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 6
Chapter 6
First Date and…
“I… I think I’m going to talk to my parents,” I told Takayanagi-sensei when he came to see me in the afternoon.
A look of relief washed over his face. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. What Mitsui-sensei told me had struck a deep chord. Hiding this any longer would be the most unfilial thing I could do.
I’m not going to run away anymore. I want to fight, with everyone on my side.That’s why I had to consult with the adults I could trust and keep fighting.
“I see. Thank you. If it’s too hard for you to say it, I can tell them for you. The principal also said he wants to bring your family into the discussion, Aono, to figure out how we’ll handle this from now on.”
“Yes. Thank you very much. But… I’d rather be the one to tell them.”
“I understand. You’ve really… you’ve gotten so much stronger in just half a day, Aono. Your family runs a restaurant, right? You must be busy. We’ll adjust the meeting time as much as possible on our end. We can even come to your place if that’s better, so just let us know. Here’s my contact info.” He handed me a slip of paper. “Once you’ve spoken with your parents, give this number a ring. I’ll get back to you right away.”
“Thank you. It might be late at night, though. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, no problem. I’m a total night owl, so I’ve actually got more energy at night than in the morning. The later, the better, honestly. My circadian rhythm is completely off for a teacher.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his self-deprecating joke. A sense of security washed over me.
“I’m counting on you, Takayanagi-sensei.”
“Yeah. Go ahead and depend on your homeroom teacher, Aono.”
With that, I left the school. It was only the second day since Takayanagi-sensei had learned about the problem, but for the first time, I could see a glimmer of hope.
※
When I walked out of the main gate, a girl so beautiful it took my breath away was waiting for me. Even though we’d arranged to meet, the sight of her still surprised me.
“You’re late, Senpai!”
Her frank, slightly teasing tone brought a small sense of relief.
“Well, I was facing a firing squad in enemy territory, so it took a while. The after-school rush has died down a bit, huh? Still, I was getting nothing but daggers from everyone.”
My junior laughed as I replied, trying to sound composed.
“Well, there are the rumors, of course, but don’t you think you’re making a whole different kind of enemy just by walking to school with me?”
“Can’t deny that.”
“But… I’m glad.”
“About what?”
“Because compared to this morning, you look a lot more relaxed… or maybe kinder is the right word. I could tell right away. So I’m glad.”
She was really looking out for me.
“It’s thanks to you, Ichijou-san.”
“Hm? I haven’t done anything.”
“That’s not true. You were the first one who believed me.”
I couldn’t begin to explain how much it saved me, the simple fact that she had rationally dismissed the rumors. After all, besides Satoshi, none of the people I thought were close to me had trusted me at all.
“Is that so? Am I…special?”
She emphasized the word teasingly, but she was. I was deeply indebted to her.
“Yeah. You are. You’re special. That’s why you became my best friend the day we met.”
“Hmph.”
She made a face that looked both happy and a little complicated. “Well, even if we’re just best friends, being called special doesn’t feel bad,” she murmured under her breath.
“For now, at least…”
Ichijou-san smiled, but her eyes held a trace of loneliness.
And so, as our mismatched pair walked home, the people around us began to stir. The rumors were spreading even more than they had this morning—which was probably part of Ichijou-san’s plan.
“Were you okay?” I asked, feeling a little anxious myself.
“Eh? About what? Are you worried about the rumors that we’re passionately in love or something?”
I was grateful for her joking reply, meant to put me at ease, but I had to ask properly.
“No, that’s not it… I was just wondering if your reputation would suffer because you’re walking with me, or if people were saying bad things about you.”
The school’s idol, a saint, an angel. There were many words to describe Ichijou-san, but they were also a reflection of everyone’s expectations of her.
“You’re so kind, Senpai. It’s not often that someone worries about me even though you’re the one suffering the most!”“Of course I would. I don’t want my best friend getting hurt because of me.”
“I thought you’d say that. But please, don’t worry. There are some datingrumors, but it’s not causing any real harm.”
“That is real harm, isn’t it? I have to ask, just in case… you don’t have a boyfriend, or someone you like?”
She laughed. Then, in a voice so quiet I could barely hear, she added, “Far from being harmful, it’s a reward. It’s an important established fact.” Then she continued, her voice clear again.
“Are you really asking me that now? If I had someone, I wouldn’t have done something as romantic as running away with you yesterday. Normally, you’d check before inviting someone on an escapade, right?”
It was an irrefutable point. So this was Ichijou’slegendary rejection technique, rumored to be a form of logical harassment.
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you. But I worked hard to wake up early this morning, so I’d like a little reward.”
“Eh?”
“I’m asking you on a date, Senpai. Right now. Want to go get some sweets?”
All I could do was offer a strained smile as my junior dropped a bombshell loud enough for everyone to hear.
I could practically hear the silent screams of the students around us.
“Why?!”“Why, of all people, is Ichijou Ai asking Aono Eiji out on a date?”“The ‘Heartbreak Executioner’ who’s rejected dozens of guys…”“Unbelievable.”“And she asked him herself.”“I liked her first…”The resentful whispers of the student body swirled around me.
As I stood there, frozen and speechless, Ichijou-san started laughing.
“What’s wrong? You’re so stiff. I worked up a lot of courage to ask you, so please give me an answer.”
“Well, you said ‘date’…”
“Eh? But isn’t a boy and a girl going out for sweets after school a date?”
“That’s true, but… you have to consider the time and place. There are people watching.”
“It’s fine. I invited you because I wanted to hang out with you. Worrying about what other people think, letting them interfere with my own feelings… isn’t the world wrong in that case? So, will you go out with me?”
She looked me straight in the eye, her gaze filled with a powerful will.
By the way, the crowd was now overreacting to the phrase “go out with me” with a chorus of “Oohs” and “Eh? A public confession?”, but I decided to ignore them. Ichijou-san didn’t seem to mind.
I still had the money I’d earned from my short-term summer job, so that wasn’t an issue… Besides, I couldn’t embarrass the girl who had done so much for me.
“You’re right. Since you went to the trouble of inviting me, Ichijou-san, let’s go. Is there somewhere you want to go?”
“Yay! There’s a shop I’ve been wanting to try.”
I was monopolizing the age-appropriate smile of one of the most beautiful girls in school. Thinking about it objectively, I had to admit I was a pretty lucky guy.
※
She led me to a cafe near the station, a stylish place that felt a little too sophisticated for high school students. It was the kind of place where female university students and local madams chatted away, losing all track of time.
My junior, with her calm and mature aura, blended perfectly into the antique-style decor. Even in her uniform, an undeniable elegance and good upbringing shone through. If she were to hold a teacup with a melancholic expression, she would be the perfect image of a “sheltered young lady.”
“A close classmate of mine said she came here on a weekend date, and I’ve been wanting to come ever since. My little dream came true.”
She smiled, speaking in a small, conspiratorial voice. With just her tone and choice of words, any foolish guy would fall for her instantly. The gap between her refined elegance and her slightly childish expression was devastating.
“But… that’s a little surprising.”
“What is?”
“Well, that you dreamed about going on dates and things like that.”
Honestly, with her looks and personality, she could get a boyfriend in a heartbeat if she wanted one. In fact, since entering high school, dozens of boys had confessed to her, only to be shot down.
“Well, it would be a lie to say I don’t. I’m a teenage girl, you know. But I can always tell that the people who confess to me just see me as some kind of status symbol. Honestly, that kind of thing hurts.”
A bitter expression flickered across her face before she quickly replaced it with a smile. It made sense. You could only feel distrust for people who only saw your surface, who treated you like an object.
Then why am I okay?I couldn’t bring myself to ask such a tactless question.
“You’re right. Sorry, that was a weird thing to say. Anyway, let’s eat. You’ve helped me so much, so it’s my treat today.”
“Thank you. I hear the pancakes here are delicious, so I’ll have that.”
“I’ll have the same. What about a drink?”
“Hot apple tea, please.”
──Ichijou Ai’s Perspective──
After we ordered, I excused myself to use the restroom.
He might hear my heart pounding. I just needed a moment to calm down. I washed my hands, the cold water doing little to cool the heat rising in my body.
“I can’t believe it’s this nerve-wracking to ask a guy you’re interested in on a date.”I was just surprised that I’d become such a normal girl.
“I wonder if it got through to you, even a little. That you’re special.”The moment of weakness slipped out, flowing away with the water down the drain.
From the hallway, I could see Senpai fidgeting at his seat. He hadn’t noticed that the seat I’d reserved was a couple’s seat. I felt a little bad for keeping it a secret, but my dream of having tea at a lovely cafe with the person I love had finally come true.
※
We talked about ourselves while eating pancakes. Our distance had closed so much that it was easy to forget we had only known each other for a day. And yet, I knew almost nothing about herpast. A slightly mismatched relationship.
I could somehow tell that Ichijou-san had some kind of family problem, so I avoided the topic as we gradually introduced ourselves.
We talked about our favorite things and stories from junior high. It turns out Ichijou-san went to a private junior high in the city. There seemed to be a reason she didn’t continue to the affiliated high school. Seeing her reluctance to talk about it, I figured it was probably a family matter. I didn’t press her. Knowing how talented she was, it couldn’t have been due to bad grades or delinquency.
“The reason I didn’t go to the affiliated school was… family reasons.”
She must have read the question on my face. Seeing her wry, troubled smile, I couldn’t push any further.
My own stories, on the other hand, were quite lively. Having grown up in my hometown and gone to local schools, I had plenty of weird episodes to share. Like the time I found and reported the offering box thief at the local shrine, and how I became friends with Satoshi, who helped me out. But whenever I talked about the past, Miyuki would flicker in my mind, and it was tough. It was sad to find myself consciously erasing the existence of the person who should have been there.
“Senpai?”
Taking a sip of her apple tea, my junior turned a Madonna-like smile toward me.
“Hm?”
“It’s okay. When things are tough, it’s okay to say they’re tough. I don’t know the details, but I have a general idea of what happened. It’s a situation so painful that a normal person wouldn’t be able to recover. You’re strong… but even strong people will break someday. Before you break, please talk to me, okay?”
She gently stroked the back of my left hand.
“Why do you trust me so much, Ichijou-san?”
“Yesterday, it was because I thought it was wrong to be swayed by baseless rumors. But it’s different now. It’s only been a day, but being with you, I’ve come to understand that you would never do what the rumors say. You’re someone who puts others before yourself. No… you’re someone who would sacrifice themselves for others. That part of you is wonderful, but I can’t forgive it being crushed by malice. So, if you’re in pain, I’m with you.”
I decided to indulge in her kindness.
“Thanks, as always.”
The words slipped out before I could think.
“What do you mean ‘always’? It’s only been two days.”She said, and we shared a gentle smile.
“And, Senpai,” she added. “I ate too many snacks today, so unfortunately, we’ll have to have the fried oysters another day. I’ll let your mother know.”
“Eh? Leaving aside the question of when you two exchanged contact info… are you sure?”
“Yes! Because I can’t get in the way of your resolve.”
I was surprised by how much she understood, but I thanked her for her consideration and agreed.
──Ichijou Ai’s Perspective──
After parting ways, I got into the car that came to pick me up and looked back on our happy time together.
When we met at the school gate, his expression had changed. He looked like he’d broken through something. I understood right away.
He decided to consult his parents.Unlike mine, Senpai’s family will surely fight alongside him. I even felt envious of the trust within his family, a bond so strong it allowed him to make such a difficult decision so quickly.
And the words I just said to him were also for myself.
If Senpai hadn’t been on that rooftop by chance, I would have been the one to break.
“Thanks, as always,” he’d said. But I was the one who needed to say thank you.
Thank you so much for finding me when I was about to break, about to fall apart. We’re still best friends, but… someday… definitely.
※
I stood frozen in front of the restaurant door for several minutes.
If I’m going to talk to them, now is the time.The preparations for the dinnerrush should be finishing up. The interruption to their work would be minimal. I had to go in. But even with that thought, my body felt like lead.
Ichijou-san, Satoshi, Takayanagi-sensei, Mitsui-sensei… I pictured the faces of the people who believed in me. The last one that came to mind was the smile of my junior who had said, “If you’re in pain, I’m with you.”
Before I knew it, my hand was on the doorknob, gripping it tightly.
“I’m home.”
As I stepped inside, I saw my mom at a table in the restaurant, calculating the sales.
“Where’s my brother?”
“Welcome home. He just went out to restock some seasonings we ran out of.”
She closed the ledger, smiled, and asked, “Want something to drink?” I felt a small sense of relief, and summoning my courage, I opened my mouth.
“Mom… I’m sorry. There’s something I need you to hear.”
“What’s wrong? Why so formal…?”
She stared at me, a little surprised by my uncharacteristically serious expression.
“Actually, I…”
My breathing quickened, and for some reason, time seemed to slow down. The words wouldn’t come out right. I tried to deliver the truth, squeezing it out with a trembling voice.
“I… since the start of summer vacation…”
“Yeah.”
My mom was clearly worried now.
“I’m sorry. Actually… I’m being harassed at school. Probably by my classmates and… others.”
In response to my confession, my mom froze, her face a mask of incomprehension.
“Harassed?”
The word, spoken in a flat tone, was painful to hear. Regret boiled up inside me.
I shouldn’t have said anything. I’ve just made her worry.“Yeah… I’m sorry.”
I was filled with a truly apologetic feeling. It must be a shock, learning that the son she worked so hard to raise was in this situation. All I could say was sorry. I felt so pathetic and ashamed that I was on the verge of tears.
“Why are you apologizing? You’re being bullied, Eiji, right?”
My mom asked again, her voice trembling. I had used the word “harassment,” but she had immediately understood the essence of my situation.
“Yeah… I’m sorry.”
I was just repeating myself. I hated how pathetic I was.
As I closed my eyes in frustration, a warm sensation enveloped my body.
“You don’t have to apologize,” she said in a gentle voice, holding me tightly. “In fact, thank you. Thank you for telling me. It was tough, wasn’t it? It was painful, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry I didn’t notice, even though I’m your mother.”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s okay. You’re the one who’s suffering the most. So don’t blame yourself anymore. Thank you for telling me something so difficult to say. You really are the son I’m proud of.”
Like I was a child again, I cried my eyes out in my mother’s arms.
“It’s okay. We’re always on your side. You’re supposed to rely on your parents when things are tough. I’ll protect you, for your father’s sake too.”
In that moment, I felt as if my deceased father was with me, too.
※
And then, I told my mom everything.
I told her how, because of the trouble with Miyuki, false rumors were spread on social media, and I was isolated at school. How because of those rumors, my desk was vandalized with slander that included threats against Kitchen Aono, how my friends started ignoring me, and how I was practically forced to quit my club.
My mom’s face was the angriest I had ever seen it. I could see her trembling with rage. But when I told her about the people who were on my side, her expression softened.
That Ichijou-san was the first person to understand.
That Satoshi bowed his head to me, apologizing for not noticing my change and for not being able to protect me.
That my homeroom teacher, Takayanagi-sensei, had been incredibly supportive and was taking immediate action.
That the principal, vice-principal, and my grade-level head were working to make sure I wasn’t at a disadvantage. That Mitsui-sensei had given me courage.
“I’m glad. You have good allies.”
My mom nodded, her expression one of pure relief.
When I told her that the principal and Takayanagi-sensei wanted to talk about the future, she declared, “I’d like that to happen as soon as possible.”
“Then, I’ll have them come here during their lunch break tomorrow.”
I told my mom and stepped out of the room for a moment to contact Takayanagi-sensei.
※
After confessing to my mom and contacting my teacher, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep the moment I hit my bed.
When I woke up, it was already past nine o’clock. I must have been more tired than I thought.
At this hour, Mom and my brother were probably still cleaning up from work.
There was a rice ball placed in front of my door, and a thermos of miso soup with wakame and tofu. Apparently, my mom had prepared it for me. A note beside it read, “You must be tired, so please rest well. Eat this when you wake up.”
The rice balls were cold, inside were tuna mayo and salmon—my two favorites. Even cold rice is a feast with hot miso soup.
As I breathed a sigh of relief, I felt truly blessed and grateful to the people around me. Takayanagi-sensei and Mitsui-sensei. The principal and others supporting me from the shadows. And Ichijou-san, Satoshi, my mom, and my brother.
I was cheated on, harassed, and thought I had lost everything. But instead, I’ve realized how many people are really looking out for me. What would have happened if I hadn’t met Ichijou-san on the rooftop that day? I probably would have just made everyone sad.Ichijou-san has really helped me so much.
Thinking of her, I checked my phone. I remembered we had exchanged LINE contacts at the cafe.
Senpai, I wanna walk to school with you for the mock exam tomorrow too, so I’m counting on you!!The message had arrived about thirty minutes ago. The act of walking to school together, which should be a surprisingly high hurdle for a boy and a girl, had become a matter of course before I even realized it.
A message had also arrived from Satoshi. It was casual, as usual, but I could tell he was being considerate in his own way.
Come to think of it, the SNS that used to be flooded with harassing messages has gone quiet. Even though I’d muted mynotifications, there were hardly any pop-ups. Maybe Ichijou-san’s plan worked. Still, I was scared to go back to that classroom. The novel I wrote for the literary club’s magazine has probably been thrown away too. The data is on my phone, but it’s still sad to think that the physical manuscript of my work was just tossed out.
I had to comfort myself over and over. I lost a lot in this incident, but I’ve gained even more.And then I noticed something interesting. The love I thought I had for Miyuki had completely disappeared. When I thought of the girl who was supposed to be my precious childhood friend and girlfriend, all that came to mind was disappointment and anger. And there was one feeling that was growing to fill the void.
“This is probably it.”Thinking back on the girl who was becoming my greatest supporter, I slowly closed my eyes.
──Mother’s Perspective──
“I told you to at least stick to your principles, but you’ve crossed a line you shouldn’t have, Miyuki-chan. I won’t hold back anymore. I’ll do everything I can to protect Eiji. And I don’t care what happens to you then.”
In the empty room, I declared war on Eiji’s childhood friend, a girl I had adored like a daughter until just recently.
I’ll do anything for Eiji. As I hardened my resolve, my phone rang. It was a reliable ally.
“It’s been a while, Minami-sensei.”
“I read your message. Is it true? That Eiji-kun is being harassed at school?”
Minami-sensei was like a sworn friend to my late husband. Despite their age difference, they had trusted each other like brothers. On the phone, his voice was so energetic you wouldn’t think he was over seventy. After my husband passed away, he had offered to be a guardian to my sons, like a real grandfather. I knew he would help me.
“It seems to be true. Tomorrow, the principal and the homeroom teacher are coming here during their lunch break to talk about how to proceed.”
“How could this happen… To think that someone would harass a kind boy like Eiji-kun. However, I am acquainted with the principal of Eiji-kun’s high school. He is a colleague of mine in volunteer work—a fine educator. He will definitely be a help to you. Is Eiji-kun okay? He’s at a sensitive age. He must be hurting. It truly pains my heart. It’s unforgivable. I will do anything I can, so please don’t hesitate to consult me.”
“Thank you. It’s truly reassuring to hear you say that.”
His warm words nearly brought me to tears.
“As a testament to my time as mayor, I am also on friendly terms with the superintendent of the prefectural board ofeducation and members of the board of education. They should help as well. The late Mamoru-kun was one of this city’s benefactors. I will protect his keepsake, Eiji-kun, even if it costs me my life.”
The former mayor’s declaration was forceful and absolute.
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