My Memories Came Back, But I'm Not Telling My Childhood Friends - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

After listening to Yuri-san’s story, everything finally clicked.

So Soraka really did come to Shirosaki Academy to punish Yokomizo.

It seemed a bit over the top as always, but she couldn’t forgive what he did to her beloved big sister.

“Yuri-san. Right now, Soraka is fighting for you.”

“Soraka… is doing it for me…”

I didn’t have one hundred percent proof yet, but I kept talking with that in mind.

“Don’t you think now’s the time to speak up? If you tell everything, I think we can stop Yokomizo.”

“T-that… I-I can’t…”

I push to the main point, but Yuri-san looks down in fear.

It wasn’t going to be that easy. Soraka probably tried the same thing.

But if I back down here, it’ll just end the same way.

Thinking that, I pushed even further.

“If things stay like this, Soraka might end up going through the same thing you did.”

“I-I don’t want that… But… someone like me can’t do anything…”

“That’s not true. You just need to tell the truth.”

The reason Soraka still hasn’t solved it is probably because she couldn’t get solid evidence.

Even if I try to handle it alone when Soraka couldn’t, the situation probably won’t change.

I really needed Yuri-san’s help.

I didn’t think a guy who was just her little sister’s friend could move her heart when even Soraka’s voice didn’t reach her, but I had to try anyway.

“I’ll go with you. Let’s save Soraka together.”

“But… if I do that… those photos will—”

“Photos…?”

It looked like Yuri-san was being held hostage with something.

Since she said she was assaulted, he probably took dirty photos back then.

This was even harder than I thought.

For her in a depressed state, having those photos spread would be nothing but despair.

In the worst case, it could even be life-threatening.

It was basically an extremely tricky hostage situation.

Unlike a normal hostage, it could stay hidden on the surface, and even if I took him down suddenly, there was no guarantee I could stop the spread.

From what Yuri-san said, it was possible the photos were already passed around to his friends.

Once something gets out on the internet, it’s almost impossible to erase.

Especially naked photos of a female student — they would spread in an instant.

In other words, the moment they’re sent, it’s over.

The fact that he can spread them with just one click is also a big problem.

Yokomizo is still just a high schooler. If it was a real physical hostage he probably wouldn’t go through with it, but pressing a button is something he might do on impulse.

Even if we go to the police, we have to eliminate the risk of them spreading.

It would be too late once it’s irreversible.

I came up with two ways to remove that worst-case risk.

The first was to get Yuri-san protected.

If we secure her safety so she can’t take her own life, we can avoid the worst outcome.

It was safe and reliable.

But in that case, Yuri-san would probably have to go through even more pain.

The second was to get Yuri-san herself to make up her mind.

Even though it’s a hostage, when you put it differently, it’s just photos.

There are countless naked photos on the net.

If the threat to her life disappears even after they spread, the photos lose their power as a hostage.

Of course I know how hard that would be for her in her current state.

But I thought the second option would be better if possible.

The first one felt… too negative.

When I thought about what would come after, I didn’t like the image it gave.

If possible, I wanted her to be able to face forward.

I didn’t want to see her fall into deep darkness like I did.

The problem was whether my words alone could convince Yuri-san…

She already had her heart closed off, so I honestly didn’t think she’d listen to some guy she barely knew.

Still, I had to do everything I could.

“Yuri-san. Do you love Soraka?”

“Eh…? Of course I do…? Soraka is my most important person.”

“I also think of Soraka as my precious childhood friend.”

“Yeah, I know. Back then Soraka was always talking about you.”

“R-really…?”

I learned something a bit surprising.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“I want to save Soraka. But I can’t do it alone. You’re the only one who can save her, Yuri-san.”

“…… But the photos…”

Right here, I needed to say something that would reach deep into her heart.

Something that could make a small hole in her closed-off heart.

“If those photos do end up spreading…”

And the words I came up with were—

“Then… I’ll take responsibility. I’ll go around saying they’re all fake. And if anyone still laughs, I’ll beat every single one of them up.”

Even I thought it was an embarrassing line full of nothing but momentum.

Surely something this forced wouldn’t work.

That’s what I was thinking, but—

“Fufu… I see.”

Yuri-san suddenly let out a small giggle.

“Now I get why Soraka fell for you…”

She muttered something quietly.

I didn’t catch it well, but the whole atmosphere around Yuri-san changed in an instant.

“Sorry. I’m the big sister, but I’ve been moping around.”

She said that and let go of the pillow she was hugging.

“If Soraka is working so hard, I have to make up my mind too.”

“Yuri-san…!”

I wasn’t sure if my words actually reached her, but she stood up.

It was probably because it was Soraka’s crisis that she could find the courage.

In a way, you could say it was Soraka’s power. The bond between the sisters brought Yuri-san back to her feet.

After I convinced Yuri-san, all that was left was to set the stage.

I was worried whether she could really do it, but when I saw her the day before we carried out the plan, she looked like something had been lifted off her, so I thought it would be okay.

She was probably a strong person from the start. She just needed a push to stand back up.

And so, together with Yuri-san, I headed toward Soraka.