Chapter 2 Witness

Witness

“―Hey, what should we do after this?”

A cheerful girl’s voice reached my ears, sounding light and lively.

“Hmm… How about we hit a net café?”

“Ehh! We always go there! I want to be on a proper bed for once…”

“Don’t say ridiculous things… I don’t have that kind of money.”

The girl protested fiercely against the guy’s suggestion, showing no hint of embarrassment.

Haha… That’s odd. She isn’t speaking that loudly, yet her words are crystal clear…

And the guy’s exasperated tone comes through just as clearly…

“Haah… Then why don’t you get a part-time job, Kazuki?”

“What? If I start working, we won’t get to see each other as often.”

“That’s true, but still…”

The girl fell silent, visibly reluctant after hearing his reasoning.

Hmm… It’s probably because summer vacation just started. They’re both letting loose a little too much…

Well, you could call it a healthy relationship, so maybe it’s fine.

“Hahaha… Let’s just head home.”

Forgetting about the new light novel I wanted to buy, I turned around.

After all, there’s a chance the cutest girl in the world might be waiting for me at home…

Thinking that, I started to take a step forward, but…

“Huh? What’s going on? This is weird…”

For some reason, my body wouldn’t move at all.

It felt like something was holding me back, refusing to let me leave.

Then.

“And besides, what’s the point of getting a part-time job? That’s just what stupid guys with ulterior motives do.”

“Ehehe, well, you’re not wrong.”

Hmm… Working part-time because of ulterior motives… Yeah, that tracks…

Haha… You really hit the nail on the head…

“Speaking of which, isn’t that guy probably working right now? Meanwhile, here we are, enjoying our summer break.”

“Huh? Why are you bringing up Yuu-kun now?”

Hmm… There are plenty of people named Yuu-kun in Japan, after all…

So it’s not strange for the girl to mention that name…

“Haha, sorry, my bad. But you’re such a bad girl, Hiyori… Meeting up with me while your boyfriend’s busy working.”

This guy named Kazuki, who has the same name as my best friend, teased a girl named Hiyori, who shares the same name as my girlfriend.

Haha… My pure and graceful Hiyori is nothing like this unfaithful girl…

My Hiyori would never do something so heartless…

“Well, it can’t be helped. Yuu-kun is boring and doesn’t really have any redeeming qualities.”

“Whoa, that’s harsh!”

“You say that, but isn’t it just as bad for Kazuki to steal his friend’s girlfriend?”

“Wow, are you seriously saying that yourself?”

The girl chuckled while the guy let out an awkward laugh.

What an awful couple they make.

My Hiyori would never do anything like that.

Their conversation was so unpleasant that I couldn’t help thinking about confronting them.

But… why should I, a complete stranger, say anything on behalf of that “Yuu-kun” guy?

If it were me, I’d definitely get angry if someone interrupted a happy conversation between Hiyori and me…

Yeah… I should just ignore them and move on…

And yet.

“I mean, wasn’t it Hiyori who eagerly accepted my invitation in the first place?”

“Ehehe, well, yeah. You’re cool and funny, Kazuki.”

Sigh… Betraying your boyfriend just because of someone’s looks… That’s the worst.

Overwhelmed with anger and frustration, I clenched my fists tightly.

So tightly that my nails dug painfully into my palms.

“And yet… why doesn’t Hiyori just break up with him and officially go out with me? I mean, we’re already… you know, doing that. Unlike with him, right?”

“Well… Yuu-kun is kind and convenient… And if I think about the future, he’s the better choice. Unlike you, Kazuki.”

“Wow, that’s brutal! In that case…”

I couldn’t take it anymore.

“H-hey…”

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I turned around.

I knew I absolutely shouldn’t look, that I shouldn’t see…

But.

“Mmm… Kazu… Not so rough…”

I saw Hiyori—the girl I thought was mine—wearing an enraptured expression as Kazuki, the friend I trusted, kissed her forcefully…