I Was Falsely Confessed to and Exposed in Front of Everyone, so I Jumped off the Roof - Chapter 27

I left home. My photo book had sold too well. It caused trouble for my family, and at the same time, my family caused trouble for me. My little sister even brought her friends over. It was unbearably annoying. Now, I’m staying at Manwa-san’s house. Her children are already independent, and she’s divorced, so I’m not a burden.

“You’re no longer just a talent. You’ve become a social phenomenon.”

Recently, more and more girls on the street have been copying my hairstyle, and the clothes I wear show up everywhere the next day. Commercials came from all directions, across every industry. Anything I touched sold instantly, leaving empty shelves.

“Your existence has started to hack society itself. You’re no longer a cultural figure. You’ve become culture itself. A queen of the modern ritual of consumption.”

“The spread of productive energy. The illusion of exchange value. The crossroads of delayed desire. The horizon of anonymous approval. The boundaries between people.”

“No matter how you dress it up, you’ve become a forbidden idol. Congratulations, Ruika-chan. Happy birthday, idol.”

I had become nothing and everything at once, a symbol. Finally, I had arrived. Everyone was watching me. Everyone was recording me and remembering me. Finally. Finally, I…

“The dome.”

“Yeah. It’s ready. At the perfect time. A sacrifice for the modern ritual that has lost its myths. It’s a ritual. Ah, finally, a world where an idol can connect to a god will be born.”

Everything is ready. Now, all I have to do is wait. I will become a myth. In this world without gods, I will become eternal.

♢ ♢ ♢

I read the file and learned everything. And I had a gut feeling.

“Ah. Ruika-chan…”

I had to stop that plan. Even though I knew I absolutely shouldn’t, I had no choice but to cling to it. I waited outside a café in front of an office building in Shibuya, watching people come and go. Then, when that crazy woman in the suit left with a group of adults, I slipped into the building.

“No way! I knew it!”

There was a security gate. I bumped into a nearby office worker on purpose.

“I’m sorry!”

“No, it’s fine. Wait… are you Sumire, the idol?”

“Ah, that’s me.”

“No way, really?! Can I get your autograph?”

This was my chance.

“Alright!”

The man pulled a notepad from his pocket and handed it to me with a pen. I signed it, added a little elegance, and dropped it into his chest pocket.

“Hehe. Please keep supporting me!”

“Thank you! Wow… the real thing is amazing!”

The man walked out of the building. And in my hand, I now had an ID card. I waved it at the gate and stepped into the elevator hall. I went up to the floor I had researched in advance and reached the office. I picked up the intercom.

“Yes, this is the reception. Do you have an appointment?”

“Please tell the president that Shibuki-san is here.”

“Yes? Well. Yes. I’ll pass it along.”

I waited. The office door opened, and someone who looked like an employee stared at me. Then a man with a cane appeared.

“Who are you? I know you’re not Shibuki-san. If it’s about the past, I won’t tell anyone. Can you just leave it alone?”

“Please don’t leave it alone. It’s about Ruika-chan.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know about your past. Ruika-chan, she’s trash. It’s understandable if she gets abandoned. You could even hurt her, and it would be your right.”

The man with the cane listened silently. His green eyes were beautiful. Ah, I see. This is why I was drawn to him. It made sense.

“Even so, I’m asking. I’ll do anything I can. For Ruika-chan. For Ruika-chan!!”

I bowed my head again and again. In the end, I even went down on my knees.

“Lift your head. No… You can’t do that.”

“Even so, I need you!! Jose! Please!!”

I held out a single ticket.

“It’s a ticket to Ruika-chan’s dome concert. Please! Please!”

“What can I even do?”

“You can do something! I don’t even know what, but… something! Please! I don’t know what, but please do something!”

The boy looked completely confused. But he finally spoke.

“You like her?”

“Yes! I like her!!”

“I see… I have plans, so this is as far as I can go.”

The boy took the ticket and went back into the office. I dropped the ID on the floor and left the building.

♢ ♢ ♢

The girl who once lied to me with a fake confession is now singing and dancing at the center of the stage.

She’s Japan’s number one idol now and was holding her very own concert in this giant dome.

““““Rui! Rui! Rui! Rui!””””

Her stage name is her real first name, written in cute hiragana letters. But I know the truth. She may look like a pure and long-haired beauty, but she’s no angel spreading smiles.

“Everyone! Thank you so much! I could only make it this far because of all of you!”

She forms a heart with her hands, showing off her cute charm. Everyone in the dome is completely captivated. No, they were enchanted. She has overwhelming charisma. She used to be part of a big idol group, but even among them, her beauty, singing voice, and expressiveness stood out. And she ran all the way to the top of the entertainment world. Once, for a short while, she was the girl beside me. Now, no matter how far I reach, I can’t touch her anymore.

“But… there’s something I need to apologize for.”

Suddenly, Ruika-chan smiles sadly. The crowd stirs in confusion.

“This last song has never been released before. I saved it for today. Not for all of you… but for you.”

Who is she talking about? A quiet and solemn intro begins. It’s heavy and cold. It was nothing like a typical idol song. But the atmosphere in the dome changes completely. No, it’s she who changes it. Her expression is sorrowful yet delicate, ethereal yet strong, her sweet voice filling the space.

Goodbye, me.

The me who only cared about appearances.

The me who chased the spotlight and blocked out the light of others.

Goodbye, me.

The me full of mistakes and empty showmanship.

The me covered in layers of makeup and memories.

I’m sorry. For making you cry.

I can’t stay by your side anymore.

It hurts. To be close, and yet only hold what’s left of you.

Everyone listened and was lost in her voice. But for me, her song only brings back memories of the past. Her stage slowly rises higher into the air. And when I look up, our eyes meet. Just like that day. The day I jumped from the rooftop.

“Don’t look.”

I turned to the voice. There was Kagiroi-san.

“You don’t need to see her. You don’t need to care about someone like that. I can give you all the happiness you need.”

I just stood there. Behind me was Kagiroi-san. In front of me was Shibuki-san. This must be the crossing point of past and future. The final turning point.

“That girl is like Sodom and Gomorrah. Acting like a god, she created her own hell. If you look at her, you’ll turn into a pillar of salt like Lot’s wife.”

“Do sins have to be carried forever?”

“That’s why you mustn’t look. You’ve suffered enough. Run away, like Lot. There isn’t a single righteous person among those who look at her.”

Is that true? At least one… one person… came asking for my help.

“Kagiroi-san. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. Whatever you choose, I’ll accept it.”

“I won’t look away anymore. So I’ll face her… I’ll see her.”

I turned back. I looked up at Shibuki-san. This must be the very bottom of hell. She’s about to deliver God’s punishment from there. I gripped my cane and moved forward.

“No! Don’t go closer!!”

“Step aside! Shibuki-san is waiting for me!!”

I swung my cane and tried to push the security guards away. Then Kagiroi-san rushed in. She shoved the guards aside and opened a path for me.

“Thank you!”

“Come back to me. I’ll be waiting even at the bottom of hell.”

I climbed onto the stage. Shibuki-san was so focused on singing that she didn’t notice how close I’d gotten. She finished her song, turned her back, and then threw herself into the air.

“Ahhhhhh!!”

I threw my cane away. I ran. I ran with everything I had, praying I’d make it in time. And then, I caught her as she fell.

“Huh? Jose?”

“…I came to see you.”

We hit the floor, or so I thought. The stage floor opened, and we dropped down onto a huge cushion below. We landed safely.

“W‑what?! What is this?! Why?! Why am I not dead?! Why is Jose, why is Jose this close to me?!”

“…I… I still wanted to see you. The moment I saw your face, I knew it. I still really wanted to see you.”

I held her tight.

“Why? I was never going to be forgiven! So I… I thought I would make up for it! If I died in front of everyone… then maybe… maybe even God would forgive me…”

“It’s okay! It’s enough already! It’s fine. I forgive you. So don’t disappear!!”

Shibuki-san’s face twisted as she tried to hold something back. Then slowly… it broke apart.

“Aaaahhhh—!!”

She cried out in a loud voice. She cried and cried and kept crying. And our sins and punishment melted away somewhere with her tears.

♢ ♢ ♢

I watched the whole scene from the side of the stage with Manwa-san.

“Thank goodness…”

“Phew. Quite a performance. It was actually not bad.”

She was the scariest person of all. When I thought Ruika-chan might die during this concert, I knew there was no way this woman wouldn’t notice. When I confronted her, she just smiled and confirmed it.

“If Ruika-chan had died here, she would have become an eternal maiden. The people here would remember her vividly, and she would become a legend forever. A perfect idol… leaving a mark on everyone’s hearts.”

I bargained with her. I asked her to make it so that if Jose came to save Ruika-chan, she could survive. It was a gamble. If Jose hadn’t come, Manwa-san probably wouldn’t have opened the trapdoor.

“You’re crazy.”

“Of course I am. Otherwise, you can’t produce an idol. Selling ideals… that’s my job. You have to dream to survive it.”

“Then do it with someone other than Ruika-chan. She’s not an idol anymore.”

“That’s right. She fell to the ground and reached for a man’s hand. She’s just a woman now. She needs to be cast out of paradise.”

After saying that, Manwa-san left. I exhaled with relief and whispered.

“Happy birthday, Ruika-chan. Goodbye. Next time, let’s meet as friends.”

I stepped back, too. This story ahead… it wasn’t really my part anymore.

♢ ♢ ♢

I was still feeling dazed. The chaos at the dome concert was treated as an accident. After that, Manwa-san fired me.

“I don’t need broken idols anymore.”

“Thank you for everything, Manwa-san.”

“Yes. It was fun. Goodbye, Ruika.”

And just like that, a jobless NEET was born. I had more money than I could ever spend, though.

“No work, no food, right?”

“Woof! Woof! At least let me be your pet!”

“Good little thing! Well, I suppose I can give you some dog food.”

In the end, I ended up living at Jose’s place by default. Since I could peek at his private moments… maybe there was still a small chance for me…

“What should I do now?”

I was sued by Jose and had to pay a huge settlement. The others avoided jail, but it wrecked their finances. Jose didn’t push further. He said it was enough. Even the lawyer seemed relieved.

“Let’s sell the company and go to America! Let’s go to college!”

“Not a bad idea.”

“I can manage English!”

“Why don’t we just go to New York? Your little dog can earn money on Broadway. We’ll be at Columbia in the meantime.”

I was just lucky. I was given a second chance by sheer chance. Jose must have had a hard time, but he was strong. Someone who can forgive others… that’s a strong person.

I, who couldn’t even forgive myself and kept running wild, was childish and foolish. I clung to idols and became one myself, trying to forgive myself by pretending to be a fake god. Jose pulled me out of that wrong path.

That’s why I love him. I really love him.

The End.

And so, their journey of forgiveness continues.