Chapter 55: Disgusting
#21MotoKanojoDisgusting
“Alright then, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning. Make sure you’re awake!”
“Ahaha! Come on, it’s not like we’re dealing with Kouki. As long as it’s Yuuta-kun and Hatsune-chan, it’ll be fine!”
“Hatsune-senpai… and, well, Naoe-kun too, see you.”
After parting ways with the three of them at the station, Hatsune and I start heading home.
Oh, right… speaking of which—
“Hatsune, didn’t Mom ask you to pick up that new dessert from the convenience store?”
“Oh, that’s right! Mind if we stop by on the way home?”
“Of course!”
And so, we make our way to the same convenience store we visited this morning… but—
“…”
…Why is Hiyori standing there, waiting for us?
“Ahaha, are you bored or something?”
Seeing Hiyori, Hatsune smirks and playfully asks her that.
But… it’s been almost five hours since we ran into her on the bus. There’s no way she’s been standing here this whole time… right?
“Hey, Yuu-kun… please. Just for a little while, let me talk to you…!”
Saying that, Hiyori bows her head deeply.
I can’t see her expression, but from the way droplets fall to the ground with a soft drip, drip, I can tell she’s crying.
“…Hatsune, let’s go home.”
“Yeah! Oh, but—”
Just as she responds cheerfully, Hatsune suddenly spins around and peeks up at Hiyori’s face from below.
“You know… thanks. Thanks for betraying Yuuta. Because of you, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. See ya.”
She smiles brightly as she says that, then clings to my arm.
“Ahaha! Let’s go!”
“Yeah.”
That’s right… Because Hiyori betrayed me, I was able to meet the most wonderful person in the world—Hatsune.
Just like she said, I can’t feel anything but gratitude for that.
Leaving Hiyori behind as she keeps her head bowed, we walk away.
Even so…
“Hey, Hatsune, mind if I say something dumb?”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Well… she said she wanted to talk to me, but what exactly does she want to say? I don’t see how talking to me now would change anything…”
Tilting my head in thought, I voice my confusion—
“Pfft… Ahaha! You’re right! If I had to guess, she probably wanted to say stuff like, ‘That wasn’t cheating’ or ‘Let’s get back together’ or something just as convenient for her!”
“Ehh… there’s no way that’d work…”
“Right? I mean, after betraying you, expecting something like that is just way too selfish. If she really wanted to fix things, she should’ve chased you all the way to Tokyo where you live. But she didn’t even do that, and now she’s only speaking up because we ran into each other by chance? That’s just pathetic.”
As I slump my shoulders at how absurdly delusional Hiyori is, Hatsune lets out a wry smile and pats my back a couple of times.
Haa… Seriously, the difference between her and Hatsune is like night and day…
Now that I think about it, why did I even like Hiyori so much four years ago…?
“…Hey, Hatsune. Do you think she’ll keep bothering us while we’re in town?”
“…Yeah, I think she will.”
““Yeah, I figured…””
Hatsune and I let out a collective sigh, our shoulders slumping again.
“Alright, I’ll go buy it real quick.”
“Okay.”
As Hatsune walks into the convenience store, I look up at the night sky.
Even though it’s spring now, it’s still pretty cold…
As I think about that, I wait for Hatsune, but—
“…She’s late.”
It’s just a quick stop for a dessert, so I thought she’d be right out, but nearly ten minutes have passed.
“Maybe I should check on her…”
Stepping through the automatic doors, I enter the store and start looking for Hatsune— and then…!?
“…You should think carefully about this, you know?”
“…”
Haa… First Hiyori, and now Kazuki too…?
Letting out a sigh, I start heading over to help Hatsune, who’s being harassed by Kazuki.
“…(shakes head)”
But then, Hatsune notices me, smiles, and gives a small shake of her head.
As if to say, Leave this to me.
“…So? I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”
“Come on, I’ve been telling you. That Naoe Yuuta guy isn’t who you think he is. He’s actually a total sc🬀🬀🬀ag. He threw away his childhood friend, who he was so in love with, just to run off to Tokyo. What kind of guy does that?”
“…Oh?”
Hearing Kazuki desperately trying to persuade her, Hatsune gives a slight look of interest.
Hah… So now I’m the one who abandoned Hiyori, huh?
“That’s why, when I see a cute girl like you getting deceived by such a sc🬀🬀🬀ag, I just can’t stand by and do nothing. It’s not too late, you know. You should drop that guy.”
“I see… But if I do that, I’d be all alone…”
With a lonely expression, Hatsune looks up at Kazuki.
Ugh… She can act like this…?
“Haha, don’t worry! I’ll be there for you! So, come on—”
Just as Kazuki reaches out to touch Hatsune—
“Pfft… Ahahahaha! Idiot!”
“…!?”
Hatsune suddenly bursts into laughter and hurls an insult at him.
“You’re seriously the lowest of the low. I mean, after what happened this morning, why would you think I don’t already know what you did?”
“N-No…! That’s just because Yuuta tricked you…!”
“Haa… Even now, you’re still spewing pathetic lies. And to top it off, you even tried to put your hands on me? Disgusting.”
Hatsune spits out her words with utter contempt, making Kazuki glare at her.
“What are you gonna do? You planning to lay hands on me here, in the middle of a convenience store? The moment you do that… you’re finished.”
“…Tch.”
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Kazuki tries to push past Hatsune—
Thud
“Move.”
I shove Kazuki back from behind.
“Tch! You bas—…!”
He turns around, ready to lash out—but when he sees it’s me, he averts his gaze awkwardly.
“Hatsune, let’s just buy our stuff and go home.”
“Yeah!”
With a beaming smile, Hatsune grabs the dessert she was asked to buy, and we head to the register together.
Kazuki? That trash? He scurried out of the store.
Now then…
“Hatsune.”
“…Yeah.”
As we step out of the convenience store, I call out to her, and she lowers her head, looking dejected.
She knows I’m about to scold her.
“You never know what could happen, so don’t go provoking people like that. He’s an idiot who lies without thinking, and if he snaps, there’s no telling what he might do.”
“…Okay…”
Hatsune looks even more downhearted.
Seriously, geez…
Squeeze
“Ah…”
“Hatsune, you’re the most important person in the world to me. I just want you to understand that. But… thanks for getting angry on my behalf.”
“Mmm… Yuuta, I love you…”
“Alright, Dad and Mom are waiting, so let’s hurry home!”
“Yeah!”
Hand in hand, we head home at a brisk pace.
But—
“Ahaha… With this, the preparations are complete… right…? (whisper)”
“Hm? Hatsune, did you say something?”
“Hm? Nope, nothing at all!”
“Oh… okay…?”
Not really understanding, I tilt my head in confusion.