Chapter 2 Rumor and False Accusation

Rumor and False Accusation

After a disastrous birthday, I locked myself in my room so my mother wouldn’t find my swollen cheeks. My father died of an illness three years ago. Now I live with my mother and brother. They’re both busy with their jobs and come home late, so luckily they don’t notice me.

I sent a message to both of them that I was not feeling well and was sleeping in my room, and then I locked the room. But not long after they came home and talked to me at the door. Feeling sorry, I said, “Maybe it’s a summer cold. I’m sorry I got a cold. I’ll stay in bed until the end of summer vacation.”

Worried about me, they left porridge, pudding, and sports drinks at the door. Anyway, I took them in my mouth and went to bed without thinking about anything else, and my precious summer vacation in my sophomore year of high school was over.

Feeling helpless and empty.

I had many nightmares.

All I can do is watch the video on the monitor of Miyuki and Kondo-senpai hugging and kissing at the hotel.

[It’s really disgusting, Eiji. I tried to be nice to you because we’re childhood friends, but you misunderstood me and confessed to me.]

[Forget about that weirdo guy. Just look at me now.]

[Yes!! Senpai]

After 10 years of being childhood friends, I couldn’t even lay a finger on her. But, senpai enjoyed making Miyuki say bad things about me over and over again.

It should be a dream, but I can’t stop feeling sick. My human dignity is being destroyed. I hear the sound of my heart being broken.

Please don’t do that again. I beg you.

What are lovers doing in that entertainment district? Even I, a stupid man, can understand what lovers do in that entertainment district. In the end, the reason why she skipped my birthday date was because Senpai was more important than me.

I guess I wasn’t worth being a man after all.

I started the new school year with an inexplicable bad feeling. I managed to put on my uniform and went to school. The world seemed to have turned sepia. The hilly walk to school now felt like torture.

“Hey, that’s Aono who attacked Amada-san, right?”

“Ugh, gross.”

“Poor Amada-san. Her arm was bruised, wasn’t it? Men who hurt girls are the worst.”

“She’s too kind. That’s why the stalker gets it wrong.’’

“I thought we were friends until now, but from now on I won’t talk to him”

“I mean, Kondo-senpai is cool, isn’t he? I mean, he bravely stood up to that stalker domestic violence man and fought him off? That’s really cool.”

Every time they saw my face, they whispered behind my back. I felt a dull pain in my heart. I knew. Since that day, my friends have contacted me several times. It was about the rumor that I was violent towards Miyuki.

It seems that Kondo-senpai is actively spreading rumors. The source of the information always comes from the boys in the soccer club…

I pleaded my innocence many times, but they wouldn’t listen.

“That’s what criminals always say.”

“I won’t talk to you anymore. Don’t even talk to me at school.”

“You suck!!!!”

My close classmates have blocked me from SNS. I don’t have anyone on my side anymore.

Ignoring the cold stare, I made it to the classroom. But as expected, it was hell too. No one would make eye contact with me.

Fool!

Die!

Criminals!

Don’t come to school!

There was a scrawl of abusive words on my desk. I hear giggling in the distance.

Miyuki came in later. Our eyes met and she looked away awkwardly. My childhood friend in the blazer, who I had thought was an angel, had turned into the devil who had betrayed me.

“Miyuki. Are you okay? Are you hurt or something?”

“It’s scary, isn’t it? If he does anything to you, please tell me.”

“It’s the worst thing to happen when you say goodbye and then get angry and violent.”

Miyuki took her seat and then they gathered around her. From the perspective of people who don’t know her, she is a beautiful girl who needs to be protected. This makes those around her sympathize even more.

Damn it, why can’t people believe me?

I’m not a stalker.

I got angry and grabbed Miyuki’s arm with all my strength but it wasn’t enough to cause a bruise.

Why, why, why!!!

Unable to stand it any longer, I ran out into the hallway. But the devil was there too.

Kondo.

This guy grinned and looked at my pained face. Maybe he came to take a peek. He came to see the result of his plan to isolate me at school by spreading a bad rumor about me using the junior members of the soccer club.

“How are you, Mr. Criminal? Are you okay…”

This guy is mocking me with his smiling face.

“Why … Why did you do this??”

“Hahaha, because it’s fun. You lose your girl to me and then you lose everything. It’s the best show ever. It’s a mistake for a weirdo like you to be involved with Miyuki. You should be expelled from school. I’m a psychopath who loves ruining people’s lives.”

Kondo smells slightly like cigarettes. He chewed gum as if to hide it.

It gets on my nerves.

Suddenly I fell to my knees. I collapsed from my body as I let out a soft scream. After feeling the cold hallway, my consciousness slowly faded into darkness.