Fallen from the Top Group Due to Cheating and False Accusations. The Only One Who Stood by Me Was My Little Sister’s Best Friend, Who Had Always Adored Me.

Chapter 27: A Relationship of Mutual Protection.

The morning of the third day arrived. Because I had left the classroom in such a state yesterday, a flicker of anxiety crossed my mind the moment I sat up in bed. However, surprisingly, I seemed to have slept better last night than I had in days—likely because I had no memory of anything after my head hit the pillow.

As I moved to stand, my smartphone vibrated right by my pillow. It was a call from Yuuka.

“Good morning, Senpai. How are you feeling?”

“Morning, Yuuka. Thanks to you, I’m doing great. I think I can make it to school today.”

“…I see! That’s wonderful.”

I could hear her breath over the phone, a soft sigh of relief. While I was happy that she cared enough to check on my mental state first thing in the morning, I also felt a twinge of guilt.

“In that case, would it be alright if I came by to pick you up now?”

“Ah… no, I’d feel bad having you come all this way so often. Let’s meet somewhere nearby today and head in together.”

“It’s not a bother at all. Besides, from the sound of your voice, you just woke up, didn’t you?”

“Eh? Well, yeah… You caught me. I really can’t hide anything from you, Yuuka.”

“Hehe, your voice is still a bit raspy. Anyone could tell. I think I’ll arrive just as you finish getting ready, so please take your time. See you—”

“Wait… Hold on a second, Yuuka!”

“…Yes? What is it?”

I managed to stop her just as her voice was fading away. I decided I needed to tell her about what happened with Sayu last night, keeping the explanation brief.

“So, that’s the gist of it. I’m planning to come clean to my parents tonight. What do you think, Yuuka?”

I asked tentatively, trying to gauge her mood. Yuuka seemed surprised; there was a brief silence before she replied in her usual gentle tone, “I see. That’s good.” Then, she added a curious murmur, “But why are you going out of your way to ask me?”

“Well, yesterday I was talking big about not wanting to involve my family or cause them trouble, yet I did a total 180 in a single night. I felt like I wasn’t being true to my word.”

“Oh, is that all? I don’t mind at all. In fact, hearing you say that makes me feel a bit relieved. To be honest, I thought your parents’ cooperation would become absolutely essential at some point anyway.”

“We’ll have to thank Sayu-chan later,” Yuuka added with a little giggle before hanging up. I had been worried that I might have upset her, but far from it—she had given her blessing in a tone so soft it made me feel even more apologetic.

***

After quickly getting ready and eating a light breakfast, I stepped out the front door with a stride that felt much lighter than yesterday’s.

“Sorry, kept you waiting.”

As I spoke while slipping on the heels of my shoes, Yuuka—dressed in a slightly oversized blazer—spun around from where she stood with her hands behind her back and looked up at me. Her hair was styled in its usual two-side up.

“Good morning, Senpai! Your complexion looks wonderful this morning!”

“You think so? If it does, it’s definitely thanks to you. Yesterday was fun, so I think I was able to sleep well.”

“Oh, stop it! You’ll make me blush if you say things like that…”

“But it’s the truth, so why not? To be honest, I’m already looking forward to our next date. Though, of course, I won’t let myself get carried away until we’ve escaped this desperate situation.”

Yuuka smiled shyly, whispered, “That’s true,” and then naturally interlaced her fingers with mine.

“I feel the same way. I’ll save the real fun with you for later and settle for this much for now. However…”

“I won’t let go until we reach the school,” Yuuka said, looking at me as if to confirm her resolve before tightening her grip and starting to walk.

“Is that okay? Doing something so conspicuous again right after yesterday. I could tell from what the guys in my class were saying—you’re quite popular, aren’t you, Yuuka?”

I’d thought she was a beautiful girl since the moment we met, but perhaps because I’d seen her so often over such a long period, I hadn’t truly considered until yesterday just how many passionate gazes were directed at the girl walking beside me. Looking at her profile from this close, I understood. She was the kind of girl people called “the flower on the high peak.” If I hadn’t met her through my sister, our lives probably never would have intersected.

“It’s fine. Most people don’t understand anything about me anyway; they just evaluate my appearance or grades and approach me for their own benefit. I don’t need a single ounce of popularity or fame that comes from such superficial things.”

“Yuuka…”

“But, if I happen to have even a little bit of trust or influence, right now that can be a powerful weapon to protect you, Senpai. By walking like this with our hands joined, I hope it washes away—even if just a little—the fake label that’s been pinned on you.”

“But I don’t want my sister’s best friend to lose face because of me. If I’m the reason your relationships with your classmates or friends start to crack, that’s something that can’t be undone. It might even hinder your daily life from here on out.”

“Cracks won’t form—not if those friends truly believe in me. At least for the girls I have around me now, I’m sure they’ll treat me the same as always without doubting a thing.”

Yuuka puffed out her chest with a confident smile. Since she spoke with such certainty, she must have friends nearby in whom she placed immense trust. That was a relief for me too. I didn’t want Yuuka to be alienated in her classroom like I was, and I absolutely didn’t want her to be treated like she was fragile or “tainted.”

“I see. But if people around you do start harassing you, promise you won’t hide it—tell me immediately.”

“Then you’ll stay by my side the whole time, right? That makes me happy.”

“I will, of course, but more importantly, I will absolutely protect your place at school. It’s not just a matter of ‘as long as you have me’—this is about your own life, you know?”

“Senpai…”

That’s right. Yuuka has her own normal daily life, a youth that she deserves to enjoy to the fullest. I can’t let that be taken away. I have to prove my innocence so that she can keep smiling until graduation day. I have to protect Yuuka’s reputation and her place in the world.

“Thank you. Hearing you say that is very reassuring. If anything happens, I’ll be sure to tell you right away.”

“Yeah.”

The main gate soon came into view. Yesterday, we would have let go here, but today we walked on, our hands joined boldly for everyone to see.

If Yuuka was fighting to take back what I had lost, then I would fight to ensure she didn’t lose what she still held.

And so, we continued to overcome the walls before us, together.