The Gal Game Heroines Who Were Supposed to Die Somehow Learned My Secret ～By the Way, Where Did My [Diary] Go?～

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Chapter 16: Yuto’s Side & Entrance Ceremony

“Looking forward to another year together.”

━━━

[Yuto’s POV]

For me, Yuto Sano, there are four women whose fates are eternally tied to mine.

It sounds like something out of a middle schooler’s wild fantasy—a ridiculous idea you’d laugh off. But ever since I was young, that feeling has always been there, clear yet unexplainable.

Even though I didn’t know their faces or names, it felt like I already knew everything about them.

This strange sense started becoming more vivid after I met Satsuki, my childhood friend.

When we were just kids, I had this strange vision of what Satsuki would look like when she grew up into a high schooler.

Her short pink hair would eventually flow down her back like a cascade of cherry blossoms. She’d have a captivating smile that could light up a room, and her body━well, let’s just say even back then, I knew she’d grow up to be someone extraordinary.

That was the moment my first “destined one” became clear to me.

I had this overwhelming instinct—almost like survival itself—to never let her go.

Then, everything truly began when I entered high school.

Reine Kitagawa, Shuna Nanjou, and Shino Shinonome━with them, all the pieces of my fate had fallen into place.

In my first year of high school, I decided to make them all mine. I didn’t just sit back and wait━I actively took steps to bring them closer to me.

They rejected me.

And they dared to defy what was meant to be.

Since nothing else worked, I decided to focus on Satsuki. It’s not exactly “chase two rabbits and lose them both,” but starting with Satsuki felt like the smartest move. I figured I’d make her mine first and deal with the others later. She mentioned something about wanting to be a gravure idol, but honestly, I didn’t care.

If she wanted to do it, fine. I wasn’t the kind to hold her back.

Besides, I had this gut feeling that my real breakthrough would come in second year.

But when my second year started and I tried to deepen my relationships with all four of them, nothing changed. Once again, my goodwill was ignored. Even now, thinking back on it makes my blood boil.

“…Come to think of it, there was some random dude trying to get close to the four of them, wasn’t there?”

The fact that he was probably forgotten the next day was almost laughable. I don’t even remember his face, but imagining his pathetic attempts still manages to make me feel a little better.

The turning point came when the four of them started being called the ‘Four Beauties.’

That’s when everything shifted. Suddenly, the Four Beauties started treating me better. They began talking to me with warmth, even gratitude, for things I couldn’t remember doing. There were times they thanked me for no reason or, strangely, when large sums of money appeared in my bank account.

But I knew one thing for certain.

This world revolves around me.

Then it became clear to me—God was trying to tie me together with the Four Beauties. And not just that, someone acting as my “proxy” seemed to be working behind the scenes to boost their affection for me and create situations that benefited me.

That guess turned out to be right. By the time I was in my third year, without lifting a finger, all four of the Beauties had fallen for me.

By the way, I call this mysterious proxy ‘Santa Claus.’

I don’t know what they look or sound like, but the name feels fitting somehow.

However, there was one problem. The Four Beauties didn’t get along at all. Their jealousy and possessiveness, all because they wanted me to themselves, made things frustrating.

Whenever they came to me with heavy conversations or complaints, I’d brush them off and leave it to Santa Claus to handle.

“Still, they’re completely useless when it really matters, aren’t they?”

I’d put the Four Beauties’ confessions on “hold,” thinking I was giving them time to work things out and grow closer as a group.

After all, they had until graduation. Surely, with enough time, they’d sort it out. And if they couldn’t, Santa Claus would step in and fix things. That’s what I thought.

But when graduation came, Satsuki had the audacity to demand that I choose just one of them. Seriously? After all the time I gave them, Satsuki couldn’t even understand my intentions? It was exhausting.

So, I decided to personally teach Satsuki and the others how great the other Beauties were. That’s why I suggested we all become “friends with benefits.” But before I could even finish explaining, Satsuki turned her back on me and walked away.

I didn’t expect to be rejected, so I stood there stunned. But I quickly decided to chase after her. Just as I was about to, a student from our school got hit by a car right in front of Satsuki. That distraction threw everything off.

“Seriously, if you’re going to get into an accident, don’t make it my problem…”

It was an unnecessary hassle. Still, all Four Beauties were going to the same university as me, so it was only a matter of time before I had them all wrapped around my finger again.

However, there was something bothering me.

“Reine, stop messaging me about pointless stuff…”

At first, I thought her messages meant she’d come around to my proposal, so I was looking forward to them. But they were just useless questions and confirmations about trivial things.

Normally, I’d humor her, responding with nods and simple agreement, but I was in the middle of a game and didn’t want to be bothered. Annoyed, I just told her the plain truth, figuring Santa Claus would handle it anyway.

“Still… it’s weird that she hasn’t even read my messages…”

Thinking about it, I realized something was off. None of the Beauties had replied since that day. And now, it was finally the day of the university entrance ceremony.

I tried contacting them myself, but none of my messages were even marked as read. Left with no choice, I decided to head to the ceremony with Satsuki. I went to her house to pick her up, but no one was there.

The sky was a soft shade of blue, and the cherry blossoms fluttered gently in the breeze. This was my fifth entrance ceremony, counting all the way back to kindergarten. The number itself wasn’t significant, but what stood out was that Satsuki was always by my side.

“What are they even doing…?”

The entrance ceremony at Kyoyo University was organized by departments and held in the university’s Centennial Memorial Hall. I already knew I wouldn’t be attending the ceremony with the Four Beauties, but for some reason, the thought still irritated me.

As I entered the memorial hall and pushed open the large doors, a spacious and grand interior unfolded before me. The tiered seating in the hall gave the space a unique sense of depth and movement. At the center was a stage, surrounded by rows of seats like an auditorium. Standing there, I couldn’t help but reflect on how real it felt—I was now a university student.

Inside, I was directed to take a seat starting from the front row. Looking around, I saw new students in slightly oversized suits chatting with the classmates seated next to them.

Maybe I should try making some friends within my department while I still can. Back in high school, I didn’t have anyone I’d really call a friend.

Being surrounded by the Four Beauties had made me a target of envy among my male peers. That jealousy had left me friendless, though, honestly, I didn’t mind. Nothing is more pathetic than the envy of someone who doesn’t have what you do. In fact, it was probably better that those kinds of people were filtered out of my life.

Luckily, Kyoyo University wasn’t easy to get into, even in my high school. The students here should at least be on my level, academically and intellectually.

Alright, let’s start small. I’ll try talking to the guy with glasses sitting next to me. He looks a bit introverted, but that’s fine.

“Please! Just let me attend the entrance ceremony on my own!”

The desperate plea echoed through the hall, the kind of place where voices could carry during a concert or choir performance.

“You can’t go alone in a wheelchair. Your right hand’s already messed up, so you’d have trouble moving without us.”

“I’ll be fine! The campus is fully accessible, and if it gets tough, I can just ask the staff for help—”

“Hey… Why would you rely on the staff instead of us? Why? Do we not matter to you anymore? If there’s something we’re lacking, just tell us. We’ll fix it, so please, don’t throw us away—”

“No! That’s not it! It’s just… you’re all so beautiful that people will stare! I just want a quiet, peaceful campus life, okay?”

“…So, Satoshi-kun, your ideal campus life doesn’t involve us, huh? Hey, everyone, I saw something on the bulletin board earlier. There’s a place called the ‘Blood Washing Pond.’ Doesn’t it sound perfect to dive into right about now?”

“Stop! Don’t go full dark mode on me! Alright, alright! You win! Stay with me as long as you want!”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. Let’s go.”

“Wait, wait, wait! Okay, I just realized something! I’m super shy and have been a total loner for three years, so there’s no way I could talk to a staff member. I really need you all with me—like, seriously need you!”

“…Really?”

“I’m not lying! Look me in the eyes. Do I look like I’m lying?”

“…You’re right. Satoshi-kun, you don’t have any friends, after all. Sorry, I jumped to conclusions…”

“Wait, that’s what you focus on!?”

Unbeknownst to him, his voice had echoed loudly through the hall. Unfortunately, his admission of being a loner had reached the ears of the entire department, earning him a smattering of quiet chuckles. It sounded like he was talking to someone, but their voices didn’t carry. Honestly, I wasn’t interested.

I had more important matters—like determining if the person next to me was worth befriending.

At least, that was the plan. But then I noticed the guy beside me had turned around. Actually, most of the department students had done the same. Curiosity got the better of me, and I followed their gaze toward the entrance of the hall.

There, a boy in a wheelchair was being clung to by four girls.

…What an infuriating sight. Usually, I’m the one building harems, so I don’t feel this way. But watching someone else flaunt one? Yeah, that’s annoying. Guess I should be more mindful of where and when I show off in the future.

I decided to turn back toward the stage, trying to ignore it. But then—

“Let go, Satsuki! Reine, Shuna, stop clinging so much! And Shino! Get your face out of my lap!”

Those names.

I couldn’t help but spin around. And the scene that greeted me was something that shouldn’t exist.

“Ha…?”

My Four Beauties were fussing over some wheelchair-bound loner I didn’t even know.

All four of them seemed to hang on to his every word, laughing genuinely, as if they were truly happy. My heart skipped a beat before thudding heavily in my chest.

Stop it.

Instinctively, I stood up, ready to storm over there. But the hall suddenly dimmed—the ceremony was starting. If I acted impulsively now, I’d ruin my own campus life before it even began. Gritting my teeth, I sat back down. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug painfully into my palms.

“What the hell is going on…?”

They hadn’t answered my calls. They’d been invisible throughout spring break.

And most infuriating of all—who the hell was that guy?

◇

“Move, dammit!”

“Whoa!”

The moment the ceremony ended, I couldn’t sit still any longer. I bolted toward the back of the hall, nearly shoving a few people aside. But when I reached the spot, they were gone.

I threw open the exit doors to the memorial hall, stepping into the outside air.

“Fuck… where the hell did they go?”

I scanned the area, but not a trace of them remained.

“Right, I’ll call them…”

They had to have their phones with them. I jammed my hands into my pockets, fumbling for my phone, and yanked it out, nearly tearing the lining.

“Satsuki… no signal? What the hell? Shuna didn’t even have her phone earlier… Reine? Shino!? What the hell is going on!?”

In frustration, I kicked the trash can by the vending machine, sending empty bottles spilling out onto the ground.

“This is exactly the time Santa Claus should step in! Why is it that they’re always missing when it matters most!?”

I tried to calm myself with a deep breath, but it only made things worse. Every inhale seemed to fill my chest with more frustration and helpless rage toward the unknown.

“What the hell is going on!?”

No response. Only my words echoed back, hollow and meaningless.

◇

[Satoshi’s POV]

“Yaaawn, that was so boring~”

“Fufu, ceremonies are supposed to be like that.”

If you thought it was so boring, you didn’t have to come in the first place…

I kept the retort to myself, knowing better than to risk a dramatic meltdown. Instead, I grumbled silently in my head.

Still, thinking back to the earlier ceremony, the dread of starting university tomorrow weighed heavily on me. I didn’t ask for much—just a bit of peace and quiet. Why was I being subjected to this kind of nightmare?

After calming Satsuki and the others, I’d finally looked around and noticed that all the new students had been staring at me. Their gazes were a mix of pity—like they were watching a trainwreck—and jealousy, directed at me for having the Four Beauties clinging to me.

It didn’t take long for me to understand my predicament.

In the eyes of my peers, I was now a wheelchair-bound loser surrounded by overly emotional, beautiful women who I apparently made cry—a grade-A jerk.

My campus life is over…

Even if I wanted to salvage my reputation by joining whatever post-ceremony mixers or outings the other students were planning, my current state made that impossible. My physical condition would just make things awkward, and—most importantly—the four hovering behind me were downright terrifying.

“Ugh, here come the clingy creeps already… I’m busy taking care of Satoshi-kun, so I’m not interested. But seriously, how did they even get my contact info?”

“Haah… Same here. I have no time for desperate monkeys who can’t take a hint…”

Typical Satsuki and Reine. Even Shuna and Shino were frowning at their phones, clearly irritated. Shuna, who’d only recently started using a smartphone, looked ready to toss it out the window.

This was supposed to be a celebratory day, but the mood was anything but festive. Sensing the need to lighten the atmosphere, I decided to step in with a suggestion.

“Well, let’s forget about all that. How about we celebrate our enrollment at my place? We can order some delivery or something.”

When I said “my place,” I also meant their new apartments—since the four of them had coincidentally moved into the four units next to mine. Seriously, what were the odds that all four neighboring rooms would be vacant?

At my suggestion, the atmosphere immediately brightened.

“Great idea! Let’s do it!”

“Should I have something sent over from home?”

“Ugh, eat like that every day and your taste buds will turn to mush.”

“Yeah~ Let’s just pool our pocket money and do something normal, like regular college students!”

“Shuna’s got a point. Splitting the bill and chipping in sounds way more like the real college experience.”

“That does sound interesting. I’ve always wanted to try this ‘splitting the bill’ concept.”

“Of all things, that’s what you’ve been curious about?”

Shino seemed excited about the idea, though her perspective was definitely a bit out of touch—probably the side effect of growing up wealthy.

Still, the gloomy atmosphere had been completely blown away, so I counted that as a win.

But… speaking of which, where did my diary go? I checked my room and didn’t find it there either…

◇

[Four Beauties’ side]

The boring speeches from the university president, dean, and other bigwigs carried on, echoing across the auditorium. From the back, it was clear that only about half the students were paying attention.

Satoshi-kun, however, was sitting upright, listening intently. We, on the other hand, stole glances at his face, trying to avoid getting caught.

He looked so serious—it was such a wonderful side of him.

“Fufu…”

In the quiet, dark hall, the glow of four small screens suddenly flickered to life.

~Four Beauties Group Chat~

Shuna:

‘Ugh, that creep found us.’

Shino:

‘Indeed… I feel like crying at Satoshi-san’s place right now…’

Satsuki:

‘Did you see his face, though?’

Reine: