The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 71

Part 9: Scumbag

Chapter 71

It’s been a week since I started ‘dating’ Misa.

When I go to school today, I expect to be met with a mix of envy and hatred, but it’s no big deal because I’m used to being the center of attention.

“…Huh?”

Upon arriving at school, as expected, I felt many gazes on me. But they seemed different from last week’s.

Somehow, it felt like the envy was gone, replaced only by hatred and disgust.

It was like being looked at as a major criminal.

Thinking about it won’t help, so I headed to the classroom, but it seemed unusually noisy.

Just as I was about to touch the door handle, wondering what had happened——

“The worst!”

“I didn’t think you were that kind of person….”

“I hope you go to hell——”

These are the most disturbing words I’ve ever heard coming from the classroom.

Opening the door with a strange premonition, all my classmates turned to look at me in unison.

Their eyes were filled with the same disgust I’d already faced today and a hint of murderous intent.

Glancing around the classroom, I noticed my classmates were focused on a certain spot.

That’s where Haru’s seat is.

“Hey Seko.”

One of my classmates approached me. It was Moriya who had recently come to me for relationship advice.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb. While being with Yosaki-san, why are you messing around with other girls?”

“…Huh?”

“Still pretending to be ignorant? You were cheating with Hinata-san, weren’t you!”

In an instant, my mind went blank.

How does he know about my relationship with Haru?

Besides, Misa and I aren’t actually dating, so it’s not really cheating.

How can he look at me with such eyes?

As various questions kept popping up in my head, I once again looked towards the group of classmates.

There, in the center, was Haru, sitting at her desk with her head down.

The light in her eyes seemed to have faded.

I was certain that the angry voices I had heard earlier were directed at her.

Then I looked at Misa, who was also looking down.

Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her face showed a mix of frustration and guilt.

Her hair was tied up with a scrunchie just like yesterday.

I thought to myself that it really suited her.

She glanced at me and our eyes met.

In an instant, she shook her head vigorously.

Surrounding her were some of the female classmates, and when I kept looking at Misa, they glared at me. They seemed to be her protectors.

Ironically, Haru used to play that role for her.

“Hey. Say something.”

Moriya pressed me. It seemed like he was confronting me on behalf of everyone.

I remembered that he had also intervened when I was arguing with Kaita at the mixer.

He really is a meddler.

However, it was a difficult topic to deny.

I couldn’t say it was completely true, nor could I claim it was an outright lie.

Faced with such an ambiguous accusation, I was at a loss for words. Then,

“Hey. Are Seko and Hinata here?”

A man calling our names appeared in the hallway.

I hadn’t taken his class before, but he was definitely a student guidance teacher.

“Yes. I’m Seko. Hinata is here too.”

“Alright. You two, come with me. You know what this is about, right?”

“…Yes.”

Though I was reluctant to receive guidance, it was fortunate to escape this predicament.

With Hinata, who was still looking down, we followed the teacher.

***

It was my first time in the student guidance room, a bleak room with only a simple set of desks and chairs.

“Sit down.”

Sensei instructed, and we took our seats.

I couldn’t remember this teacher’s name, but I think the other students nicknamed him Gorimatsu. It’s a name fitting his sturdy build.

Gorimatsu cleared his throat exaggeratedly before leaning on the desk and starting to talk.

“There’s been a strange rumor since this morning. It’s about you two being in an improper relationship. The school usually doesn’t interfere much in students’ romantic affairs…but in cases like this, it’s a different story. Now, is it true?”

I wondered whether I should deny it or not, but judging from Misa’s behavior I had seen earlier, she seemed not to be affirming it.

If that’s the case——

“It’s completely nonsense. We are just friends.”

I decided to flatly deny it.

Then Gorimatsu sighed deeply and said,

“Listen. We haven’t confirmed it yet, but apparently, there’s some evidence circulating. We wouldn’t be acting this quickly otherwise…What’s the real situation?”

He showed an attitude of accepting only affirmation.

What could the evidence be?

It’s true it would be overwhelmingly unfavorable for us if such a thing existed, but Gorimatsu hasn’t confirmed it yet.

Maybe, just maybe, I can get through this.

“I don’t know what kind of evidence you’re talking about, but we are innocent.”

“I see, you plan to keep denying it. And Hinata. What about you? Don’t you have any idea what this might be about?”

” ….. “

Gorimatsu’s target shifted to Haru, and she flinched.

She’s bad at lying. And now that I know her feelings, I understand that she feels guilty about this relationship.

So she might end up saying something that sounds like an affirmation.

“Even if you ask Hinata, it’s the same. It’s our story, after all.”

“Seko, shut up for a moment.”

I tried to back up Haru, but Gorimatsu glared at me, making me hesitate to act rashly. It’s not good to worsen his impression of me in this situation.

Gorimatsu, sensing my emotions, smirked. Then Gorimatsu stood up from his seat and walked over to Haru.

“…But you’re involved in such things even though you guys are only high school students, huh? Hey, Hinata. Did you make the first move? Is it a case of unrequited love?”

As Gorimatsu asked Haru this, he leered at her with a contemptuous gaze.

Feeling his vile emotions, she shivered.

“It’s like you won her over with your body. Well, I’m sure your body’s top-notch for a boy. You know that too, right? Showing off your legs like this… hmm, isn’t this skirt length against school rules? Come on, I’ll measure it for you…”

Gorimatsu’s s*xual harassment didn’t stop, and he finally tried to touch her body.

—Beep

At that moment, a beeping sound echoed in the room.

Gorimatsu quickly withdrew his hand and looked around. Then, he froze when he saw the smartphone I was holding up.

” …What are you doing, Seko?”

“What is Sensei talking about? I’m recording so I can review Sensei’s valuable guidance later. I don’t want to bother Sensei, so I’m doing the documentation myself.

“Stop it. And delete the video you took.”

“Why? I thought Sensei was doing a great job as a teacher… Is there something inconvenient about me taking a video?”

“You… Stop your nonsense, brat. If I say delete it, then delete it! That’s an order from a teacher!”

“But I’m preserving the record of this wonderful teacher, though?”

“Shut up! Ugh, hand over that phone! I’ll delete it myself! I want to protect the school!”

Enraged, Gorimatsu reached out to snatch my smartphone.

Of course, I pulled my hand back to prevent him from taking it.

However, he was bigger and stronger. Despite my resistance, he would eventually take it.

Just when I was wondering what to do, there was a knock on the door. Gorimatsu and I instantly turned towards it——

” …Come in.”

Gorimatsu reluctantly moved away from me and responded with displeasure.

The door opened, and our homeroom teacher Matsui Sensei came in.

Seeing her, Gorimatsu was visibly tense.

In fact, his eyes turned into hearts.

“Excuse me. Um, Gori… Sensei. I heard that some of our students were here, so I came to check.”

Did she just almost call him ‘Gorimatsu’?

Could it be that Matsui Sensei doesn’t remember Gorimatsu’s name…?

“Well, Matsui Sensei. Just now, wh——”

“As I said, I came because I heard my students… Seko and Hinata were here.”

“No, not that… Well, never mind. Yes, they’re here. I was just giving them educational guidance as a school staff member concerned about the future of our youth.”

So glib.

What Gorimatsu was trying to do was a clear case of criminal s*xual harassment.

” Is that so? I’m sorry for the trouble. From here on, I’ll take care of them as their homeroom teacher, .”

” But, still. As the one entrusted with their educational guidance, I should——”

“I’ve been acquainted with them since last year. I was their homeroom teacher even when they were freshmen. So, they would probably find it easier to talk to me.”

” But, still——”

“Sensei, I have heard about your admirable conviction and accomplishments as a school staff member. Please consider this a good opportunity to nurture me, a junior teacher, and kindly allow me to take on this responsibility.”

“…Hmm. Indeed. It’s not just about the students, but also about nurturing the next generation of teachers. Alright. I’ll leave the rest to Matsui Sensei. And, if there’s anything troubling you, please don’t hesitate to rely on me!”

“Hehe. Yes, I’ll be counting on you.”

Receiving Matsui Sensei’s smile, Gorimatsu left the student guidance room with heavy breathing.

Once he was far away, Matsui Sensei clicked her tongue loudly, ‘Tsk’.

“As always, that guy is gross. His ulterior motives are so obvious.”

It felt like the Matsui Sensei we knew had returned.

The fake polite smile she had earlier honestly gave me goosebumps.

“So that rumor is false, right?”

Asked by her, I replied, “Yes!” in high spirits. Then Sensei smiled wryly.

“I thought so. But as they say, there’s no smoke without fire. Seems like there’s more to it, huh?”

Matsui Sensei looked at me as if she could see right through everything.

Yet, there was no hint of hostility in her eyes.

Author’s Note:

Although her name isn’t mentioned, Matsui Sensei’s first appearance is in episode 11.