My Memories Came Back, But I'm Not Telling My Childhood Friends - Chapter 34-35

Chapter 34

Finally… Shizuno Soraka has fallen into my hands.

I nearly got stabbed in the back, but thanks to that guy I barely got away in time.

That man really surprises me. He noticed the possibility with no real proof at all.

He’s the one person I never want to make my enemy.

Even so, Shizuno Soraka…

She made a wonderful face.

I thought she wouldn’t come close to her sister Yuri, but I guess blood really is thick.

That humiliated, twisted expression filled my heart perfectly.

Every day from now on is going to be fun. I have to treasure her without breaking her this time.

With her sister Yuri, I went too far because she was just too beautiful.

I never expected her to be that fragile.

Oh, don’t get the wrong idea — I really did like Yuri.

It was love at first sight. From the moment I met her until we started dating, I loved her purely.

But more than that, I really wanted to see the moment a goddess falls.

You get it, right? It’s the same as wanting to bully the girl you like a little.

I just went a bit too far. It’s not like I approached her planning to break her from the start.

Ever since then, the look of despair on Yuri’s face has stuck in my mind and won’t leave.

I want to see that face again, but Yuri is already a broken doll. That doesn’t satisfy me anymore.

I got hungry.

…At first, I was living life on the easy path of a winner.

Good looks, good brain.

Plus my parents are rich, so I could get anything I wanted.

But at some point it all became normal, and I started feeling empty.

I wanted more thrill. I wanted to feel more fulfilled. More… more—

Then I met that man, and for the first time I tried the bad kind of fun.

It was so much fun I couldn’t stop.

Once I knew that kind of play, living like a serious guy seemed stupid.

So I laid my hands on Yuri too.

Honestly I regret it a little. I do feel some remorse.

Yuri was the one and only person who was perfect for me.

When I think I’ll never meet another girl like her, I feel like I wasted something precious.

But right then, her little sister Shizuno Soraka appeared in front of me.

I felt destiny.

She could take Yuri’s place. She was worthy of walking beside me.

Once I thought that, I decided to make Soraka mine no matter what it took.

I used the dropouts clinging to this school, slowly raising her favor toward me.

Give those pieces of trash money and girls, and they’ll do anything.

In this world there are only two types of people — the ones who use others and the ones who get used. I played my cards smart as one of the users.

And so I steadily corrupted Soraka’s heart.

—Only to find out she had followed me here for revenge.

Even I was shocked.

But in the end, I managed to hide my true self and won by a hair.

It really was dangerous.

I might need to train her a bit before she becomes my girlfriend.

…Speak of the devil.

Soraka-chan came to the student council room.

“Hey Soraka-chan. Good work today.”

“…”

“No greeting?”

“…Good work.”

“Good girl.”

I praise Soraka for listening to me properly.

But her face is still stiff.

That won’t do for my girlfriend.

“Soraka-chan, can you stop making that scary face already? We’re going to be lovers from now on.”

“That’s why I would never—”

To shut down her resistance, I quickly reach for my phone in my pocket.

Just that movement changes her expression to fear.

Ah… what a great face…

Fear mixed with humiliation she can’t quite hide.

You’re too wonderful, Soraka-chan. I can’t get enough.

She’s so proud, so it excites me even more than it did with Yuri.

I can’t hold back my excitement and walk over to her.

“W-what are you…”

“Soraka-chan, have you ever kissed anyone?”

“No… I haven’t.”

“First time? Nice.”

A beauty like her still pure. Amazing.

“…Stop.”

Soraka resists with a thin voice like she’s begging for her life.

Yes… The way strong-willed Soraka looks scared.

How far will you entertain me?

“What? You don’t want me to do it?”

“…”

“I get it. Everyone resists at first.”

“…”

“But once you do it, you won’t mind anymore.”

“…”

“Come on Soraka-chan, look over here.”

I touch her chin and bring my lips close to her beautiful ones—

…Knock knock.

“President~? The teacher is calling for you~”

…Tch. Got interrupted.

I quickly step away from Soraka. She collapses right there on the spot.

I hide her as I deal with my junior.

“Yeah. I’ll head over right away.”

“Got it~”

The door clicks shut.

“Haa…”

The mood died because of the interruption.

“Let’s stop here for today. We have plenty of time.”

I’ll save the rest for later.

I like saving the fun parts, so no problem.

I can’t risk breaking her again either.

I have to cherish her slowly and carefully…

—

Chapter 35

In the end, I couldn’t think of any way out.

With a hostage in his hands, there was nothing I could do.

Even if I somehow took the photo data, he already gave it to his so-called friends, so stopping it from spreading was almost impossible.

I was completely helpless against this guy.

“Soraka-chan, you can’t make such a dark face. You’re my girlfriend now.”

“……! I never said I became your anything—”

“Hm? Do you understand your position?”

“……”

Yokomizo waves his phone at me.

Every time he does that, my body freezes like I’m being trained.

This is the worst humiliation…

“Alright, today you’re coming to my house.”

“…”

“Let’s continue what we couldn’t finish last time.”

…No. I’d rather die than let this guy take my lips.

But I can’t do that. Dying because this guy cornered me would be the ultimate humiliation.

Still, I can’t resist.

He takes me with him and we leave through the school gate.

“Look, look! It’s Shizuno-san with the Student Council President!”

“So it’s true they started dating~”

“Eh, really!? That explains why she’s been acting weird lately~”

People’s eyes gather on us near the gate.

But what the girls are saying is unbearable for me.

“Ah, so that’s why Shizuno-san’s grades dropped.”

“She fell hard for love? Even Soraka-san is a maiden after all~ Pffft.”

“She always acted so righteous, but I guess she’s doing it every day too?”

“Ew, I’m so disappointed~”

Their voices stab into my chest.

The damage hits harder because I was putting on a front all this time.

It feels like my pride is getting torn to shreds.

I can’t take this anymore…

Someone… someone save me from this—

For a moment, Reita’s face flashes in my mind.

But I quickly shake it away.

Asking him for help now? How pathetic am I?

I’m the one who pushed away the guy who cared so much about me.

And all because I was sulking out of jealousy.

Besides, even if I asked him now, the situation is already impossible to fix.

If I had relied on him earlier, maybe things could have been different…

“Everyone’s saying whatever they want. But don’t worry, I love every version of you, Soraka-chan. Even the powerless, pathetic you is wonderful.”

Yokomizo mercilessly hits me with words I didn’t want to hear, like a final blow.

My heart reaches its limit.

Ah…

Maybe this is my punishment from heaven.

The price for someone like me talking about justice—.

What I did was probably wrong after all.

Even bad people have feelings. They weren’t full of evil from the start.

When I think about it, Reita is the same.

He went off the right path because of the painful experience of losing his memories, but he used to have a kind heart.

Honestly, given what he went through, it was natural he ended up that way.

I handed out punishment without considering any of their circumstances.

I probably made too many enemies.

This is my punishment.

Maybe I just have to accept it.

If I become the sacrifice, my sister will be saved.

And I won’t drag anyone else into this.

Yeah… I just have to endure it.

I can carry everything on my own.

I’m sorry, Reita.

You asked me, “Do you want us all to get together again?”

I think that was when you decided to get yourself back.

But when you finally do, I might not be there anymore.

This is all my fault. It’s what my powerless, selfish self brought on.

…Goodbye, Reita.

I probably loved you—

“…Hey. Got something to talk about.”

Right when I was about to fall into deep darkness, that moment.

“Rei…ta?”

I see the person in front of me and I’m stunned.

Why…? Why is Reita here…?

“Haa. You again… You’re not stalking Soraka-chan, are you?”

“Who’s the stalker here?”

Reita says that with a cool smirk.

There’s a kind of confidence in the way he acts.

“Oh my… Looks like you know the situation. Did you tell him anyway, Soraka-chan, even though I told you not to?”

Yokomizo sticks his hand in his pocket and looks at us.

“I-I didn’t say anything…!”

I deny it on reflex.

“Hmm… Whatever. Kawakami, sorry but we’re going to spend time together now. Right, Soraka-chan?”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

I didn’t want Reita of all people to see me like this…

“Hey Soraka. Don’t act so unlike yourself. Say what you want clearly, like you always do.”

He talks to me in his usual way.

Reita…?

What are you trying to do…?

He sounds like he knows some of what’s going on, but does he really understand the situation?

My sister’s life is on the line. Even he can’t do anything about this.

“Look… This has nothing to do with you, right?”

“It does. She’s my childhood friend.”

“So what? She’s just an old friend. Actually, you’re the only one who still thinks that. Right, Soraka-chan?”

“…”

“Soraka-chan.”

“…Yes. I have nothing to do with him anymore.”

It hurts. It hurts so much.

The pain in my chest is too much and I bite my lip without thinking.

“So could you disappear already?”

“Sorry, but I can’t do that. I made a promise. If you’re in trouble, I’ll lend a hand.”

A promise…? Why…?

After I pushed you away… why…?

“Cool pose is nice and all… but do you really get the situation? If I spread these photos of Soraka-chan’s sister… you know what happens, right?”

Yokomizo shows the phone to Reita.

“You might not know, but her sister is depressed right now. If these get spread in that state… you understand what’ll happen, yeah? Still okay with that?”

Yokomizo threatens Reita the same way he did with me.

No… With a hostage, there’s really nothing we can do.

This problem can’t be solved no matter what.

Reita… Just forget about me and don’t do anything extra…

But Reita—

“Yeah, I don’t care.”

He says something outrageous so casually.

“H-hey Reita! What are you—!?”

If you do that, my sister will—!

You can’t do that…! It would really be irreversible.

Please Reita. I know you want to help me, but don’t do anything reckless…!

“—Hey! Everyone around, listen up!”

On top of that, Reita raises his voice loud and starts drawing everyone’s attention at once.

Ah… It’s too late now.

What are you doing, Reita…?

You’re doing the one thing you absolutely shouldn’t right now.

Sure, this might corner Yokomizo.

But then my sister will…

The worst ending flashes through my head and cold sweat breaks out all over my body.

“Kukuku… I forgot, Kawakami. That you’re a genuine piece of trash. So her sister doesn’t matter to you at all, huh?”

That’s a lie… Reita isn’t that cold.

But if this keeps going, that’s what it’ll look like.

And we’re already past the point of no return.

“…Sorry, but I already quit being trash. I’m not like you.”

“What did you say…?”

But Reita puts on a bold smirk again.

W-what…? Does he have something to flip this situation?

But Reita shouldn’t know the full details.

This isn’t a problem he can fix.

Brute force won’t work here…?

“Alright, let’s start. Time for justice to be served—”

Then Reita says something that sounds like a line from a play.

I have no idea what’s going on and can only watch his actions in a daze.