Chapter 30 I Should Be the Only One...
#18ZenkouSeitoI Should Be the Only One…
“Ahaha… Sorry, but I already have a partner.”
“…Huh?”
Nakano stares, dumbfounded.
He clearly didn’t expect Irara to say that.
“A-a partner? Akari does?”
“…Yeah. That’s why I can’t pair with you, Yuya.”
“…Huh?”
He still doesn’t seem to comprehend what she’s saying.
Watching the utterly confused Nakano, Kiriha mutters expressionlessly.
“Heeh. Irara had a partner, huh.”
“Ahaha…”
I can’t say “That partner is me!” here.
It would be like showing off.
“Akari… has a partner…”
“Were you unhappy? Did you not want me to join the pair dance?”
“Of course not! I was genuinely hoping you’d enjoy the sports festival, Akari! That’s all I wanted! But I see! That’s good!”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Nakano recovers somewhat and forces a stiff smile.
“But to think Akari found someone she wanted to pair with… In middle school, you barely interacted with other guys aside from me.”
“That’s not true! It’s just… I didn’t feel like becoming friends with them, that’s all.”
“Haha, that’s because every guy fell for you, Akari.”
“…T-that’s not true.”
Irara looks away, but she probably knows he’s not wrong.
She’s likely been popular her whole life.
“So, who is it? Someone I know?”
“Um…”
“Is it a senior, by any chance? I heard Saotome-senpai has been interested in you. Or maybe it’s Tsukui, the basketball ace…”
“It’s Kyogoku-kun.”
“…Huh?”
Nakano’s dumbfounded expression 2.0.
“…What? Kyogoku?”
Kiriha grabs my shoulder, glaring at me.
Why is she glaring at me?
“Uh… Irara asked me to be her partner.”
“Hmph… is that so.”
Kiriha drops her gaze, looking disinterested, and turns back to the pair.
What was that about? Did I get glared at for no reason?
“You know him, right? Kyogoku-kun?”
Irara speaks to the still-frozen Nakano.
“Y-yeah, I know him, but… I mean, this is Kyogoku we’re talking about. He must’ve begged you repeatedly until you gave in, right? I mean, you’ve been hanging out with him lately, and it’s Kyogoku! Turning him down would’ve caused all sorts of trouble…”
“I was the one who asked him.”
“…WHAT?”
Nakano’s face contorts into the epitome of confusion.
Well, in this regard, Nakano’s reaction is normal.
After all, the most beautiful girl in school, Irara, chose me, the most hated guy, as her partner.
“W-wait a second, Akari. What are you saying? Is this some kind of punishment game?”
“It’s not a punishment game! How could you say something so awful?!”
“But… it doesn’t make sense! Why would you ask Kyogoku to the pair dance? It’s one of the biggest events of the sports festival, and you’re going with him?!”
He’s saying terrible things.
Why do I have to be treated as such an enemy by Nakano?
It’s not like we’ve talked much before.
Gripping Irara’s shoulders, Nakano leans in desperately. But—
“Think about it, Akari! If you pair with him, your reputation will take a hit! You’d be much better off pairing with me—!”
“Let go of me!!!”
Irara shakes Nakano off.
Nakano stumbles back, stunned.
“Akari…”
“Why would you say something so cruel? I’ve told you before—Kyogoku-kun is an amazing person. Besides, it’s none of your business. Did you forget? You’re the one who cheated, Yuya.”
“…T-that’s…”
“And as I’ve said before, we can’t even go back to being childhood friends. Once it’s broken, it’s over. There’s no fixing it.”
“Akari! I just—”
“Then don’t cheat, Yuya.”
“!!!”
Irara’s words strike Nakano like a hammer.
Ever since what happened in the park, it feels like Irara has found her resolve.
Her expression shows no hesitation.
“Anyway, I’m pairing with Kyogoku-kun. He’s the person I really wanted to pair with.”
“…”
“That’s that. Sorry.”
With that, Irara walks away.
Nakano collapses to his knees, clutching his head.
“Why…? I just wanted Akari to be happy…”
…Then don’t cheat, you idiot.
“I didn’t know Irara could speak like that.”
“I’m just as surprised.”
“But… it’s kind of nice.”
Kiriha speaks with a rare softness in her tone.
“Wow, Kiriha complimenting someone? That’s rare.”
At my words, Kiriha’s face turns red.
“I-it’s not a compliment! I was just saying what I thought! Don’t twist it into a compliment! It’s gross. Gross and annoying.”
“Huh?! I’m not gross or annoying!”
“Yes, you are! Disgusting!”
“That’s too much!”
Kiriha and I start bickering.
Honestly, this girl is just… so not honest.
Then again, I’m the same way.
The fact that Irara chose me over Nakano made me so happy.
I tried my best to hide it from Kiriha.
Yuya’s PoV
Akari rejected me.
She turned me down for the pair dance.
And she chose Kyogoku instead…
“Impossible. I should be the only one, since a long time ago…”
Cheating was my fault.
I was undoubtedly in the wrong.
But my feelings for Akari were never a lie.
And yet…
“Why can’t you understand, Akari…?”
I care about you so much.
After school that day.
“No way, seriously?”
“Going to Mineta’s place means…”
“Seriously!? Of all people!?”
“I can’t believe it…”
“Has Irara-san lost her mind?”
Walking through the murmuring classroom, I approach the committee’s desk.
“Mineta-kun, do you have a minute?”
“I-Irara-san!”
Mineta visibly brightens when Irara addresses him.
But the moment he notices me…
“Hic! Kyo, Kyogoku, san…”
“-san” with me? Why is he addressing me so formally when we’re classmates?
“It’s about the pair dance.”
“W-wait… could it be—”
Mineta starts trembling.
He’s shaking so much it looks like his round glasses might crack.
Paying no attention to him, Irara declares,
“Kyogoku-kun and I will be doing the pair dance together!”
“““““Ehhhhh?!!!!”””””
The classroom erupts.
At the center of it all are me and Irara.