Life Reversal ~ I Was Cheated On and Falsely Accused, but Now the Most Beautiful Girl in the School Is Getting Close to Me ~ Volume 2 Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The Downfall of the Perpetrators’ Side

──Morning of September 7th・Soccer Club Junior’s Perspective──

Practice ended like any other day, and we all shuffled back to the clubroom. I was dead tired, completely wiped, but with a major tournament right around the corner, this was the time to grind.

Our soccer club was a joke until Kondo-senpai enrolled. He’s a straight-up genius, a once-in-a-generation talent whose presence single-handedly elevated our team to a whole new level. We even made it to nationals last year. For pushing a no-name team like ours that far, senpai became a local legend. Inspired by him, all of us who joined in the second year and later were players who’d already made a name for themselves in middle school. Considering our roster is even deeper than last year, we should be able to get even better results at nationals this time.

We worship Kondo-senpai.

That’s why we’d do anything for him. The only reason we harassed Aono was to live up to senpai’s expectations. If it made Kondo-san happy, we were willing to do whatever it took.

“Kondo-senpai is just insane, isn’t he? He’s a monster on the field even when he barely shows up to practice.”

Aida spoke with breathless excitement. This guy idolizes senpai even more than I do; he’s practically a fanatic.

“Totally. And that delicate touch he has on the ball…”

“Dude, that’s pro-level stuff. I’ve never seen a prodigy like him. Senpai’s gonna be a treasure for Japanese soccer, no doubt about it!”

I offered a weak, bitter smile at Aida’s ecstatic praise, trying to regain my composure. 

I’d managed to breeze through Takayanagi’s questioning, but a sliver of fear had started to worm its way into my gut. I know I’m a coward.

Aida has this unshakeable, fanatical belief that Kondo-senpai can do no wrong. If I dared to voice my anxieties, he’d probably just laugh in my face. “Are you stupid? There’s no way Kondo-senpai would ever make a mistake,” he’d say.

“Hey, there was a weird envelope in front of the clubroom,” Mitsuda-senpai, a third-year, called out. “Anyone drop it?”

“What’s that? There’s no address on it,” I replied. “Guess you’ll have to open it.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” he said, ripping the envelope open.

“What the hell is this?”

Senpai’s face flushed crimson, then instantly drained to a deathly pale. His hands trembled, and the envelope, along with the photos inside, slipped from his grasp and scattered at his feet.

Curiosity getting the better of us, we gathered the photos to see what had shaken him so badly.

We shouldn’t have looked. We would have been happier not knowing. The one piece of information we never wanted to learn was captured right there in glossy print.

The first picture was a candid shot of senpai and Amada Miyuki entering a love hotel, their intimacy obvious. Aida and I were stunned. If I recalled, senpai told us he was just counseling Amada about her abusive, stalker boyfriend, Aono. I don’t know when this picture was taken, but it could only mean one thing: they were dating.

Was Aono really harassing Amada? Looking at this picture… it doesn’t look like counseling. It looks a hell of a lot like senpai is having an affair with her.“No way,” Aida whispered beside me, his voice trembling. I could see the perfect image of Kondo-senpai shattering in his mind. “This has to be some kind of mistake.”

But thinking about it calmly, the truth was unavoidable. Senpai had lied to us, and we’d ended up doing something horrible because of it.

“Wait, this is improper association with the opposite sex, right?” someone pointed out. “You have to be over eighteen to go into a love hotel. If this gets out, will we even be able to compete in the tournament? And even if the team can, can we win without Kondo?”

A third-year cried out in despair. The upperclassmen were counting on this year’s tournament to get university recommendations. This was their last chance, and it was everything to them.

“Who the hell took this? It has to be a club member, right?” Mitsuda-senpai asked, his voice strained. “Otherwise, how would an envelope end up right in front of the clubroom?”

Suspicion filled the air as everyone eyed each other. A traitor was among us. Suddenly, everyone was an enemy.

“Hurry up and show us the next picture.”

There were more photos. I flipped to the next one, revealing a scene even more damning than the last. It showed Amada being restrained by a police officer, while Kondo-senpai was pinned to the ground by another, clearly trying to escape.

“No way… This is a massive scandal,” Mitsuda-senpai wailed, breaking down into hysterical sobs. “The team’s ace getting busted by the cops… Because of collective responsibility, our recommendations are shot. No, it’s worse than that. The club might get shut down… If that happens, what’s gonna happen to us!? I don’t want that, man!!”

The club, shut down? What would happen to our futures? And why were the police arresting senpai in the first place? Were we made into accomplices in a crime? Was Aono innocent all along? If so, does that make us just as guilty…?In that moment, I heard the sound of the bright, promising future I’d taken for granted come crashing down around me.

“The culprit! The one who took these pictures, show yourself now! If you don’t, I’ll fucking kill you!”

“Was it you? You were always complaining about senpai!”

“What did I work so hard for these past three years for?!”

Paranoia spread through the room like a virus. In an instant, the clubroom became a living hell—a pit of suspicion where we all started pointing fingers, desperate to pin the blame on someone, anyone.And into that hell walked our former charismatic leader.

※

──Morning, Same Day・Kondo’s Perspective──

So after that whole mess with the cops, I headed home. My old man stayed behind to handle Miyuki. They sent me away, said things might get messy. Whatever. I slept like a baby, and now it’s time for the practice match. Man, I finally blew off some steam, but this whole thing still leaves a sour taste.Time to head to the club. Some mid-tier school from another prefecture is coming for a scrimmage. I’ll just beat them into the ground and… maybe hang out with my convenient-girl number one who said she’d come cheer me on.

“Ahhh, life is so much fun.”

Alright then, time to blow off some more steam by tormenting some scrubs. Still sleepy, though.

I swaggered into the clubroom, flinging the door open, to find most of the team already there. But instead of the usual fawning admiration, I was met with cold, piercing glares.

“Wh-what’s with you guys?”

This wasn’t how they were supposed to greet me, their ace. Something was definitely wrong.

“Kondo, you bastard!!”

Watanabe, the captain, lunged at me, grabbing me by the collar and slamming me into a locker.

“The hell!? What do you think you’re doing, you piece of shit!” I roared, protesting the rough treatment. Captain or not, there are lines you don’t cross.

“Shut up! What the hell were you thinking? Especially now, when things are so importantfor the club!”

“Huh?”

I had no idea what he was talking about. Had they all finally lost their minds?

“Don’t play dumb! Look at this!” he yelled, shoving a photo in my face. It was a picture of me and Miyuki entering a love hotel, and another of the exact moment I was being pinned down by a cop.

What the hell is this? Who on earth…? Could there be a traitor? The blood drained from my face. How much is out there? Do the teachers know? Or worse…My old man was supposed to make this all go away, but now there was photographic evidence of me about to be taken into custody. This was bad. Really, really bad. This would destroy my recommendation. My glorious future was about to be snuffed out.

“I don’t know! That’s not me!” The nonsensical words tumbled out of my mouth, a pathetic and obvious lie.

“Anyone can see that’s you! Stop fucking around!”

Still clutching my collar, he slammed me against the locker again. A dull, repetitive pain throbbed through me.

Humiliation. Humiliation. Humiliation.

I’m the king of this club. Anyone who defies the king gets a death sentence! What do you think will happen if me, your ace and king, gets injured here? Your futures are in my hands.“Shut up,” he growled.

“Because of you, our final tournament is screwed! I was counting on a sports recommendation! It’s too late for me to start cramming for entrance exams now! What are you going to do if we can’t compete because of your screw-up? If the club gets shut down, my life is over! Give me back my youth! Give us back our youth!”

“If you’re just going to whine, then shut the hell up,” I spat, shoving Watanabe off me with all my strength. “You’re just a parasite who’s gotten this far by leeching off my talent, yapping on and on.” I needed to hit him to calm my nerves.

“You bastard!”

Watanabe shot me a murderous glare. I glared right back.

“Alright, listen up, you idiots. The school can’t touch me. This is just some ‘improper association with the opposite sex.’ High schoolers do it all the time. The worst I’ll get is a short suspension. It won’t affect the club. Besides, my old man’s a councilor. An upper-class citizen. A little scandal like this? He can make it vanish. We’re on a completely different level from plebs like you! Don’t you dare judge me, the chosen one, by your pathetic standards!”

“What!?”

“And the school can’t afford to get rid of me, either,” I continued, my words coming faster and faster. “If it gets out that they punished me, a high school soccer star, it’d be a huge scandal that would tarnish the school’s reputation. There’s no way those spineless, conservative teachers would ever let that happen.”

“That’s true!” one of the underclassmen piped up.

That’s right, it has to be. I reveled in his words, a smug grin spreading across my face. A few others even started clapping, as if in admiration.

Feels good. This is making me feel a little better.“Listen, I’m invincible. The expectations for me are on a whole other level compared to small fry like you!”

That’s right, I’m special. My old man will handle it. My soccer talent will handle it. No one can defy me!“Kondo!” Watanabe snarled, still trying to get in my face.

“Let me ask you something,” I declared, cutting him off. “You’re all my servants, right? The fact that you all participated in bullying Aono isn’t going to just disappear. What do you think happens when that comes out? And besides, if I’m gone, do you really think you can win the tournament? Huh? Can you win? Do you think you’ll get a recommendation if I’m gone?”

As I taunted him, Watanabe trembled with impotent rage, speechless. My poison is working. That’s right. You talentless commoners have to gladly accept my rule. You get it now, don’t you? Go on, spit out your frustrated insults and submit. Become my slaves.“Damn it,” Watanabe muttered, finally defeated.

Don’t think you can get away with just that. He kicked a nearby trash can with all his might, scattering its contents. It’s super effective. After the match, I’ll make him get on his knees and apologize. My anger won’t be satisfied until he at least does that!“As long as you understand, that’s all that matters,” I sneered. “That’s right, you can’t win without me. So just sit there and be quiet, you small fry!”

With a final smirk at the club members, I started changing into my uniform.

I’m the king. You get that now, don’t you, you commoners? I hold the power of life and death over all of you. You’re nothing but slaves, and no matter how I treat you, it’s forgiven. In fact, you’re happy for it. You have to be.“Then if we’re put at a disadvantage in the future because of you, you’d better take responsibility,” Watanabe said pathetically.

Yeah, yeah, the slave is saying something. I just laughed and ignored him.

“Then you’d better be prepared to cry and apologize to me, too!” I shot back, keeping him in his place. Someone in my position is finished the second they’re looked down upon.

It’s okay. It has to be okay. I’m one of the chosen, after all.I’ll unleash all this pent-up stress in the practice match. I’ll prove just how essential I am. With a tremor of anticipation, I headed to the field.

It’s fine. It’s just nerves from the excitement.

※

──Same Day・Endou’s Perspective──

From an empty classroom overlooking the grounds, I observed the soccer club’s practice match. Our school is a college-prep school, so they keep classrooms open on days off for self-study. However, most students attend cram schools, leaving the rooms—aside from those for third-years—largely deserted. A perfect spot for surveillance.

I raised my binoculars to get a closer look. As expected, Kondo wasn’t getting any passes, and the team’s overall energy was nonexistent. It seemed yesterday’s photos had done their damage. Kondo, clearly frustrated that things weren’t going his way, grew more and more isolated, leading to their lower-ranked opponent scoring goal after goal.

It was an amusingly disastrous defeat. If the entire soccer club was complicit in the bullying, then they were getting exactly what they deserved.

Near the field, I could see my former lover, there to cheer him on. A childhood friend whose face I barely recognized anymore. Her degraded appearance was so complete it was almost sickening. It seems the plan is proceeding smoothly. A shattered Kondo will undoubtedly seek an outlet for his stress in her. It was pathetic to watch the girl, now his toy, still clinging to him with no other recourse.

If things continue according to plan, I’ll get to witness something very interesting this time as well. And I will leak that “interesting thing” to Amada. That will break Kondo even further. He’ll lose the two great pillars in his life: the soccer club and his women. Compared to Aono, who didn’t just lose everything but ended up being bullied because of him, this is still a rather tepid revenge.

Truthfully, gathering decisive evidence that Kondo is the ringleader of the bullying would be difficult. The entire soccer club is likely involved, so unless something drastic happens, the members will stick together to protect themselves. Therefore, the goal of this operation is to sow paranoia among the involved parties, to shake their foundations, and to guide them toward a slow, satisfying self-destruction.

I have also leaked information to the school. This will tighten the screws. In their desperation, someone is bound to make a self-destructive move. When that happens, I win.

Once paranoia takes root, a traitor is sure to emerge.

Kondo will be socially obliterated, betrayed by his own people.

“Show me the greatest show, you absolute scum.”

Almost everyone on that field is a target of my revenge.

※

──Soccer Field・Kondo’sPerspective──

“What the hell is this?”

The scoreboard read one to four.

Normally, a match against this team would have been a landslide.Why, why, why?

Why were we in stoppage time of the second half after letting a lower-ranked opponent score four goals against us? The bench, usually a chorus of praise for me, was dead silent, a graveyard of morale.

“There’s no way I can accept this!”

My final, desperate long shot sailed far over the goalpost. And then, the merciless sound of the final whistle blew.

“After all that big talk, you send the ball into orbit? What kind of kick was that?”

I heard Watanabe’s mocking voice from behind me.

“What did you say!?” I spun around, glaring at him.

“Just saying, that’s our king for you!” he retorted, not flinching in the slightest. “Your standards are so high, we commoners can’t even keep up.”

Enraged, I lunged to punch him, but my teammates jumped in, holding me back as the opposing team watched, bewildered. Our team had completely imploded. This was only the prelude to our ruin…

Back in the clubroom, seething from the humiliating defeat, I took my frustration out on anything and everything around me. “What the hell? Why the hell didn’t anyone pass to me!?” I roared, kicking the trash can so hard it dented. It had already taken a beating today.

“Hey, Mitsuda! Why didn’t you pass to me?” I rounded on Mitsuda, another midfielder and one of my lackeys.

“Because, Kondo, you were being man-marked,” he stammered. “There was no passing lane.”

“You bald, stupid, slow-ass bastard! Then you should’ve moved to create a lane! Do your damn job, you small fry!”

“Eek, sorry!”

Seriously, how useless can they be? It’s their job to do the grunt work to free me up. Why is that so hard? This team exists to make me king. You commoners can’t win unless you devote yourselves to supporting me. The team collapses otherwise. What’s important is how much you all sweat to get me away from the enemy’s mark so I can play freely. Why can’t you understand something so simple!? If I try to move that much, I’ll be exhausted and useless by the second half. Why don’t you get that!?“Even so, Kondo-senpai,” a second-year muttered under his breath, “today’s opponent had you completely figured out. You lost the ball right away. And when you did, you didn’t even try to cover.”

Blood rushed to my head. I slammed my fist against a locker. “Who was it!? Who just bad-mouthed me!? A second-year!?”

None of them would meet my gaze.

“Damn it! The forwards were totally useless, that’s why we couldn’t attack, right? The only goal we got was the penalty kick I earned. At this rate, we can’t win the games we’re supposed to win. And you think you’re getting a sports recommendation with this performance, Watanabe? Don’t fuck with me. You guys are mediocre at best. You should just let me use you.”

In the end, even Watanabe couldn’t do anything, despite all his tough talk. Ah, that part was funny, though. These guys lose the ball instantly. They can’t even mount an attack without going through me. That’s why they fall apart! And yet, he had the nerve to talk back to me.“What is it? Say something. You’re my parasite. If you’re a parasite, then act like one and make the king shine without complaining. Can’t you even do that, you incompetents!?”

Ah, that felt good. Even the captain can’t defy the king. This is how it should be. You finally understand your place, don’t you? My importance! You’re a hundred years too early to challenge me over a little scandal with a girl!“…ut up.”

Watanabe, though trembling, talked back.

“Huh?”

“Shut up, you piece of scum! I can’t take this anymore. I’m done with you.”

Before I could react, Watanabe’s fist slammed into my solar plexus. The blow was so sudden I couldn’t even brace for it. A clean hit, with no guard. The immense impact and searing pain made me clutch my stomach and collapse. A wave of nausea washed over me, and a pathetic groan escaped my lips. Why? Why am I, the king, being punched by this nobody? I don’t get it.“Oof!”

The force of the punch made my esophagus burn, and the pain was so intense I couldn’t breathe. Come to think of it, I’ve hit people plenty of times, but I’ve never been on the receiving end. It hurts. Is this how much it hurts? I somehow managed to choke back the vomit, but for the first time, I felt a flicker of fear toward Watanabe, who stood over me, breathing heavily.

“H-hey! Everyone, you saw that! This guy hit me! I’m telling the advisor! You’re finished, Watanabe!”

But none of the club members sided with me. They just stared, their eyes cold and empty. Why? I’m supposed to be the king. You can’t even get to nationals without me. Are you okay with that? If you can’t go to nationals, your recommendations, your college entrance exams—it’s all gone. This is your chance to apologize. I’m a generous king; I’ll forgive you. Denounce Watanabe!“H-hey! Everyone, you saw it, right? In front of all of you, the captain used violence on the ace!”

Silence. Then, a cold, mocking snicker rippled through the team. Watanabe, in particular, offered a chilling smile.

“Hah, did you fall and hit your head? You just tripped, right? Isn’t that right, everyone?”

At his words, the club members slowly, deliberately, nodded.

Don’t mock me. I’m your only hope. I’m the one who carried this weak team on my back. Without me, you’ll be crushed in the district tournament. You’ve been enjoying the sweet taste of victory because of me, and now you’re going to throw it all away.But they didn’t get it. A rebellion had broken out against the king.

“That’s right.”

“Senpai just got frustrated and fell over.”

“Everyone’s saying so, so that must be what happened, right?”

They looked at me with malicious eyes. Some of the underclassmen were openly sneering.

You bastards…“I see. So you’re all turning against me. Fine. You’d better be prepared. I’ll make every single one of you regret this. Absolutely.”

I have leverage. It’s okay. A little threat later, and they’ll come crawling back. I just have to threaten them and wait for them to cool down.“Listen up, you naked king,” Watanabe yelled. “We followed you because you brought us victory. A king who can’t lead his team to a win is worthless. Get it through your thick skull already, you idiot!”

I ignored him, thinking my silence would convey my rage more effectively. Frustrated, I stormed out of the clubroom. No one followed. Damn it. I thought about calling Miyuki, but after yesterday, that was probably a bad idea.

Then, number one it is. Come to think of it, she did say she was coming to cheer today. That girl is so convenient, she’s probably waiting around for me somewhere without me even having to call.“Kondo-kun!”

So, there she was. The convenient girl I stole from her childhood friend back in middle school.Ikenobe Eri.

Until she met me, she’d had long, pure-looking black hair. To match my tastes, she dyed it brown and cut it short. I made her break up with her childhood friend and then dumped her immediately after. It was hilarious; the girl missed two months of school during the importantexam period of her third year of middle school. Pathetically, she still wanted to go to the same high school as me and studied desperately to get in. Of course, by then she’d lost all her friends from middle school, and since starting high school, she barely studies, so her grades have plummeted.

She’s a pathetic woman who offers up everything for me, yet we never got back together. We’re just stuck in this convenient, one-sided relationship where I steal her precious youth. In a way, she’s a symbol of my power. Even after losing everything, she’s still in love with me. My most loyal dog. The honor student with zero makeup is now just a gaudy shadow of her former self.

“Too bad about the practice match,” she cooed. “The other members are so useless and hopeless. It’s so annoying.”

A personality that was once kind to everyone could be twisted this easily. Honestly, I could dump her at any moment, but she’s like a trophy. So for now, I’ll keep this casual relationship going.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I said, putting on a sympathetic tone. “As I thought, Eri, you’re the only one who understands me.”

Saying that will make her wag her tail immediately. Well then, shall we begin our little stress-relief session?

※

──After the Match・Soccer Clubroom・Shimokawa’s Perspective──

In the end, we were crushed. A total defeat against a weaker opponent. At the post-match meeting, the coach was so furious he threw a water bottle. But we had much bigger things to worry about.

What’s going to happen to us? If the team falls apart, a traitor is bound to surface. Then it’ll come out that the whole club was involved in bullying Aono. Not only will we be barred from the tournament, but we’ll face punishment from the school. Those of us who were the main perpetrators might not get off with just a suspension. What if I get expelled? What would I tell my parents? I finally got into a prestigious high school, only to stumble over something like this.

“This incident shouldn’t be glossed over with the word ‘bullying.’ This is a crime, not something that can be dismissed as a childish prank or mischief, you understand? I want you to remember that clearly.”Takayanagi-sensei’s words echoed in my head, piercing my conscience. I managed to bluff my way through the last interrogation because they didn’t have conclusive evidence, but this situation was bad. Way too bad. When will the person who took those pictures snitch to the teachers? They might have already done it. If so, a slight contradiction in our stories will bring everything crashing down. Our alibi has been solid so far, but one crack and we’ll have to improvise to escape the follow-up questions, all while making sure our stories don’t contradict each other.

After the coach left, a heavy, oppressive silence filled the clubroom. A terrifying anxiety began to creep in. Could we really get away with this?

“There’s no way,” I muttered unintentionally. “We can’t possibly hide it.”

Aida, who was in my class, shot me a shocked look. “The hell does that mean? ‘No way’…? Don’t tell me you’re planning to rat out Kondo-senpai and the rest of us!” he shrieked, his voice hysterical with paranoia.

Mitsuda-senpai and the captain closed in on me, followed by the other club members.

“No, that’s not it!” I said, my voice trembling. “I don’t intend to betray anyone. But… I’m not confidentthat I can get through the coming investigation.” It was a lame excuse, and I knew it. Why did I say that out loud? In a tinderbox of paranoia like this, a single weak statement would make me the scapegoat.

“Don’t fuck with me,” Mitsuda-san snarled, grabbing my uniform. “You and Aida were the ones who scribbled on Aono’s desk on your own. Don’t drag us into your mess.”

“But, Mitsuda-san, you also told us to go get ’em!”“Huh? Are you talking back to a senpai? You’re the one most at fault, yet you’re trying to pin the blame on me! Take responsibility! We won’t let you confess. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, then you and Aida should just die. Take responsibility for everyone and die. That way, there won’t be any further investigation.”

“No way!” I cried out.

Someone will help me, I thought. But no one moved. No one tried to stop senpai. They all just glared at me with sharp, accusatory eyes, as if I was the sole culprit. Finally, the captain spoke.

“Mitsuda, that’s enough,” he said, then turned to me. “You understand, Shimokawa? If you show any weakness, we’re all finished. Don’t say anything reckless.”

Why am I the only one being blamed? The captain didn’t stop it either. In fact, he was spreading rumors on his private account. Am I the only one at fault?“Y-yes,” I stammered, crushed by the pressure. Inferiority and impatience gnawed at my mind. At this rate, maybe I should just confess on my own and ask the teachers for help. If I tell them I had no choice, that I would’ve been bullied too if I didn’t go along with it, will they believe me? A dark, selfish desire for self-preservation began to grow in my heart.

However, the rest of the club seemed to have deluded themselves into believing they could still hide the truth.

“First, we need to find the person who took these pictures,” the captain announced. “I don’t want to think it’s one of us, but… it’s not a club member, is it?”

Everyone shook their heads, though a denial meant nothing.

 The culprit would never confess. Everyone was a suspect. Maybe it was a substitute holding a grudge, or a first-year getting revenge for the third-years’ hazing.

That’s it. For now, let’s just pin it on the traitor. Let’s make it all their fault.“Senpai,” I blurted out, the words tumbling out of me. After being told to die just a moment ago, I was desperate to redirect their anger. “Let’s find the person who took these pictures, quickly. We have to find them, beat them up, and shut them up! At this rate, we’re all doomed! Aren’t the first-years suspicious?”

“Ha!” Aida exclaimed, immediately confronting a first-year. “Come to think of it, Ishigami! You were bad-mouthing Kondo-senpai, weren’t you!”

The spotlight shifted to the timid first-year, Ishigami. 

Yes. Now I’m safe.“I would never do something like that!” Ishigami panicked, immediately trying to shift the blame. “Besides, Chiyoda was bad-mouthing him with me too!”

The paranoid mob that was once the soccer club turned on each other, hurling insults and accusations, each person desperate to save their own skin. The hell we were in only deepened. The soccer club had completely collapsed. The comrades who, until yesterday, shared the common goal of reaching nationals, were now a pack of feral animals, consumed by suspicion and self-preservation, engaged in a vicious witch hunt.

※

──Several Hours Later・Miyuki’s Perspective──

After staying the night in the hospital room, I returned home to gather my things. Just as I got to my house, I ran into an old friend out for a run—another childhood friend I desperately didn’t want to face.

Imai Satoshi. Eiji’s best friend, and my childhood friend since elementary school.

“Satoshi-kun…”

I knew exactly what he was going to say. The time had finally come. The day I would lose everything.

“It’s been a while, Miyuki,” he said, his voice cold. “You know what I’m here to say, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

Having been cast out even by my own mother, I was fated to lose everything. That meant losing my friends, too. It was inevitable. Satoshi-kun was saved by Eiji; of course he would side with him. Having watched their bond from up close, I knew that better than anyone.

“Good. I don’t think of you as a friend anymore. I just wanted to make that clear. Thanks for everything until now.”

With that formal declaration, he turned and walked away. It was just like him—a parting filled with anger, yet clear and absolute.

I stumbled into the entryway of my house, collapsed to the floor, and cried out.

Why did things turn out this way?

Why did I do such a thing?

For a long time now, regret has been the only thing I feel. I wanted to continue my happy, peaceful life with Eiji. I know it’s all my fault. But when my relationship with senpai became serious, my greatest fear was that Eiji would find out and everything would end. That’s why I couldn’t let anyone know. I was so afraid of losing everything that I told that unforgivable lie.

Maybe it’ll just fizzle out once senpai graduates, I’d told myself. It’s wrong, but it’s just temporary fling. That was how I justified my betrayal.

It’s a waste not to play around when you’re young.It’s okay to have another boyfriend on the side.As long as you truly love your main boyfriend, it’s fine.Kondo-senpai had offered me an escape route, and I had selfishly taken it.

The day my affair was exposed to Eiji, my heart shattered. I could never go back to that happy time. The impatience, the regret, the terror of what would become of me if I lost Eiji—it was overwhelming. I had spent more than half my life with him. Consumed by despair, I made the most selfish choice. To numb the fear of being rejected by Eiji, I sought comfort from the one person who was supposed to love me. If I can’t be happy with Eiji anymore, then I don’t care what happens. A desire for destruction and depravity took hold, giving birth to a lifetime of regret.

And so, I lost everything. I lied to protect myself, and in the end, I lost it all. Everything I held dear… At this rate, I’ll soon lose the position of an honor student that I fought so hard to maintain.

“I want to go back… I want to go back.”

I want to go back to that day. I want to celebrate Eiji’s birthday properly, to laugh with him again. I want to go back to the time before I met Kondo-senpai, to the innocent me who hadn’t yet betrayed Eiji.

After all, Eiji was the only one for me.

“If only I hadn’t met senpai… I’m sure I could still be laughing with Eiji right now.”

I hate myself for even thinking such a thing. I feel nothing but self-loathing. I was the one who betrayed him.

Feeling sick to my stomach, I went back outside for some fresh air and checked the mailbox. Inside, there was an envelope.

Casually, I opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

A photograph that plunged me into the absolute depths of despair.

“Why…? This has to be a lie, right? You told me it was only me, Kondo-senpai… This isn’t fair. Please, please don’t throw me away.”

Inside the envelope was a picture of senpai, arm in arm with another female student, looking happy as they entered her house.

※

──Eri’s Home - Kondo’s Perspective──

“Kondo-kun, I love you.”

Savoring the warmth of her soft skin, I let off some steam. Eri had a different kind of appeal than Miyuki, and I had to admit, I was getting a little tired of the latter.

“Yeah, that was amazing,” I replied.

“I’m so glad,” she cooed. “I’m completely devoted to you, Kondo-kun.”

This is what was so annoying about her. We weren’t even dating, but she insisted on acting like my girlfriend. Still, whatever. I figured I could enjoy having a convenient woman on the side for a little longer.

“Hey, Kondo-kun,” she pressed, her voice serious. “Please, only look at me, okay? I’ve thrown everything away for you, so don’t you dare cheat on me.”

Cheat? We’re not even in a relationship. This girl’s delusions have officially peaked.“Yeah, you’re right,” I said with a noncommittal sigh, letting myself doze off for a blissful moment.

After we were finished, I left Eri’s house. The girl had been abandoned by her parents and lived alone, which made her place a convenient stop whenever I was hungry. Having her make me dinner had become part of my routine. But Eri got carried away far too easily, and her intense mood swings made her troublesome to keep around.

As I was walking home, my phone rang.

“Kondo-kun? Is now a good time?”It was the girl I was currently interested in—the same one who’d introduced me to Miyuki in the first place. “There’s a girl with a boyfriend who seems like your type,” she’d teased. “Wanna know about her?” And just like that, we’d met, and I’d acquired an interesting new toy named Aono.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Mm, it’s nothing important, but… do you have plans? If you’re free, wanna hang out?”This one’s totally crazy about me, too.“Sure. What is it?”

“Well, I helped you corner him, and I haven’t gotten my reward yet. So I just thought I’d like to see you for a bit.”“You were a big help,” I admitted. “Coming up with that scenario was brilliant. I wish I could’ve shown you the pathetic look on that Aono guy’s face.”

“You’re such a bad person.”“I don’t wanna hear that from you, you wicked woman,” I retorted. “Besides, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Oh?”“Something troublesome came up with the soccer team.”

We agreed to meet up right away, and I headed to the designated spot, a thrill of excitement running through me.

※

After my secret meeting was over, I returned to an empty house. As expected, nobody was home. My old man was probably at work, and my mom was likely off somewhere else. They were famous for being a picture-perfect fake couple.

As long as I could use them, I was fine. My parents’ social status was a tool I could take full advantage of. When your parents are important, you can get away with almost anything. Add my talent for soccer and my good grades to the mix, and I was basically invincible. The path to becoming a pro player was wide open, and even if I retired, I could just take over my father’s company. If he got electedas a counselor, I’d inherit his entire power base. That’s what’s so great about Japan’s system of hereditary succession.

“Thanks to being born into a good family, my life is rosy all the way,” I declared to the empty room. “Life’s on easy mode in a rosy world. Ahh, I’m glad my parents are important.”

I deliberately used strong words to quell the anxiety rising in my heart. Besides, she’d assured me that everything would be absolutely fine and that she’d even come up with a countermeasure for me.

For a while now, my own monologues were the only thing echoing in this large, empty house.

Damn, this is making me feel kinda pathetic.Just then, my phone rang. The call was from a public phone. Suspicious. Any direct call to my number was suspicious enough.

Of course, I ignored it.

But the calls kept coming, one after another.

“You’re persistent! Who the hell are you?!” I finally snapped, tapping the answer button.

A weird, high-pitched voice, like someone who’d inhaled helium, came through the speaker.

“Kondo, you’re finished.”“You bastard,” I snarled. “Calling me by my name like that. Unforgivable.”

The voice had a clown-like, cheerful tone, as if it was openly mocking me.

Are they using a toy voice changer or something? Ridiculous. I was about to hang up when the voice spoke again.

“Hey, don’t hang up. I’m the one who took those photos, you know.”My hand froze. Damn, so it’s this guy. The one who’s been making all these petty moves to corner me!“So it was you, you bastard, spreading those photos around the soccer team,” I spat. “I’ll never forgive you.”

“Spreading them? Oh, you mean when I accidentally dropped them in front of the clubroom?”“Don’t play dumb with me!” I yelled, my anger slipping out in a torrent of harsh words.

“If you’re going to talk to me like that, I don’t know where I might ‘drop’ them next.”This bastard.“Don’t fuck with me! I’ll definitely kill you. My dad’s a councilman, you know. He can cover up something like this, and I’ll make the teachers shut up too. That’s how I’ve always done things. It’ll be the same this time!”

He’s really pissing me off.“Well then, I’ll make my move.”In the end, it’s just an empty threat.“Go ahead and try it if you can,” I taunted. “I’ll kill you. I’ll find you and beat you to a pulp.”

A genius like me is allowed to do whatever he wants. I’ll find him, beat him senseless, and make him regret ever crossing me.

“I see. That’s a shame. You truly believe you’ve done nothing wrong, don’t you?”“Of course I do. I’m one of the chosen ones.”

“Even after framing Aono Eiji?”“How do you know about that?”

“Because I’m surprisingly close by, watching you.”His words only fueled my anger. How could he possibly know about Aono? Only the soccer team and the girls were supposed to know about the setup.

“He’s just a weakling! The weak are destined to be devoured by the strong. He has no right to complain, no matter what’s done to him. You… you’re on the soccer team, aren’t you? I’ll never forgive a traitor, so be prepared!”

After my declaration, the other end went silent, save for a faint sigh, as if my forcefulness had overwhelmed him.

“Kondo, you’re truly foolish and pathetic.”Hearing those words, I instinctively slammed my phone onto the floor. The screen cracked—a perfect reflection of my own fractured heart.

That’s right, I’m a chosen one. I’m fine. So what if the soccer team doesn’t follow me anymore? With my track record, even if I can’t get into a super-elite school, any mid-tier university or better would be eager to have me.“A setback? Me, having a setback? No way…”

I was stunned to find myself harboring such negative thoughts.

“Damn it, damn it all!”

To calm myself down, even just a little, I called Miyuki.

※

──Miyuki’s Perspective──

“What time is it?”

Curled up alone in the suffocating despair of betrayal, I hadn’t realized the sun had already set. The house was dark, the curtains still open, the lights off. I was completely and utterly isolated. No one had a kind word for me anymore. I’d taken a change of clothes to the hospital for my mother, but she’d been out for an examination, her room empty.

With nothing else to do, I’d come straight home, surrendering myself to idle emptiness.

“It’s all my fault.”

Of course it was. Eiji and his mom, who had always been so kind to me, were gone from my life. Even when my own mother worked late, I was never lonely because I could always go to Eiji’s house. I felt thewarmth of a true family there, and they had accepted me as if I were their own daughter.

The reason my mom is so angry… is because I betrayed those wonderful people. And Kondo-senpai, in the end, only ever saw me as a fling. I should have known. Deep down, I think I did.

But I was swept away by my own selfish desires, and this is where I ended up. Seeing that photo earlier had sobered me in an instant. All the blood in my body seemed to turn to ice, and the passionate love I’d felt until that moment was exposed as a lie.

But what did I say to Eiji that day? I remember every word.

“No, don’t leave me. I can’t live anymore if Senpai dumps me.”“Eiji was my childhood friend… but he’s a persistent, stalker-like, abusive boyfriend.”“I’m sorry, Eiji. I can’t be with you anymore. Don’t talk to me at school either.”The memory brings with it a wave of intense nausea and self-loathing.

Why did I say such a thing? I’ve asked myself that countless times, but the disgust is stronger now than ever before. Since that day—the day I first cheated on him with Senpai—I haven’t felt like myself. It’s like I’ve become some other, stupider person.

The familiar, crippling nausea returns.

Why…? Eiji was so kind. He was supposed to be the boyfriend I loved. I was the one who fell for him first. My first love was Eiji. I worked so hard to get his attention, and finally, we became a couple.

I loved his kindness. I loved the warm stories he wrote. I loved his house, a place that always made me feel so happy.

Now, I can never have any of it back. After that incident, Eiji stopped coming to class. He was framed by Senpai, isolated, and bullied with insults scrawled across his desk. I heard someone even put trash in his shoe locker. On top of that, his family home, the place I cherished, was defamed. And I did nothing to stop it. I was the only one who could have, but I chose self-preservation and looked away. No, that’s not right. I was a part of it. I helped corner Eiji. I became a main perpetrator of the bullying.

I even called Eiji a stalker and accused him of being violent. The gentle Eiji would never do something like that. Even then, I was the one in the wrong.

I’m the worst kind of woman. I cheated on my boyfriend on his birthday. The one who deserves to be blamed by everyone isn’t Eiji. It’s me.

Somehow, I manage to drag myself out of the house and head to the convenience store to buy dinner. Even though I wanted to die, my body still craves food. How pathetic.

In the distance, a couple crosses my path, and the sight of them freezes me in place.

It was Eiji, smiling happily. And the person next to him was, just as I’d thought, Ichijou Ai. The school’s idol was dressed with such care that even another girl could see the effort she’d put in. They looked just like a couple on a date.

Eiji, too, wore a gentle smile—the kind you only show to a lover.

My mind went blank. I ducked out of sight, hiding so they wouldn’t see me.

“Thank you for today,” Ichijou Ai said, her smile radiating pure happiness. “I had fun on our first date.”

“I’m really glad to hear you say that,” Eiji replied.

“I’m looking forward to next time, too. It’s a little late, but would it be okay if I celebrated your birthday somewhere?”

“Huh? How do you know my birthday?”

“Your mom told me, Senpai! You were such a great guide today, so I want to thank you.”

Her voice and expression were as lovely as a maiden in love, full of an adorable charm and an angelic smile that could make even another girl’s heart skip a beat.

“Thank you,” Eiji said softly. “I’ll look forward to it.”

In that moment, I was made painfully aware that my place had been stolen by Ichijou Ai. She had been acknowledged by Eiji’s mother, she was making plans for the birthday I was supposed to celebrate, and she was receiving all of his kindness. It was all a treasure that should have been mine.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, probably from the despair and the fact that I’d thrown up repeatedly without eating. My vision flickered, and my breathing grew shallow.

I screamed and cried without making a sound, so they wouldn’t notice. My body collapsedto the ground. Small stones and dirt filled my mouth, but I couldn’t stop.

Hell has only just begun.

After a while, the anemia subsided, and I somehow managed to stand. It seemed Eiji and Ichijou hadn’t noticed me.

At the convenience store, I bought somesoup I could just heat up and went straight home. What should have been an enjoyable meal had become a mere task for survival. I wondered what Eiji and the others were doing. Maybe they were having a fun dinner at Kitchen Aono. Or perhaps they’d gone somewhere a little fancier, trying to act mature. Or maybe, on a special night…

My heart felt like it was about to break. I should have been hungry, but I had no appetite.

Just then, a call came from Kondo-senpai.

“Hello, this is Miyuki.”

“Yo, Miyuki? What’re you doing right now?”“I was just eating, but…”

“I see. I want to calm down, so I was hoping you could talk with me for a little bit.”Normally, I would have agreed in a heartbeat, but a seed of doubthad already been planted.

He should know my mom is in the hospital, yet he doesn’t even pretend to be worried about her.“Um… I’m not feeling well right now.”

So that’s how it is. To him, that’s all I am.“Please, just for a little. Just listen to me right now.”His words turned my suspicion into certainty.

“Kondo-senpai, in the end, you never thought of me as anything more than a toy, did you?”

If it were Eiji, he would have been worried about my mom. He would have been concerned about my mental state. He would have known instantly from my voice that I wasn’t well. He might have even come to visit me.

I’ve lost such a precious childhood friend.

“Hah? What’s this all of a sudden?”“You’re not worried about me at all, are you? Besides, I saw a picture of you and a girl from your grade going into a house together, looking all friendly.”

“No, that’s… a photo from before I met you. I broke up with her. Actually, I’m being harassed. Someone’s spreading old photos of me to the team members, and I’m in a tough spot. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. I’m not in a good place either, sorry for bringing it up so suddenly.”His apology is so fake.“I see.”

He replied to my purely formal agreement with a slight smirk in his tone, and it sent a jolt of rage through me.

“That’s right. Believe me.”He really thinks he can trick me with such insincere words. Disgusting. I was finally realizing his true nature. Did I really throw everything away for someone like this?! I can’t believe it myself.“In that photo, you’re wearing the misanga I gave you on your arm. Are you still going to say it’s an old photo?”

“Wha…”[Note: A misanga is the Japanese version of a friendship bracelet, but with the added meaning that it’s seen as a good luck charm, often tied to wishes that are believed to come true when the bracelet naturally breaks.]I hate how sharp my eyes can be at times like this. The handmade misanga I’d woven for him to wish him luck in his practice matches was clearly visible. It was supposed to be a symbol of our bond, but instead, it had become proof of our true positions. This isn’t what I devoted myself to him for.

“Please don’t lie,” I said, my voice so cold it surprised even me.

“Th-Then, it’s photoshopped…”I used to like him so much, but now, the mere sound of his voice was irritating.

“Then?”

That was as good as admitting it was an excuse. If you’re going to lie, at least come up with a better one.

In the end, this person was shrouded in lies. And I had mistaken those lies for something as brilliant as jewels. The kind words he’d shown me were nothing more than meaningless pebbles. Deceived by them, I had destroyed the real treasure that had been right beside me all along.

I knew full well I had no right to mock him. I was in the same boat as a scumbag like him. In the end, we were two of a kind—trash, selfish, and ungrateful. The lowest of the low.

“Tch…”He clicked his tongue loudly, and I couldn’t help but gasp at his sudden change in attitude.

“Eh?”

My questioning only seemed to make him more defensive.

“This is why I hate clingy girls like you who immediately act like they’re my girlfriend.”His unexpected verbal abuse felt like a cold knife stabbing into my heart. I should have known he was this kind of person, but experiencing it firsthand was still a massive shock.

Act like his girlfriend…?I abandoned my precious childhood friend and lover to choose you. How can you say something like that?“…”

Confronted with the cruel truth, I was left utterly speechless.

“Besides, what’s this about cheating? Were we even dating? No, we weren’t. Don’t get the wrong idea and play the victim. Did I ever once ask you to go out with me? Did I confess and ask you to be my girlfriend?! Besides, you’re one of the main perpetrators, aren’t you? If you hadn’t helped me, Aono wouldn’t have ended up like that. Considering your relationship with him, you’re the most malicious one of all, you get that, you piece of trash?! It’s all your fault!!”Leaving me with those harsh final words, he ended the call.

“Why… why did I throw everything away for someone like that…? I’ve done something I can never take back.”

A lonely monologue echoed throughthe empty room.

※

──Kondo’s Perspective──

After ending the call, I went on a rampage.

“Every single one of them… why do they all act so selfishly? They trust others more than me. Unforgivable.”

I trashed my room, scattering things everywhere in a blind tantrum. Even my treasured trophy from middle school now lay broken on the floor. Dammit, dammit, dammit. You bastards.“Hah… hah,” I panted. “Dammit, the guys on the university soccer team, the members of our team, Amada Miyuki… they can all just drop dead.”

At this rate, maybe I’ll hit up some other girl…With Miyuki out of the picture, that left Eri, that other girl, and that junior. No, the girl from the phone call was no good. She was too sharp. If I showed any weakness, there was no telling what she’d do.

Dammit, at this point, it has to be Eri.No good. I just saw her, and her girlfriend act is annoying. I want to keep my distance for a bit. Women are useless at times like this.

“Guess I have no choice,” I muttered. “At this point, I’ll just have to use a burner account and spread some nasty rumors about Aono.”

Having someone beneath me is the ultimate pleasure for a ruler. He’s nothing more than a slave, a weak man who pathetically had his woman stolen.

With that thought, I opened up social media. Until recently, my timeline had been flooded with negative posts about Aono.

But now…

“Hey, I knew it. Aono Eiji and Ichijou Ai were on a date today.”“Details.”“I went shopping in front of the station, and they came out of a stylish cafe.”“I saw them going into the movie theater, too.”“So they’re really dating then.”“Ichijou-san is so strict with guys, why is she dating Aono when all those bad rumors are going around?”“I heard from one of Ichijou-san’s classmates that she’s the one who’s more into him. Apparently, she’s been pursuing him quite a bit.”“For that Ichijou-san to be so into him, there must be something special about him, right?”“Besides, are the rumors about Aono even true? In reality, all we had were some suspicious photos. Isn’t it possible those rumors are lies?”“I thought it was strange from the start. I was in the same class as Aono-kun last year, and he’s super nice. He’s not the type of person to be violent towards girls.”“I don’t really get it.”The tide had turned before I even knew it. 

Why? Was Ichijou Ai’s credibility really that strong? She’s just a first-year girl. I’d used accounts from various soccer team members to spread those rumors, yet the power of numbers was losing to the influence of one girl?!

No way. Why is Ichijou Ai so obsessed with such a plain guy? When I made a move on her, she shot me down and even bad-mouthed me. I told her off, of course.“Don’t get carried away, you bitch. Do you have any idea who my father is?!”“I can’t stand that look on your face, like you’re going to live your whole life alone.”“You’re like a robot.”She’d just ignored me and walked away. I’d quickly lost interest, wondering why a robotic woman like her was so popular at school anyway.

That’s right. Even if that cold woman becomes my enemy, what is there to fear?! I’m Kondo, the ace of the soccer team!

It’s not over yet. I can still turn this around. I posted a few comments to tarnish Ichijou Ai’s reputation.

“Hey, don’t be fooled everyone. That Ichijou Ai is a crazy bitch. She’s inhumanly cold and insults guys who she rejects.”I jumped into the comment thread with an anonymous account.

“Ugh, what an annoying person.”“Probably just some lame guy who got rejected by Ichijou-san and is holding a grudge. Ignore him, ignore him.”“If anything, this just seems more suspicious.”I was shot down instantly.

Dammit, dammit, dammit. Why won’t anyone believe me? I’m the next king of soccer.Frustrated, I finally hurled my phone at the window. The glass shattered, and my already battered phone smashed onto the ground outside.

“Crap,” I thought, and immediately went out to retrieve it. The screen was even more cracked than before, and it wouldn’t even turn on.

Now I couldn’t even contact any girls. Where was I supposed to vent this frustration? Every last one of them was a real bastard, pissing off a genius like me this much.

“Dammit. This is so irritating!”

Feeling increasingly isolated, my frustration grew even more intense. Of course, no voice answered back.

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