Chapter 85: The Storm Before Us
The Storm Before Us
Aikawa Manami’s Perspective
Kyogoku walked away.
All I could do was stare blankly at his back.
“…Huh?”
That was completely unexpected.
I knew Kyogoku would try to avoid me, especially after I dated Nakano-kun.
That’s why I planned everything with that in mind—figured bringing up the past would make him stop in his tracks.
Because the Kyogoku I know is so kind it’s practically a sin.
I thought if I just kept at it, he’d listen to me—and once he did, I could shift the pace to suit myself.
“Ahaha…”
A dry laugh slipped out before I even realized.
But now that I think about it… yeah.
To Kyogoku, I must be someone so far in the past, he barely remembers. Just one of the many people he helped.
Compared to that, Irara-san is part of his present. And judging by how they act, they’re really close.
I never imagined Kyogoku could be so friendly with anyone—but it’s clear he’s opened up to Irara-san.
Rejecting me, the one who hurt her… that’s exactly the kind of person Kyogoku is.
“Still… I thought he was the kind of guy who’d forgive even someone like me.”
Turns out I’m more of a villain in Kyogoku’s eyes than I expected.
Or maybe…
“He must really like Irara-san, huh.”
I hurt someone he cares about—that’s why he’s pushing me away.
Kyogoku, who awkwardly reaches out to everyone, even at his own expense… if he’s cutting me off, then yeah, it must be serious.
That makes things tricky.
Nakano-kun was a shallow guy, so I could handle him. But Irara-san? She’s on a whole other level—practically untouchable.
“Ugh… what a pain.”
I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but this is worse than I thought.
Seriously annoying.
Come to think of it… it’s been a while since I got rejected by a guy.
Ever since I changed my image, I’ve had way too many guys chasing me.
Now that I think about it, Kyogoku’s attitude really pisses me off.
It’s not like he’s handsome—in fact, he looks like a total villain.
If anything, he’s not even high on the scale when it comes to guys.
But still…
“Yeah… I have to take Kyogoku down.”
And I just can’t get his parting words out of my head.
“Don’t do things that make people cry anymore. You too, Aikawa… it hurt, didn’t it?”
A sharp sting flares in my heart.
I try to shake it off, but it clings to me.
“…What the hell was that?”
Buried emotions I’d tried to sink start rising up.
The resentment I’d bottled up toward others—and toward myself.
The things that hurt, the times I was bullied.
The insults, the humiliation.
They all begin to surface.
“Saying you won’t do to others what you hated yourself… that’s such a pretty lie. If you don’t get back at them—it means nothing.”
This is my drive—this is who I am.
From then on, Aikawa started waiting for me after school nearly every day.
I kept telling her there was nothing left to say, but she just wouldn’t leave me alone.
It was getting really annoying, and honestly, I wasn’t feeling great about it—so I even changed my route home.
But still, her strange, incomprehensible persistence continued…
“Hey, Kyogoku, wanna come over to my place today?”
“…Huh? What the hell!?”
I reacted without thinking.
Aikawa let out a little laugh.
“Hehe, come on~”
“…”
Regretting my weird reaction, I ignored her and kept walking.
“Hey, Kyogoku~? Don’t ignore me~”
“…”
I steeled myself, said nothing, and walked off at a brisk pace.
If I didn’t do this, she’d never give up on me.
That’s what I told myself—and I stopped giving her any attention at all.
I just hope this turns things in a better direction…
Aikawa Manami’s Perspective
Lately, Kyogoku’s been ignoring me.
Kyogoku—ignoring someone?
Impossible. I can’t believe it.
I thought if I kept pressing patiently, he’d eventually come around.
But Kyogoku has started truly pushing me away.
“…Tch.”
I’m irritated.
I almost never get angry or frustrated, but right now I’m fuming.
“Why…?”
I haven’t been treated this coldly since middle school.
Honestly, I think I’m cute now. I know I’ve leveled up as a girl.
And yet, he won’t even give me the time of day…
“Okay, now I’m seriously pissed.”
Fine—time to switch up the plan completely.
Execution: tomorrow.
I’ll make him react—whether he wants to or not.
After school.
Today, I was planning to hit the café near the station with Akari, so we left the school entrance together.
“I’m so excited! I heard the cheesecake there is amazing… Oh! And the shortcake, the Mont Blanc! And, and…!”
“Wait—you’re planning to eat all that?”
“Ugh! W-Well… I’ll try to stick to three today. Probably.”
Akari looked down and pouted like a sulking child.
Didn’t she say “two” last time?
And honestly, with that tone, she’s probably gonna eat four or more.
As we joked and passed through the school gate, I spotted a uniform that didn’t belong to our school.
And the person wearing it—yeah, I definitely recognized them.
“Oh, Kyogoku. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Aikawa stepped in front of me, flashing a well-rehearsed smile.
—And that was when it happened, right in front of the school gates.