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 36

It turned out the next day that telling him to his wife worked far better than I ever expected.

“Eh… Iijima didn’t come to the office today?”

[Yeah. The editor-in-chief told me he got taken in by the police last night for questioning and only just got released.]

The call was from Rogiku-san. I was eating lunch at university when she contacted me, and her words really shocked me.

She went on.

[And apparently he suddenly said, ‘I’m going to pick up my wife and my son,’ and took paid leave on the spot. Because of that, the editor-in-chief was furious. It was something about, ‘Don’t mess around during Obon deadlines.’ Everything’s moving so fast… Did Shiraki-kun do something?]

“Well, I did… tell his wife about him.”

[Ah, then that explains it.]

Even for me, this was all happening way too fast. Iijima was first detained, and then his wife ran off. That tattling worked like poison that acts instantly.

[Chasing after a wife who’s already left him feels too late!? Plus, with the editor-in-chief seriously mad, his position at the company’s probably gonna be miserable.]

“…Why’s the editor-in-chief so angry, though?”

[Because it’s Obon deadlines.]

“…You mentioned that before, but what exactly is that?”

[Put simply, it means wrapping everything up quickly before Obon. Printing companies shut down for the holiday, so if things run on a normal schedule, magazines and books won’t make it in time.]

“I see…”

[That’s why July, before Obon, and the end of the year, are hell for editors. If someone suddenly takes paid leave, then everything breaks down. It was not just the editor-in-chief—everyone connected will be pissed. Editors are already handling several writers each, so if one disappears, things really fall apart fast.]

…Publishing really is a tough world.

“So basically… Iijima put himself in a bad spot, right?”

[Exactly. Of course, paid leave is allowed. But the timing matters. If it’s not an emergency, like sickness or an accident, and he does something like this, it’s a huge problem. He might even get transferred to another department~]

And so it seems.

Our little report started a chain reaction like some Rube Goldberg machine, pushing Iijima straight downhill. Honestly, it was funny. I even felt like singing the Sunday night syndrome ending theme with my name in it. Too bad it doesn’t fit the rhythm. It’s four syllables.

[Well, anyway, he’s got bigger problems now than harassing Machida-san. Looks like his focus is all on his wife and kid. I’d say you guys win.]

“Still, I won’t let my guard down.”

That said, I could only hope he would fade out quietly.

[By the way… You didn’t even need to use that power harassment card in the end.]

“Oh, that’s true… But I still feel like I should reach out to Mishiro-san personally.”

Now that I knew about her, I couldn’t just leave her alone.

It wasn’t about using her as a revenge card against Iijima. I simply wanted to help, for my own reasons.

The illustrations she posted online were really high quality.

If she gave up drawing because of someone like Iijima, like Nene-san said, it would be such a waste.

And more than that, if the harassment was true, then Iijima shouldn’t just walk away free.

Getting sent to another department was way too soft.

He should lose his job completely.

[Got it… Then if there’s ever anything I can help with, just call me, okay? Don’t hesitate.]

“Understood. Thank you.”

And with that, the call ended.

After finishing my day at the university, I took Umi with me and headed to Maltvono for dinner. The reason was simple. To see for ourselves if Iijima would show up. We were guided to a seat in the back, which was perfect for keeping watch.

But as it turned out, he didn’t come tonight either.

“―So does this mean it’s all over now?”

Nene-san asked me while we waited for the train together after her shift.

Umi was playing the role of the experienced stalking victim and gave a knowing nod.

“It’s better to wait a few more days. In my case, he suddenly snapped and attacked me days later.”

“Ah… that might have happened.”

Back then, I’d taken him down with a kick and called the police to finish it.

This time, too, there was no guarantee we wouldn’t see another reckless outburst.

Still, Iijima seemed focused on his family now. Maybe things were different.

Either way, we had to stay cautious.

“By the way…”

Later that night, after parting with Umi on the train, I got off at our stop with Nene-san. We started walking toward the apartment when,

“..This made me remember how Rinne would always put herself on the line for me in times like this.”

She suddenly said.

“…Rinne?”

“Yeah… back in high school, whenever guys tried to hit on me and I found it annoying, she’d step in front of me, protecting me like a wall. That girl…”

“Well, I mean… she did seem kind of obsessed with Nene-san.”

I figured it wasn’t just liking her, and it was more like admiration.

Though that same obsession twisted into something close to yandere.

“…I’m not saying I want to get back together with her or anything. But that part of Rinne wasn’t so bad…”

That made me wonder, if Rinne knew what Iijima had been doing, what would she do?

I didn’t know if she still adored Nene-san like before. But if she had reflected and still carried that same fiery devotion, then the possibilities were kind of fun to imagine.

…Of course, it was nothing more than daydreaming. In the end, it was pointless to think about.

◇

~side: Iijima~

“―D-Damn it… Why the hell did it come to this…!”

At that same moment.

Ikuo was stumbling through a dark thicket, running for his life. To explain how he ended up here, let’s go back a little to what he’d done earlier today.

After last night’s incident, Ikuo had been let off with just a stern warning and released. Today, he took paid leave from work and drove out to Emiko’s parents’ home in northern Kanto to pick up his wife and son.

He dropped to his knees on the doorstep, begging forgiveness and swearing he’d change. But Emiko and her parents flatly rejected him. For now, he gave up and parked his car in a nearby convenience store lot to rest. That was only a few dozen minutes ago.

The problem started inside that convenience store.

It was a lonely spot on the outskirts of northern Kanto, where houses were few and far between. The parking lot was wide but nearly empty, and there wasn’t another soul around.

Ikuo stepped inside to grab a late dinner.

And there, working alone behind the counter,

“…, ―Rinne?”

A young woman with short chestnut hair in a bob.

It was unmistakably Rinne.

“…Iijima-san?”

She recognized him, too. With no other customers in sight, the two of them exchanged a few words. Not exactly happy about the reunion, but at least talking.

Rinne explained that she was trying to rebuild her life here in her hometown. She’d been reflecting, living quietly, and trying to make a fresh start.

Compared to the way she used to be, she really did seem calmer.

She didn’t accuse Ikuo of cutting ties after her real name had been reported in the news, and they even managed a bit of light conversation.

Before long, Ikuo began telling her about his own situation.

“My wife and kid ran off… so I came to her parents’ place to get them back.”

“They ran away? Did something happen? Did they find out about us?”

“That, and it turns out my wife found out I’ve been into this cute kitchen girl at an Italian place.”

“What the hell are you doing…”

“But she really is cute, I swear. Look, let me show you.”

He pulled out his phone and showed Rinne a photo of Machida Nene that he had secretly taken.

And then—

“—Huh?”

In an instant, Rinne’s whole presence changed.

Her eyes flew wide open. She began to tremble all over.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Iijima-san… are you after Nene?”

“Huh? You know her?”

“Know her? She’s… the person I’ve supported most in my whole life. Not an idol or anything, but to me, she’s still the one and only girl I admire. The one I can’t let go of…”

When Rinne lifted her head, her eyes looked dead and all light was gone from them. The sight was chilling.

Iijima gasped, “Huh…” Rinne ignored him and kept going.

“So, Iijima-sam, this picture? Did you take it in secret? What the hell are you doing? You’re not stalking her, are you?”

“N-no… I just kind of flirted with her a little, that’s all…”

“Ohh, so you did actually try to hit on her, even if it was just a little? I see… If you were protecting her like Sousuke, maybe I’d let it slide… but men who make Nene uncomfortable don’t deserve to exist in this world.”

Muttering to herself, she slipped into the back room. Moments later, she came out again. This time, she was gripping a box cutter tightly in her hand.

The instant Iijima saw it, he finally realized that he had stepped on the worst landmine possible.

“Hey, Iijima, you’d better be ready.”

“Uwaaaaaaahhh!!!”

And with that, he bolted from the store, sprinting in panic until he stumbled into the nearby woods. That brings to the present.

“Ugh… Where’d Iijima run off to…”

Her furious voice echoed through the trees.

Iijima was hiding behind a thick trunk while trembling all over as he fumbled for his phone to call the police.

He must have drained the last bit of power while running. Even if he could call, there was no guarantee help would come in time.

There was no choice now but to rely on himself.

If he could just get back to the car without being noticed, maybe he’d survive.

But if she found him, the thought of being killed chilled him to the bone.

He decided to wait for the right moment.

The instant Rinne wandered even a little farther away, he’d make a break for the parking lot.

“―Iijima! I told you to come out already!!”

Click, click. Rinne flicked the box cutter blade in and out, like some villain in a horror movie.

Iijima’s heart pounded harder than ever before.

He couldn’t stay calm.

Which is why he didn’t notice the branch at his feet―――Crack!!

When he shifted his weight, he stepped right on it.

“―There you are, Iijima!!”

“Uwaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!”

Ikuse took off running at full speed toward the parking lot.

But he was just a desk worker in his thirties. His stamina could only go so far—

“―Guh…!”

He was caught midway, shoved hard in the back, and lost his balance while crashing to the ground.

Rinne wasted no time as she climbed on top of him without mercy.

“―Iijima, if you don’t wanna die, then you’re gonna do exactly what I say from now on.”

She pressed the cold blade of a cutter knife against his neck.

Ikuo trembled so badly that he wet himself.

Her voice came down quietly but was filled with rage.

“From now on, don’t you ever go near Nene again. Do you get it? Trying to dirty the person I admire with your filthy intentions is something I’ll never forgive.”

“Y-Yes…!”

“If I ever find out you get close again to her, I’ll kill you. I know your address. I’ve even been to your place before.”

“I-I’ll never go near her again..!! S-So please forgive me…!!”

“Then get lost. And remember that I can still claim you forced me into prostitution if I want. So if you don’t want more trouble, keep your head down and live quietly.”

“Y-Yes…!!”

The moment Rinne got off his back, Ikuo scrambled away on hands and knees like some wild beast, somehow managing to stand and dash to the parking lot.

He jumped into his car, started the engine with shaking hands, and decided to just go home.

Getting Emiko or his son back no longer mattered.

Right now, all he wanted was to get home and feel safe.

But still rattled, he drove recklessly and ignored the traffic lights. On the way back, he slammed into a van and ended up with serious injuries that would take a full month to heal.