The Gal Game Heroines Who Were Supposed to Die Somehow Learned My Secret ～By the Way, Where Did My [Diary] Go?～ - Chapter 17: Encounter

Chapter 17: Encounter

I belonged to the Economics Department at Kyoyo University. Honestly, there wasn’t a deep reason for choosing economics. Ever since my previous life, I’d always admired the subject. Maybe it was because it seemed like a strong choice for job hunting, or maybe because studying economics just sounded cool. Perhaps it was a bit of both.

Either way, one thing became clear: the Economics Department leaned heavily towards the sciences. Advanced mathematics like Calculus III wasn’t something humanities students like me could easily handle. Yet, unfortunately, most of the professors here were originally from science backgrounds and seemed to assume their students were, too.

More than half of the lectures revolved around mathematics. It made me wonder how pure humanities students even managed to survive here. But pondering others’ struggles didn’t change the fact that I needed to focus on my own survival.

Room 201 in Building 5 West. The Economics Department was massive, with the highest number of enrolled students. For freshmen, most classes were held in large groups, so naturally, the biggest classrooms were often used.

When I first entered the lecture hall, I was overwhelmed by its sheer size. The high ceiling was fitted with intricate lighting, casting a soft glow that embraced the entire hall. In the center, the seats were arranged in a tiered fashion, with long desks lined up at each level. The wooden desks, though worn with age, exuded a calming dignity, as if they were silently narrating the decades of history they had witnessed.

On the podium, speakers and a projector were installed, and a screen hung near the ceiling, looming over the students as if it were watching them.

I wanted to admire the vastly different atmosphere of these university lectures compared to high school, but my seat was in the very front. Ideally, I would’ve liked to sit in the very back to take it all in from a bird’s-eye view, but that was impossible because moving around in a wheelchair was too difficult.

More importantly━

“What the hell am I supposed to do…?”

My worries never seemed to end. Unsurprisingly, most of them revolved around the Four Beauties.

I couldn’t even think of saying I wanted to act alone—they’d likely fall into despair if I did. But letting them do whatever they wanted wasn’t an option either; that only caused its own set of problems. The most recent issue was after the entrance ceremony.

We’d gone all out with a casual house party, sneaking in alcohol like typical college students. It was fun—something that finally felt normal.

However, the trouble began when it was time for them to go home.

They offered to help me bathe or suggested staying overnight, which triggered a fierce internal battle between my reason and my desires. In the end, reason won, and I somehow forced the four of them to leave.

If that night had been the peak of my struggles, I might’ve looked back on it fondly as a good memory. But no, this kind of thing happens every day. I haven’t had a moment’s peace since.

The latest headache? Moving between classrooms on campus.

Unlike high school, universities don’t have fixed homerooms. You move to a different classroom for each lecture during breaks. Sure, we had to move for classes like science experiments or practicals in high school, but most of the time, we stayed in the same classroom. That doesn’t happen here.

That’s why I underestimated it—universities involve a lot of moving between classrooms. Sometimes, you even have to go outside to switch buildings. For someone like me in a wheelchair, this constant movement is exhausting. Thankfully, someone always comes during their free period to help me out.

Honestly, it’s a huge relief. I should probably get down on my knees and thank them. But━

“Could you please stop throwing tantrums…?”

They don’t want to leave my side or insist on attending my lectures with me. Most of the time, it turns into a fuss. Professors, unable to ignore the scene, have tried stepping in to calm things down, but that only escalated the chaos. They’ve picked fights, thrown hysterical fits, and in Shino’s case, even tried to use her influence to get a professor fired.

Because of them, lectures don’t progress smoothly, and I end up under a spotlight of curious stares. My stomach hurts just thinking about it. Sitting in the front row makes it all the worse.

I haven’t been able to make any friends. It’s genuinely troubling.

If the four of them were acting maliciously, I could easily push them away. But since their actions stem from an overwhelming sense of kindness and guilt, there’s not much I can say.

“Thank god we’re in different departments…”

The only silver lining is that we’re not studying in the same fields. Satsuki is in the Law Department, Reine is in Literature, Shuna is in Business, and Shino is in Political Science. This means I get some time alone during lectures, free from their presence.

I never cared much about studying, but when I think of it as the only time I can truly be alone, it feels like a sanctuary.

“They said they had an unavoidable errand during lunch. This is my chance to make friends…!”

Having no connections within the department is just too tough. Back in high school, it didn’t matter, but everything about university is so different. I can’t help but feel I won’t survive on my own. Sadly, universities are much harsher on loners who don’t take initiative compared to high school.

I decided this would be my last chance, my moment to step up and make friends.

But━

“They’re avoiding me because of those four, aren’t they…?”

The lecture ended, and the lunch bell rang. A line of students quickly formed as people poured out of the classroom. Sitting at the front, near the entrance, I was in a spot where everyone had to pass by me to leave. Yet, whenever I tried to start a conversation, they ignored me or rushed out. Some even went out of their way to use the rear exit, even though it was farther away.

As if my three years as a high school loner hadn’t already eroded my social skills, this treatment hit me right where it hurt. By the time I looked around, the classroom was almost empty.

“Even so, I’d like at least one friend…”

At this point, my best bet was to look for another introverted loner. Surely, some of my peers who failed their attempts at a “university debut” were also desperate for friends, just like me.

Alright, someone—anyone—talk to me! I’ll even treat you to lunch every day if that’s what it takes!

“Hey, got a moment?”

It happened! Someone actually spoke to me!

Had my prayers been answered? Someone from behind had called out to me. Ever since I’d been reincarnated into this world, I hadn’t believed in gods, but just this once, I felt like offering my thanks.

The key now was making a good first impression. A bad first impression would ruin any chance of being seen as friend material. Honestly, I’d already messed up too much, so this was my last stand. I had to greet them with the best smile I could muster.

“Hi, nice to mee—wait… huh?”

As I turned around, my entire body froze. Standing there was Yuto Sano—the one person in this world I had the most complicated feelings toward. I mean, I already knew we were in the same department. I’d been shocked when I first realized it, but since there was no direct reason for us to interact, I had avoided getting involved. Whenever I caught sight of him, I instinctively looked away and tried to pretend he didn’t exist.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuto Sano.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I’m Satoshi Iriya. Nice to meet you.”

“Haha, we’re classmates, right? No need for formalities.”

“Oh, uh, sure. If you don’t mind…”

I never expected the person I had the most tangled feelings about to approach me directly. Deep inside, emotions I’d been suppressing for so long suddenly surged to the surface.

To Yuto, this was our first meeting, so I had to keep my composure. But my heart was pounding, and my supposedly paralyzed right arm trembled ever so slightly.

As I glanced around, I realized the large lecture hall was eerily empty—just Yuto and me. Normally, there’d be a few students staying behind after class to prepare for the next lecture, but today, there wasn’t a soul. The silence in the room was almost unsettling.

“I’m from 〇〇’s 〇〇, a pretty obscure school. I don’t really have anyone to talk to, so I figured I’d say hi since you were here.”

Yuto spoke with a friendly smile, his tone approachable and warm.

No matter how conflicted my feelings were, Yuto didn’t know anything about them. He’d reached out in good faith, so I had to respond in kind.

“Oh, really? That’s a coincidence. I’m actually from the same school.”

“What? Seriously? Were you a gap year student or something?”

“No, I came straight here after graduating.”

“Wow, no way… I didn’t think there’d be another classmate from our school here. That’s pretty unexpected!”

I didn’t see any reason to hide the truth, so I told him everything as it was. However, I had to tread carefully, pretending it was all a coincidence. I couldn’t let slip anything that might reveal how much I already knew about him.

“By the way… what happened to your arm?”

“Huh? Oh, this? I was just being clumsy and hurt myself. Haha, not the best timing right before starting university, huh?”

“That’s rough… Be more careful, alright?”

“Oh? Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

As I let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh, Yuto expressed concern for me, which caught me off guard.

Now that I think about it, I’d only focused on the heroines. I’d never even considered what might have happened to Yuto after the bad ending.

Strangely enough, the sleaziness I used to feel from Yuto in high school wasn’t there anymore.

Could it be that, as the “protagonist” of LoD, he had been subjected to the world’s enforcement mechanics, pushed toward a bad ending by forces beyond his control? I started to wonder if it wasn’t the mechanics themselves that had warped him.

After all, for someone who had been so obsessive about making the Four Beauties his, the fact that he hadn’t approached them was as improbable as a meteor falling from the sky.

If that were true, maybe it was possible to let go of the past.

In fact, if I thought of him as a fellow victim of LoD, the deep resentment I once felt toward him began to give way to an odd sense of sympathy, rising from somewhere deep inside me.

“Serious injuries… same high school…”

Yuto muttered, lost in thought, pulling me back to reality.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing, really…”

He was looking me up and down, almost as if he were appraising me. It felt uncomfortable, like I was being evaluated. Then, as if something had clicked in his mind, his gaze turned sharp and probing.

“Wait… the guy who got hit by a car in front of the school after graduation… was that you, Iriya?”

I was shocked. I didn’t expect him to remember.

“Yeah, that was me. Why do you ask?”

“━━━”

Yuto’s gaze suddenly turned as cold as a midwinter wind.

“Tch… so that’s how it is. Everything finally makes sense now… It was you, wasn’t it?”

His tone shifted completely. A chill ran down my spine as his piercing eyes locked onto me, filled with contempt and hatred so intense it was suffocating. His outright hostility was unmistakable, and a bead of sweat slid down my forehead.

Seeing me like that, Yuto scoffed, his expression a mix of disbelief and disgust.

“Do you seriously not realize what a scumbag you are?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

I replied with confusion, countering his vague accusation with a question of my own.

“Let me spell it out for you. Free them—free the Four Beauties, you piece of garbage.”

“Ha?”

His words hit me like a bolt from the blue. I probably had the dumbest expression on my face right now.

And let me just take back what I said earlier. This had nothing to do with world’s enforcement mechanics or any higher forces. He’s just an awful person, plain and simple.

That said, I still didn’t understand why he hated me so much. If anything, he should be grateful to me…

“I’ve been wondering for a while now. Why haven’t any of them been answering my messages? You know about my relationship with them, right? You went to the same high school.”

“Well… yeah.”

It was no secret back in school that the Four Beauties had feelings for the generic, mob-like protagonist, Yuto Sano. If anything, not knowing about it would’ve been stranger.

“Seriously, you’re the worst.”

Even I was starting to lose patience. I wasn’t exactly fond of being insulted to this extent.

“What are you trying to say? Do you think I deliberately got into that accident just so the Four Beauties would take care of me?”

“I’m not blaming you for the accident itself. My condolences for that. But━”

He clasped his hands together mockingly, like he was offering a fake prayer, then shot me a sharp glare.

“What I can’t forgive is the way you’re enjoying the current situation. You absolute piece of shit.”

His words had the weight of a protagonist’s authority, but all they did was stoke my anger further.

“Take that back. How could I possibly enjoy being like this? Get real.”

“Oh, really? Deep down, aren’t you happy that all four of them are so worried about you?”

“I’m telling you, that’s not true! Just leave me alone.”

Deciding it wasn’t worth talking to him anymore, I moved to wheel myself away with my left hand. But the next moment, I felt the handle of my wheelchair gripped tightly. Turning to glare at Yuto, I found him glaring back at me with equal intensity.

“Satsuki and the others are kind. They couldn’t just abandon someone who got into an accident right in front of them. Of course, they’d be devoted to helping you. So what’s wrong with calling you a piece of trash for exploiting their kindness?”

“━━━That’s…”

I saved those girls. I’m their savior!

You’re the one hated by all of the Four Beauties!

It would’ve been easy to argue back, to tear down Yuto Sano and point out every terrible thing about him. I could’ve spent all day listing his faults.

And yet, I couldn’t get a single word out.

His accusation—that I was exploiting their kindness—pierced through me like a knife to the heart.

I told myself I was just letting them do what they wanted until their guilt faded. But was that really my true intention? If I’d really wanted to push them away, I could have done so any number of times.

The excuse that I was trying to stop them from “falling into darkness”… wasn’t that just a convenient interpretation for my own sake?

Deep down, was I simply indulging in this situation, relishing the fact that I had control over the Four Beauties?

The dark, ugly truth I didn’t want to face started bubbling to the surface, suffocating me with its weight.

When I snapped back to reality, Yuto was staring at me with eyes full of contempt.

“So you were aware of it after all… how disgusting.”

“N-No, that’s not it! I didn’t mean it that way…!”

“Satsuki and the others probably want a bright, rosy campus life. Instead, they’re stuck with a parasite like you, feeding off their kindness and dragging them down. Don’t you ever think about letting them go?”

“……”

His blunt words stabbed into me one after another like knives. I wanted to deny it, to argue back. But the voice within me trying to justify myself was quickly swallowed by the dark, ugly feelings festering inside.

“I don’t enjoy saying this, you know.”

Yuto said, letting out a short sigh.

“But when I think about them, I feel like it’s my job to play the bad guy for their sake.”

“Sano…”

It wasn’t blind anger driving his words—he truly cared about them. That realization only made the pressure on my chest tighten further.

“If you’d just tell them you’re fine now, that they don’t need to worry anymore, it’d be enough. You can manage that much, can’t you?”

“I…”

Just because I saved their lives doesn’t mean I have the right to chain them to me forever. They have their own lives to live, their own futures to pursue. Otherwise, there would have been no point in protecting them. If the lives I saved became prisons, I’d be no better than the ones who created this world in the first place.

And yet… the selfish, ugly part of me clung to them, refusing to set them free.

I don’t want to be alone anymore━

It was a selfish, egotistical wish. And the moment it formed clearly in my mind, I felt utterly pathetic.

If guilt was the only way I could stay connected to others, then maybe it would’ve been better if I’d died back then━

My head naturally lowered, sinking into a spiral of despair. When I glanced at Yuto, his expression was filled with contempt and mockery, but I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore.

“What exactly are you doing━?”

━━━

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