Every Sin Deserves Punishment - Chapter 12: Every Sins Deserves Punishment

Chapter 12: Every Sins Deserves Punishment

With the broadcasting during lunch break, I and Nakiri became the talk of the town.

When Nakiri and I exchanged words, people around us would start prying into our business. We decided to communicate through a chat app when we were in the school building. It’s a bit cumbersome, but it feels like a special secret just for the two of us.

In our chat conversation, the topic of my home suspension came up.

It seems that many students flocked to Nakiri to ask questions about the content broadcasted school-wide. Since I was confined at home, the scrutiny fell solely on Nakiri. She complained through her smartphone about being overwhelmed with handling inquiries for about two days.

There was nothing I could do about it. I apologized with a wry smile, typing out an apology letter, saying that I didn’t choose to be suspended.

I arranged electronic characters in a message and had a casual conversation with a person close to me.

I had thought such things were foreign to me, but using them proved surprisingly convenient. I could communicate through a wall without worrying about the eyes around me.

I made sure to make up for lost time even with this.. She also responded frequently to our conversations.

In the flow of the conversation, she invited me to go out on Sunday.

I immediately agreed.

As I anxiously waited, Saturday arrived. Where should we go tomorrow? What should we do? Should I buy new clothes? I stared at the LCD screen, thinking about the date plans.

I had been thinking about Sunday for the past few days.

I was eagerly anticipating it. I never thought that thinking about the future could lift my spirits so much.

No, that’s not it; more accurately, I remembered. Before being bullied in elementary school, I used to breathe with anticipation for tomorrow, just like now.

From now on, these gentle days will continue.

Nothing would disrupt the peaceful daily life. Because those who were meant to be punished received their due retribution.

— Really?

My consciousness froze. My fingers stopped mid-air as that question appeared in my head..

I shouldn’t think about it anymore. My intuition, comparable to survival instinct, is screaming right now.

I understand it in my head, but I can’t stop my thoughts from racing ahead. Something in me has fatally shifted.

What I had done was an act of revenge. I exposed the recorded conversation between me, Sogou, and Mibu at the family restaurant and destroyed their student lives.

It wasn’t exactly a commendable action, but those two had made Nakiri and me suffer terribly. Most people thought it was too much, but judged it with some leniency.

In fact, the teachers and Yoshiki sympathized with me. Recently, I’ve been troubled by the nightmares about them, but I’ve been able to lead a peaceful student life. Every Sins Deserves Punishment. Because I upheld this principle, I was able to enjoy happiness without being haunted by guilt.

Did I uphold my principle? Is it acceptable to accept a conclusion as long as it ends well?

Because there is, isn’t there?

Someone who hasn’t been punished yet.

My fingers gripping the smartphone tightened.

Surely, no one desires this. No one would benefit from it.

Yet, the thing I’ve been trying not to see is about to swallow me.

My mind couldn’t ignore it. The meaning of punishment isn’t just consolation for the victims. There’s also the aspect of a perpetrator punishing themselves to find forgiveness for what they have done.

I covered my eyes with my hand and looked up.

I’ll definitely regret it. I can tell even before tomorrow comes. I feel my soul wailing throughout my body, telling me to stop.

Even so, I couldn’t look away. Even if it meant turning my back on the best future that I could have, I had to remain sincere to her.

◇

X-Day has arrived.

I slipped my feet into my slippers and lifted my hips from the bed.

I grabbed the curtains and carelessly swung my arm. With a delayed hissing sound, a dazzling sky spread out beyond the window.

I glared at the refreshing blue sky with resentment and put on the shirt I had carefully selected.

The battery of my smartphone was fully charged. I put the necklace case into my shoulder bag and checked each item to make sure I didn’t forget anything.

I stood in front of the mirror to check my appearance. I judged that there were no problems and extended my arm towards the entrance door.

My arm stopped in mid-air as if sewn in place.

I made up my mind and gripped the doorknob. I opened the door wide and welcomed the outside air into the entrance.

I exposed myself to the holiday air and dragged my heavy feet outside. The plants decorating the chic entrance seemed to be drooping more than usual.

I stomped on the ground with my sneakers.

The smiling faces of passersby were as dazzling as the sun. I repeatedly lifted my shoes and looked down, and finally stopped at the meeting place, the east exit of Shinjuku Station.

A white building with an arch-shaped design was adorned with trees in a funny and interesting way. The ground was colorfully decorated, and white silhouettes of flowers were blooming.

The landscape resembled a single art piece. It was unmistakable, and the perfect place to meet.

Finally, this day has come.

It came, but…

Do I welcome this with open arms? Or do I avoid it with all my heart? Two such conflicting emotions clashed within me.

There was still time to back out. The sweet temptation surged, and I pressed my shoes against the ground as if trying to break through.

Five minutes before the meeting time. I saw the figure of my beloved girl in the distance.

She was wearing a bright-colored top and a miniskirt. Her silhouette was soft, but her outfit was practical and easy to move in. Her straight hair was tied at the back of her head, creating a special and sexy impression. Her cute and mature appearance stood out even in the bustling city streets.

“Good morning. Did I make you wait?”

A beaming smile bloomed.

I couldn’t help but avert my eyes from the brilliance that rivaled the sun.

“Just a little. There are a lot of eye-catching things here, so it only felt like a few seconds to me though.”

I knew the standard for dates. Answering that I had just arrived was safe to avoid making the other person feel guilty. Since we were going out together, it would be counterproductive to enjoy ourselves with any lingering awkwardness. It’s probably a mannerism born from such considerations.

So, I chose a different wording.

No matter how much my heart was pounding, I mustn’t show my joy.

For my sake and, more importantly, for Nakiri’s sake.

“Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Her delicate fingers touched her flaxen bangs.

I pulled my lips together and turned my back.

“Yuu-kun.”

“Hmm?”

“Is something wrong?”

I almost raised a strange voice.

I quietly inflated my lungs and turned around with a well-rehearsed smile.

“Nothing. I’ve thought of a plan, but is there somewhere you want to go?”

Her expression of bewilderment turned into a smile, and her pink lips opened.

“I want to go to the batting center. It’s been a long time since we last competed.”

I blinked in surprise and couldn’t help but smile.

Despite dressing up for the occasion, her choice of location was very Nakiri-like. I couldn’t help but smile, even though I knew it was a bad idea.

“I haven’t swung a bat in a few years, you know?”

“Me too. We’re in the same condition in that regard.”

“Okay, I’ll take up the challenge. If I lose, I’ll treat you to lunch, how about that?”

“Sounds good. I’ve got your word on it.”

Nakiri smiled mischievously. Her face showed no sign of anticipating defeat.

“…You haven’t been practicing, right?”

“I’ll hold you to that!”

With a voice that sounded like it was about to skip, the slender figure stood beside me. A soft fragrance wafted, tickling my nose and heart.

At this rate, lunch would be on me.

But I didn’t mind. Just walking with Nakiri lifted my spirits, which had been at rock bottom.

In the morning, we mainly walked around sports facilities.

I lost the home run competition. I also lost miserably at bowling. Lunch was at a stylish cafe, where I treated her to a fancy menu, and we enjoyed our conversation.

In the afternoon, we focused on sightseeing. We strolled through a shopping mall, visiting various stores. We had snacks like crepes along the way, and we chatted to fill the long gap since elementary school.

At one point, Nakiri left to pick some flowers.

When she returned, her hair was back to its straight, long style. I clenched my lips and balled my fingers, trying to hold back my words.

As we walked around, the day came to an end.

The clear blue sky was devoured by orange, and the cityscape took on a somber hue. I looked down at Shibuya’s Scramble Crossing from the tower’s rooftop.

“It’s beautiful.”

A sigh of admiration shook the chilly air.

Following Nakiri’s gaze, I saw a sky where navy blue and orange contours pushed against each other. Against this magnificent backdrop, a gentle breeze caressed our hair.

It was quiet. It felt like we were cut off from the rest of the world.

“Yeah.”

I affirmed Nakiri’s words and stole a glance at her profile.

Her gesture of holding down her hair in the wind exuded an indescribable elegance and charm.

It was a side of Nakiri that I hadn’t seen in elementary school. The girl I liked had become even more attractive and was standing before me.

Although not as much as I was bullied, Nakiri must have gone through difficult times. Still, she grew up without straying from the right path and appeared before me.

Thank you. I silently offered my gratitude to her mature profile. Time, stop. This view of her shows her true beauty. This moment, right now, is the best moment in my life.

To remember this scene, I burned her standing figure into my retinas.

“What is it, Yuu-kun?”

Nakiri turned around, noticing my gaze.

I gripped the handrail with determination and faced her fully.

“I have something I want to give you.”

I pulled out a case from my shoulder bag and held it out.

Her large eyes rounded in surprise. With a hint of confusion on her well-defined face, her slender arm reached out to take the package.

“What is this?”

“It’s a necklace. Isn’t today your birthday?”

Nakiri gasped and looked up.

“You remembered? Thank you. Happy birthday. I hope you like the present.”

Her delicate fingers unwrapped the packaging. Through the transparent lid, the necklace peeked in gold.

Her well-proportioned face glowed in the sunset, rivaling the beauty of a fully bloomed sunflower.

“I’m so happy. Thank you! Can I put it on now?”

“Before that, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

Her perfectly shaped face was lit up with a full smile. She had no doubt that what was about to happen would be something good.

A sharp pain pierced my left chest. The urge to run away surged like a geyser, and I pressed the soles of my shoes hard against the ground.

I closed my eyes and reached into my pocket. My fingers grasped a sharp corner, and I pulled out the folded piece of paper. As I unfolded it in front of me, I glanced at Nakiri’s face.

A smile that seemed to expect something, a smile that made me want to embrace her impulsively.

And now, I was about to destroy that happy, innocent smile.

“W-Why…?”

Her large eyes widened in shock. Her glossy lips trembled in horror.

I didn’t do anything special. I just read the text written on the paper. The content was just extremely unusual.

“Why do you have this, Yuu-kun?”

I folded the paper and stuffed it into my pants pocket.

“I entered Seiki High School to take revenge on you.”

Nakiri gasped. Her delicate hand pressed against her chest.

The childhood friend standing before me knew that I had been bullied and had to transfer schools. She had likely heard the rumors as well. It wouldn’t be surprising if she misunderstood and thought I hated her.

I couldn’t bear it and shook my head.

“Don’t get me wrong. I know now it was all a misunderstanding, and I don’t intend to hurt you. But when I first enrolled, I never even considered there might be someone else to take revenge on. My plan was to destroy your school life. That’s why I wrote those creepy letters. To back up the contents of the letter, I stole your shoes and put them in the incinerator. There wasn’t just one stalker—there were two. One of them… was me.”

The fingers pressed against her chest turned pale. Even through her clothes, the shape of her chest visibly changed.

My idea of revenge was to bring the hammer down on the guilty who hadn’t yet been judged.

That’s why my revenge isn’t over yet. I, who harassed my childhood friend out of a misunderstanding, and almost ruined my precious her. And now, as a shameless fool, I’m trying to find happiness for myself.

“This is who I am now, Ichigaya Yuu. The Yuu you admired, Shikura Yuu, no longer exists anywhere in the world.”

Her eyes widened with moisture. The overflowing tears left a sparkling trail on her cheeks.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. But I couldn’t allow myself to reach out and wipe away those tears. Someone like me no longer had the right to touch Nakiri.

I inhaled with a trembling throat.

“This conversation is being recorded. If you can’t forgive me, send me a chat. I’ll send you the audio data of this conversation by tonight. If you submit it to the appropriate authorities, everything will be settled. I promise. I won’t hold a grudge against you even if you present the audio data as evidence. I’ll accept the punishment.”

I bowed deeply.

I thought I might get slapped when I looked up, but she didn’t have the strength for that. Her beautiful hands covered her eyes, and a sob escaped from her trembling mouth.

I suppressed the urge to ask for forgiveness and turned my back.

If Nakiri exposes the audio data, my student life will come to an end. I was just released from home suspension. This time, I might actually be expelled.

I really don’t want that. I worked hard to get into this school. All my efforts to regain my life would be in vain. I couldn’t accept the punishment with a smile.

Still, I could bear it if Nakiri were the one to judge me.

This day was filled with lies, but I made precious memories. With the memories of today, I can live through any hardship in the future.

My shoes reached the exit of the observation deck.

I stepped over the golden-tinted floor and attached my shoes to the shadowed hallway.