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 1

Chapter 1

The Whereabouts of the Aggressor and the Avengers on the Day Before the Date

──Theday before, Saturday (September 6th, afternoon)・Miyuki’s Perspective──

“I am so deeply sorry for what my foolish son has done. I will, of course, cover all hospital expenses this time.”

Senpai’s father bowed his head with an air of sincerity, but my mother refused to even spare him a glance.

“Please don’t mock us. We can afford this much ourselves,” she said, her voice dripping with ice. “You speak like a true politician, looking down on us while putting on a show of remorse. I have no desire to look at the face of a con artist. Please leave at once.”

Her words were so cold they felt as if they were directed at me, and a sharp pain shot through my chest. I had never seen my mother so furious. It was my fault. She had collapsed because I made her worry, pushing her too far when she was already exhausted from her busy life.

“Well then, I’ll leave my business card here. Please contact me if anything comes up.”

Senpai’s father left an envelope—no doubt filled with money—where my mother wouldn’t see it, and then departed.

Once he was gone, the hospital room fell silent. My mother’s trembling voice finally broke the quiet.

“Hey, Miyuki. I don’t understand you. That Kondo person… he knew you had a boyfriend and still went afteryou, didn’t he? Why would you… with a man like that…? Do you really like him?”

“…”

I couldn’t answer. I didn’t even know myself anymore. What would happen if she found out Eiji was being bullied because of us? The thought terrified me.

“I see. So you won’t answer me. What you did was wrong, as a human being. As a parent, I couldn’t even teach my own daughter something so basic. I’m truly the worst kind of parent.”

I was making my mother, who had raised me all by herself, say such cruel things. The sheer despair of it all made me tremble as tears streamed down my face.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to. Go home for today. Please… just leave me alone.”

The cold, rejecting words pierced my chest like a blade.

※

──Same day, afternoon・Informant’s Perspective──

After confirming the cheating couple had been taken in by the police, I made it back to the station nearest our high school before dark. My revenge was far from over. This was only the beginning.

I retrieved my uniform from a station coin locker, changed in the bathroom, and headed to school with a nonchalant expression. Most of the clubs had already finished practice and were cleaning up. It seemed many students were leaving early since the mock exam was over.

If I ran into an acquaintance, I could just say I came to get something I forgot. No one would question it. I’d been absent from the mock exam today, but I had already called in sick. If I claimed I was feeling a bit better and had come to grab my vocabulary notebook for the upcoming quiz, it wouldn’t seem suspicious at all.

I would lie to anyone. Revenge was my only priority.

I slipped toward the soccer club’s room, making sure no one saw me. Their practice had already ended. I’d heard they have a practice match tomorrow, which would be the perfect time to reveal these photos. Although I wasn’t in asports club, wandering around the grounds in my uniform wouldn’t look out of place. At our school, the clubrooms are located far from the grounds and clustered together. Anyone who saw me would probably just assume I’d finished my own practice and was heading home after changing.

All that was left was to “accidentally” drop the envelope of photos I’d developed at the convenience store into the soccer club room. I slid it through a crack in the door, sending it skidding across the floor.

The members of the soccer club were all Kondo’s pawns. I had already confirmed that they, brandishing their own twisted sense of justice, had actively participated in bullying Aono. That’s why I had no mercy for them. This was a time bomb. Sure, Kondo’s talent for soccer was incredible, and the charisma born from that talent was a nuisance. But their dependence on that charisma was also a weakness. All I had to do was shatter that glass-like charisma with a shard of suspicion.

These photos will undoubtedly cause the soccer club to implode. Even if they somehow weather this, they won’t be able to pull themselves together for the important tournament. Besides, the club members will probably add their own embellishments to the story.That Mitsuda from the soccer club is like a remora, coasting on Kondo’s authority. It’s already been investigated that the second-year members were behind Aono’s bullying. They’re all idiots. A quick glance at their social media is enough to reveal just how involved they were.

The school has probably already started its investigation, so most of it should be exposed by now. All I need to do is deliver the final blow and let them self-destruct in the ensuing chaos.

However, the fact that the school is deliberately letting them run free must mean there’s something else going on. Two hypotheses came to mind.

Hypothesis ①: The school is looking for solid evidence to take down Kondo for good. As the main culprit, he might try to cowardly pin the blame on others, so they’re waiting for the right time to strike.If that’s the case, my job is easier. I have photographic evidence that puts Kondo at a disadvantage. By cooperating with the teachers, I can corner him.

But if the second hypothesis is true… 

Hypothesis ②: The school is actively participating in a cover-up. Then things get complicated.

With just the photo data, they might get off with a light punishment for “improper association with the opposite sex.”

The fact that his father is the president of a local construction company and a city council member is what complicates everything.

If it’s Hypothesis ①, it’s highly likely they’re waiting for the perfect moment to present decisive evidence, completely refuting any counterarguments from his influential fatherbefore dealing out the punishment.

If it’s Hypothesis ②, I should assume the school is actively involved in a cover-up out of fear of his father’s authority. In that case, it might be better to rely on other city council members or the board of education.

I had considered leaking it to an exposé streamer, but I wasn’t sure they would cover it. There was also a high risk that Aono’s case would be sensationalized for entertainment, causing secondary damage, so I abandoned that idea.

Even if the soccer club collapses and suffers a crushing defeat in an important tournament, it will only be a minor blemish on Kondo’s record. He’ll go on living his life without a care in the world. And he’ll continue to hurt people, just like he did Aono!To be honest, I couldn’t forgive myself. If I had done something back then, Kondo wouldn’t have gotten so arrogant. I should have been the only one who could have stopped them.

I recalled the face of my former childhood friend, for whom I now held nothing but resentment. This incident would surely cause her unstable mental state to collapse, but I couldn’t care less. It was only natural to prioritize the friend who was there for me in my time of need over the one who abandoned me.

My own heart had been broken, and I’d become a shut-in. I spent a year as a ronin before finally enrolling in this high school. The fact that Kondo’s evil deeds had escalated was, in a way, my responsibility too.

“Hey, isn’t that Endou? What’s up? The science club is off today, right? Besides, I thought you were sick. You weren’t at the mock exam today, either.”

Called from behind, I instinctively turned around. Standing there was my classmate, Imai, dressed in his kyudo uniform.

This chance encounter was a blessing. Imai is Aono’s other childhood friend and his best friend. He’s the second friend I made in high school, thanks to Aono. I was sure he knew something.

With this, my revenge would likely clear a major hurdle.

The die is cast. God is on my side.“Ah, I forgot something. We have that English vocabulary quiz at the start of nextweek, right? I left my notebook here, so I came to get it.”

I recited the excuse I had prepared. Even someone as sharp as Imai probably wouldn’t suspect anything.

“I see. But you’re not feeling well, are you? Enough to miss the mock exam. Don’t push yourself. I would’ve brought it to your house if you’d just asked.”

“That would’ve been a hassle for you. Besides, I left it locked away in my locker.”He seemed convinced for now, so I moved on to the main topic. Having passed the first hurdle of suspicion, it was time for the real gambit.

“By the way, is Aono okay? I was worried and sent him a message on LINE, but it hasn’t been marked as read.”

He’s probably avoiding it on purpose. I’d do the same in his shoes.When you’re the target of so much malice from the entire school, you’d be too terrified to even open social media.And I could never forgive the people who had driven my precious friend into such a state. They had treated my benefactor like a toy for their amusement; there was no way I could forgive them.

“Yeah, he’s hanging in there. I see, so you were worried too, Endou. I’m glad. It’s good to know we’re not the only ones who care.”

“Of course. Aono isn’t the kind of person the rumors make him out to be.”

“Then let’s go see him together after the break. He’s attending school from the nurse’s office right now. Thanks to Takayanagi-sensei and the others, he seems to be recovering quite a bit. He’ll definitely be happy if you come, Endou.”

Thank you, Imai. With this, I know Aono is getting back on his feet with the teachers’ help. That information is crucial for my revenge. At the very least, it seems the school doesn’t intend to cover this up. If there were any signs of that, Imai would undoubtedly resort to more forceful measures.This meant I could likely rely on the school, therefore Hypothesis ① was the more probable scenario.

In that case, I’ll give the photo data to the school for now and see what happens.

I think the school’s website had a fax number. A fax is archaic in this day and age, but it’s convenient for this. Considering the risk of my identity being exposed by tracing an email server, it would be difficult to determine the sender if I use a public copy machine at a convenience store.

That alone might be dismissed as a prank, so I’ll also put an envelope with the developed photos in the school’s mailbox, addressed to Takayanagi-sensei.

With this, the second stage of my revenge is complete.

“Well, I’m heading home. See you next week.”

I feigned calmness, cutting the conversation short. I couldn’t get Imai involved in my revenge. If he sided with me, he could become a target of Kondo and the others’ misdirected resentment. If Imai ended up like Aono, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

“Yeah, take care. Oh, right, Endou. This might be overstepping… no, maybe it’s just my imagination, but…”

For someone usually so direct, he seemed uncharacteristically hesitant.

“Hm?”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. If things get really tough, you can rely on me or the teachers. Please.”

For a moment, time froze.

Could he know? How did he figure it out? I haven’t given him any information. I quickly realized my expression had soured and forced a smile. Don’t let him know. Imai is sharp. Even with little information, he could piece together the truth. And if he finds out, he’ll definitely try to help me and might do something reckless.“Eh? Ah, you mean my cold, right? Thanks for worrying.”

I managed to squeeze out the excuse, and he smiled back.

It was his usual smile.

“Yeah, yeah, your cold. It’s a pain to come all the way here just for a vocabulary notebook.”

I neither confirmed nor denied it, instead playing along as we laughed together.

We parted with a smile.

※

──Same day, evening・Takayanagi’s Perspective──

The mock exam was over, and normally I could go home right away. But with a mountain of work left, I was stuck doing overtime in the staff room. Finally, this tumultuous week was over. The real battle had only just begun, but for now, I’d managed to start Aono’s supplementary lessons and establish a smooth line of communication with his parents. 

Thanks to the trusting relationship among the faculty, I think things are going well so far. I’ll have to come in on my day off tomorrow, but I just need to push a little harder.

Going well, huh? Just thinking that makes me arrogant. This whole mess shouldn’t have happened in the first place. It’s not like the school bears no responsibility.A wave of self-loathing washed over me as my weakness showed. There was another problem, too. The assistant homeroom teacher, Ayase-sensei, felt responsible for Aono’s case and had become so depressed that she’d taken time off. I wanted to support her, but right now, my priority had to be Aono. I’d left her case to the principal and vice-principal.

This whole situation is full of things to reflect on. I can’t afford to get too down, though. It’ll dull my judgment, and the longer this problem drags on, the more it will become a test of stamina.

I must be tired. The only reason I’ve made it this far is because everyone has been supporting me.I finished grading the quiz, which had been delayed by everything else, and stood up for a short break.

I’ll have some coffee to clear my head. As I held a mug and a jar of instant coffee, I passed by the printer and heard the distinct tone of the fax machine receiving a document.“A fax? That’s rare these days.”

It was sometimes used for communications withthe board of education, but this was the modern era. Email had long since peaked, and I’d heard many teachers now used LINEto create mailing lists with students. It was surprising that even email was becoming a thing of the past.

When I checked what had arrived, I saw what looked like a photo printing out.

“What!?”

The resolution was quite low, an unavoidable side effect of being a fax. But it was spitting out the very evidence I had been looking for.

It was black and white and hard to make out, but the fax data should also be stored on the school’s server. A quick look at that would make things clear.

Forgetting all about coffee, I immediately searched for the image data on the server.

Using image editing software, I adjusted the colors. Instantly, it became much easier to understand than the fax printout.

“It’s Kondo and Amada, but…”

I didn’t know when the photo was taken, but the two of them were certainly about to enter a love hotel. A second photo showed them being apprehended by the police. Furthermore, a handwritten note said, “I have placed the original color photos in the school’s mailbox. Please check.” I recalled their testimony from that time.

‘It’s true that Eiji and I had some trouble over breaking up… and at that time, Eiji saw me walking with Kondo-senpai, who was giving me advice, and got the wrong idea.’‘She and I just happened to be walking together, and he saw us and must’ve thought we were cheating.’This meant their testimonies were, after all, lies. This should allow me to pressure them even more. If this photo and the investigation progressed smoothly, the truth might be revealed very soon.

But one thing made me uneasy.

It was the anonymous informant. It had to be a student at this school, not a faculty member. It could be a parent, but they wouldn’t need to use such a roundabout method.

How did this anonymous student take this picture?They must be taking a huge risk.Either they hold a considerable grudge against Kondo and the others, or they feel indebted to Aono. It’s probably one of the two, but still… I can feel a powerful resolve from this photo, as if they don’t mind sacrificing themselves.And they’re just a teenager…What kind of hardship must one overcome to gain such resolve?And this is a child who should still be under the protection of adults.Since starting this job, I’ve seen countless situations where I, as an adult, couldn’t protect a child. Students who couldn’t attend school because of their worthless parents’ debts. Students who turned to delinquency because they grew up without parental affection. And students like Aono, subjected to malicious bullying and on the verge of having their futures stolen from them.

I want to find such students and lend them a hand. It may be arrogant, but I felt that was my responsibility as someone who chose to be a teacher.

This time, before it’s too late.

I will solve everything.

I contacted the principal and vice-principal and shared the information.

A little while later, they both arrived at the school.

“Takayanagi-sensei, I’m so sorry to call you in this late.”

The principal apologized, looking genuinely sorry.

“No, I was planning on working overtime anyway…”

I had managed to get some work done while waiting for them. This photo could be the powerful evidence needed to overturn all their testimonies. Of course, it could be a prank meant to harass Kondo, but the image didn’t look doctored.

At the very least, I think we should show them this photo and hear what Kondo and Amada have to say again. We need to confirm if they are truly telling the truth.

“It was a great help that you contacted us right away,” the vice-principal continued.

“However, if the person who took that photo is a student, this is serious,” the principal said, his face growing anxious and thoughtful. “We must find and protect the photographer immediately. If we leave it as is, that student might also be put in danger. That’s a job for us adults. Students are to be protected.”

I was relieved to know that my superior thought the same way I did. This was a teacher worthy of trust.

“I agree. They are probably taking a huge risk. Moreover, if the soccer club finds out about this, they might try to uncover the photographer’s identity for retaliation. And if that leads to a violent incident…”

The vice-principal was also holding his head in his hands. That would be the worst-case scenario. I don’t want any more students to be put in danger. That, I thought, was a natural way for a teacher to feel.

“Takayanagi-sensei, do you have any good ideas? I don’t want to see any more students get hurt.”

The principal asked me with a truly worried expression. I explained the ideas I had put together while waiting for them.

“Yes. While I was waiting, I did some research. Kondo and Amada were absent from today’s mock exam, citing illness, and the photo was likely taken during that time. To leak a photo like this, the sender either holds a deep grudge against Kondo and the others, or they’re a friend of Aono’s. That line of reasoning seems solid. I’ve narrowed down the students who meet those conditions from those who were absent from the mock exam or do not belong to a club.”

I immediately showed them the list of potential students. The photographer had to be on this list. We will protect that student. We will ensure that no more students are hurt by this matter.

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