The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The video Misa showed me and the audio she let me listen to yesterday could be powerful evidence to refute the rumors, but we both agreed that the situation wasn’t good enough yet for it to be effective.

Because of that, we couldn’t submit them to Matsui-sensei first thing this morning as we had hoped.

However, it was still a significant step forward. Once all the conditions are met, our innocence should be proven.

Oda and Koido are working hard on that front, and I plan to discuss it with Koido during our meeting at lunchtime.

I arrive at school and change into my indoor shoes at the shoe lockers.

Even so, I feel many piercing gazes today. If anything, there might be more than yesterday, and the intensity of those stares seems to have increased.

Entering the classroom, Moriya approached me at a tremendous speed with a smartphone in hand.

“Hey Seko! Can you still deny the rumors after seeing this?”

“What?”

Moriya shoved his smartphone in my face as if to demand I look at it, so I took it and saw a photo of Haru and me browsing in a variety store.

Specifically, Haru was holding an item with both hands, and I appeared to be saying something to her.

Indeed, the two of us were standing close enough that we could be mistaken for a couple.

Above all, Haru’s smile was dazzlingly bright.

This outfit and store… could it be from that day I went on a date with Haru in Yokohama?

If that’s the case, I’m relieved it’s a photo from a moment when we weren’t holding hands. But if Moriya is showing me this as evidence, I wonder if there’s something else.

As I continued to stare intently at the photo, Moriya snatched the smartphone away from me.

“How long are you going to look at that? Come on, confess already. This evidence has already spread throughout the whole school.”

“Is that the rumored evidence?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I got it from a senpai in the club.”

“Are there more?”

“Huh? Ah yeah, there are a few more.”

“Hmm.”

“What’s with that attitude!”

Honestly, I thought that photo was weak as evidence.

Moriya says there are others, but the fact that he showed me that one first means he must have thought it was the strongest piece of evidence.

If that’s the case, the other photos probably aren’t much of a threat either.

“Anyway, the rumors are false.”

“Hah, what!? You still won’t admit it!?”

“There’s nothing to admit, damn it. Look, the bell’s about to ring. Let me sit down.”

“Hey! Seko!”

Ignoring Moriya’s voice, I take my seat.

Glancing at Misa and Haru, I see they’ve been sticking together until the last minute and defending each other.

It seemed like things had softened a little in the classroom yesterday, but as if revived today, some of my classmates, including Moriya and that trio of girls became quite aggressive again.

They say various things to us, but we consistently stick together as three. Today, we would eat lunch together again.

“Opening your bento to find it completely brown really lifts your spirits, huh?” (TN: Fried food.)

“That’s just you, Rento-kun.”

“Ehh. I’d be happy too. Like, ‘Yay, so much meat!’ ”

“What’s in demand during the growth spurt is meat over nutritional balance.”

“That’s a good point!”

“Sigh… Your mothers would be crying.”

“Ugh… I don’t want that. Sorry, Mom. Maybe I should say thank you for always making my bento when I get home today…”

“I’m sure she’d be grossed out if I suddenly said something like that.”

“Do you think so? Maybe Rento-kun’s mother would be happy.”

“I can’t imagine that.”

“Fufu. From what I can tell, your mother also has a bit of trouble being honest just like you. Especially in front of you.”

“She’s a tsundere!”

“No, she’s not a tsundere, and nobody wants their parent to be a tsundere either.”

We talk about such trivial things. It feels like I’m spending a peaceful time, no different from the usual everyday life.

——But then, an unwanted noise interrupts.

“I wonder how the three of them can still eat together even in this situation.”

“To be honest, aren’t all three of them crazy?”

“They’re definitely not normal.”

“I wonder why Yosaki-san is still getting along with Hinata-san…”

“Well, Seko is still her boyfriend, so I kind of get it. But if it were me, I wouldn’t even want to see his face.”

“Maybe Yosaki-san has that kind of fetish? You know, getting excited about someone else taking away her lover.”

“What the heck, that’s ridiculous. That’s super creepy.”

“But you know, Hinata-san is actually pretty cute.”

“Huh? I’ve noticed it for a while now. And man, she’s got a huge chest.”

“If she did it with her friend Seko, maybe we stand a chance too if we beg?”

Such thoughtless words were entering my ears. Naturally, the two people near me could hear them as well.

The two smiles that had been present until just a moment ago had now sunk into darkness.

Unable to endure the relentless backbiting from my classmates any longer, I finally——

──Bang!!

I slammed my fist down on the desk.

A thunderous noise echoed throughout the classroom, and the gaze of every classmate focused on me.

At that point, I stood up, and just as I was about to open my mouth to strike—

“Seko! Stop it!”

“Seko! I understand how you feel, but let it go for now.”

I was stopped by Oda and Kaita, who had rushed over.

“…”

Confused about where to direct the words I had intended to throw at the guys in front of me, I opened and closed my mouth several times before finally exhaling and shutting it.

Only now did I start to feel the pain in the fist that I had slammed down on the desk earlier.

“Seko-san. Let’s calm your head a little.”

“We’re going to watch over the two of them, so go get some air outside.”

Told so by the two of them, I nodded my head up and down.

I stared at the half-eaten bento box. Apologizing to mom in my heart, I packed it away into my bag.

“Sorry. I’m going out for a while. It’s about time anyway.”

“Rento-kun… uh, okay. We’ll be fine.”

“Seko…”

“…Sorry.”

I could hear the voices of my classmates confronting Oda and Kaita from behind as I left the classroom.

If only I could have held back there… if only I hadn’t done that.

I wouldn’t have caused trouble for Oda and Kaita too.

Did I make another mistake again?

My head hurts——

But I have to do what I can now. Let’s head to the pool.

***

Koido was already there when I arrived at the pool’s changing room.

“Hi senpai, you look tired. Your complexion isn’t looking so great.”

“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty worn out lately. Sorry, but I’m going to have to keep this quick today.”

“Ah, I’ve left the two of them in the classroom for you.”

“…As expected, Koido, you can see right through me.”

“It’s because it’s you, senpai!”

Looking at Koido, who spoke so energetically, I smile.

I feel a little more spirited.

“Ah, right. First of all, I have a report for you. About that rumor we’ve been investigating… it looks like we’ll be able to get the evidence by the end of today.”

“Oh, really? That’s very helpful. It came much faster than I expected.”

“Hehe. You can praise me if you want.”

“Yeah, seriously, my future life has been saved thanks to Koido-sama.”

“That’s a weird way to compliment someone! You’re being too humble. Please be more honest in your praise.”

“Well done.”

“Now you’re acting all high and mighty! Just because you’re my senpai doesn’t mean you’re automatically superior!”

“…thanks a lot, Koido. You really helped me out.”

“Ugh… I wish you wouldn’t throw direct pitches at me all of a sudden. I thought today was not the time for this.”

“That’s true.”

“It was you who started it, senpai! I just got carried away too!”

Not good-not good. I naturally fall back into our usual way of interacting when I talk with Koido.

But I feel like my mood, which had been down until a moment ago, has recovered quite a little.

Koido probably understood that and deliberately went along with me.

I really can’t thank Koido enough.

“Oh, that’s right. I had something to report to Koido too. Actually──”

“——Ren. What are you doing here?”

“Huh?”

“Hmm?”

I heard a familiar voice. And there’s only one person who calls me ‘Ren.’

As I turn my head towards the door of the changing room, I see Haru standing there with her eyes darkened.