Vol 2 CHAPTER 25: Finally, I Trap Her ②【Volume 2: With the Footsteps of Ruin Echoing, I Come Crawling for You 【NTR Execution Arc】】

Even on the way to the station, we kept walking along while chatting.

“So, Kudo-kun—do you like miso-simmered mackerel?”

“Yeah. I do.”

Kotobuki laughed innocently.

Over her everyday outfit, she wore a hooded parka—and for no real reason, she kept fluttering it pat-pat as she asked me questions. The gesture was cute, like a little kid who couldn’t hold back their excitement.

“Not like it’s my absolute favorite or anything, though. My number one favorite food is—”

“Hamburger steak, right?”

She cut me off mid-sentence, and I couldn’t help but blink in surprise.

“You remembered that?”

“Yeah. I’m not gonna forget something like that.”

“I see… Thanks.”

“Mm.”

Watching her, I thought again.

—This is probably the last time I’ll get to see Kotobuki looking this happy.

If I thought about what I was about to do, there was no way she could stay calm. Depending on how things went, I might even leave her with a wound—a trauma—that would never fade for the rest of her life.

Even so, I’d sworn to see this through no matter what, so it was too late to get scared now. Still… it hit me again just how vile what I was about to do really was.

Maybe it was that guilt eating at me—because I found myself asking Kotobuki anyway.

“Hey… are you having fun right now, Kotobuki?”

“Huh? What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“No, just… kinda wondering.”

“Mmm… let’s see—”

She stopped for a moment and fell into thought.

Then she smiled again, bright as the sun, and said it.

“Lately, there’s been a lot that hasn’t gone well… but even so, today was fun.”

“I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

I carved that smile into my memory, refusing to let myself forget it—because one day, I’d have to bring that bright smile back with my own hands.

And because I’d decided I would go that far… I’d chosen to make her fall.

—

—

When we arrived at the station, there were crowds flowing back and forth.

It was a holiday break, after all. People heading out on trips, people enjoying shopping around the commercial buildings near the station—everyone with different goals packed the area.

In that station-front plaza, with all those people swarming around, I checked the location on my smartphone app again.

They were in the station plaza right now.

But it looked like they were gathered on the exact opposite side of the plaza from us. I needed to get closer somehow, but I couldn’t think of an excuse that wouldn’t make Kotobuki suspicious.

While I was agonizing over that, she spoke up first.

“Hey, Kudo-kun—do you have time after this?”

“Hm? I don’t really have any plans…”

“Then… wanna do a little shopping before we go?”

Since it was a holiday break, she said she wanted to stroll around the shopping district near the station. It was perfect timing for me, so I took her up on it.

“Then… mind if we head over that way?”

“Sure, but… is there something you wanna look at?”

“I heard there’s a shop in that building that carries a bunch of rock band merch.”

“Oh! I wanna go!”

I guided Kotobuki along with a careful choice of words, closing in on my target.

When I glanced at my phone app—pretending I was just looking up the shop’s location—it showed they were already close enough to spot with my own eyes.

And—

There.

They were there.

Ahead of us, I spotted a man and woman stepping outside from a famous café chain, and my pulse kicked up.

The woman tugged the man along a little forcefully, while the man wore a strained smile even as he was handled roughly. Those two were—

Chiyuki Takanashi and Satoru Ichijo.

The girl working with me on the breakup scheme… and the very person we were targeting.

They seemed to be trading words back and forth outside the shopfront, and the way they acted made it clear—they had a trust between them that looked built up over years.

They looked close. Conveniently close.

Now then—how was I supposed to shove this cozy scene right in front of Kotobuki’s eyes? I was thinking that when—Takanashi noticed we were here.

She made a needless move.

—That idiot!

Takanashi actually raised a hand toward us, making a gesture that was basically Look over here!.

And because of that, even Ichijo-senpai started to turn this way.

I reacted on instinct, twisting my body forward to step in front of Kotobuki—blocking her line of sight at the perfect moment—

“Don’t look, Kotobuki.”

—that’s what I said.

From behind me, I heard a small voice: “…Huh?”

I was worried about her reaction, but right now, what mattered was the two in front of us.

Maybe because I’d stood there like a wall to hide Kotobuki, Ichijo-senpai couldn’t confirm whatever he’d been about to notice. He just carried on like nothing happened and kept talking to Takanashi.

As for Takanashi—she looked flustered, grabbed Ichijo-senpai by the arm, and hurriedly dragged him off in the opposite direction from us. For a split second, our eyes met, and her gaze looked like it was saying, “Sorry!”

She really was careless when it mattered most.

Still, I let myself breathe in relief—at least we’d avoided that unexpected problem for now.

It was still too soon for Ichijo-senpai to find out Kotobuki was here.

“Phew…” I let out a breath. And then I heard a voice behind me, so heartbreakingly small: “…No way.”

“Satoru-senpai…?”

When I turned to check on Kotobuki, she was standing there frozen, completely confused.

The cheerful feeling she’d had earlier was gone without a trace from her face.

Vol 2 CHAPTER 26: Finally, I Trap Her ③【Volume 2: With the Footsteps of Ruin Echoing, I Come Crawling for You 【NTR Execution Arc】】

“Let’s follow them.”

I said it to Kotobuki, who stood there in a daze.

Her complexion was bad. Her expression held confusion and fear—and from her lips, pale enough to look drained of blood, all that came out were voiceless sounds, like her mind couldn’t keep up with what she’d just seen.

I told her this, trying to snap her back to herself.

“There’s a chance you’re misunderstanding.”

Kotobuki looked up at me like she was clinging to those words.

“You really think… so?”

“Yeah.”

Maybe that girl was Ichijo-senpai’s little sister. Or maybe she was a relative who was just unusually close. I mean, I got along great with my cousins—so I piled on those comforting possibilities for her.

Even as I said it, self-loathing nearly made my brow knot.

I knew the truth—and yet here I was feeding her hope anyway. It made me feel like a real piece of trash. But at this rate, Kotobuki looked like she couldn’t even take a step forward. Even if it was nothing but a lie, I had to say it right now.

For now, believe in Ichijo-senpai.

Kotobuki looked like she recovered a faint spark of life.

“Okay… I’ll go. I’ll… Kudo-kun, you can stay he—”

“Don’t be stupid. Like I’m leaving you.”

I shot that down when she tried to refuse my company. There was no way I was going to leave her alone. Kotobuki gave an apologetic little bow, and after that, she didn’t say anything more.

The two of us ran in the direction Ichijo-senpai and the others had gone. And we found them almost immediately—walking through the busy streets, arms linked as they strutted along.

Just from the way they looked, you could tell they weren’t just friends. Leaning into each other, sometimes teasing and laughing—it was a scene that could only belong to a couple.

Even so, Kotobuki didn’t say a word. She followed them desperately. Sometimes she’d squeeze her eyes shut like she was praying, but she still forced herself to keep watching them.

And me?

While keeping an eye on Kotobuki, there was one thing I kept thinking about.

—

—

That day during Golden Week.

Ever since that night I swore to take Kotobuki back, I’d carried one worry with me.

That what I was about to do was probably the lowest thing a person could do.

Because my goal was netori.

Depending on the era or the place, it’s the kind of act that would get you punished by having stones thrown at you. No one welcomes someone who forcibly twists someone else’s romance out of shape.

I’d known all of that from the start, so I didn’t have any hesitation about carrying out my plan. But there was one thing I’d decided, too.

It was this—

If Ichijo-senpai truly loves Kotobuki, and he’s a man who can make her happy… then I’ll give up on everything and back off.

This started because of my selfishness, but it was never something worth achieving if it meant crushing a girl’s life underfoot.

More than protecting my own tiny pride, I wanted to prioritize Kotobuki’s happiness.

That—at least, was my idea of a man’s pride.

As it turned out, Satoru Ichijo was painfully unreliable. He neglected Kotobuki—his girlfriend—and kept acting suggestive with his childhood friend Takanashi, proving he didn’t have the backbone to love Kotobuki single-mindedly.

That alone was more than enough reason to write him off, but even so, I’d decided I’d make one final move—one last challenge.

It was when I was meeting with Takanashi the other day to go over today’s plan. She asked me, “So what do you want me to do that day?”

I answered like this: “Do as much as you can.”

Takanashi looked startled, eyes wide as she checked again. “You mean… I’m going all the way?”

“I don’t mind.”

Up until now, I’d asked Takanashi to tempt Ichijo-senpai and keep him on the hook—but not to cross the decisive line.

Which meant that even if Ichijo-senpai had treated Kotobuki horribly, you could still argue he hadn’t crossed the final point of betrayal—at least, not definitively.

What he’d done was keep brushing off his own girlfriend while repeatedly going on dates with his childhood friend. It was gray. Calling it cheating outright was hard. If he really was physically “clean,” then maybe—at minimum—there was room to hear him out and consider his side.

That was why what he did today mattered most.

If, today, he didn’t betray Kotobuki—and if he could fully show his sincerity toward her—then I was prepared to admit my loss and apologize to Kotobuki.

I’d confess everything: that I’d conspired with Takanashi to set them up, and I’d beg her forgiveness. And then I’d swear I’d turn over a new leaf and pray for their happiness from then on. If she wanted, I’d even take on the role of holding Takanashi back.

With that resolve, I was facing today.

All that remained was what kind of attitude Ichijo-senpai would show. That was all.

With eyes as serious as Kotobuki’s beside me, I watched the pair ahead.

They kept walking, leaving the busy district behind. They kept going until they reached the edge of town—and then they stopped in front of a certain building.

A hotel.

A bad memory resurfaced. By coincidence, it was the very same hotel where, on that day during Golden Week, I’d witnessed Kotobuki and Ichijo-senpai.

Then Takanashi asked Ichijo-senpai something, and he started glancing around nervously.

We sensed danger and immediately tried to hide—but we didn’t need to.

Because Takanashi cupped Ichijo-senpai’s face between both hands.

And as I held my breath, watching what would happen—

Takanashi kissed Ichijo-senpai.

It was long.

And passionate.

And then, Ichijo-senpai’s expression—his whole air—clearly changed.

Even from a distance, I could tell.

A switch had flipped.

And so, pressed close together, the two of them headed toward the hotel entrance. As they did, I thought Takanashi glanced our way—her face looking provocative, like she was proudly claiming victory.

Her gaze wasn’t on me.

It was on Kotobuki.

“……”

Just like that, the match was decided.

Ichijo-senpai… no—Ichijo, that idiot… there was no way I could leave Kotobuki to him.

—I’ll make her happy.

I made that decision, deep in my bones.

—

—

A roadside on the edge of town—right near the entrance to the hotel district.

Under a heavy, overcast sky, we stood there without being able to say a single word.

“……”

“……”

Kotobuki didn’t ask me anything.

And I didn’t know what I was supposed to say to her, either.

We just stood there in silence, the time passing with both of us frozen in place.

Then I felt something tapping lightly onto the top of my head.

Rain.

The falling drops gradually grew stronger.

“Kotobuki… for now, let’s move.”

No answer.

Kotobuki just kept her head down in silence.

—So… what do I do?

I hesitated, thinking.

That was the mistake.

“Kotobuki!”

The moment I let my mind wander and took my eyes off her—she bolted. I called out to her back as she ran at full speed, but she didn’t so much as glance at me.

I chased after her.

The sound of the rain kept swelling, louder and louder.

September rain is freezing.

And it hurts.