Chapter 3 The Delusional Guy's Excuse

The Delusional Guy's Excuse

A few days later.

As usual, I arrived at school late and took my seat.

While pulling a paperback from my bag and listening to music through my earphones, Irara suddenly walked up to my desk.

“Good morning, Kyogoku-kun!”

“Eh!?”

I was stunned.

She was actually speaking to me, here, in front of everyone in the classroom…

Then again, based on yesterday’s conversation, I guess Irara isn’t the type to care about that sort of thing.

“G-Good morning…”

I was so flustered that I couldn’t help but act awkwardly.

Pathetic. Honestly, it was creepy.

Not that Irara seemed to mind. She leaned in close to my ear and whispered,

“Thanks for yesterday!”

Smiling warmly, she placed something in my hand. “Here you go!”

“Huh… Oshiruko?”

“It’s a thank-you gift! It’s super tasty—I totally recommend it! Well, see you later!”

With a giggle, she returned to her usual group of friends.

“What's up with that? Why are you talking to Kyogoku?”

“Did something happen? Are you okay? He didn’t do anything, did he?”

“Do anything? Of course not! If anything, I’m probably the one who did something…”

“““…Huh?”””

“I mean, I gave him oshiruko. Maybe I should’ve gone with corn potage instead? But that doesn’t have sugar…”

“““Wait, oshiruko?!”””

“…What?”

Well, of course, they’d react like that.

And to think Irara considers oshiruko a sugary drink.

She’s strange—or maybe just unique. Anyway…

Looks like I’m still as disliked as ever.

But more importantly, I was glad to see that Irara seemed okay.

Considering everything that happened yesterday, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she skipped school. But here she was, as cheerful as ever.

That’s why she’s the school’s “sun.”

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if she shared even a fraction of her popularity with me… No, that’s impossible. Not with this face.

Still, I just want her to be happy.

After all, she was hurt by that sc🬀🬀🬀ag.

She deserves something good to come her way.

…Which means.

I probably won’t be talking to Irara anymore.

It’s a little sad, but that’s how it should be.

Yesterday was an exception. Irara and I are fundamentally opposites.

This is how things should be.

“…Phew.”

Letting out a breath, I opened my book.

I shouldn’t hope for anything.

After all, I’m Kyogoku Arata.

Letting go of fleeting hopes, I escaped into the world of my book.

“…Huh?”

I suddenly noticed the oshiruko in my hand.

…Sorry, Irara.

I… don’t really like oshiruko…

A few days passed.

My life hadn’t changed—it was the same as always. But…

“Hey, did you hear?”

“Apparently, Irara-san and Nakano-kun broke up.”

“No way! That’s so unexpected!”

“I mean, they seemed so in love!”

News of Irara and Nakano breaking up spread throughout the school, becoming the hottest topic of conversation.

However, the reason for their breakup wasn’t made public.

…Seriously, Irara is too kind.

She’s probably keeping quiet about Nakano’s cheating for his sake.

And compared to her… that guy… tch.

The thought of him made my mood sour.

Walking aimlessly down the hallway, I half-listened to the chatter around me.

Then I spotted a familiar face coming toward me.

“Hey, Yuya~! You really screwed up, man!”

“Can we drop it already?”

“No way~! This is prime gossip material!”

Nakano was surrounded by a group of male students, laughing and joking.

Of course, the topic of conversation was Irara.

“So, why’d you break up with Irara-san?”

“Yeah, seriously. A girl that cute is one in a million!”

“Well, uh… haha…”

“Don’t dodge the question!”

“I bet she wasn’t good in bed, huh? Like a dead fish or something.”

What the hell…

“Nah, totally~! Or maybe she wouldn’t even let you do it?”

“No way! Even so, I’d still date her! But come on, you at least got to touch her, right? How was it? Were they as big as they look?!”

“Spill the details, Yuya!”

…High school boys are disgusting creatures.

As I thought that, Nakano let out a small sigh.

“It’s not like that. I just respected Akari’s feelings.”

…What?

“I guess I just wasn’t good enough to make her happy. That’s all there is to it.”

…What the hell is this guy talking about?

“So, what you’re saying is… Irara-san dumped you?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Whoa, that’s rough, man. After all that lovey-dovey act, you got dumped?!”

“Brutal!”

“Don’t worry about it. There’s plenty of fish in the sea!”

“Haha, thanks, guys.”

Laughing, Nakano let his friends pat him on the back.

…What the hell is this guy even saying?

Irara broke up with you because you cheated.

She kept quiet about it for your sake. And now you’re acting like the victim?

…Unforgivable.

There are people in this world who can only think about themselves, who lack the imagination to understand others.

Nakano Yuya was the epitome of that.

“―Tch!”

“““““Wha?!”””””

I glared at Nakano and his group.

“Why is Kyogoku glaring at us?”

“Isn’t this bad?”

“Did we do something to piss him off?”

You absolutely did.

Irara probably won’t get angry.

That’s why someone like me, already hated by everyone, whose reputation can’t sink any lower, has to stand up for her…

With that thought, I took a step forward—when suddenly.

“Ah.” “Oh…”

Coming up the stairs, Irara appeared and found herself face-to-face with Nakano.

She stopped in her tracks, their eyes meeting. Awkwardly, she muttered:

“Y-Yuya…”