The Case of My Unknown Childhood Friend Who Became My Girlfriend Without Me Even Knowing It - Chapter 4 - Even if That Place is Hell

Chapter 4 – Even if That Place is Hell

“Good morning Sakatoki-san, I envy you going to school with your boyfriend today.”

Just before I got to school, one of my classmates called out to us.

Boyfriend.

I guess that’s me after all.

It’s still strange.

Why does everyone have the common understanding that me and Sakatoki are dating?

The kid just now probably said it because we came to school together.

But, actually, everyone thinks of us as childhood friends and lovers.

It’s obvious when I go into the classroom that I think so.

“Sakatoki-san’s boyfriend, he’s so cool.”

“They’re a beautiful pair. I envy them.”

“Childhood friends and lovers. That’s kind of romantic.”

Since I can hear conversations like these.

Wow, you have such a cool childhood boyfriend.

That’s all I can think of.

I didn’t think that was me.

It’s a really surprising story because even the person himself can’t believe it.

How on earth can this happen?

Can she use brainwashing magic?

It’s strange. And it’s really creepy.

It’s like being stuck in a foxhole.

Unbeknownst to me, I’ve got a childhood sweetheart.

Without my approval, I should say.

But everyone around us recognizes our relationship, even if it’s not true, like it’s some sort of a matter of fact.

Everyone in the school is aware of the relationship between me and Sakatoki.

“Hey Enjou, how did you tell Sakatoki-san?”

Without small talk, one classmate came up to me again and asked.

“I didn’t confess. So I don’t know.”

“Oh, so you mean it’s the other way around then? I seriously envy you. It’s nice to be good-looking, isn’t it?”

I’d like to say what the hell are you talking about, but he’s not wrong.

It’s true that it’s from the other side. Although I don’t admit it, it’s true that Sakatoki’s side is attacking me without a doubt.

And he said I was good-looking.

Am I still recognised as good-looking?

Leaving out the fact that I’m in the countryside, or that my face doesn’t fit the character of the area, it seems that I’m still considered a good-looking man here.

It’s nothing special, but I don’t feel bad about being told that.

But then there would be another mystery.

It’s strange that I, who was so popular until junior high school, had no girls come to me at all in high school.

Maybe I’m being self-conscious, but I think it’s normal that there should be girls who like me a little bit.

Or is there something else…?

Could it be that their eyes went crazy before middle school and now they are normal?

No, that’s really disrespectful to everyone who’s ever done me a favor.

So what, is it that all the girls in this high school are a shy, romantically reserved bunch?

That can’t be it either.

There are a lot of girls who talk about normal relationships, about how they confessed to someone, went out with someone, got dumped, etc…

…It’s been strange ever since I came to this school.

Well, not so much from when I arrived at this school, but from when I got asked about Sakatoki Aya.

◇

“Kanata-kun, would you like to have lunch with me?”

Lunch break.

Sakatoki, seated next to me, said so.

It was the first conversation we had since we got to school.

“…No, thanks. I’ll go and get some bread.”

“Then me too. Tell me about the good breads here.”

“I told you no. Stop–”

“How terrible… Even though you promised me this morning…”

“O-Oi.”

“Huuu~…”

“……”

Tears were welling up in her eyes at the mere refusal of an invitation to lunch.

And the class was in an uproar.

Quarrel? Are they fighting?

People watched her anxiously.

On the other hand, there was silent pressure from the girls against me.

I can hear the voices of these women’s hearts appealing to me with their eyes.

“Apologise to Sakatoki-san.”

Of course they didn’t say that, but I know that’s what they’re trying to say.

…It doesn’t seem I have a choice.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Then, will you eat with me?”

“…F-Fine.”

Again…

Once again, I thought she was cute when she desperately held back her tears.

No, I’ll admit she’s cute, but…

What’s with my heart pounding?

“Then, show me the way, Kanata-kun.”

“…Yeah.”

We left the classroom together.

“Don’t fight!” I could hear others say as we left the classroom, which was filled with cheering and yelling. She then grabbed my uniform.

Her small hand grabbed me.

“W-What?”

“Hey, Kanata-kun. I told you yesterday that I’m Kanata-kun’s girlfriend, didn’t I?”

“Huh?”

Like a doll without a soul .

Sakatoki stared at me with out-of-focus eyes.

“Why do you keep saying things like that? Do you enjoy teasing me? Could it be…there’s someone you like in our class?”

“W-What are you talking about? I’m just…”

“Just what? If it’s an excuse, I won’t listen to it, okay?”

“…No, I’m gonna tell you something at this point. Why do you think you’re my girlfriend without my permission? It’s crazy, I’m supposed to be dating someone I don’t even know. Isn’t that a horror story?”

At the staircase landing.

I asked that question.

I must admit I don’t approve. I said I didn’t accept that Sakatoki was my childhood friend and girlfriend.

So if this was some kind of prank, it was really annoying.

There’s no one here now. If she cries, I can just leave her alone.”

“…Hey Kanata-kun.”

“What? I’m just telling the truth.”

“Hey, Kanata-kun, you said I was your girlfriend, right?”

“So what? You’re delusional.”

“I went to your house yesterday and today, didn’t I?”

“You just came in on your own. I’ll sue you.”

“If I said I was taken in, I wonder who the police would trust more?”

“W-W-What did you say?”

She looked up at me with her clouded eyes.

She took out her phone.

And she started playing something.

[N-No, don’t do it, Kanata-kun… Please, don’t do it, I beg you!]

Her voice sounded as if someone had attacked her and she was desperately resisting.

“W-What’s that…?”

“Maybe I should take this audio and go to the police. If we weren’t in a relationship, this would be a huge problem, wouldn’t it?”

“A-Are you threatening me?”

“Oh no, I didn’t say that, did I? We’re in a relationship, after all. Since that’s the case, it’s normal for us to do naughty things. But I’ll tell you this…”

With that, she slipped her phone back into her pocket.

She came a little closer to me and then said,

“Until you admit it, I’ll follow you to the ends of hell.”