After Becoming a Counselor for Girls, I Ended Up Producing a Lot of Potential Girlfriends Who Became Mentally Ill - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Ex-Boyfriend, Sasamoto, Gets Defeated

I had heard about Sasamoto through Kujo and Shiraishi.

Even from a distance, Sasamoto looked unpleasant.

His sloppy casual clothes, piercing glare, and heavy stride made him seem like a relic of a past era.

Looking at him, I let my guard down a little. He seemed troublesome, but there was something ridiculous about him.

“Maybe this won’t be so bad.”

“I don’t know. At first glance, he looks weak. He even seems like he’s just putting on airs. But in reality, he’s different.”

“You mean, he only pretends to be tough, but he’s actually dangerous?”

“Yes. For someone who seems insignificant, he’s hard to ignore.”

Hearing this, my impression of Sasamoto shifted. It was different from what I had imagined based on the photos Kujo had shown me.

“We’re almost at the meeting spot, right?”

“Yeah.”

I swallowed hard.

Sasamoto, who had been far away, was now finally approaching us.

When he noticed Shiraishi, a sinister smile spread across his face.

“Kotomi-chan, long time no see. I never thought you’d be the one to call me.”

“It’s because I have something I need to tell you.”

“Is this a confession to me? Are you finally going to accept me?”

His cheerful expression suddenly changed.

When his gaze turned to me, he instantly became hostile.

“So, you brought some random guy with you. That makes things interesting.”

“…”

I stayed silent. It wasn’t time for me to say anything yet.

“What’s the matter? Are you telling me this guy is your boyfriend?”

With a threatening tone, Sasamoto pressed Shiraishi.

“Th-That’s right. He’s my boyfriend. Your obsession with me is unsettling. I’d like you to stop contacting me altogether from now on.”

Shiraishi delivered her prepared lines, though her voice faltered.

“Are you picking a fight with me? I’m offering to make you my girlfriend, and you’re getting cocky. A boyfriend? Someone like you, so weak, could actually have one?”

Under my sunglasses, my eyebrows twitched.

True, Sasamoto was good-looking. Despite his petty behavior, there was an undeniable strength about him.

But just because he was handsome didn’t give him the right to insult Shiraishi based on baseless assumptions.

He crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed.

“—Hey, Sasamoto.”

“What?”

Sasamoto looked at me suspiciously.

“Don’t insult my girlfriend.”

“What? I’m just stating the truth.”

“It’s just your prejudice. Even as a joke, calling her ‘weak’ is unacceptable. That’s not something someone trying to win her over would say.”

“And a guy like you, dressed so cheaply, thinks he’s good enough for Shiraishi?”

He smirked, but Sasamoto had no chance.

“Say what you want. The reality is this: Shiraishi is my girlfriend, and Sasamoto is nothing more than a creepy stalker.”

“How dare you call me a stalker?! You’re dead meat!”

I shouldn’t have provoked him.

I had mistakenly thought I could play the role of mediator.

That wasn’t the case.

Once emotions flared, negotiations were over.

“Why are you so fixated on Shiraishi? She clearly doesn’t want you around.”

“When I want something, I get it. My ex was different—she was stronger than me. What I want is the opposite of that.”

So, he was looking for someone submissive.

“I pity any woman who would agree to date you. They’d have to have no standards.”

“You’re really pushing it, aren’t you?”

“Let me guess—next you’ll say, ‘I’ll shut you up for good.’”

“I’ll make sure you never speak again, you cocky bastard.”

Sasamoto cracked his knuckles, one after the other.

He began shifting his stance, bouncing lightly on his feet.

He was ready to fight.

“B-Both of you, stop this! This is too much!”

“Stay back, Shiraishi. Sasamoto—”

“What?”

“If I knock you out here, will you promise to stay away from Shiraishi for good?”

“Don’t make me laugh. Do you really think you can beat me? Go ahead and try!”

He was right—Sasamoto was strong.

He had been in sports clubs throughout middle and high school, and his athleticism was top-notch.

But fighting skill wasn’t guaranteed, even with good reflexes.

“Take this!”

He charged at me with his fist, aiming for my solar plexus. He probably planned to land one hit and gain the upper hand.

I could see it coming a mile away.

I raised my palm to block his punch.

Impact.

My hand tingled from the force, but his fist stopped there.

“What the—?”

“Your athleticism might be first-rate, but your fighting skills are below third-rate.”

Sasamoto froze, caught off guard.

I seized the moment, grabbing his collar and pulling him close.

Even as he struggled, I yanked him forward and threw him over my shoulder.

“Ugh…!”

Though I held back, the impact as he hit the ground was hard. He wouldn’t get up anytime soon.

When he moved, his sunglasses had fallen off. I picked them up and handed them back.

“Maybe that was too much. But Shiraishi’s emotional scars are deeper. Maybe it wasn’t enough.”

As the pain subsided, Sasamoto spoke weakly.

“Not yet…”

“Please, give up. For both our sake. I’m asking you.”

“Shut up.”

He stood up shakily and threw another weak punch. I stepped forward and hit him in the solar plexus.

It landed. He didn’t try to fight back.

“I didn’t want to resort to this. Will you back off now?”

“…Fine. I’ll stop. It’s not worth getting beaten by someone like you. I’ll find another girl…”

I was surprised at how easily he backed down.

“But take care of Kotomi. You hear me, Sunglasses Guy?”

“Of course.”

Honestly, his treatment of Shiraishi was abominable.

Still, if Kujo had considered Sasamoto boyfriend material, he wasn’t all bad.

Perhaps he was just the kind of person who couldn’t be saved.