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 85

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“Hmph, a ferris wheel ride for two. How romantic.”

It’s not like I came to get in their way.

Today, I came to watch over their date.

To confirm their bond.

To make sure there’s no space for me to interfere.

To finally give up on that person.

“Right? Don’t you think so, Enjou-san?”

I called out to my classmate, who was gazing up at the ferris wheel from a distance.

“…Oh, it’s you, Shinozaki-san. Do you need something?”

“You’re not surprised today.”

“I figured you’d already predicted that I’d be following those two around and were keeping an eye on me.”

“Hmph, you’re pretty smart. So, what do you think after watching them?”

“They’re really close, those two. But honestly, thinking that they’re still not officially dating frustrates me a little.”

She spoke honestly, as if resigning herself to reality. There was no deception in her words.

“I see. Then, I guess we’re the same.”

“The same? How?”

“Just like you, I’m full of contradictions. I let go, only to realize the weight of my loss and regret it. Thinking, ‘If only I had done things differently back then, maybe they would still be mine.’ Something like that.”

Both of us are the same.

In the end, we’re just contradictions wrapped in human skin.

We step back, pretending it’s for the sake of the one we love.

Yet, we can’t stand to see that person find happiness with someone else.

That’s who Enjouji Itsuki is.

And that’s who Shinozaki Mika is.

“I refuse to be grouped together with a monster like you.”

“So harsh. But I don’t really hate that about you. Hey, what if I said I’d help you?”

“…I don’t trust you. Besides, I already told you before—I’m done with Kagami-kun. Ever since I transferred schools in middle school, I held onto my own idealized version of him. I thought that if I told him everything, his kindness would make him fall for me. But it was just a stupid, disgusting delusion. And you were the one who made me realize that, Shinozaki-san.”

She no longer looks at me with disgust.

She’s over it.

She’s really over it.

She’s snapped.

Her feelings have.

“I see. Then I guess I did a good job.”

“For someone saying that, you look kind of disappointed.”

“Heh, of course I’m disappointed. It makes me wonder—why is everyone so damn mature?”

“Wait… don’t tell me you like Kagami-kun too?”

“No way. The only person who matters to me is Riara.”

“Ah, I get it. So if I end up with Kagami-kun, that would be convenient for you.”

Enjou-san seemed to reach her own conclusion.

“Well, I won’t deny it.”

“I thought you cared about your friends more, but you’re actually selfish.”

“Coming from you? You’ve done the same—acting on your feelings without considering the other person’s.”

Yes, I’ve always only acted for my own sake.

I listened to Riara’s worries because I wanted to help her.

I guided Suzukaze-kun because Riara wanted to save him, and I wanted to see her smile.

No one ever asked me to do any of it.

It’s all just a performance.

Just an act.

“You’re right. I hurt Kagami-kun one-sidedly, and then, without thinking about his feelings, I tried to get back together with him. I even considered setting up traps to bring down Takamiya Riara. I told myself it was for Kagami-kun, but in the end, it was all just for me.”

“That’s just how people are. That’s why I—”

“But I won’t let someone like you hurt Kagami-kun.”

“…”

“I’ve already hurt him enough. So anything I do now is probably just an annoying burden to him, maybe even disgusting. But I still want to do whatever I can for him. And I won’t let you get in my way. I’m glad I was stalking today.”

“Heh, if you keep this up, he might hate you even more, you know?”

“That’s fine. Even back then, I never did it to be understood. As long as I could protect him, I didn’t care if he hated or resented me. In the end, I just hurt him because I was naïve. But sacrificing myself now doesn’t mean anything to me. That’s just the kind of person I am.”

Regaining her confidence, Enjou-san glared at me.

“Heh… Ahaha. That’s a complete lie. You’ll end up chasing after Suzukaze-kun again and hurting him.”

It was amusing to watch.

Since that day, I’ve looked into the hearts of many people.

But not one of them.

Not a single person did something without expecting something in return.

So this girl couldn’t be an exception.

“Heh… Hehehe. Ahahaha.”

But the one laughing was Enjou-san.

“W-what’s so funny?”

“Oh, you don’t get it? Shinozaki-san, you’re really good at ignoring your own flaws.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“You’re just obsessed with Takamiya Riara. I don’t know what happened between you two, but what you’re doing isn’t love or friendship. You’re just a stalker. Just like me.”

Obsession.

That word.

I once used it to describe her.

Me, obsessed with Riara?

No, that’s not true.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“You’re getting defensive. That means I hit the mark. You said it yourself—it’s hard to notice things about yourself. But you, Shinozaki-san, who can see through everyone like a monster, are completely blind to yourself. It’s ironic, really.”

“…What are you saying?”

“Getting mad won’t help. Just like how you tried to stop me, I’ll stop you. I won’t let you interfere with Kagami-kun.”

Looking at Enjou-san standing in my way, I felt something strangely nostalgic.

When I decided to be Riara’s shield, I must have looked just like her.

But when did that change?

Is this what she meant by obsession?

What do I even want anymore?

I have no idea.

I can read into others’ hearts just by looking into their eyes.

So why can’t I understand my own?

“…I’m leaving.”

“Go ahead. But I’ll be keeping an eye on you to make sure you don’t interfere with Kagami-kun.”