Chapter 12 Ex-Girlfriend, Lashing Out at Her Friend

Ex-Girlfriend, Lashing Out at Her Friend

Chiharu’s PoV

What the hell is going on…? What the hell!?

I ran out of the classroom and into a deserted hallway. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that Souta was the one writing lyrics and composing music for LumiStar.

I was shocked he hadn’t told me something so important.

If I had known, maybe I wouldn’t have acted the way I did…

It’s all Souta’s fault.

Even the fact that I cheated—it was because Souta was keeping secrets from me…

As these thoughts swirled in my head, I heard footsteps approaching. When I turned around, my best friend, Saki (紗季), stood there looking worried.

“Chiharu, are you okay?”

I avoided her gaze and muttered a reply.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

It was a lie, but I didn’t want to worry her.

“Why were you so mad at Amagi-kun? It seemed like there was a reason, but wasn’t it something to be happy about? I mean, finding out your boyfriend is famous?”

Saki had a point.

From the outside, I probably looked like a petty girlfriend who couldn’t celebrate her boyfriend’s success.

But that wasn’t the truth.

Because…

“He’s not my boyfriend anymore…”

“Huh?”

“Souta and I broke up!”

When I blurted this out, Saki froze, stunned into silence for a moment.

I hadn’t told anyone else about the breakup.

So it was no surprise that she was shocked.

“R-Really…? But why?”

When she asked why, I hesitated, struggling to find an answer.

Because the real reason was my fault.

The truth was, I cheated, and that’s why Souta ended things with me.

But I didn’t want Saki to know that.

I was terrified she’d be disgusted if I told her the truth. Still…

“It’s because… I fell for someone else.”

I explained to Saki, carefully avoiding the full truth.

“Wait, does that mean you cheated?”

Saki, being sharp as ever, saw right through me.

I guess lying to her wasn’t an option.

And it was exhausting to keep lying to my friend.

Maybe it would be easier to just come clean.

Maybe Saki would understand how I felt.

“I mean, yeah, technically it was cheating… but I couldn’t help it. The other guy was Akagi-senpai, you know? You know how amazing he is.”

“Yeah, I know, but I also heard he’s a huge player… And seriously, Chiharu, casually admitting to cheating? That’s pretty awful.”

Her voice dripped with criticism.

Sure, cheating is wrong. But if someone as handsome and talented as Akagi-senpai—someone on Japan’s national youth soccer team—showed interest in you, wouldn’t you be tempted?

People say cheating is bad, but I’d like to see them try rejecting someone that incredible before judging me. Talk is cheap!

Honestly, who knows what Saki would do if Akagi-senpai approached her?

Yet here she was, judging me. She was probably just jealous that someone as amazing as Akagi-senpai noticed me.

“Anyway, can we drop this? Souta and I are over.”

It’s true I was at fault for cheating, but I didn’t want to keep being criticized about the past. What’s done is done.

“So, then why were you mad earlier? Didn’t you and Amagi-kun break up?”

“…!”

Saki was right.

Why had I been so angry at Souta earlier?

If our relationship was over, I shouldn’t have felt so strongly.

As his ex-girlfriend, I had no right to be upset with him.

So why was I so irritated?

Was it because Souta hid things from me?

Maybe that was part of it, but I felt like the real reason was something deeper.

Honestly, I didn’t even know what my true feelings were anymore.

“Shut up…! I don’t know either!”

Before I realized it, I had snapped at Saki and stormed off, as if trying to run away. I think she called out to me, but I ignored her and kept walking.