I Was Falsely Confessed to and Exposed in Front of Everyone, so I Jumped off the Roof - Chapter 5

I was talking with Shibuki-san on the landing of the stairs, just small talk. Lately, I’d noticed her expression seemed clouded more often than before.

“Is something bothering you?”

I’m not good at saying things in a roundabout or gentle way. So I just asked her directly.

“It’s nothing really. I’m fine.”

She looked a little stiff. I knew it wasn’t just my imagination. Maybe I’m the reason she doesn’t want to say it. I’ve never dated anyone before, so I don’t really know how this works. But even if I have to figure it out step by step, I just want to clear the clouds from her heart.

♢ ♢ ♢

Amaha was worried about me. It made me happy that he cared, but at the same time, the guilt was eating me alive. How long was I going to keep up this lie? Once it ended, I’d finally be free. But the moment it ended, I’d also lose Amaha.

Ah… I see now. I don’t want to say goodbye to him. When I realized that, I felt a small spark of strength inside me. But it was already too late.

♢ ♢ ♢

When Shibuki-san and I returned to the classroom, we were suddenly surrounded by the popular group.

“Amaha-kuuuun! We have exciting news! Guess what! Guess whaaat!!”

“Hey, wait!”

“Turns out Ruika’s confession was a lieee! Hahaha!”

What did they just say? I looked at Shibuki-san. Her face was frozen. The group popped party crackers and started laughing loudly.

“Man, that loser date was priceless! An aquarium? Seriously? How lame can you get?!”

Watajima, the group’s leader, showed me his phone. On the screen was a picture of Shibuki-san and me walking through the aquarium. They’d been watching us. Why? How?

“I mean, you tried, I’ll give you that. But come on, think about it. A girl like Ruika confessing to a guy like you? Be real. How full of yourself can you be? Idiot. Moron.”

My mind went blank. It was all a lie? How could something like that be real?

“Well, at least you got to live the dream for a bit, right? But let’s be honest. Someone like you is never going to get a girl cuter than Ruika. So really, this was a blessing. You should be thanking us.”

Their laughter surrounded me. My whole body trembled. I couldn’t understand what they were saying anymore. I turned to Shibuki-san.

“Shibuki-san? Is it true?”

She didn’t answer. Tears just fell silently down her cheeks.

“You bastard! You made Ruika cry!”

Watajima grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against the wall. It happened so fast my body didn’t even react. Only the dull pain spread through me.

“Don’t ever talk to Ruika again, you creepy loner!”

But they were the ones who started all this. Watajima snatched my phone from my pocket. The wallpaper was a photo of Shibuki-san and me at karaoke. He looked at it, sneered, and smashed the phone onto the floor.

The screen shattered, and a crack ran right between Shibuki-san and me.

“Seriously, you’d better know your place. Actually, just get out. Having you in this class is disgusting.”

Watajima kicked me in the thigh. Then he shoved me, forcing me out of the classroom. One of the girls from the popular group looked at me.

“Gross. Why don’t you just die?”

Then the door slammed shut. I stood there alone, frozen and unable to do anything. My mind was blank. And then I thought.

“That’s right. I still have Mom and Dad. I’m not alone. I’m not alone.”

I dragged my aching body and started walking down the hallway.

♢ ♢ ♢

After the classroom door shut, I collapsed to the floor. No sound came out of my mouth. Amaha’s phone lay on the ground in front of me. It was broken. The photo of the two of us was split right down the middle.

“Good job on the dare! It must’ve been tough dealing with such a creepy guy like that. But it’s okay now, it’s all over.”

Ririka crouched beside me and patted my head. It made my skin crawl.

“Yeah, you did great. But hey, now that gross loner’s gone for good! Happy ending, right?”

He reached a hand toward me. It was disgusting.

“…You’re annoying.”

“Huh? What was that?”

“I said you’re annoying!”

I slapped their hands away with all my strength. My body was shaking, but I forced myself to stand.

“Hey, what’s wrong? He’s gone, you know?”

“That’s exactly why! He’s gone! I don’t want that!”

I threw open the classroom door and ran out into the hallway. I searched desperately for him. What was I going to do if I found him? I didn’t know. I’d probably apologize. But would he forgive me? I didn’t know.

Before I realized it, I was outside in the schoolyard. The bell rang, signaling the end of break time. For a second, I looked up at the clock near the rooftop. I thought stupidly, I have to hurry or I’ll be late for class. And then, I saw him.

Amaha was standing on the other side of the fence, looking at me with cold and empty eyes.

“Hey! Come back! Please, come back to me!”

The words came out broken. Everything in my head was a mess, spinning and noisy. He slowly took out his contact lenses. His beautiful green eyes met mine. Then, he began to climb the fence…

♢ ♢ ♢

I felt someone watching me from the schoolyard below, so I looked down. It was Shibuki-san. She was shouting something, but I couldn’t hear her clearly. I just remembered what she’d once said to me, and I took off my colored contacts. Our eyes met. But that was enough. I was going to see my dad and mom. Then, I climbed over the fence and jumped with everything I had.

♢ ♢ ♢

Doctor’s view.

When the patient was brought in by ambulance, there were already serious signs of shock and risk of cardiac arrest. However, thanks to the first responder’s desperate CPR and artificial respiration, the patient’s life was saved.

Emergency surgery was done right away. The skull fracture and risk of acute subarachnoid bleeding were especially dangerous, and it was almost a miracle that the operation ended safely.

Still, the damage to the lower spine and the complex fractures in both hands are severe, and some kind of lasting aftereffect is expected.

Also, since the patient has a history of PTSD and depression, the mental impact cannot be ignored.

A long period of rehabilitation will be needed, both physically and mentally.