Chapter 4 I Broke Up With Her

I Broke Up With Her

After learning about Chiharu’s affair, I acted quickly.

I spent my day off reflecting on everything and reached a conclusion.

I would break up with Chiharu.

After making that decision, I walked with Shirasaki-san toward the back gate of the school.

Today, we were going to follow Chiharu and Akagi-senpai to see where they were going.

“Even though I was the one who suggested this, are you sure about it?”

Shirasaki-san asked me with a worried expression.

“Yeah. I can’t keep running away. That’s why I need to have an honest talk with Chiharu.”

I replied firmly, my resolve unwavering.

As we approached the back gate, we saw Chiharu and Akagi-senpai walking together.

They were laughing and chatting closely. A sharp pain pierced my chest, but I strengthened my resolve and followed them.

Just as they were about to exit through the back gate, we closed the distance and called out.

“Chiharu!”

When I called her name, the two of them turned around in surprise. Chiharu looked shocked, while Akagi-senpai, in contrast, remained calm.

“S-Souta… why are you here…?”

Chiharu’s voice trembled as she spoke.

“I should be the one asking you. Why are you with Akagi-senpai?”

“I-It’s just… we happened to be heading in the same direction.”

Watching her stammer out an excuse filled me with sadness.

She was still lying.

Then, Shirasaki-san spoke up.

“It’s hard to believe this is just a coincidence, Aoyama-san. Doesn’t your house lie in the opposite direction? Besides, I heard you used to walk home with Amagi-kun.”

Back when Chiharu and I were close, we always walked home together.

Naturally, we left through the front gate—not the back gate—making her story contradictory.

“…Whatever! Souta is one thing, but this has nothing to do with you, Shirasaki-san! Who even are you?!”

Her anger suddenly shifted to Shirasaki-san.

But Shirasaki-san didn’t falter.

“I understand how you feel, but having someone neutral in situations like this is important, right? I’m here as a witness, too.”

After saying that, she nudged my side gently with her elbow.

It was a clear signal from her.

I glanced at her briefly, then turned to Chiharu, my resolve solidified.

“The other day, I saw you with Akagi-senpai… cheating on me.”

“D-Do you have any proof?”

Startled, Chiharu tried to deny it, so I pulled out my phone and showed her the screen.

On it was a photo of them entering a love hotel together.

I never thought the impulsive picture I took would become so important.

“This is a photo of you two together. And… this was taken right before you entered the hotel.”

The image clearly showed them walking into the love hotel.

Chiharu’s face turned pale, while Akagi-senpai furrowed his brows slightly.

“Souta, this is…”

Chiharu’s voice trembled as she looked at me with a pained expression.

Presented with undeniable evidence, she appeared distressed.

“I can’t be with you anymore, Chiharu. Let’s break up.”

As soon as I said that, Shirasaki-san interjected.

“Amagi-kun, that’s not enough. She should admit her mistake and apologize. Aoyama-san betrayed you, after all.”

Chiharu faltered at her words, then turned to face me.

“Souta, I’m really sorry. I… I think I might love Akagi-senpai.”

Akagi-senpai sighed and added,

“I’m sorry, too. I didn’t know she had a boyfriend. But I’m serious about Chiharu.”

Hearing those words hurt deeply, but knowing they were serious about each other brought a small sense of closure. I took a deep breath and replied calmly,

“Alright. Thank you for being honest. But this is where we part ways.”

“Yeah… I’m really sorry.”

That marked the end of my relationship with Chiharu.

Chiharu and Akagi-senpai exchanged glances and walked away. Watching them disappear into the distance, I sighed, feeling hollow and empty.

“Amagi-kun…”

Shirasaki-san’s gentle voice brought me back. When I turned to face her, she was looking at me with concern.

“It’s over now… Was this really the right thing to do?”

I muttered in a hoarse voice.

Shirasaki-san placed her hand on my shoulder gently. Her warmth eased the ache in my heart.

“Amagi-kun, it was painful, but now you can move forward. You’ll find someone else to love someday.”

That might be true.

I couldn’t leave things unresolved, and although it wasn’t a perfect ending, I had at least found clarity.

“Thank you, Shirasaki-san. But I think I’ll take a break from dating for a while.”

I wasn’t ready to dive into another relationship so soon.

In fact, I had a strange feeling this might be how my life would remain.

“Why?”

Shirasaki-san looked surprised at my decision.

“After everything that’s happened, I feel a bit traumatized. I’m not sure I’m ready to move on just yet.”

My honest words seemed to make her pause and think.

After a moment of silence, she looked at me with determination.

“Then… I’ll be your girlfriend and help you forget about her.”

“Huh? Shirasaki-san?”

My eyes widened in shock at her unexpected offer.

Shirasaki-san… as my girlfriend?

What was she even talking about?

Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined her suggesting such a thing.

“I said I’ll be your girlfriend until you forget about your ex-girlfriend.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her expression was serious.

“Do you not like the idea?”

“It’s not that I dislike it, but… Shirasaki-san, you’re an idol. Dating me could—”

I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my concerns.

But she smiled and shook her head.

“Don’t worry about that, Amagi-kun. I’m just a normal girl too, you know. Being an idol doesn’t change that. Besides, I’ve been in your debt for a long time. I’ve always wanted to repay you.”

“I don’t remember you owing me anything…”

“Don’t worry about the details. I’ll do my best as your girlfriend. Please take care of me, Amagi-kun.”

With that, she smiled faintly and stepped back.

“I have work later, so I’ll see you at school, Amagi-kun.”

With those parting words, she walked away briskly, leaving me stunned.

I stood there, overwhelmed by a storm of emotions. Her unexpected declaration had shaken me to the core.

Today, I broke up with Chiharu.

And now, Shirasaki-san had become… my girlfriend?

I didn’t know what to make of it all.

Shirasaki-san was the center of Luminous Stars, a beloved national idol group.

The idea of her being my girlfriend felt completely surreal.

Surely, she was just joking… right?

Kanade’s PoV

I said it.

I actually said it.

After parting ways with Amagi-kun at the school’s back gate, I dashed toward the station, my heart pounding wildly.

When I reached the pedestrian bridge near the station, I stopped, out of breath. The wind cooled my flushed face, but my thoughts remained chaotic.

“What did I just say~~?!”

Covering my face with both hands, I felt an overwhelming wave of embarrassment. I couldn’t believe I had impulsively offered to be Amagi-kun’s girlfriend.

But it was true. I wanted to be his girlfriend.

After years of one-sided love, my dream was finally coming true.

Even if it meant taking advantage of his heartbreak—even if it seemed a bit manipulative—it was still something I wanted to do.

Regardless, the result was clear—

“I’m Amagi-kun’s girlfriend now…”

A small smile crept across my face despite my embarrassment.

All the anxiety and hesitation I’d felt earlier melted away, replaced by a warm sensation in my chest.

To me, idols were lies.

So, although I truly just wanted to be his girlfriend, I became Amagi-kun’s girlfriend under the guise (a lie) of helping him forget his ex.

As a member of Luminous Stars, a nationally renowned idol group, I wasn’t in a position to have a normal relationship.

That’s why being his “temporary girlfriend” seemed like the perfect solution.

No matter what—

“I’ll support you from now on, Amagi-kun.”

With that vow, I gazed at the scenery from the bridge, my heart swelling with anticipation.

I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.