anyone. Because of that, I was ostracized by my classmates and club members, and even harassed. Just admitting it to myself was pathetic enough.
But maybe… maybe it would be okay to tell this teacher.
If only I had one more ounce of courage… What scared me was that if I told him, he would have to take action. The guys who were harassing me might hold a grudge, thinking I “ratted them out,” and the bullying could get even worse.
He must have seen the pained look on my face.
“Sorry, Aono. Am I rushing you? You don’t have to force yourself. You don’t have to talk today if you can’t. You need time to sort out your feelings, right?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Are you thirsty? This isn’t normally allowed, but today’s an exception. I’ll treat you to a canned juice. Anything you want?”
The teacher spoke gently, as if promising to stay by my side.
“A Coke, then.”
“Got it. Wait here a bit.”
“But, Sensei, what about your first-period class? Isn’t it about to start?”
“That’s right. That’s something we adults are coordinating. The vice principal is covering my first-period world history class. He used to be a history and geography teacher, you know. The school’s top priority right now is supporting you, Aono. You’re the one going through the most.”
It seemed the entire teaching staff was making arrangements for me. Iwai-sensei’s presence earlier was part of it, too. I was so grateful, yet I felt so pathetic for not being able to speak properly.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, the words slipping out on their own.
“Hey, now, I haven’t even bought the Coke yet. Save your thanks for later.”
I was happy that he replied with a bit of his usual lighthearted banter.
※
“Here, drink up.”
Takayanagi-sensei returned with a cold Coke from the vending machine. He was holding two of the red cans.
“Thank you.”
“It’s so hot, I’m gonna break my carb limit and have one, too,” he said, laughing as he popped the tab. He seemed more like a cool older cousin than a teacher.
“Sensei… why do you believe me? None of the others would even listen to my side of the story.”
“Well, there are two reasons for that.”
“Two?”
“Yeah. The first is that I can clearly see most of the students are being swayed by irresponsible rumors right now. It’s like a state of mass panic. We adults are a little older than you guys, so we can see the situation a bit more objectively. You see it a lot in online flame wars, right? To the online mob, the person being flamed is the absolute evil, no matter the circumstances. So they delude themselves into thinking they’re on the side of justice and hurl terrible insults.”
“Yes…” That was exactly my situation.
“But often, it’s not even clear where the fire started. In times like that, if you jump on the bandwagon and thoughtlessly hurt someone, you could lose everything yourself. They can’t even see that. The ones harassing you are in that exact state.”
“…But what if I really am the person the rumors say I am?”
“That possibility isn’t zero, which brings me to the second reason. No matter how much trouble you get into, you don’t seem like the type to resort to violence. Aono, when something bad happens, you’ve always struck me as the type to blame yourself, not others. At the very least, you’re not a student who deserves to be harassed so maliciously. To put it bluntly, it’s a teacher’s intuition.”
The teacher chugged his Coke as if to hide something. I knew that Takayanagi-sensei was a sharp person. I suspected “a teacher’s intuition” was simply his way of sugarcoating it. He was probably choosing his words carefully for my sake. A normal teacher might have said, “I trust you.” But to me, in my vulnerable state, those words would have felt like pressure, carrying the nuance of, “so tell me everything, quickly.” I felt he was feigning ignorance while conveying his trust in a roundabout way.
If this teacher would go that far for me, then I, too…I looked the teacher straight in the eye. As if my determination had reached him, he nodded gently.
“Takayanagi-sensei. There’s something I need to tell you.”
──Takayanagi’s Perspective──
Aono solidified his resolve and began to tell me his story.
“Sensei, you knew that I was dating Miyuki… Amada Miyuki, right?”
“Yeah.”
So it started with a romantic relationship, just as I thought. When it comes to high school troubles, so many of them are.“Well, I had promised to go out with Miyuki on my birthday, August 30th. But she suddenly contacted me saying she couldn’t make it. Then, when I was walking around town, I saw her… with third-year Kondo-senpai, walking arm-in-arm through the entertainment district…”
Hearing stories like that always makes me feel sick to my stomach.
Amada was cheating on him? With Kondo from the soccer team…
He was the team’s ace and popular with the female students. If I remember correctly, his father is a city council member. I’d also heard he was being scouted by a top-tier university. His grades weren’t bad, either, but he was far from an honor student.
To be honest, he had a bad reputation among the teachers. At first glance, he put on the air of a refreshing soccer star, but he had a tendency to get into far too many relationship troubles. The tricky part was how cunning he was about it.
Cheating is, by any measure, wrong—a morally unforgivable act. But between an unmarried man and woman, it can’t be legally punished. In a marriage, infidelity can lead to alimony claims, but in a typical dating relationship, that’s not the case. Of course, from a moral standpoint, it’s inexcusable. That’s a given.
However, if it’s “just” cheating, without any clearly illegal acts like violence or theft, the school’s ability to punish a student is limited. I’d heard that when Kondo’s homeroom teacher last year tried to indirectly warn him about his relationships, Kondo had shot back with, “Do you, as a teacher, have the right to interfere in a student’s love life?” He was the type to ruin the lives of other students within the gray area of romantic relationships, where the school couldn’t easily intervene.
Did that finally escalate into real trouble?“I approached Miyuki to confront them,” Aono continued, his words pained, “and I grabbed her arm. I don’t think I used that much force, but she acted like it hurt… and then Kondo-senpai, who was with her, suddenly…”
He chose his words carefully, struggling to get them out. For a high school boy to tell his male teacher about his own heartbreak is a uniquely cruel experience. I was about to tell him he didn’t have to force himself, but he looked me straight in the eye and said, “I’m okay.”
“He punched me in the face… calling me a violent man, a stalker…”
“What…?”
I was rendered speechless. What was Kondo thinking? This was no longer just cheating; this was assault.
“After that, Kondo told Miyuki to choose between me and him. And… she…” Aono looked down, his body trembling.
“She chose Kondo?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
What was I thinking, kicking him while he was down?“Yes, she did…”
Hearing Aono let out a choked, wordless sound, my vision blurred. For me, a single teacher in his thirties, thoughts that were perhaps far too naive began to overflow.
“That must have been so hard. So painful. Aono… thank you for talking to me.”Looking at him, I realized he probably didn’t go to the hospital after being hit. He must have tried to hide it from his parents. If we had objective evidence like a doctor’s note, Kondo could be punished immediately. But without it, knowing that cunning soccer ace, he’d most likely try to lie his way out of it. I could just picture him smirking as he made excuses like, “I was just helping a girl who was being assaulted by a stalker,” or “I just lightly pulled them apart.” If that was his game, then our only option was to gather as much information as possible, find contradictions in his story, and break it down piece by piece.
“From here on out, this is a job for the adults.”
The top priority now was to prevent any further harm to Aono’s school life. Forcing him to attend class in his current state, where he was met with nothing but hostility, would only create a lifelong emotional scar. And it would be meaningless if that scar was allowed to deepen.
The principal had been firm: “Having the victim of bullying choose to drop out or become truant is no solution at all. We must not impose the disadvantage of being unable to attend classes on him.” He had already asked the subject teachers to make arrangements so that Aono wouldn’t fall behind, providing supplementary lessons and assignments. But it was clear that the longer this problem dragged on, the more painful Aono’s situation would become.
“Sensei, I’m sorry. I’m causing you so much trouble, aren’t I?”
This kid… He sets aside his own suffering to worry about everyone around him.
“How could you be a bother? Listen, Aono. You might think this is your problem alone, but it’s my problem as your teacher, and it’s a problem for the entire school. So, me and the other teachers taking action to solve this is not a bother at all. Also… you’re too responsible. Too kind.”
“…”
He just looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“That’s a virtue, but it’s because you’re so kind to others that the people around you want you to rely on them.”
“Is that… okay?”
“Yeah. Falling in love with someone is, in a way, the purest feeling there is. If that’s trampled on, even an adult’s heart would be torn to shreds. It’s even more so for you teenagers. So, especially when you’re in pain, rely on someone. It can be me, or Mitsui-sensei, or any of the other teachers who are worried about you. It could be a friend like Imai, or your parents or siblings. When you’re hurting, make yourself the top priority. Please.”
Casting out naive words that I myself felt embarrassed by, I renewed my resolve to devote all my energy to solving this problem.
※
I’m now in the care of the nurse’s office. It seems the teachers will be holding supplementary classes for me starting tomorrow, but they couldn’t arrange anything for today. Honestly, I never thought the school would be this supportive; it feels like a dream. But staying in the nurse’s office all day is tough. I’m bored, and I feel bad for borrowing a bed when my body is perfectly fine.
“Aono-kun, you’ve been through a lot. Are you feeling alright?” Mitsui-sensei, the school nurse, came to check on me.
“Yes, thank you.”
“That’s good. But even if your body is fine, you’ve been through a terrible ordeal, so don’t push yourself. Your heart is tired, you know.”
I’ve been showered with kind words all morning.
“It feels like the teachers are protecting me, which gives me a sense of security.”
“You think so? Well, Takayanagi-sensei is the one working the hardest, so at least remember that.”
“I will.”
“It must be boring to spend seven hours in here, right? Should I go borrow a book from the library for you to pass the time? I’ve gotten special permission, you know.”
Honestly, if I do nothing, I feel like I’ll be crushed by negative thoughts. I need something to do.
“Is that okay?”
“Yes, but don’t be too open about it. I’ll get in trouble if you stand out too much.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast between Mitsui-sensei’s kind smile and her mischievous proposition.
“Of course.”
“Then, let’s make this our little secret, Aono-kun.”
I could already tell that this nurse’s office was becoming a comfortable place to be.
※
Mitsui-sensei borrowed several novels for me. Mostly popular ones: a book that had ranked high in last year’s bookstore awards, a masterpiece medical manga by a master known as the “God of Manga,” and an interview collection featuring leading figures in various fields.
She seemed to have chosen books that weren’t too heavy, out of consideration for my state of mind. They were mostly human dramas, if I had to classify them.
I’m a relatively fast reader, so I finished the booksbefore noon. A hardcover book that costs over a thousand yen is a high hurdle for a high school student, so I was honestly grateful to be able to read something I was interested in.
“Oh, you’ve already finished it? That was fast,” Mitsui-sensei said with a smile upon returning from the faculty office. “Want to take a little break? Shall I make some tea?”
“Is that okay?”
“It’s a special occasion. Is green tea alright? I can’t drink coffee, so I don’t have any here.”
“Thank you very much.”
I was discovering a surprising side to the very capable-looking Mitsui-sensei. The aroma was wonderful. Glancing at the tea box, it seemed to be a rather high-grade green tea. Feeling quite relaxed, I found myself speaking up.
“Sensei, why did you decide to become a teacher?”
At my words, she chuckled softly. “Fufu.”
“To be honest, getting my teaching license was kind of just a safety net. I figured I should get some kind of qualification while I was in university. I didn’t have anything I particularly wanted to do, so I enrolled in the education faculty at a local university and got my license.”
She’s being very honest, I thought. Seeing my expression, she laughed.
“I probably shouldn’t be telling my student this. Well, since it’s just the two of us, I’ll answer honestly.”
“So, you became a teacher right after graduating?”
“No, I actually got a job at a regular company. I changed careers five years ago.”
“What? That’s surprising. I thought you had always been a school nurse, Mitsui-sensei.”
“Well, I kind of wanted to become one back in university, but I gave up on it once.”
She wore a slightly melancholic expression. Thinking I probably shouldn’t pry any further, I held my tongue.
“It’s okay. It’s not that I can’t talk about it,” she said. “In a way, I ran away. My student teaching was fun, and everyone around me said I was suited to be a teacher, but… I got scared.”
“Scared?”
Mitsui-sensei is popular among the students. I hear that many constantly come to her for advice.
“Yes. A teacher’s responsibility is so great that a single word can easily change a child’s future. When I realized that, I became terrified.”
“So, are you still scared now?”
It was a rather rude question, but I felt like I had to ask.
“I am. Especially since you’re at such an important time in your life, Aono-kun. But… I felt like talking about myself a little. Will you listen?”
“Yes.”
She looked me straight in the eye and began to speak.
“The truth is, I was struggling with relationships at my previous job. My heart was in tatters. The company I joined was very ‘sports-minded,’ so to put it delicately, it had a bit of an old-fashioned culture…”
I nodded. It was a world often depicted in novels. I’d heard that old-fashioned companies can be tough, with harassment and unreasonable demands. It sounded a lot like the environment I was in now.
“That old-fashioned culture pushed my mind and body to their limits. But all I could do was try to hang in there. The harder I tried, the more my spirit wore down, and the closer I got to my breaking point. But I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I was cornered, all alone.”
I probably would have ended up the same way. If Ichijou-san, Satoshi, and Takayanagi-sensei hadn’t noticed, I would still be forcing myself to attend class, enduring the harassment…
“Eventually, I collapsed from burnoutand was taken to the hospital. When I woke up, my mother was crying next to me. ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I didn’t notice sooner.’ I was living alone at the time, so we only talked on the phone occasionally. It would have been difficult for her to notice anything was wrong with me.”
Even though it was the teacher’s story, I couldn’t help but hear it as if it were my own.
“When I told my mother ‘I’m sorry,’ she got angry and asked why I didn’t tell her. She said she would have regretted it for the rest of her life. It’s painful for a parent when their child doesn’t confide in them when they’re suffering. She told me over and over, ‘I’d rather you cause me any amount of trouble than for me to regret something for the rest of my life.’ And that’s how I ended up here, you know.”
I instinctively pressed my face into the blanket. As she watched my pathetic state, the teacher, like a gentle saint, repeatedly murmured, “It’s okay. We’re here for you.”
──Ichijou Ai’s Perspective──
After parting ways with Senpai, I headed for my classroom. As soon as I entered, I felt the bewildered gazes of my classmates, no doubt curious about me slipping out of class and skipping school yesterday. I’d told my homeroom teacher I wasn’t feeling well just in case, so it should have been officially recorded as me leaving early.
“Ichijou-san, I heard you were sick. Are you okay now?”
The class president asked, her expression clouded with worry. With her braided hair and glasses, she looked every bit the model student, an appearance I found strangely reassuring.
“Yes, I’m all better now after resting yesterday,” I replied cheerfully, maintaining my usual demeanor. “It seems I was just a little exhausted from the heat.”
“I see. It’s still pretty hot, isn’t it? Make sure you don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Okay. Thank you for your concern.”
This was the mask I wore in class—nice to everyone, yet always maintaining a slight distance. It was a careful balancing act to avoid being isolated without giving anyone the wrong impression.
In a closed environment like a school, good looks are a double-edged sword. They can easily drag you into relationship drama or make you a target of jealousy. That’s why I do my best not to make enemies, while also being careful not to get too deeply involved with anyone.
What a troublesome woman I am.
I want to rely on someone, but I can’t bring myself to do it. That’s how I end up backing myself into a corner, just like I did yesterday. It was pathetic, suffering from my own contradictions. And yet, at school, I had to keep playing the role of the “Ichijou Ai” everyone expected me to be. There was no one who saw the real me—not my teachers, not my friends, not the servants…
And not even my own parents.
That’s what made the senpai I met yesterday—and somehow became best friends with—such a singularity in my life.
With him, I could expose my most embarrassing weaknesses, my hidden thoughts, and even a side of myself I never knew existed.
So this is how the real me laughs. I never even knew.Strangely, the critical stares don’t hurt when I’m walking with him. He probably thinks I’m just acting as his shield to protect him from the scrutiny of others. After all, he’s a kind person, and I’m a cunning girl.
In reality, though, it was Senpai who was protecting my heart. That’s why I’ve started to wish I could spend as much time with this precious person as possible.
This must be how girls fall in love. Though I have a feeling my situation is a little unusual.
“Hey, Ichijou-san? Sorry, but can I ask you one more thing?”
The class president spoke up again, her voice hesitant.
“What is it?”
“Um, I’m sorry… I saw something.”
“You saw something? What?”
I already knew what she was going to say, but I asked her to clarifyanyway. I had anticipated this conversation, so there was no need to panic.
“Well… this morning, I saw you walking to school with that senpai everyone’s been talking about.”
I knew it.“Oh, you mean Aono-senpai?”
I said his name loudly on purpose, making sure everyone could hear.
Just as I’d expected, my classmates who heard his name began to whisper amongst themselves.
“Why is Ichijou-san with him…?”
“Aono… isn’t that the senpai who was involved in that abuseincident?”
“No way. It has to be a mistake.”
The class president nodded, looking a little guilty. She had probably intended to ask me in private so as not to damage my reputation, so she seemed flustered that it had turned into such a big deal.
“Yes, I went to Senpai’s house this morning, and we walked to school together.”
I added, sending another ripple through the classroom. This should act as a good deterrent.
“From his house!? Together!? Are you really that close with him, Ichijou-san!?”
“I am. We’re close enough that his mother has already invited me over for dinner.”
The fact that I, who had never been rumored to be with any male student, was now at the center of such gossip sent my classmates into a frenzy.
Saying his parents had basically given their approval was probably my own possessiveness showing through. It wasn’t a lie, though.
“Ichijou-san, you know the rumors about Aono-senpai, right!? I haven’t heard a single good thing about him!”
Maehira-kun from the soccer team, who was standing nearby, suddenly jumped into the conversation. He was one of the flashier guys in class, so I suppose he couldn’t resist chiming in.
“Yes, I know about them.”
I admitted it without a hint of hesitation.
“Then why…? Someone like that isn’t worthy of you, Ichijou-san…”
For the first time, I interrupted someone mid-sentence, my displeasure showing as I shot him an angry glare.
“Hey, Maehira-kun? Have you ever actually spoken to Aono-senpai directly?”
“No, but—”
“Then have you personally witnessed the incident from the rumors?”
“…No.”
I pressed him, backing him into a corner. The other students, who had been gossiping irresponsibly just moments before, fell silent, likely sensing my anger. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, like at a wake.
“Senpai is not the kind of person the rumors claim he is. As his best friend, I know that better than anyone. He’s my benefactor. So I would appreciate it if you’d stop spreading irresponsible nonsense. I hate people who are willing to attack someone they don’t even know, just because everyone else dislikes them.”
I had planned to take a gentler tone to persuade him, knowing that pushing too hard would be counterproductive. But I couldn’t stop myself from raising my voice. In his judgment, I saw a reflection of my own past.
“Yeah… I’m sorry. It was irresponsible of me to say something without knowing the facts.”
I was glad he apologized so quickly. I knew he wasn’t a bad person at heart, just a bit flashy, so his apology came as a relief.
“No, it’s alright. I’m sorry for being so harsh.”
I settled the matter with a polite smile.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault for bringing it up,” the class president added, looking apologetic.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not something I feel the need to hide.”
If anything, I felt a little guilty for involving her in my little scheme.
Even if Senpai was cleared of the slander against him, it wouldn’t be easy to restorehis tarnished reputation. I couldn’t bear the thought of those rumors becoming a negative legacy that would haunt him for years.
So, I would overwrite the bad rumors with good ones, even if just a little at a time.
I’ll do anything I can for you, Senpai. I hardened my resolve.
──Kondo’s Perspective──
Shit, what a fucking drag.
The practice match is coming up, so I was forced to join the morning practice I usually skip. I was in a piss-poor mood.
“Don’t fall for a simple feint like that, Mitsuda! And you, first-year side-back, you’re leaving way too much space open! There’s no way we can win like this, you morons!”
I took out my frustration on my teammates. Seriously, what would they do if my brilliant career was tarnished by a loss here? I’m the king of this team.
I’m exempt from defense. It’s an unspoken rule between me, the coach, and the team that as long as I deliver on offense, it’s fine.
So even if I lose the ball, there’s no need for me to chase after it. The defensive midfielders and defenders will cover for me. It’s only natural. If I wasted my stamina on something as boring as defense, I wouldn’t be able to execute my artistic offense.
I sent an exquisite pass into an open space. This delicate touch is my greatest weapon.
The commoners desperately tried to defend, but it was useless. My talent is just on a different plane. Watching them get toyed with by my ball handling reminded me of Aono Eiji’s pathetic face.
I wonder if that loser can still show his face at school. I can’t wait to see how long he lasts.
Yesterday, my slaves harassed him at his desk. The rumor about him being violent is spreading like wildfire. Once his reputation is in the gutter, just being alive will be painful for him. He’s heading straight for social withdrawal.
And then, something interesting happened.
It seems Miyuki has started to escape from reality.
Last night, she invited me over while her parents were out, and she really put on a show.
“Make me forget everything.”
“I know I can’t go back to how things were.”
“I really only have you now.”
I could barely hold back my laughter as we embraced.
Yep, this woman is done for.
She gets it, doesn’t she? You’re going to fall into the abyss, just like Aono.
“Yeah, I’ll always be here for you. We’re partners in destiny.”
When I whispered those sweet words, Miyuki cried tears of joy and kept repeating, “Thank you.” I also gave her advice on how to handle the upcoming interview with her teacher. That should keep things under control for now.
Once Aono is completely broken, I’ll dump Miyuki and move on to the next one.
Even now, she’s barely holding on mentally, crushed by the guilt of betraying her childhood friend. The moment she completely shatters and her beautiful face is stained with despair will be absolutely perfect.
She’ll say things like:
“I abandoned my beloved childhood friend to be with you…”
“No, please, don’t leave me.”
“I’ll do anything!”
If you say this to a woman clinging to you like that, any woman would break down in tears.
“Give me a break, you cheating bitch.”
“There’s no way I could ever trust a woman like you.”
“I can’t stand clingy women.”
The moment she collapses, sobbing, is what truly boosts my self-esteem.
Ah, I hope they both break soon!
※
The dull morning practice finally ended, and I was changing in the clubroom.
Phew. Finally over.“Ah, Kondo-senpai. Check this out, it’s making the rounds.”
Aida, a second-year, showed me his phone. It was a screenshot of the class group chat.
“What is it? Wh—”
I was left speechless.
A photo that should have been impossible was posted for all to see.
It was a picture of Aono, the guy I’d just crushed the other day, walking to school laughing with the school’s number one idol.
The other third-years gathered around out of curiosity and started laughing.
“Isn’t that the first-year, Ichijou Ai? Why is she walking with that violent psycho? And she looks so happy…”
“Right? It’s hilarious. They say Ichijou is this perfect superhuman, but it turns out she has a weakness—terrible taste in men.”
Aida chimed in, laughing as well.
“Totally. Aono, of all people? That girl has seriously bad taste.”
With that, the two of them headed outside.
But I was left trembling with humiliation.
Ichijou Ai…
The woman who shot me down with cold eyes when I asked her out last semester, saying, “I’m sorry, but I’m honestly scared to go out with a man I don’t know well.” Why the hell is she with a gloomy loser like that? Right after I stole his girl and turned the whole school against him… What the hell is going on?
Why do I have to suffer this humiliation?
I’m the king of this school.
There’s no way I’m losing to some sidecharacter.
If this is how it’s going to be, I’ll make you understand. I’ll show you the difference in our class!
──Takayanagi’s Perspective──
Since I was able to get reliable information from Aono, I had him wait in the nurse’s office to avoid putting him under any more stress. After an incident like that, it would be difficult for him to return to class and attend lessons right away.
He agreed with my assessment. As I had arranged with Mitsui-sensei beforehand, he will be attending school from the nurse’s office for the time being. However, we can’t let this affect his studies, so I’m currently coordinating with teachers who have free periods to hold supplementary lessons for him in an empty classroom. It was too short notice to start today, but the principal and vice-principal are handling the arrangements, and it’s scheduled to begin tomorrow.
The principal used to be an English teacher, so he will be taking charge of that subject.
The grade level head, Iwai-sensei, also gladly offered his cooperation.
When I expressed my regret, saying, “I’m sorry that we have to make the victim, Aono, act in such a clandestine way,” he replied, “On the contrary, it’s a very welcome consideration. I’m truly grateful,” which was a relief.
One lingering problem is that Aono refuses to let me share the details of this incident with his parents. “That’s the one thing I absolutely can’t allow,” he insisted. He likely doesn’t want to worry his mother, who raised him on her own, or his brother, who is working so hard to protect the family business for him despite his young age.
He was most adamant about this point during our discussion today.
For now, I’ve backed down and put the matter on hold, but I know I can’t keep it from them forever. As a teacher entrusted with their precious child, my instinct is to share the information as soon as possible. It will be too late if something else happens. No, something has already happened.
But I also risk hurting him even more. Understanding the trust he has placed in us, I can all too well comprehend his desire to keep his parents in the dark.
“In the end, no matter which choice I make, it’s both right and wrong, isn’t it?”
I found myself complaining aloud for the first time since this whole mess began.
I consulted the principal earlier, and he said, “That’s a very difficult situation. From our standpoint, we’d want to contact them immediately. But I also understand Aono-kun’s feelings. When it comes to these kinds of psychological issues, we’re amateurs. My generation was taught some shoddy spiritualism, so I might unconsciously hurt him. In that case, I’ll ask Mitsui-sensei, who is an expert, to consult on my behalf. We’re also in the process of arranging for a school counselor to be dispatched here soon.”
It’s true that I’m being as careful as possible, but stepping into the personal space of an adolescent is incredibly delicate. I’ll take him up on his kind offer. I hope that by sharing my worries with Mitsui-sensei, Aono’s heart will find some relief.
For now, I’ll do what I can.
First, an interview with Aida and Shimokawa from the soccer club in my class. After that, Amada is waiting. Considering her personality, it’s hard to imagine Amada directly harassing Aono. That makes the people close to Kondo, the ace of the soccer team, the most suspicious. I’ll listen to what they have to say, and if they seem clean, I’ll move on to questioning students who went to the same middle school as Kondo.
However, when I checked with the class president yesterday, she testified that, “The desk was already graffitied when I came to class at eight.” If they were at school earlier than the class president, it’s highly likely they’re members of a club with morning practice. In that case, the list of suspects narrows considerably.
※
After finishing the interview with Aida, I swapped him out and began my talk with Shimokawa.
I had called both of them out of class.
“Sorry about this, Shimokawa. Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
I began the interview with the brown-haired Shimokawa in the student guidance office.
“Why was I called in, sir?”
“Ah, you were just at the top of the alphabetical list of students I needed to talk to today. I spoke with the go-home club members yesterday. It’s just a precaution, so please bear with me. It’s part of my job.”
I put on my usual act to ease his tension. His expression seemed to relax a bit.
“This is about Aono’s case, right? Am I a suspect, sir?”
He’s talkative. That helps move things along.“No way. I confirmed with the students who came in early yesterday, and the graffiti was already there when they arrived. So, I have to talk to the members of the sports clubs.”
I said this while doing my best to act like an unmotivated teacher.
“Ah, you’ve got it tough too, sensei. But it wasn’t me, you know. Us soccer club members go straight to the clubroom without stopping by the classroom.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right. That’s why we were just as surprised as everyone else when we saw it in the morning.”
“I see. Well then, did you see any of your classmates before morning practice?”
“Eh, no. Just Aida, I guess. He’s also in the soccer club.”
“Right.”
“Besides, if you’re going to suspect us, you should at least show us some proof, Takayanagi-sensei!”
“Ah, right. Aida said the same thing. I understand. You can go back to class.”
“Kay.”
He left the guidance office with a frivolous laugh and an indifferent expression.
Watching him go, I let out a sigh.
Honestly, why are you two giving the exact same testimony? At least try to hide the fact that you’ve coordinated.As I suspected, those two are shady. First, they confirm if they’re suspects, then they testify that they went straight to the clubroom for practice and never entered the classroom. They claim they didn’t see any classmates other than each other, and then they challenge me to produce evidence.
It’s like they’re reading from a script, responding like machines. It’s too suspicious. And besides, Aida and Shimokawa, you two saw and greeted Makabe from the basketball team, didn’t you? I interviewed Makabe yesterday, so I already know.
Now then, what’s my next move? For now, I’ll keep an eye on those two while I work to corner the mastermind pulling the strings.
※
Well, on to the next interview.
The student I’m most interested in has just entered the student guidance office.
Amada Miyuki. Aono’s childhood friend, and the one who should know everything, aside from Kondo himself.
She’s a very good student and served as the class vice president during the first semester. She had been Aono’s girlfriend since last winter. Honestly, she’s beautiful and popular with the guys. She never seemed like the type to cheat, but love is a drug that makes people lose their minds.
The forbidden fruit has led many a youth to ruin since the dawn of time. As a history teacher, I can recall plenty of major incidents related to love.
In Japanese history, there’s the Kusuko Incident and Doukyou.
In Chinese history, Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei.
In British history, the divorce of Henry VIII and the love that cost a king his crown.
Considering that even the greatest rulershave had their lives ruined by love, an adolescent student is a fragile thing indeed.
Well, maybe the reason I can’t get married is because I’m an otaku who organizes his thoughts with history trivia at times like these. They say fools learn from experience and the wise from history, but it really makes you think.“Sorry for calling you out, Amada.”
“No, it’s fine. This is about Eiji’s case, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Amada was less flustered than I expected. However, she couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes, and her complexion was pale.
“Regarding this matter… I have nothing to do with it!”
She declared forcefully, her tone slightly hysterical.
“Hm?”
“You called me here because you suspect me, right, sensei!? It’s true that Eiji and I had a messy breakup… and Kondo-senpai was just there for me when I needed someone to talk to. Eiji saw us together and got the wrong idea.”
The calm demeanor she’d had just a moment ago shattered. Her rapid-fire explanation of things I hadn’t even asked about was a far cry from the composed vice president I knew from the first semester.
“And that’s when Aono grabbed your arm?”
“That’s right. Eiji got upset and pulled my arm hard to separate me from senpai! We had already been talking about breaking up for a while… so…”
“That’s quite different from what Aono told me.”
“That’s… he’s probably just trying to cover for himself.”
Hmm. I’ll hear her out, for now.“Then, do you know anything about the SNS post that claimed Aono assaulted you?”
A flicker of suspicion appeared in her expression. This must be part of the script.
“I think Kondo-senpai was worried about me and consulted someone, and the story must have leaked from there. He’s not the type of person who would spread rumors for fun. Besides, he did pull me so hard that it left a small mark.”
For that brief moment, she was back to her usual honor student self.
“May I ask you one question?”
“Yes.”
She hesitated for a split second before answering. Her face showed she hadn’t expected another question at this point.
“I’m sorry, but I need to confirm the facts. I had the SNS post in question investigated. If Aono was truly violent towards you, the school will have to punish him. Please, just let me confirm this one fact. As the post claims, were you assaulted by Aono?”
This was a tactic. By mentioning Aono’s punishment, I was appealing to her conscience. Considering her agitation and the suspicious testimonies of the previous two, Aono was almost certainly the victim. This was a bluff. I was saving it as a last resort, but I had already told Aono to save his SNS message log with Amada. Apparently, the log still exists. There’s the issue of student privacy, so I want to avoid it if possible, but if I ask Aono to show it to me, I’ll know immediately who’s lying.
Well, since I watched Aono readily screenshot and save the log, I already know who the liar is. No one in their right mind would immediately save a log that could be disadvantageous to them.
Somewhere inside Amada, there must be a shred of guilt for cheating on Aono and then falsely accusing him. That’s what I’m trying to shake loose.
“Th-that is…”
She looked down, hesitating.
“This is important.”
Important enough to decide the course of a young person’s life. I put that weight into my tone and looked her straight in the eyes.
“I… I don’t know. I was upset, too.”
I see.“Alright. Let’s end it here for today. I might need to speak with you again, so if you remember anything, please don’t hesitate to tell me. If you have anything else to say, now is the time.”
“…I have nothing.”
Amada thought for a moment and chose to walk away from the path of redemption.
“I see. Thank you. You may return to the classroom.”
Honestly, I was filled with disappointment. If she had told the truth right here, there might have been other ways to resolve this.
But it can’t be helped. Now I have no choice but to investigate thoroughly, pick apart her contradictions, and get closer to the mastermind. She will have to be punished as well, of course.
With Aono’s SNS log and one other trump card… there will be no escape. But I still lack the decisive blow to corner the mastermind. For now, I’ll let her swim a little longer.
It’s truly a shame, Amada.
※
And now, the final interview.
The mastermind and the source of all this evil, the third-year, Kondo.
“Yo.”
He greeted me with an innocent smile. To be called into the student guidance office and still have this attitude… in a way, he might be a genius.
“Sorry to call you in. Have you heard what this is about?”
“Yep! You want to ask about that Aono guy who was violent towards Miyuki, right? It’s fine.”
Even now, he speaks as if Aono is already guilty. It’s a true talent, one that should never be allowed to blossom.
“Yeah, it seems Amada is too upset to clearly explain what happened that day. So, I thought I’d ask you, since you were right there with her.”
“That’s right. Of course, any normal girl would be like that if her boyfriend got violent with her. That day, Miyuki was confiding in me. She said she wanted to break up with him, but he wouldn’t agree. She said he was becoming like a stalker and she was scared.”
“Hmm.”
His tone was so confident that if I hadn’t done my homework, I might have believed him.
“And then, he happened to find us walking together and must have thought we were cheating. He came yelling at us in a rage and forcefully pulled Miyuki’s arm. She was desperately resisting, saying it hurt. So, I stepped in and separated them. I thought it was dangerous, that I didn’t know what he would do.”
He lies as easily as he breathes.
“Aono said you hit him.”
“That’s just a stalker’s delusion, isn’t it? I just made sure he didn’t injure her by grabbing her delicate arm so hard. If anything, he was the one who was violent first.”
“Hmm.”
This meeting was mostly to greet him and hear his side of the story. I still have to be patient.
“Are you convinced?”
“Well then, let me ask one more thing. Why did you post about it on SNS?”
“Ah, I figured you’d ask that, sensei. But that’s not my account. I just asked my club members for help to protect Miyuki from the stalker. It was my fault for sending everyone a picture of her injury. Someone must have been driven by righteous anger and spread it with a throwaway account, I’m sure.”
So that’s the story he came up with. He’d be a better con artist than a soccer player.
“So you don’t know who did it?”
“I really don’t. And I have a favor to ask, sensei. The soccer club has an important match coming up, so this is a crucial time for us. The person who spread the post probably didn’t have bad intentions. They must have done it for Miyuki’s sake. So, even if you find the culprit, could you please handle it with leniency?”
He spares no effort to make himself look good. He’s suited for politics, maybe.
“I can’t make any promises, but I will do what I can.”
I deliberately took a step back, focusing on gathering information so as not to be drawn into his mind games.
“Thank you. As expected, Takayanagi-sensei is an understanding person. I was wondering what I’d do if you defended a stalker like that. He’s a disgrace to the school.”
Allowing a person of your character to enroll is the biggest disgrace this school has ever faced.I managed to stop myself just before the words escaped my lips.
If I show any open hostility, he’ll do everything in his power to obstruct the investigation. For a man as vile as him, the perfect punishment is to let him realize he’s been cornered just moments before he’s cast into hell.
“One more thing. If Aono was violent towards Amada, the school may have to punish him. We might even need to ask for police cooperation. So, please tell me clearly. You did indeed witness that happen, correct?”
I asked a question that might give him pause, if he had even a shred of decency left. But his answer was just as I expected.
“I definitely saw it. But I don’t think Miyuki wants to press charges.”
I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes at his words.
“Why is that?”
“Because the bigger a deal this becomes, the more Miyuki’s reputation will suffer, and she’ll have to keep reliving those scary memories. That’s just pitiful, isn’t it? That’s why she was so evasive with you, sensei.”
On the surface, it was a convincing explanation…
But when the word “police” came up, Kondo’s face soured for a brief moment. As I thought, he’d be in trouble if professionals got involved. In other words, a detailed investigation would uncover a very inconvenient truth for him.Furthermore, I had only vaguely mentioned that Amada was too upset to explain the incident, yet Kondo stated clearly that “Amada was evasive,” as if he knew everything. A small slip-up. It was as good as admitting they had coordinated their stories.
“I see.”
I opened my mouth, packing my words with more than one meaning.“Well then, can I go now? I’ve actually been invited to a practice with a university soccer team in Tokyo today. I have to get there early.”
“Ah, sorry to have kept you.”
Kondo left the room with a light step. It’s true that he’s sharp and a smooth talker. But that’s only when compared to his peers. In the end, he’s just a high school student. As a teacher, I felt a flicker of sympathy for him, trying to push forward without understanding that reality. Then, just as quickly, the human side of me emerged.
I glared with contempt at the seat where he had just been sitting.
“Just keep moving forward. On the path that leads straight to hell.”
──Kondo’s Perspective──
“Hah, that was easy. Is that all? Man, I guess all teachers are the same!”
The laughter wouldn’t stop.
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