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 19

Already too late to regret

　The summer vacation of my third and final year of high school ended.

　My classmates looked at me with pity when I came to school with a tan, just like my second life.

　Then, I took a test at the end of the summer vacation with the same contents as the second time.

“What you are doing is too selfish! The university entrance examination is a team game. But you don’t even attend supplementary classes, yet you study alone. As a result, you came in second in your class. You may be fine, but what would people around you think? Some of them will question the results of their summer vacation, thinking that they should not have attended the supplementary classes instead. Can you take responsibility for those who have lost confidence?! “

　In the end, I am reprimanded again by the homeroom teacher.

　I get yelled at when my grades drop and even more when my grades rise.

　This kind of event is a constant source of frustration.

　I responded silently to whatever he said to me, and after saying, [Don’t be arrogant!] the homeroom teacher instructed me to leave the teacher’s room.

　I do as I’m told and go out into the corridor without even a bow.

“Wait, Gen’no.”

　Then a voice called out to me from behind.

　I turned around, and there was Atsuta-sensei.

“What is it? “

“I need to talk to you. Come to the guidance counselor’s office.”

　I wondered if he was calling me like this because of my bad attitude during the sermon.

　I think it’s a hassle, but I obediently follow him.

　I enter the student guidance room and sit down on a chair.

　Then Atsuta-sensei, the teacher in front of me, squints his eyes and says to me.

“You were working part-time during the summer vacation, weren’t you? “

　His words make me wonder.

　I don’t think he knew I had a part-time job during the last summer vacation…

“I also already know that you don’t have a permit to work part-time. I’m supposed to be supervising you… but that’s not why I brought you here.”

　I tilted my head.

　What is he trying to say?

“Are you in need of money? “

　Atsuta-sensei talks to me anxiously.

“…No, it’s not like that.”

　After hearing my answer, he looked straight into my face.

“You work a part-time job in secret, but you study harder than others with shorter study hours until you get the second highest grade in the class. This is something that no one with normal motivation could ever do.”

　Hearing his words, I realized that I had made a mistake.

　If this was going to happen, I should have gotten the same score as last time.

　On this test, I aimed for a good grade…

　I thought it would be good if my good score would make some people lose confidence in me.

　Most of my classmates were the ones who turned a blind eye to Natsuki’s harassment.

　I retaliated against them in a childish way…

“Then quit your job. I’ll only overlook it this time, and the next time I find you, I’ll call you again. Also, If something is preventing you from quitting, talk to me…”

　Atsuta-sensei put his hand on my shoulder and said as if admonishing me.

“Yes, I’m quitting my part-time job.”

　Hearing my answer, Atsuta-sensei smiled bitterly and said.

“That’s right. Just because you get a good grade doesn’t mean you will get the same grade next time. Even if you regret later that you should have studied harder after you don’t get a good score, it will be too late.”

　I laugh at his words.

　Is it too late to regret?

　I would have accepted the regret if the result was the end of me.

“What’s wrong, Gen’no? “

　Atsuta-sensei asks, looking at my expression.

“No, you’re not my homeroom teacher nor in charge of life guidance. I just wondered why you were so enthusiastic to talk to me.”

　Just like last time, he must have known that I had a part-time job.

　I was curious as to why he was so eager to talk to me this time.

“I’m a more heartless guy than you think, Gen’no. Still, I want to be a friend to those who are trying hard and suffering…You high school students may think of yourselves as adults, but you’re still just kids. So, you can always count on us if you need anything.”

　Atsuta-sensei said, got up and headed for the exit.

　I got up and followed him.

“Well then, have a safe trip home today.”

　I bowed Atsuta-sensei goodbye as he locked the student guidance office, and then I started walking down the hallway toward my classroom.

　――Atsuta-sensei is not a bad person.

　Yet a the same time, he is in a relationship with a girl on the volleyball team, a child whom he should be protecting, and he is also unaware that Natsuki is suffering from bullying.

　I think his words are beautiful because… I myself am a filthy adult.

* * *

“Oh, Akki is back! “

　When I returned to the classroom, Iori called out to me just as she did last time.

　It seems she was waiting for me to return this time, too.

“You were called by Sensei… how is it?”

　She asks me happily, her eyes shining.

“He was angry at me because my grades were down.”

“What do you mean?”

“He said that if I skipped the make-up class and got a good grade, it would be a pity if the students who took the class seriously would lose confidence and regret joining supplementary classes.”

“What the hell is that? Blaming Akki for their poor study skills, what a troublesome person! “

　Iori wrinkled her brow and stuck up her middle finger while looking in the direction of the teacher’s office.

“I mean, during the summer break, Akki taught me what he thought was important and it all showed up on the test, so my rank, which was quicker to find if you count from the bottom of the class rise to just barely quicker from the top!”

“Counting from the bottom is a harsh way to put it.”

　Iori smiled and said, [Tehehe~].

“So, Akki-are you free after this? I’d like to thank you for your help.”

“Oh, how about karaoke then? “

　Last time we went to karaoke together too.

　Naturally, I thought she would go out with me this time, but she didn’t seem to be very interested.

“It’s nice to do an exciting, fun karaoke, but I want to take it easy and chill with you today …”

　I tilted my head at Iori’s words.

　What does she want?

“Towa’s room is fine, but I want to go to Akki’s room…”

　Iori looks me up and down, peering into my face and saying so.

　Hearing those words, I remembered a bad rumor about Iori Towa that I had heard a long time ago.

[ A woman who can f*ck anyone. ]

[ A woman with over a hundred ex-boyfriends but no one she’s been with for more than three days. ]

　I thought to myself, [So that’s what this is all about.]

“…my parents, I think they’ll both be home late today.”

* * *

　Out of breath and sweating, Iori looked at me in anguish.

　She is trying to tell me, without saying a word, that she can’t do this anymore.

　I ignore her pleas and quicken my pace.

“Wait, a little slower…! “

　I pull Iori to me, forcing her to make a pitiful sound.

　And then――

　――We arrive at our destination.

　This is a park near my house with an observation deck overlooking the city.

　Usually, only kids with too much energy come here.

　Even now, there was no one but me and Iori breathing heavily.

　Iori takes a deep breath and then, with a resentful look on her face, says

“…You know, this is not Akki’s house, right? “

“Yeah, it’s not. You just noticed? “

“I noticed it on the way… but why are we here? I said I wanted to take it easy! I’m so tired!”　

　Iori explodes in frustration, to which I reply.

“Can’t we talk slowly here too? “

“I mean, is that why we are here…?”

“It’s my favorite place, so I wanted you to know too.”

　I had shown this place to Natsuki during the summer vacation.

　She was surprised by the snake that appeared on the way up, but she liked the place itself.

“…You have a pretty cute way of saying that you want to show your favorite place to Towa, don’t you, Akki? “

　Iori provocatively said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel.

　I wait for her to finish wiping her sweat off, then I say to her.

“Iori doesn’t even like me, right?”

“…I didn’t like you? “

　Iori says with a blank expression.

“I mean, you don’t have any romantic feelings for me, do you?”

　I say to Iori with a serious expression on my face.

　Then she says, expressionless.

“…is it because Towa is very cute and likes to dress like a gal? I can see why guys look at me with such er*tic eyes, and I’m often considered an easy girl and never serious.”

　Iori turns her gaze to her own white thighs, bare from her skirt.

“I’ll just be honest, I’m often getting hit on by my classmates, by older guys, and by a pickup. They are usually the guys who just want to have fun, and they try to get me to go to a room or a hotel right away…or rather, they were all the same, even the serious-looking ones.”

　After smiling cutely, she chuckled, [Ahaha] and then

“At that point, from Towa’s point of view――you’re out.”

　Iori said in a hard voice.

“You were testing me, weren’t you? “

“Yes, that’s right. Akki had never er*tically looked at Towa before. That’s why I invited you to go to my room… for the final test.”

　Iori looks at me and says

“If it’s Akki, who passed the final test and never tried to bring Towa into a room, then Towa thinks he can be trusted… that’s why, from now on, I’m sure I’ll be able to fall in love with you properly.”

　It was as if she was saying these words to herself.

　When she said that she felt like she could fall in love with me, I realized her feelings for me were never positive.

“Iori must be a bit distrustful of men because all the guys she’s been around have been a bunch of assh*les.”

“I’ve heard terrible rumors about myself as a [A woman who can f*ck anyone.], or [A woman with over a hundred ex-boyfriends but no one she’s been with for more than three days.]. I think it’s probably just some guys I’ve dated who didn’t end up getting laid that are spreading the word.

Though it’s true I haven’t dated anyone for more than 3 days and I have over 30 ex-boyfriends. I don’t feel like I can identify the culprit. I don’t know, maybe it’s a combination of things like that. People just can’t believe me even if I tell the truth…”

　All the rumors were lies, except for one part: no one had ever been with her for more than three days.

　From my past contact with Iori, I knew that she was being honest right now.

“It’s not that I want to go out with Iori or anything. I just want to be friends with you because I enjoy your company and it’s fun to be with you…. next time, how about we go around the cultural festival together? “

　Iori looks depressed at my words.

“But I still don’t think that I can fall in love with anyone other than Akki…”

“You don’t have to force yourself to like me.”

　I know from my experience that it’s just a vain thing to do.

“Whether you really like me or not, it’s all the same in the end. As I said before, I don’t want to go out with you, so I will reject you anyway.”

　At my words, Iori looks astonished… and then smiles with genuine joy.

“Too cruel! Rejecting a cute girl like Towa…Akki, why do you keep trying to drag Koyoi-chan around? It’s so creepy! “

　After saying this, Iori stands up.

　Squinting at the cityscape as it sinks into dusk, she mutters.

“…do we have a class that serves churros? “

　I remember that a certain class in the second year had a churros stall, but I don’t think it has been decided yet.

“If there is, I’ll buy you churros as a thank you for accompanying me to the festival.”

“Okay! I’ll never forget what you said!”

　Iori smiles innocently, and I nod my head.

　It’s a small, insignificant expense.

　…Yet this will give me a sacrificial scapegoat to make Koyoi jealous.

　I feel sorry, but I have no intention of doing anything else.

　I stand up and line up next to Iori.

　I realized that she has no luck with men.

　Maybe I am the first person she has ever trusted――

　――And at the same time, I am by far the scummiest man she will ever meet.