Episode 45 – Rumors

A week after the day we exchanged information, there was this rumor circulating in the school.

First-year student Otori dated two girls and had an affair with a married woman.

First-year student, Kamisaka, threatened the former president of the cooking club.

First-year student, Kagurazaka, is the culprit who stole equipment from the sports club.

All of these rumors are true, but if rumors like this were to circulate, no one would want to have anything to do with the person in question.

The only people who talk to them are those who want to confirm the truth of the rumors and those who are amused by them.

I heard that club activities are isolated.

Next is Kamisaka, my former childhood friend who was said to be one of the three prettiest girls in her grade.

The same goes for Kagurazaka, my former childhood friend who was the most beautiful girl in her grade.

And, to the girls’ horror, the gossip behind their backs about Kamisaka and Kagurazaka was increasing.

Since they were originally good-looking, they were sometimes envied a little, but never before had they been subjected to such pure gossip as they were this time around.

In the end, aren’t those guys no different from the bullies?

When circumstances change, they abandon their friends and talk behind their backs. Is friendship such a shallow thing?

I guess I’m not the only one who thinks of revenge, but I still feel uncomfortable when I see these changes from a third-party perspective.

However, I have no feelings for those three people, so I don’t care about that.

This rumor was spread through the school’s website, where a picture of me walking hand in hand with Natsuki was uploaded. (*From the beginning of episode 17)

Although it’s called an underground web site, most students know about it, so I guess it is often used to spread rumors.

Considering the situation they fell into this time, it’s really strange that I didn’t fall into that situation.

Perhaps my sister or Natsuki did something, but I was never told the specifics, so I never found out what it was.

This time, the rumor started to spread because of an anonymous post on that site.

Kamisaka is mostly 3rd year. And mainly 2nd year for Kagurazaka. Otori has become a person avoided by the entire school.

Once a rumor catches fire, it spreads quickly.

Even if the truth of the rumor is not known, if someone believes it because everyone is talking about it, or if someone claims to have actually seen it, or if a situation similar to that is created, it becomes the truth.

By the way, it’s lunch break now, so I have to head to the rooftop to have lunch with Natsuki and my sister.

Since I’m in charge today, I head to the rooftop with a lunch box for the three of us.

Since summer vacation was over, the rule of being on duty to make these lunches was in place again. No, I always did it since the day after we exchanged information.

☆ ☆ ☆ 

When I headed to the rooftop, it seemed that the two of them had already arrived, and I spotted them on the front side.

“Yuuki, I’m hungry.”

“Sorry, I was thinking about something and I’m a little late.”

“For now, just sit down, Yuuki kun.”

Saying so, Natsuki pointed between my sister and her.

I don’t mind, but it’s a little cramped because the two of them are packed.

While eating lunch, we talked about the rumors.

“Did it go well? That thing.”

“Yup I uploaded some pictures to give them a hint.”

“As expected of Yuuki.”

Even if you don’t know who the person is, if there is a photo that gives a hint of it, the credibility of the rumor will increase.

On the contrary, if there’s no evidence, it will be seen as an act of envy.

“I don’t want to turn Yuuki kun into an enemy.”

“I’m your friend until you betray me. There’s no need for me to lend a hand after I’ve been betrayed.”

“Well, we are on Yuuki’s side.”

“Well, I don’t know what I would do if my sister and Natsuki betrayed me.”

Even if it looks like nothing is wrong now because I was betrayed once, there must be a scar deep inside my heart.

However, I’m not aware of it right now.

I wonder if it will return to normal in time.

“For now, let’s stop talking about this topic. Let’s talk about something fun.”

“Right. I don’t really like to talk about gloomy topics.”

“Speaking of which, Yuuki kun–“

The door to the rooftop was opened just as Natsuki was about to say something.

Three people came to the rooftop.

I’m sure you can guess when I said three people, but it was three of my former childhood friends who came.

Immediately, the three of us fell silent and turned a sharp gaze at them.

Of course, they seemed to have noticed us, too, and they glared at us and headed toward the back of the room with a disgusted look on their faces.

I can almost guess why they came to the rooftop.

They must have been uncomfortable in the classroom.

The atmosphere was so pervasive that they must have been unable to bear it and ran away from there.

It was torture to have to see their faces even here, anyway.

“Hey Yuuki kun. Isn’t it better not to come here anymore?”

“I agree. I don’t want to eat in the same space with those jerks.”

“Well, if you say so, I think there are benches in the courtyard or something, so next time we’ll go there.”

The two of them seemed to feel the same way as I did, that they didn’t want to stay here.

We quickly finished eating our lunch and left the place for the day.

…No, I tried to.

As I was about to go back inside, I was grabbed by the arm from behind.

Natsuki and my sister are in front of me now, so it must be one of them behind me.

When I turned around, I saw Otori standing there.

“What is it?”

“I need to talk to you.”

What a pain in the ass. I don’t want you to touch me.

I could’ve shaken him off now, but before I could, I felt the gaze from both of them in front of me.

I told them with eye contact, saying [Go back first] and let them go back first.

To tell the truth, I wanted to return right now, but I was a little concerned, so I decided to just listen to what they had to say.

I activated the recording function on my phone in my pocket and followed Otori toward the back where the other two were waiting.