I Ended Up Pretending to Be the Boyfriend of a Beautiful but Tough Classmate for Just a Month, but It Seems That She Has Awakened Her Yandere Tendencies Because of That.

Chapter 66

♣︎

Mika Shinozaki’s sense of identity had collapsed long ago.

Just by looking at someone, she could understand exactly what they were thinking. The moment she heard a piece of information, countless possibilities of what might happen next would flood her mind.

Purpose, meaning in life, dreams, goals, admiration—

Those things had ceased to exist within her since that day.

She could perfectly memorize any book she read once, and if it was a novel, she could even predict how the next installment would unfold.

She objectively believed that someone like her had long since ceased to be human.

Her relationship with Riara, too.

She had always struggled with the thought that maybe she was only by Riara’s side because it was the only way she could maintain her sense of self.

She truly believed from the bottom of her heart that she would die for Riara. But more than that, she had a desire to die for a friend, to take the easy way out while still being seen as a good person.

She felt no emotions, no sense of wonder.

She only smiled because she wanted to pretend to be human.

But Riara was always there, giving her a real smile.

Riara spoke to her with genuine emotion, even though she herself felt nothing.

Maybe, if she hadn’t been with Riara that day to witness that scene—

The younger version of her would have been crushed under the weight of that pain and ended up dead.

That’s how much of a hellish event it was for her.

Even now, her life should still feel like a living hell.

But thanks to Riara, she had managed to make it this far.

Even after becoming such a messed-up person—

She was still able to stay by Riara’s side.

That’s why she loved her so much.

For Riara’s sake, she wouldn’t hesitate to use this accursed power.

From here on, this is a story Riara doesn’t need to know.

“Oh? Do you have some business with Riara?”

Mika stood near Riara’s house.

She called out to a classmate who was about to enter.

“…Shinozaki-san?”

“Oh, you remember me? Enjou Itsuki -san.”

“What do you want?”

“Nothing in particular. But if you plan to hurt Riara, I could suddenly find something to do.”

In Enjou style.

A strange kind of beauty, both cute and elegant at the same time.

The type of person who was well-liked by everyone.

It made sense why Suzukaze-kun had been drawn to her in the past.

But the girl standing before Mika now was not the good-natured person she once was.

“I see. Then leave me alone. I just have business with Takamiya-san.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t do that. You’re harmful just by being here.”

“Hah, so you’re the kind of person who says things like that without hesitation, huh?”

“Pretty much. More importantly, isn’t it rude to stand around talking in front of someone’s house? Come with me.”

Mika led Enjou away.

If she got inside, it would be over.

Mika herself couldn’t enter that house.

There were too many traumas—fear, disgust, so many things.

If she recalled that scene with her current level of perception, she would truly go insane.

That’s why she couldn’t step inside.

“Well, I suppose you’re right.”

Enjou took her hand off the doorknob and followed Mika.

Only then did Mika finally relax.

Now, the real conversation could begin.

“So, what exactly were you planning to do at Riara’s house?”

“You ask that as if you already know the answer.”

“Oh, sharp, aren’t you? Well then, first, could you throw away what’s in your pocket?”

At Mika’s words, Enjou looked startled.

Then she reached into her pocket and took something out.

A small box cutter.

“Wow, dangerous. What were you planning to do with that?”

“Don’t misunderstand, it’s for self-defense.”

“I didn’t say anything. But lying isn’t good.”

Mika was the type of person who could immediately detect lies.

The slightest flicker of the eyes, the faintest tremble in someone’s breath, a barely perceptible shift in tone—

She noticed things that no one else would.

“I never lied. Or do you think I was going to use this to hurt Takamiya-san?”

“No, you were planning to hurt yourself, weren’t you?”

“…What?”

“Haha, bingo. You were going to self-harm in front of Riara, make it seem like it was her fault, and frame her as a villain. But even that, you weren’t fully committed to. You were hesitating the whole time. Pretty shallow.”

As Mika spoke, Enjou stared at her, eyes wide, mouth slightly open in shock.

“…You’re seriously creepy, Shinozaki-san.”

“Oh, are you the type to say things straight to someone’s face? That makes us the same.”

“Why are you interfering? This has nothing to do with you.”

“Riara is everything to me. Just like how Suzukaze-kun is everything to you.”

At those words, Enjou’s expression darkened.

The cheerful, easygoing, refreshing, yet sickeningly fake smile disappeared.

This was her true face.

“I threw everything away for Suzukaze-kun’s peace. I killed my own feelings to protect him. I sacrificed myself. Do you think Takamiya Riara could do the same? No way. She just took advantage of his heartbreak. She doesn’t even realize it’s all thanks to me.”

She spat out the words, glaring at Riara’s house with a bitter voice.

But it was so absurd that Mika felt nothing.

“Riara wouldn’t do that. And she wouldn’t need to. Comparing yourself to her is pointless.”

“What, just because she’s your precious person?”

“No, because she’s much stronger than you. Unlike you, who breaks the weak even further.”

“Hah? Then what could she have done if she were in my position?”

“She would have faced the problem together, grown stronger together, and eventually solved it together. Running away or looking away solves nothing. You refused to take any risks and ended up with nothing.”

“Risk? I threw away my feelings—”

“If you could throw them away, they weren’t that important. Tossing out something so flimsy isn’t a sacrifice. But I guess you wouldn’t understand that.”

Mika laughed as she noticed Enjou’s hand briefly twitched toward the discarded box cutter.

She was at her limit.

“Well, just don’t try anything stupid with Riara. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t stay at that school anymore.”

“…You don’t even sound like you’re bluffing. Fine, I’ll back off for today.”

“Oh, how kind of you. That’s great, I have laundry to do anyway.”

Mika flashed a bright smile, and Enjou scowled before disappearing into the darkness.

Tonight should be fine.

She wanted to see Riara’s face after coming all this way, but—

“Huh? Mika-san?”

“Hey, Suzukaze-kun. What brings you here at this hour?”

“I-I don’t know, I just had a bad feeling…”

“Fufu, worried Riara might be cheating on you with me? Too bad, I was just passing by.”