I Went Back to Being a High School Student Again, but I Was Rejected by My Childhood Friend, Whom I Thought Was In Love With Me, So I tried to Suicide With the Most Beautiful Girl In the School. - Chapter 18

Reason

“It’s finally over! “

　It’s the third summer vacation, the day before the last day of school.

　I was teaching Iori again at a family restaurant.

　I had been helping Iori with her assignments every day after my part-time job until today.

　I had thought that Iori would not like spending so much time studying, but she felt indebted to me for taking the time after my part-time job to help her, and to my surprise, she was very serious about it.

“Thanks for your hard work. You did a good job today. “

　Iori, who had finished solving the problems of the assignment, stretched out and then turned to me and asked,

“Anyway, Akki, are you free tomorrow? “

“I don’t have a part-time job, but we’ve already finished your assignment… What do you want to do? “

　Iori looks at me like I’m an idiot and says, [Why are you asking this question?], then lets out a big sigh and continues,

“There’s no way that Towa’s summer vacation will end up full of studying… tomorrow will be a normal date!”

“Ah, so that’s what you mean…”

　Iori’s power of persuasion makes me agree with her.

“Is there somewhere you want to go? “

Iori nodded at my words, and then she said the place she wanted to goー

* * *

“The Aquarium! We’re here!”

　It’s the last day of summer vacation.

　At Iori’s request, we were at the Aquarium in the city today.

“Akki, do you go to the Aquarium often? “

　Iori asks with a smile.

“Come to think of it, it’s been so long since I’ve been here.”

　I had been to the Aquarium only once before, it was in junior high school.

　The person who came with me at that time was Koyoi.

“Is that so? By the way, I have an annual pass! “

　Iori pulls out her annual passport from her commuter pass case.

“Why don’t you buy an annual pass, Akki? The price is the same as two regular tickets, so it’s a great deal.”

　I probably won’t come often, but maybe Iori and I will have a chance to visit this place again.

　More than anything, I want to show Iori that I’m willing to do so.

“I guess so.”

　At the counter, I bought an annual pass, as Iori recommended.

“Do you come to the Aquarium often? “

“As for Towa…This is my second time visiting here since I purchased this annual pass! “

　Iori smugly smiles as she shows me a v-sign with her finger.

　Apparently, she invited me because she didn’t want to lose the annual pass value.

　I may have paid more for one more ticket in vain.

“…Let’s just follow the route around the museum for now, okay? “

　Iori nodded at my words and then said.

“The dolphin show is on at….”

　Iori says, and I look at the information board of the Aquarium.

　The dolphin show is held thrice daily, and the next one starts at 15:30.

“We still have enough time, so why don’t we take a look around the Aquarium first and then go to the dolphin show?

“Yes, I agree! “

　Iori smiles and leads me by the hand as we start our aquarium tour.

　The Aquarium was surprisingly enjoyable.

　Eels generating electricity, fantastic jellyfish, ugly-looking deep-sea fishes, and a creepy sea bug.

　Iori seemed to be having a lot of fun too and was enjoying herself with a high level of enthusiasm.

　I looked at my watch and saw that it was 3:10 p.m. It’s almost time for the dolphin show.

“The dolphin show is about to start, so let’s move to the venue.”

　Iori nodded her head at my words and smiled happily, saying, [I didn’t realize it’s almost that time already.]

　Then we moved to the dolphin show.

　The place was reasonably crowded but not so crowded that we had trouble finding a seat.

　We took the top row so that we could see the whole show.

　Soon after that, the three staff members in charge of the show, dressed in wetsuits, appeared on the stage.

　Joyful music played, the crew let out a whistle, and a dolphin jumped out of the water.

“Oh, wow!”

　Iori, next to me, watches the show with a twinkle in her eye.

　After that, the dolphins performed various tricks, such as swimming with a crew holding them, going through a hula hoop, and so on.

　I, too, was gripped by the splendor of this show.

　Then, it was time for the show to end.

　The audience applauded generously with satisfaction.

　The crowd around me was standing up and heading for the exits.

　Iori and I sat and talked with each other until the crowd calmed down.

“Akki, That was fun! It’s amazing how smart they were and listened to them so well, right?”

　Iori says excitedly with the biggest smile on her face today.

“Dolphins, do you like them? “

“Yes, of course! They’re smart, cute, and charming.”

“Agreed, dolphins have an image of a smart, friendly, and gentle creature.”

“That’s pretty much the same thing as Towa…? “

　Iori muttered in a joking manner.

　I say, with mixed feelings.

“But you know what? Sometimes they’re also violent and bully their own species, such as a smaller dolphin.”

　Iori replies with a cold attitude to my out-of-topic comment.

“…Heh, even though they’re cute. They’re not so different from humans, aren’t they?”

　Iori says after a pause, then lower her tone of voice.

　Iori is trying to stop me from talking about this, so I ask her again as if I didn’t read the atmosphere.

“Why were you bullying Natsuki, Iori? “

　She lets out an exaggerated sigh before answering.

“I knew it. This was what Akki was trying to say. You’ve been friends with Natsuki Mirai since you told Towa and the others not to torment her anymore, right? “

“It’s true that we are good friends now. But at that time, she hated me so much.”

　Through this summer vacation, I confirmed again that Iori is not the kind of person who would unreasonably bully others.

　I don’t think she will start bothering her again after the summer vacation.

　That’s why I told Iori that I was getting along with Mirai.

“…So, what will you do when you hear why Towa is bullying her? “

“What will I do about it? “

　Iori let out another sigh at my words.

　Then she opens her mouth in self-mockery as if she’s fed up.

“You know Towa’s only good point is her cuteness, right? “

　Not really understanding the meaning of her words, I reply with a stupid [Uhh…]

　Seeing this, she smiles bitterly and continues.

“Compared to such a person like Towa, Natsuki Mirai is beautiful, smart, and a fashionable city girl. In other words, she’s a perfect version of Towa. Of course I was jealous and wanted to be mean to her.”

　Such for a trivial thing…thought.

　But I also thought that her reason was enough.

　There is no such thing as a good reason for people to put others down.

　Especially in the immature minds of adolescent boys and girls, jealousy is a serious and difficult thing to control.

　Besides… Iori does not say it herself, but I know Natsuki always acts proud and her tone of voice is somewhat harsh.

　I don’t know if Natsuki said the wrong words intentionally or unintentionally, but I am sure she said some unnecessary things.

　And so the bullying started.

“So, Akki, what are you going to do when you hear this reason? “

“Like I said before, I’m not going to do anything. But… if Iori regrets what she did and wants to apologize… Then I’d like to apologize too, for just standing by and watching the bullying.”

　Iori Towa will surely regret bullying Natsuki in the near future.

　I know what’s going on with her in the future.

　How can a kind girl like this get caught for committing a crime?

　It must be because she thought she was responsible for Natsuki’s death, became desperate, and was taken advantage of by bad adults.

“…How did Akki make up with her? “

　Hearing my words, Iori asked me with her eyes downcast.

“I happened to be the one who reached out to her when she was alone and vulnerable, and then she opened up to me――no other reason than that.”

　Hearing my words, Iori opened her mouth for a moment and then bit her lip.

　Perhaps she was dissatisfied that I was forgiven just by doing that.

　But she did not let it out.　

“I don’t think Towa wants to apologize. But I don’t want to torment her again.”

“I think that’s fine. There’s no need to be friends, and in a group of more than 30 students in a class, it’s not healthy to have no one to hate.”

　Iori might regret and feel guilty if Natsuki dies.

　But this time… I’ll stop her from dying, so there’s no need to fix their relationship completely.

　Hearing my words, Iori stood up on the spot and walked toward the exit.

“…that’s enough! We’re here on a date on the last day of summer vacation, we should have more fun! “

“You’re right, forget what I just said.”

　I say as I walk behind her.

” …there’s no way I can forget it.”

　Iori mumbles something in response to my words.

　I don’t know what emotion was in her words.

　But I pretend not to hear her.

　After that, Iori and I enjoyed looking around the Aquarium as if nothing had happened.