Chapter 33: Showdown Between Old and New
#24OchitaKanojoShowdown Between Old and New
While I was taking care of things for Yuki and Mizuki-san, a minor change occurred.
A bespectacled girl with braided hair, whom I didn’t recognize, started lingering around Yuki.
Truthfully, the person I had arranged for him would have been easier to control, but regardless of who he started dating, my relationship with Yuki wouldn’t change.
The only thing that bothered me was the arrogant glances she occasionally threw my way.
At the same time, more and more guys began approaching me, striking up conversations or outright hitting on me.
To be honest, I found all men other than Yuki utterly repulsive, including my classmates, so I didn’t want them near me. But the frequency was so unusual that I grew suspicious.
Pretending to befriend one of the more gullible ones, I probed for information.
Apparently, it was all orchestrated by a girl named Kotaka Masumi, who had been acting as though she were Yuki’s girlfriend.
The only reason I could think of was that she feared Yuki and I might reconcile and wanted to push me toward other men for her own peace of mind. However, her actions only proved she didn’t trust Yuki. And when it came to credibility, she herself was just as untrustworthy—there was no telling when she might betray him. Just as I once betrayed the Yuki I had loved so dearly.
That’s why I had to monitor the situation carefully. If that woman ever attempted to harm Yuki, I needed to intervene beforehand.
Then, there was my other plan.
To protect Yuki’s happiness completely, I needed to resolve things with Mizuki-san as soon as possible.
But Mizuki-san, who had never known the fear of losing Yuki, was too naïve to understand my way of thinking.
That’s why I wanted her to develop the same sense of urgency as I had. To that end, I had asked my cousin Kazu-nii, who attended a prestigious university, for a particular favor. However, there had been no updates so far.
Just as I was thinking that, I received a message from Kazu-nii.
[We’ve arranged a group dinner. I’ll make my move then.]
His slightly impatient tone concerned me, so I sent him my own advice.
[Mizuki-san isn’t someone who falls easily. You should take your time and build trust carefully.]
Mizuki-san, both beautiful and intelligent, had always been pursued by men, yet she had rejected every single one of them.
It was likely because of Yuki, but even the most handsome men had no chance if their ulterior motives were apparent.
I had already devised a plan to pique Mizuki-san’s interest. I had explained it to Kazu-nii, but if he rushed and miscalculated the timing, Mizuki-san’s sharp mind would see right through it.
As long as he gradually gained her trust, my plan would be a success, even if it took time.
To be safe, I sent Kazu-nii another warning message before leaving Mizuki-san’s matter in his hands.
After putting my phone away, I waited for the person I had arranged to meet.
About thirty minutes later, the person I was waiting for appeared.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Rindo-senpai.”
Smiling brightly, Kotaka Masumi took a seat directly across from me.
“It’s fine. I was the one who requested this. Order whatever you’d like, Kotaka-san.”
“Really? Then I won’t hold back.”
With that, Kotaka-san called over a waiter and ordered pasta and doria as her main dishes, with a side of salad and fries. She seemed to have quite the appetite.
“Not getting anything from the drink bar?”
“No, I don’t really like soft drinks… So, what did you want to talk about today, ex-girlfriend-san?”
Behind her cheerful smile, her gaze held unmistakable contempt. Perhaps Yuki had told her the reason we broke up. If so, then from her perspective, I must seem like a filthy woman.
“I just wanted to clear something up. Listen, I have no intention of getting back together with Yuki, so you can relax.”
“…? I don’t quite follow.”
“Really? You’re the one who’s been setting guys on me, aren’t you?”
Kotaka-san averted her gaze for a brief moment, clicked her tongue, then quickly returned to her smile before responding.
“And who told you that?”
“Let me ask you instead—do you really trust shallow pretty boys who only care about appearances?”
“You’re right, Rindo-senpai. People who prioritize their desires over reason betray others easily… just like a certain someone. Fufu.”
Kotaka-san’s expression dripped with scorn as she looked at me.
“Exactly. People betray others so easily. That’s why, if you ever betray Yuki, I won’t forgive you.”
Kotaka-san probably couldn’t even fathom the idea of betraying Yuki right now.
I had once thought the same way. But in the end, I betrayed him. I had prioritized my own desires above all else. If I could go back in time, I would kill my past self by any means necessary.
“Sigh, are you seriously saying that? You, the filthy b🬀🬀ch who betrayed Yuki-senpai… Are you actually okay in the head?”
Kotaka-san glared at me, her anger crystal clear.
“That’s exactly why. As you said, people are greedy. Even if things are fine now, the day will come when it’s not enough anymore. And that will happen to you too.”
“Speaking from experience, are we? How pathetic. But don’t worry, Senpai and I will be just fine. Because… well, that’s none of your business, ex-girlfriend.”
With a victorious smirk, Kotaka-san’s words dripped with implication.
She must have felt like she had won as a woman. Such a shallow, meaningless sense of superiority. But it couldn’t be helped. She had no idea that I had already transcended petty romantic entanglements.
Yes, I would do anything for Yuki’s sake. If this girl, Kotaka Masumi, who probably didn’t understand Yuki at all, ever became a threat to him… Fufu, fufufu… Now, how should I deal with her?