Chapter 17 Determined Rebuttal
#18ZenkouSeitoDetermined Rebuttal
The next day after school.
There’s a library committee meeting today.
Honestly, my presence wouldn’t mean much. Actually, I’d probably just create an awkward tension in the meeting. But Suzaku-sensei told me to attend anyway.
I really think I’ll just be a burden—and I probably won’t even say anything.
But it’s my duty, so I have no choice but to go without complaining.
Amid the bustling classroom, I stood up and headed for the door at the back.
That’s when I spotted Kiriha ahead of me.
Keeping a slight distance, I followed her out of the classroom.
Kiriha didn’t seem to notice me and walked briskly ahead.
Then she started going downstairs.
Even though the meeting room is upstairs…
“Hey, Kiriha!”
I hurriedly called out to her, and Kiriha stopped and turned to face me.
“…What?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? The meeting’s upstairs, isn’t it? Why are you heading home?”
“…Ah, the meeting. Sorry, Kyogoku, but could you go on your own? I have something I need to do.”
“Something? What could be so important that you’re skipping the committee meeting?”
“…T-That’s… none of your business, is it?”
“I’m part of the same library committee as you…”
When I muttered this in exasperation, Kiriha turned her back to me.
“Anyway, that’s how it is. See you.”
“W-Wait a sec…”
Without giving me a chance to respond, Kiriha descended the stairs.
As she turned away, I caught a glimpse of her profile.
Her face looked determined, yet tinged with sadness.
That expression stuck with me and wouldn’t leave.
Kiriha had been showing up for the library committee meetings properly until recently.
And yet, now she’s suddenly not going?
The memory of what happened the other day flashed through my mind.
—You’d better watch yourself…!
“…No way, could it be…?”
Those girls who had been obsessively targeting Kiriha…
They must still be nursing their grudge after their pride was wounded.
“Kyogoku-kun?”
“Whoa!”
Then, a voice startled me from behind, and I turned around.
Standing there was Irara, holding her bag.
“What’s up? You look so serious.”
“Well, it’s about Kiriha…”
I told Irara about what happened the other day and about Kiriha’s strange behavior just now.
“I see… Yeah, I’ve got a bad feeling about this too!”
“Right?”
At this point, I can’t say I’m uninvolved in Kiriha’s situation anymore.
If anything, I’m a direct participant—and above all, I can’t forgive those girls.
“What are you going to do?”
Irara asked.
I glanced at the clock. It was 3:57 PM.
Only three minutes left until the meeting started.
“…Yeah, that’s right.”
Kirino’s PoV
I arrived at a secluded park near the middle school I used to attend.
Waiting there for me were those girls.
“Wow, she actually showed up, lol.”
“You’re alone, right? You know what’ll happen if you brought anyone, don’t you? lol.”
Behind them stood some rough-looking guys with creepy smirks.
A shiver ran down my spine.
…I was scared.
“So, what do you want with me?”
“Oh wow, she’s still acting high and mighty, lol. So annoying!”
“Seriously, the nerve of this girl pisses me off, lol.”
One of them stepped closer to me as she spoke.
“You’ve been getting way too cocky. Acting all superior just because guys like you… We’re just trying to give you friendly advice, you know? As your former classmates, we’re worried about your future, lol.”
That’s a lie.
They just wanted to torment me because they didn’t like me.
My eyes flicked toward the delinquent guys in the back.
…I was scared, but…!
“You should learn to be more humble, okay? If you don’t stay in your place, you’re going to have a hard time in the future—”
“You guys are so annoying.”
“…What?”
I was scared, but I said it.
I didn’t come here just to obey them and cower.
That guy—the one with the scary face who’s hated by everyone—he told me.
So I couldn’t just shrink back and stay silent. That would be pathetic.
That’s why I’m going to say everything I need to.
“You’re just jealous because your crush likes me, aren’t you? You can’t stand it, can you?”
“W-What did you just say?”
“And aren’t you the ones acting smug because guys like you? Those guys behind you—isn’t that exactly what’s happening? Ever since middle school, you’ve been cozying up to boys, building a posse to lord over others. If you ask me, you’re the ones who should be worried about your future.”
“““What the—!?”””
“If you keep doing these pathetic things, you’re going to have a rough time ahead.”
“Y-You… Kirino…!!!”
The girls turned bright red with anger.
Their emotional outbursts just made me angrier.
Making me feel this way—it’s utterly ridiculous.
“I don’t like your crush. I turned him down ages ago. So just leave me out of it.”
…But I was still scared.
My legs were trembling. My mouth was dry.
But I couldn’t let them see me falter.
Not even for a second.
To make sure I never have to go through this again.
“If you keep bullying me, I’ll go to the police. I don’t want to make this a big deal, and you don’t want to get involved in something so stupid either, right? So—”
“—Shut it already!!!”
“…!”
One of the girls glared at me.
“Acting all high and mighty, lecturing us like that…! Ugh, I’ve had enough, lol. Let’s just deal with her.”
The guys behind them smirked.
“You sure about this?”
“It’s fine, lol. As long as we keep her quiet and record a video, we’ll be good, lol.”
“Haha, you’re one nasty girl, Rika, lol. Alright then.”
The rough-looking guys grinned wickedly and approached me.
I’d half-expected this to happen when I saw those delinquent guys.
But now that it was actually happening, my body froze.
“This should make her behave, lol.”
“Yeah, she’s been so annoying, lol.”
“Totally, lol.”
Is this really how it ends for me?
This is the worst. Absolutely the worst… but at least I said what I wanted to say.
Even so, I feel like such an idiot.
I let myself get influenced by that guy, got all worked up, and talked back…
“Stay still… hehe.”
One of the guys reached out toward me.
Ah, I really am…
“What the hell are you doing?”
“…Huh?”
I turned toward the voice.
Standing there was…
“…Kyogoku?”