I Want a Girlfriend who Won’t Betray Me

A Lonely Start to the New Semester

The next morning, I go to school at the same time as usual. I was worried that Otoe would be waiting for me at the station, but she isn’t there.

Today is the entrance ceremony. The school gate is decorated with decorations and has a banner that says,

‘Private Sugawara Academy High School Entrance Ceremony.’

Now that I think about it, I transferred here last September, so I never experienced this before.

When I enter the classroom, Otoe is still not here yet. As I take my seat, Sudo-san and Hayase-san who sit beside me, greet me.

“Good morning, Shinonome-kun.”

“Shinonome-kun, good morning.”

“Good morning, Sudo-san, Hayase-san.”

The bell rings, and our homeroom teacher, Kotobuki-sensei, enters the classroom wearing a pure white jacket and a tight skirt.

It really suits you, Sensei.

“Yatsugashira-san is absent today due to feeling unwell.”

That’s the first thing Kotobuki-sensei said.

The students in the class have complicated expressions on their faces. Sudo-san, Hayase-san, and even Wakana all look at me at the same time.

Is it because of what happened yesterday?

“Everyone, the entrance ceremony is about to begin. Please step into the hallway and head to the gymnasium.”

As the sound of chairs scraping against the floor fills the room and we prepare to head out into the hallway, Kanbayashi approaches me.

“Shinonome, do you have a moment after school today?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The entrance ceremony is taking place, but half of my mind is occupied with thoughts about Otoe. I can’t stop thinking about what happened yesterday.

Before I knew it, the ceremony is nearing its end.

When I return to the classroom, there is some commotion in the classroom. It doesn’t seem to be related to the entrance ceremony.

Kotobuki-sensei hasn’t returned yet, she’s probably taking care of something else.

Then, Sudo-san leans in and whispers to me,

“Shinonome-kun, yesterday, in front of the station, a lot of people overheard you, Yatsugashira-san, and that other guy, probably Yatsugashira-san’s ex, talking.”

“……”

So this is what the commotion about.

“That’s probably why Yatsugashira-san is absent today.”

Our homeroom teacher, Kotobuki-sensei, enters the classroom. After giving a few brief announcements, the session ends.

Kanbayashi immediately approaches me.

“Shinonome, can we talk for a bit? Ah, you can pack up your things first.”

Then, he takes me to the backyard.

“Shinonome, it’s about what Sudo-san mentioned earlier.”

“……”

“You really didn’t know Yatsugashira-san has an ex-boyfriend?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Well, people have been saying all sorts of things. They have been saying that the two of you are fighting over Yatsugashira-san, some of them also say that her ex-boyfriend came back for revenge after being dumped, and so on. But to be honest, none of them are actually true. Yatsugashira-san was dating that college student until last June. They were very much in love with each other, and he even came to school sometimes.”

“I knew that she has an ex-boyfriend, but when we started going out, she told me that they have already broken up. I even confirmed it before dating her, but after what happened yesterday, I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“I see. Actually, I have a friend who saw Yatsugashira-san going into a love hotel with that guy. That started happening around mid-February.”

So that’s how it is.

“That’s why I thought you and Yatsugashira-san have already broken up. But then, at the opening ceremony, you two came looking all lovey-dovey, so I was confused. Then, yesterday happened, and I started wondering again.”

“I see. Yeah, now that I think about it, Otoe started acting a little weird around February.”

“Then it’s confirmed. No matter the reason, Yatsugashira-san has betrayed you. I’m sorry, but it is what it is.”

“Hey, Kanbayashi, why are you telling me all this?”

“Because you’re an important friend of mine, Shinonome. I don’t want you getting caught up in some weird rumours. I’m just trying to put out the fire before it spreads.”

“Weird rumours?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

From the next day onwards, whether I’m on my way to school, walking through the hallways, or sitting in the cafeteria, I feel like people are staring at me. They are not the same friendly looks as before. They are unpleasant gazes.

Otoe has been absent from school the whole time. I don’t know why. She hasn’t contacted me either. If she hasn’t reached out to me, then maybe what that guy said is the truth after all.

But still, I can’t just leave things as they are. So, I try calling Otoe, but my calls just won’t go through. It’s probably because she has changed her number or blocked me.

I can’t let things stay like this. Since we technically haven’t broken up, I decided to go to Otoe’s house. But when I get there, her mother coldly tells me,

“Otoe doesn’t want to see you. Go home.”

Her tone is ice-cold. Maybe, I shouldn’t have left her alone that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yatsugashira’s POV

I watch Kazuki walks away from my second-floor window.

The truth is, I really want to see him. I really want him to hold me in his arms.

But now that Kazuki has found out about my relationship with Tojo, meeting him again will be too disrespectful to him. So, I decided that I will never see him again.

As for Tojo, I told my parents everything that same day. They contacted a lawyer immediately and reported him to the police.

There was a video of him assaulting me while I was asleep on his phone. So, he was arrested on the spot.

According to our lawyer, he’s already over twenty years old. The crime of drugging and assaulting a minor carries a severe sentence. They said he probably won’t be able to get out of prison for at least seven years.

We also demanded a large amount of compensation form Tojo’s parents.

However, no amount of money will heal the wounds in my heart.

Why didn’t I ask my parents for help the moment Tojo deceived me? I regret it now more than anything else.

I was truly happy when I was dating Kazuki. That’s why I prioritized him over dealing with Tojo…and that was my mistake.

I’m sorry, Kazuki. I really do love you. That’s why…

Tears won’t stop streaming down my cheeks, I can’t think about anything anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kazuki’s POV

Three weeks after the opening ceremony, our homeroom teacher, Kotobuki-sensei, enters the classroom.

“Everyone, I have an unfortunate news. Yatsugashira Otoe will be transferring to another school.”

“““Ehhhhh?!?”””

“Quiet down. This is her own decision. The school tried to persuade her to stay, but she was adamant in her choice, so the transfer has been finalized.”

I see, Otoe has decided to transfer to another school.

From that day on, Sudo-san, Hayase-san, Kanbayashi, and Koiwai-san still talk to me, but most other classmates no longer look at me with friendly eyes.

It probably has something to do with what Kanbayashi mentioned before. There are probably all sorts or rumours spreading behind my back.

From that day on, I decide to completely ignore all the stares I get at school. After school, I spend my time in the library either studying or reading books.