Chapter 6: Freaks
#24OchitaKanojoFreaks
I reconsider Takato-senpai’s words.
The feelings I had toward Yuna earlier must have been a misunderstanding—right now, I feel nothing.
“Hey, when you told your ex to go out with that guy, what were you thinking? Did you do it out of spite, hoping she’d be miserable?”
I reflect on Takato-senpai’s question, thinking back to that time.
I barely had any feelings left for Yuna, but I don’t think I wanted her to suffer.
“Nothing in particular. Just… I don’t think I wished for her to be unhappy.”
“I see. That’s good. Then this makes things simple. You should help me.”
“Why does it always come to that?”
“Because you don’t need to get back together, but you also don’t want your ex to be miserable, right? Meanwhile, I want to knock that sc🬀🬀🬀ag down a peg—make him pay. Our interests align, don’t they?”
It’s a ridiculous argument. I don’t want Yuna to be unhappy, but that doesn’t mean I wish for her happiness either.
I don’t care—that’s the truth.
So even if I know Yuna will end up miserable…
For a brief moment, I remember the time when my stepmother and father passed away. The way Yuna cried with me.
The way she shared my grief, accepting my sorrow as her own…
For some reason, my chest ached, just a little.
“Oh. So you can make a face like that, huh?”
Takato-senpai, watching me, says something cryptic.
“Songs aren’t something you can create so easily.”
“I know. Every song you’ve released so far has been nothing short of incredible.”
“So, hypothetically, what would happen if I provided you with a song?”
“First off, that guy would definitely cry in frustration.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because he’s a total YOUKNOW freak.”
“Ugh.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“Honestly, I wanted to see the look of utter despair on his face when he realized he’d stolen YOUKNOW’s girlfriend despite being obsessed with YOUKNOW himself. And then, the double shock when he found out I became YOUKNOW’s girlfriend instead. But I’ve given up on that.”
As I listened, I couldn’t help but think that Takato-senpai was seriously twisted.
“That’s why, the moment he sees me performing a song provided by YOUKNOW, he’ll be eaten up with jealousy and definitely reach out, begging me to introduce him.”
“And then what?”
“Hmm, I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“Wait, doesn’t that mean nothing really changes?”
“Oh no, it’ll change plenty. If it works, he won’t have time to focus on his girlfriend anymore. In a way, Yuki-kun, you’ll become his true priority.”
“Uhoh.”
My butt suddenly felt itchy, and I swore I heard a strange noise from somewhere.
“Besides, if you think about it, stealing the boyfriend would be a kind of revenge against your ex, don’t you think? After that, Yuito can be dealt with however you like. Like I said before, just exposing the truth would be enough—he’s such a freak that once he realizes what he’s done, he might just condemn himself.”
“Yeah, no. I’d rather not find out what happens if he does.”
“Oh? My guess is he might just cut off his own… you know.”
“I’d rather not be on either end of that, thank you.”
That was a nightmare I didn’t even want to imagine.
“That’s just how big YOUKNOW’s presence is to him.”
“Maybe I should change my artist name…”
“Do that after we’ve had our fun.”
Takato-senpai showed no signs of backing down.
Honestly, I was starting to think she had a few screws loose.
But now that Yuna and I had broken up, I didn’t have anything else to do. Maybe indulging in Takato-senpai’s absurdity wouldn’t be so bad.
After all, whether Yuna ended up happy or miserable had nothing to do with me.
“…Just this once. And even if you sing it, Senpai, if it’s not up to my standards, it won’t be released. Also, make sure that Senpai from the drama club is taken care of—I don’t want anything to do with him.”
“Eh? Eh? Ehhh?! Are you serious?!”
Despite making the proposal herself, Takato-senpai’s eyes widened in shock.
“Why are you so surprised? More importantly, can you even sing?”
“Oh, yeah, probably. I’ve gotten a perfect score on karaoke with a scoring function before.”
That didn’t exactly inspire confidence, but at least she wasn’t terrible.
“…It’s not just about singing ability. How much emotion you put into it matters, too.”
For me, singing was the only way I could properly express my emotions.
“Hmm… in that case, can you compose a melody that fits these lyrics?”
Saying that, Takato-senpai handed me a scrap of paper.
“You’re surprisingly well-prepared.”
“Even if the chances were slim, I figured I should do what I could.”
I unfolded the paper she had given me and looked inside.
The lyrics were…
A girl who, after breaking up with the boy she loved due to a misunderstanding, suddenly recalls the past and realizes what she lost. Overcome with regret, she wishes she could return to those days… How should I put it?
“Is this about you, Senpai?”
“I’d like to say no comment, but yeah. That’s exactly why I can put my heart into it.”
Takato-senpai had a point—if it came from personal experience, the emotions would come naturally.
The problem was, I couldn’t relate. The lyrics mattered, but so did the melody. A song only truly came alive when the words and music resonated together.
“Hmm… It might be difficult, but I’ll give it a shot. No complaints if it doesn’t work out, okay?”
“Of course, of course. I know I’m asking a lot. Even putting aside your ex, this is a huge opportunity for me.”
Her blunt honesty left me speechless, but at the same time, I found myself wondering—had she gained this resilience by overcoming the heartbreak written in those lyrics?
“Alright then, let’s get started. I need your cooperation.”
“Of course.”
“Tell me everything about what happened in detail.”
“Wow, you really go for the jugular. Normally, people would be more reserved and not pry, you know?”
“You knew what you were getting into when you suggested this. Lay it all out. If I understand the background, I might be able to get a clearer image.”
“Hmm… In a way, this is basically happening to you and your ex right now too… But judging by your reaction, you don’t see the connection at all, huh?”
Takato-senpai said something cryptic again.
There’s no way what happened between me and Yuna is the same as what she went through.
After that, we moved to a different location, and I carefully listened as she recounted everything that had happened to her.