The Gal Game Heroines Who Were Supposed to Die Somehow Learned My Secret ～By the Way, Where Did My [Diary] Go?～ - Chapter 20: [Four Beauties] side 6

Chapter 20: [Four Beauties] side 6

“The opposite of love isn’t hatred, but indifference. That’s what the oh-so-wise Mother Teresa said. I get it, I really do. But, I completely disagree! The opposite of love has to be hatred, don’t you think?”

From the clear bag hanging on the IV stand, drops of liquid slowly dripped through the tube into the patient’s arm. His arm, marked with numerous needle scars, silently told the story of his long and arduous battle with illness.

Beside the patient, two girls sat on either side of his bed. His faint breathing could just barely be heard, each shallow breath reflecting his frailty yet conveying a will to live. An oxygen mask covered his face, the exhaled air fogging the inside of the mask.

Despite the grim scene, Shuna’s unsettlingly bright smile stood out like a jarring contrast.

“My family… someone we really trusted stole money from our company and ran off with it~”

As I recall, that story was in the diary as well. It described how Shuna, once the daughter of a wealthy CEO, had been thrust into ruin.

“By the time we caught him, he’d already gambled it all away~. And you know what he said? His excuse was hilarious! ‘I was going to use the money to win big and repay the Nanjou family tenfold!’ Isn’t that just ridiculous~?“

Her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes held a cold, distant gleam. That odd combination of anger and amusement left me speechless, caught off guard by the contradiction in her expression.

“That guy’s living in a detention center, getting free food, shelter, and everything else, while my family had to borrow from loan sharks, and I nearly had to sell my own body~. Seriously, this country is way too soft on criminals. ━They should just die.”

Shuna’s expression turned completely blank, her face as emotionless as a mask, while her hands clenched tightly as if she were crushing something in her grip. But the moment she noticed her usual facade cracking, she quickly put on her familiar smile again.

“Ah, sorry~. That’s why I think the opposite of love is hatred~. When someone you trust betrays you, you end up hating them that much. Saying the opposite of love is indifference… that’s just pretty words from people who’ve never experienced real betrayal~.”

For Shuna, betrayal was clearly something unforgivable. Her flawless smile now bore visible cracks.

“This is my second time being betrayed, you know? But unlike the first time, that scum didn’t face any punishment at all~. He toyed with us however he wanted, and now he’s living peacefully, completely unaware of the pain he caused. Meanwhile, our true savior is lying here, barely clinging to life. Do you think anyone else even cares about this situation? After hearing all this, don’t you feel like killing someone too~?”

“That’s…”

I couldn’t forgive him. I never wanted to have anything to do with him again. I’d already blocked him on LINE, and even if we crossed paths, I planned to ignore him. I was done with this “family connection.”

━More than anything, I hated him so much I wanted to kill him.

But the moment the word kill crossed my mind, “common sense” stepped in, aligning itself with my reason. I shook my head and met the eyes of Reine and Shino. Just like me, there was hesitation in their gazes.

“Hah… so that’s all there is, huh~?”

Shuna, her face completely devoid of her usual cheer, stared at us with a cold, disdainful expression. Her gaze radiated irritation and disappointment, far clearer than any words could convey.

“I’m a little let down~. Is that the extent of what you feel for Satoshi Iriya-kun… no, Satoshi-sama? Were your feelings of gratitude and devotion so weak that common sense and rules could stop you? Well, if that’s the case, then so be it~.”

“What…?”

Shuna moved closer to Satoshi Iriya, her movements exuding a strange, captivating allure. With a soft exhale, she leaned toward the exposed skin peeking through the gaps in his bandages. Her tongue gently flicked across it, leaving a faint sheen behind.

“What are you doing!?”

I jumped to my feet, my voice rising in protest.

“What do you think? It’s a sign of loyalty~.”

“A… sign of loyalty…?”

Shuna brought her face close to his, her expression softening into one of deep tenderness. Her eyes held a warmth that seemed to caress him, as though cherishing him above all else.

“I always thought this world was full of trash~. But Satoshi-sama… he saved our lives without asking for anything in return. Isn’t that someone who deserves more than just love? Someone worth devoting your very life to?”

Shuna’s cheeks flushed as her warm breath brushed against his ear.

“If there’s a god in this world, then for me, that god is Satoshi-sama~. So━”

Without a sound, she straightened her posture. Then, like a lifeless doll suddenly brought to life, she twisted her neck at an unnatural angle to face us, her expression blank and eerie.

“That scum will never be forgiven. It’s not enough that he wronged us; he even dared to harm Satoshi-sama.”

She smiled brightly at us, but it felt like a blade hidden behind a veil.

“I’m all for a harem~. Satoshi-sama isn’t someone I could ever claim for myself alone, and I want everyone who shared our pain to find happiness too. But━”

Her face fell back into a cold, emotionless mask.

“If the person who risked his life to protect us ends up miserable while we sit back and enjoy peace, do you think that’s okay~?”

Shuna’s words cut deep, as if she was probing the truth buried in our hearts. It felt as though she had placed a test of loyalty before us, demanding an answer. The tension of her challenge tightened around my throat, making it hard to breathe.

“…Shuna’s right.”

The first to respond was Reine.

“…The one who always protected me from my worthless mother, the one who saved my life, was none other than Iriya… no, Satoshi-sama. The fact that my heart still beats now is thanks to him.”

Reine gently touched Satoshi Iriya’s right hand, her expression tender and filled with affection. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she gazed at him with moist, alluring eyes. Known as the most beautiful girl in school, Reine’s presence radiated an intoxicating allure, and that warmth seemed to spread to all of us, raising the temperature in the air.

And then━

“The scum who stole away all of his achievements and toyed with my heart deserves to rot in hell. Ethics? Laws? Those so-called universal values have never once protected me.”

Her cold, storm-filled eyes burned with the intent to destroy what needed to be eliminated.

“…I pledge my loyalty as well.”

Next to speak was Shino.

“I’ve always been an outcast—a child born of a mistress, shunned by my stepmother and half-siblings. I had no allies. My only purpose was to be a pawn in a political marriage. And yet, I didn’t even have the courage to run away… I was a coward through and through.”

Shino, who usually maintained a composed and dignified demeanor, began to open up about her past, revealing the struggles and vulnerabilities she had kept hidden.

“For me, high school was nothing more than a moratorium—a way to delay my engagement to a repulsive, despicable fiancé… I had all but given up on the idea of a prince charming ever existing.”

Shino’s expression carried a hint of resignation.

“━But then, I finally found him. Someone so extraordinary, someone I’d want to serve even if it meant opposing the entire Shinonome family.”

Her gaze turned resolutely toward us before she leaned closer to the bedridden Satoshi Iriya. And then━

“That’s why… the scum who stole Satoshi-sama’s achievements and continues to live freely… I’ll kill him. No matter what it takes. I’ll chase him to the ends of hell and ensure his destruction…!”

Shino’s words were terrifying, sharp enough to cut someone down with their intensity alone. Her voice was quiet but carried a piercing weight that made it impossible to dismiss.

“So, what about you~?”

Shuna turned to me, her question pointed.

“…The only reason I managed to keep working as a model was because of him. Truthfully, I never wanted to do it. Every day, I wanted to quit. I wanted to run away.”

The cold, lifeless gaze of the camera’s lens, and the eyes behind it staring at me, terrified me. I was petrified at the thought of my exposed body being shown to the world, unable to do anything about it.

But there was nothing else I could do. With no real talents to speak of, this was the only way I thought I could make a name for myself. I believed that if I became famous, he’d notice me, that he’d look at only me.

━Reality was harsh.

Even after putting everything on the line—literally—it wasn’t enough.

I was constantly threatened with being fired, told that if I wanted to succeed, I’d have to resort to pillow business. It wasn’t just my body that was being pushed to its limits; my mind was slowly breaking, cornered into a dead end I couldn’t escape.

I had nothing left, fearing I’d be consumed by the world without leaving a trace behind. And then, he came. He poured a fortune into supporting me, someone who couldn’t sell. He reaffirmed my worth, my love.

I loved him. I adored him. I would’ve given him everything.

That’s why━

All the strength drained from my body. My head hung low, and I let my heart speak freely, sharing everything.

“━Shuna’s theory and Mother Teresa’s words… I agree with both. But I think they’re incomplete. The opposite of love is hatred, yes. But on the other side of both love and hatred lies indifference.“

━Ah, I finally feel like I’ve become my true self.

Shedding the restraints of common sense, reason, and ethics, all the unnecessary layers were stripped away.

“Think about Satoshi-sama’s perspective. He’s been giving us love this whole time, and all we’ve ever given him in return was indifference.“

The concept of volunteering carries a beautiful resonance. Acts of selfless kindness, driven purely by the desire to help others, as people venture into conflict zones or impoverished regions. Their actions paint them as angels.

But… can we truly call it selfless?

The act of saving someone comes with the reward of gratitude, which brings a sense of fulfillment. For students, it improves their academic profiles. For public figures, it enhances their reputation as “good people.” When highlighted by the media, it elevates their social status even further.

Above all, there’s the irreplaceable reward of knowing you’ve saved someone’s life.

No matter how idealistic it sounds, there’s always a give-and-take involved. This is the nature of the world, its fundamental law. Everything operates on the principle of equivalent exchange.

But Satoshi-sama, a reincarnator from a higher world, is different.

No matter how much he gave, all his achievements were stolen by that worthless fool, Yuto Sano. The gratitude, the recognition—none of it ever reached his hands. And in the end, even his simple wish to live was trampled on, his fate cruelly sealed with a declaration of death.

He lived only to be robbed—that was the life of Satoshi Iriya.

“It must’ve been so painful, so unbearable, wasn’t it?”

Before I realized it, a single tear slid down my cheek.

My body refused to move, as if it were tightly bound by invisible chains. The phone I’d been holding slipped from my loosened grip and hit the floor with a dull thud.

It’s okay. We’ll make sure to fill your life with color.

But before that━

“That’s why… let’s make him experience the same torment Satoshi-sama went through. The pain of being ignored, betrayed, and having everything stolen away. And then━”

The other three seemed surprised at my words, but their expressions quickly softened into knowing smiles.

“…That’s a great idea. He probably thinks he can continue as if nothing’s changed from before. But how exactly do we make him feel the pain of losing everything?”

“The simple way would be to let him see us with Satoshi-sama, showing him what he’ll never have again. Don’t you think jealousy will eat him alive~?”

“But isn’t it going to be hard to make sure he sees us?”

“Then perhaps we should ensure that Satoshi-sama attends the same university as us?”

“Eh~? That would mean using the influence of the Shinonome family to enroll him in our university, right? But wouldn’t that just cause unnecessary stress for Satoshi-sama?”

We couldn’t afford for him to misunderstand and think the world’s enforcement was still in effect. Now that he was finally free, burdening him with doubts or causing him any pain would be unforgivable.

“Don’t worry. I checked Satoshi-sama’s computer, and it seems he applied to and was accepted into the same university we’re attending. Coincidentally, he’s even enrolled in the same department as him.”

“Oh, is that so~?”

“Perfect for letting him witness the ultimate NTR moment, don’t you think?”

“Exactly. Though, if I had my way, I’d want to sit right next to Satoshi-sama during every class~.”

It was an indulgent wish, but the thought still left a hint of longing.

“Fufu, at this rate, he won’t be able to complete the enrollment procedures in time and might end up being forced to take a gap year. Satoshi-sama wouldn’t want that, so why don’t we arrange for the university to send the necessary paperwork to the hospital?”

“Spring is starting to sound like so much fun! Oh, by the way, about his punishment━so, what do you think?”

A brief pause.

“Fufu, Satsuki-chan… you’ve really gone off the deep end, haven’t you~? But you know—”

“When our thoughts align this much, it becomes rather amusing. That was precisely what I had in mind as well.”

“Exactly. There’s no other way. If he is to truly understand Satoshi-sama’s suffering, this is the only path.”

We were all born from the same tragedy known as LoD.

There was nothing we could do, no way to resist, and no escape.

Does this way of thinking go against ethics?

So what.

What good is morality?

It never saved us.

Our only kin in this world are the three of us and Satoshi-sama.

Everything else is rubble, void, mere fragments of a broken world.

“Ahahaha…”

A sense of omnipotence enveloped us as we surrendered ourselves to the presence of our beloved savior. The air of the hospital room grew thick with a sweet, intoxicating aroma, as if a seductive incense had been lit, filling the space with its richness.

The joy of touching our dear Satoshi-sama melted our hearts, sending shivers through us.

We wanted him to wake up soon. We wanted him to need us.

And then━

“━We’ll be waiting for you.”

━━━

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