The Boy Who Gave Up on Romantic Feelings ~I’m Done Because I Was Betrayed by The Girlfriends I Used to Date~

Chapter 15

The day after reconciling with Motomura, I go to school as usual and enter my classroom.

Then, I overhear some strange rumours.

“Was Motomura serious yesterday?”

“He switched sides to the other group.”

“Moreover, Maeshima forgave him. Did he forget what he has done? He’s crazy.”

Everyone is gossiping behind my back about me and Motomura. However, most of it are directed towards Motomura. It’s as if they’re starting to bully him.

Furthermore, the way some people looked at me seems to change.

Until now, most of them are looking at me disdainfully, but now I feel a sense of confusion mixed in, as if they are conflicted.

Over the past year, I’ve become quite sensitive towards such glances, so I think I might be right about this feeling.

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During lunch break, Kotaro and I meet up with Motomura to have lunch together.

I asked Motomura about the situation in my class.

“Hmm? Oh, that’s…well, you don’t need to know. You’re not into social media, right? In that case, it’s better for you to not know. Consider this a warning. If you find out, you might end up hurting even more.”

“Why though? It’s true that I don’t use social media, but how can I get hurt from using it?”

“Because it’s the social media. It’s true that if you’re just browsing through it, there won’t be anything that can hurt you. But what if the things you see are about something or someone you know? And people are freely throwing around all sorts of opinions, arguments, and insults about it? That’s what I mean. So it’s better for you to stay away from it.”

“But still…”

“Well, you can search it up if you want. But don’t say that I didn’t warn you, be prepared for it.”

“Yeah, understood.”

I can see that Motomura is serious. Does that mean it’s a big deal?

Well, if he is concerned as a friend, maybe I should refrain from looking it up.

“This time, I agree with Motomura.”

“Even you, Kotaro?”

“That’s a bad idea, especially for you.”

“I see.”

Even Kotaro I saying the same thing.

Besides, I’m not interested in SNS in the first place, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

“I understand. But still, it bothers me…”

“There’s nothing we can do about it. However, isn’t it better for you this way?”

Certainly, I’m getting tired of those disdainful stares. It’s better this way.

Also, recently, my little sister Maho told me that I often cry in my sleep.

I didn’t make any sound or anything, but she just happened to see it.

Since then, she looks over me every night while I was sleeping, and apparently, I cried the entire time.

Perhaps, my mental state is more affected that I thought.

Back in the day, mom used to tell me, ‘You’re quite perceptive when it comes to others, but you are insensitive about yourself.’

It seems like what she said is true. I guess I’ve been unconsciously trying to act strong this whole time.

Not feeling stressed is a pretty good thing for me.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

For some reason, the environment around me seems to be undergoing a slight change.

Perhaps in the future, I won’t have to receive such disdainful looks again.

It’s a faint hope, but that future doesn’t seem too far away now.

Chapter 16

??? POV

“Why…why…damn it, damn it, damn it!!”

I never expected it would turn out like this. Taking such a risk was beyond reckless. Yet, that woman went ahead and did it. In the end, she won that gamble, turning it into the worst outcome for me.

In the future, I won’t be able to act as proactively as before…I never expected that Motomura would be friends with him.

Even though we’re not in a cooperative relationship, I never thought that it would turn out like this.

It’s all because of that video. Damn it.

However, perhaps I can use Motomura as a pawn. If I can say or do something to erase the negative impression he currently has, I might be able to manipulate him.

Yasumoto should still be manipulable as well…even if he refuses, he’ll just do what he always does.

He is nothing more than a pig full of sexual desire. He is practically my slave. I have to figure something out to use him

I can’t use Motomura yet. It’s regrettable that I only have two useable paws at the moment.

“I alone…I alone can have everything…I’m not like that woman. Even if he happened to see it at that time, if I explain it to him, I’m sure he will understand… Yes, it’s not that woman, it’s me. I’m the one who deserves him.”

That woman needs to experience pain once again.

“Fufufu.”

I’m going to make her suffer thoroughly. I want to see her despaired face. It’s going to be really fun.

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Protagonist’s POV

The next day, I can feel the gradual change in my classmates’ looks towards me.

At first, there was confusion, but then gradually they started avoiding eye contact with me.

Probably, realizing that the rumours are false, they are trying to avoid any awkwardness or embarrassment.

However, those who are in the same class as me during my first year remain unchanged. It seems they can’t change at this point.

Well, it doesn’t matter to me, besides Motomura, I don’t want to get involved with any other former classmates anyways.

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“Long time no see!”

On my way home, I happen to meet Karen again.

We hadn’t met since that time she mistaken me for her childhood friend.

We indeed attend to the same school, but we go to school on different routes.

“It seems you remembered me.”

“Yes, I heard about you from Maho-chan.”

“…so you know my sister.”

I never expected her to know my little sister…Maho never tells me about Karen herself.

“Well, anyway, I’d like to apologize for what happened back then.”

“No, I told you it’s fine. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“But…”

“You’re overreacting, you just mistook me for someone else.”

“Hah…well, I knew it’s pointless to argue further…but this time, there’s something I want to discuss with you, so…would you mind talking about it at that cafe over there?”

Reluctantly agreeing to her invitation, we enter a café near the school and sit across from each other.

“Senpai, I want you to take a look at this first.”

Saying so, she shows me her smartphone.

At that moment—

“Hmm!?”

“Ah, this is the ‘Mikami-kun’ I mistook you for. Actually, he is my ex-boyfriend. At that time, I wanted to talk to Mikami-kun about this, but I mistook you for him…I was worried that I might accidentally spread false rumours about you. Even though it didn’t, there is a possibility of causing trouble. That’s why, I want to apologize.”

Compared to what’s in front of me, such things don’t matter at all.

But why does she have this?

No, she referred to her childhood friend as her ex-boyfriend named Mikami-kun.

In that case, this might be the reason for their breakup.

I don’t know why she was recording the video though.

“That’s why, I want to apologize to you, and then, I know it’s brazen, but I’d like to ask for your help. That’s why I’ve been looking for you today, senpai…”

“…now that I’ve seen this, it seems like I’m involved in this, right…? No, but…”

“Besides, you’re the centre of attention right now aren’t you, senpai?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Eh? Senpai, you don’t know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Here.”

Saying so, she shows me another video.

“—hah?”

What I see in the video is the source of my trauma from about a year ago—the whole incident.