I, Who Am Somehow Only Liked by Yanderes, Tried Transferring into a Class Full of Yandere Girls

Since that day, Tsukimiya-san no longer came to pick me up in the morning.

Instead, Yokawa-san started coming to pick me up for some reason.

“Aiji-kun, good morning☆”

A smile that could brighten anyone’s day.

If Hanazono-san was disguising herself as Tsukimiya-san, then there was no longer any danger, but I had decided to go to school with Yokawa-san.

“Shiika is absent again today.”

When we arrived in the classroom and the class started, Tsukimiya-san was nowhere to be seen.

She had been absent for several days now.

There was no contact from her, and it seemed like an unexcused absence. My classmates were worried.

Could she have caught a cold?

Tsukimiya-san, always so composed and unfazed, even by my side when I was feverish?

What flashed through my mind was the scene from that day.

Realizing my fear, Tsukimiya-san had a hurt, lonely expression before quickly replacing it with a gentle smile.

…But, Tsukimiya-san was trying to deceive me by disguising herself as Hanazono-san, trying to make me dependent on her as if I couldn’t live without her.

So, there’s no need to feel guilty.

And yet, I find myself unavoidably worried.

“Aiji-kun, have you had any issues with Shiika recently?”

“…Huh?”

It was lunchtime when I was suddenly asked this by Yokawa-san as I was spacing out at my desk.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Umm, I was just a bit curious.”

Yokawa-san said with a look of concern.

“Shiika likes you, right? I feel the same, but I want her to spend time with other kids as much as possible.

Yet, she suddenly asked me the other day.”

“Asked you?”

“Yeah. She wanted me to take over your pick-up and drop-off instead of her because she had other things she had to do.

I’m wondering if Shiika’s absence has something to do with that. Aiji-kun, did Shiika tell you anything?”

“…”

I had no clue about the “other things” she mentioned.

Tsukimiya-san was obsessed with me.

She always prioritized me over anything else.

She would leave me in the care of Yokawa-san, who should be her rival in love, and skip school to do something else.

…I don’t understand.

Looking back, it’s always been like this.

I know nothing about Tsukimiya-san.

Why she fell in love with me, why she is so obsessed with me, what she is thinking.

All I know about her is the superficial information that she is a paragon of beauty and brains, adored by everyone in class.

“Well. I’m happy to be with Aiji-kun, and if Shiika is willing to let me, I’d love to take this chance to flirt as much as we can—”

After saying this in a joking manner, she continued, “But,”

“Shiika is a rival for Aiji-kun, but she was a friend before that. If she’s in trouble, I want to help, right?”

Yokawa-san said this without hesitation, and I thought to myself that she really must be a very good person at heart.

“…Ah, um”

“Whoa! You surprised me.”

Yokawa-san jumped at the sudden interruption.

“Um, you’re Usuki-san, right?”

Usuki-san had appeared before us at some point.

That’s unusual.

She rarely approaches to talk in the classroom.

“…I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and couldn’t stand by without doing anything. It’s about why Tsukimiya-san is absent.”

“It’s problematic that you naturally eavesdropped, but well, what’s done is done. …Do you know something about Tsukimiya-san?”

“…Yes. I was called out by Tsukimiya-san before. And I was told the reason why she is absent now.”

Usuki-san said this and then looked around nervously before suggesting we change locations in a very apologetic manner.

It’s not ideal to talk about it here, so could we move somewhere else? I know it’s a bother to ask you both, but…”

☆

We went to the landing in front of the rooftop with Usuki-san.

The door to the rooftop was locked, and desks no longer in use were stacked upside down in front of it.

This place should be private enough for no one to overhear us. I prompted Usuki-san to start.

“Can you tell me why Tsukimiya-san is absent?”

And what she had to do.

Usuki-san nodded slightly and began to speak timidly.

“After the incident the other day, I was called by Tsukimiya-san after school.

I thought I was going to be reprimanded, but it turned out to be different. She asked me for a favor.

She wanted me to watch over Aiji-kun in her place. To always be by his side so that no harm would come to him.

…I didn’t understand.

If the incident had been resolved, there would have been no danger to Aiji-kun anymore. After all, it was Tsukimiya-san who had been disguising herself as Hanazono-san.

When I asked her that, Tsukimiya-san answered:

It wasn’t me who disguised as Hanazono-san. The Hanazono-san that Aiji-kun saw was the real person, and she is still looking for him.”

—What?

My mind went blank upon hearing those words.

“Wait a minute! Hanazono-san wasn’t Tsukimiya-san? The Hanazono-san I saw was indeed the real person?”

Usuki-san nodded affirmatively.

“Then, why did Tsukimiya-san claim to be Hanazono-san at that moment? Why would she take the blame…”

“…It was for Aiji-kun’s sake.”

“For me?”

“…By claiming to be disguised as Hanazono-san, and by leaving Aiji-kun’s side, he could live his days in peace, free from the fear that had tormented him.

So, Tsukimiya-san decided to take the blame as if she had been disguising herself as Hanazono-san, playing into the suspicions Aiji-kun had.”

At that time, I confronted Tsukimiya-san with my suspicion.

I had suspected that Tsukimiya-san might be disguising herself as Hanazono-san.

Hearing this, Tsukimiya-san came up with the idea.

If she admitted it, it would be as if she was the one disguising herself as Hanazono-san. She could erase Hanazono-san’s existence from my mind.

But, still…

“If she did that, I would become afraid of Tsukimiya-san. My regard for her would drop to the bottom.

Tsukimiya-san likes me, doesn’t she? Then why… why would she deliberately lower her standing…”

It’s different. I understand.

Why Tsukimiya-san did do such a thing.

I just didn’t want to admit it.

“…Even if it meant being hated, she wanted to alleviate Aiji-kun’s anxiety.”

That’s right.

Tsukimiya-san was willing to sully herself to ease my anxiety.

She tried to free my heart dominated by the fear of Hanazono-san.

If that’s the case.

The fleeting look of loneliness that crossed her face when I reflexively feared her approaching that time—it wasn’t an act.

“Then, where is Tsukimiya-san now…?”

“…She is tracking down Hanazono-san.

If Hanazono-san appears before Aiji-kun, everything will be ruined. She intends to settle it before that happens…”

To settle it—.

Tsukimiya-san had said she was dealing with those who would harm me from the shadows. She is willing to confront Hanazono-san to keep her away from me.

I know.

Hanazono-san is strong. And violent. It won’t end peacefully, at least.

She might be defeated.

And.

Even if she wins, Tsukimiya-san will end up bearing the guilt.

“Wait! Aiji-kun, where are you going!?”

“I’m going to find Tsukimiya-san! Tell the teacher I’m leaving early!”

With those words, I ran down the stairs and dashed out of the school building.

I have to stop Tsukimiya-san.