I Got Cheated On, so I Thought I’d Cheat Back and Went to a Group Date, I Ran Into a Classmate Who Used to Boss Me Around and Now We’re Living Together - Chapter 13

“You didn’t have to come with me. I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I’m coming because I’m concerned about you.”

It was the first weekend of July. In the early afternoon, probably the hottest part of the day, I was on the train with Machida-san. After thinking it through, I had decided to accompany her while she ended her connection with someone.

“Do you have a reason to worry?”

“Yeah… I think there’s a slight chance the troublemaking friend we’re about to meet might cause some problems.”

Even though Machida-san had deliberately ignored her to cut ties, the friend still clung to her and was blind to reality. If she truly believed Machida-san was her friend without reflecting on her own behavior, who knows what might happen when Machida-san finally speaks the words to end it? Maybe I was overthinking, but it was better to be careful.

“Why… is Shiraki worrying about me?”

Machida-san asked curiously.

“Isn’t there any real benefit for me?”

“Well… I’m not acting out of self-interest.”

Still, I realized that watching over her could count as a kind of personal gain, but I just wanted to protect Machida-san from anything bad. That was the truth.

“But sitting right there the whole time might get in the way. I’ll stay back a little. Where are you meeting exactly?”

“At the café in front of the station. But… you don’t need to stay back. If you come to protect me… stay close.”

Hearing her ask so earnestly made my chest tighten for a moment. She trusted me now. Nothing made me happier than that.

“Okay. I’ll sit with you then.”

There was no reason to refuse, so I agreed. Machida-san gave a small smile and whispered, “Thank you.”

A few minutes later, we arrived at the station. The café was right outside, but the friend hadn’t arrived yet. We went in first and sat side by side at a table. We ordered coffee and waited.

…I wondered what kind of person would show up. If she was known for being careless with men, that probably meant she looked good enough to attract them.

That thought made me think of Rinne. She matched all those points perfectly. Rinne had nothing to do with this situation, but I couldn’t help the comparison.

—At that moment, that’s what I thought.

“Ah… she might be here.”

Machida-san suddenly whispered and looked out the window.

I followed her gaze and saw that the girl walking on the busy sidewalk outside the station was heading inside. The moment I saw her―

“…!”

I couldn’t help but catch my breath.

◇

~side: Rinne~

That day, Rinne was excited. The reason was simple. Her admired friend Nene had replied recently and said, “Let’s meet and talk.” And now they were finally going to meet.

Her feelings had finally reached Nene. Rinne felt overjoyed. She thought that her persistent messages had convinced Nene to agree. Nene was kind, after all.

(Ehehe, I get to see Nene for the first time in months… I wonder what I should say~)

There were so many things Rinne wanted to talk about. Most of all, she wanted to talk about Sousuke. That cruel guy had started letting a female friend move in as revenge for being cheated on. Rinne wanted to vent to Nene about him, hoping Nene would agree with her, saying, “That’s awful,” or “Unbelievable.” She wanted comfort from someone she admired. If that happened, she would finally feel relieved.

Lost in these thoughts, Rinne soon saw the café. She stepped inside, letting the bell ring, and looked around. Then she saw her―

(―There she is!)

A delicate girl with black hair cut in a wolf-style haircut. It was Nene. Seeing her looking almost the same as in high school, Rinne felt a rush of joy she couldn’t put into words.

For months, she had wanted to see this admired friend. Finally seeing her gave Rinne a sense of fulfillment.

But―

(―Eh…?)

That joy quickly turned cold.

Because there was an unexpected presence next to Nene.

(…Huh?)

A dark shadow that shouldn’t have been there, that Rinne never wanted to see, was sitting right there. Seeing this all-too-familiar person drained Rinne’s happiness in an instant.

(…W-why…)

Rinne’s steps toward Nene froze. A waiter asked, “…Excuse me?” but she couldn’t respond. The person next to Nene was Sousuke. He, too, looked back at her with a shocked expression.

(W-what’s going on…)

Confusion and anger swirled inside Rinne. She narrowed her eyes, stomped toward their table, and slammed her hand on it while looking down at the two sitting there.

“―W-what is this… Nene, why are you with Sousuke…!”

She demanded an explanation. The situation made no sense. Nene looked puzzled and asked,

“…What’s with the sudden outburst? You know Shiraki?”

“I-I do know him… He was my boyfriend…!”

Upon hearing this, Nene’s expression changed to one of realization. She glanced at Rinne and Sousuke, and then said,

“…Ah―right…”

As if she had figured something out,

“…The world really is small…”

She said,

“Now that you mention it… yeah… if I put your stories together, it makes sense… so you and Shiraki… that’s how it was…”

She murmured to herself as if she had come to terms with it, but then her gaze returned to Rinne. It was a look somewhere between disbelief and reproach. It’s not the kind of look she gives a friend.

“If that’s the case… What a crazy coincidence. What a twist of fate.”

“I don’t care about fate or coincidence! Seriously, why are you with Sousuke!?”

Rinne asked, but deep down, she already had an answer.

―The female friend that Sousuke was letting stay with him.

The exact connection was unclear, but if that friend was Nene, then at least the reason they were together made sense.

It made sense… but Rinne didn’t want to accept it.

Nene and Sousuke should not be connected.

Her source of comfort and the source of her nightmare should never be together.

Yet, as if to shatter that wish―

“―So you were the cheating girlfriend who broke Shiraki’s heart? Rinne.”

“…!”

The words shook Rinne to her core.

They were spoken by Nene.

A voice full of anger.

A look of anger for someone else’s sake.

Rinne felt completely blindsided as she had come here today hoping to vent and be sympathized with. It was the worst feeling, as if an unexpected guillotine had fallen on her without warning.

At the same time, even through the confusion, Rinne already understood one thing.

―Nene was no longer on her side.