The Handsome Boy I Saved from Getting Beaten on the Train… Turned Out to Be the “Prince” of an All-Girls School - V1 Chapter 33: I… I Just…

Chapter 33: I… I Just…

“Rei…?”

“Saito!? And… Rinna-chan…”

We hadn’t told her ahead of time—because knowing Rei, she might’ve tried to run.

So Rinna and I waited at the school gate without warning her, and just as expected, Rei looked shocked when she spotted us.

Both Rinna and I noticed her outfit right away—

That boyish look again, with the hoodie under her uniform blazer, the pants-style skirt, and the black mask.

Still, we decided the first thing to do was apologize properly, not press her about her clothes.

So I quickly got to the point.

“Sorry for showing up out of nowhere, Rei. But Rinna came today because she has something she wants to say to you.”

I gave Rinna a nudge with my eyes, prompting her.

“Hoshina-san. The other day, because of my careless actions, I caused you a great deal of discomfort. I’m truly sorry.”

Gone was her usual teasing tone.

Rinna bowed her head, her voice formal and respectful—like a proper young lady.

Maybe it was because Rei’s fangirls were nearby, but Rinna even switched to calling her “Hoshina-san” instead of her usual teasing nickname, Wimpy Prince.

“And I’m sorry too. At the time, I was so focused on disinfecting your wound that I didn’t stop Rinna.”

I bowed beside her, offering my own apology to match.

“…………”

I thought she’d respond somehow—anything at all.

But Rei said nothing.

Since we couldn’t keep bowing forever in front of the school like that—we’d draw too much attention—both Rinna and I eventually lifted our heads.

Even then, Rei remained silent.

The atmosphere around us felt so heavy, it was like time itself had slowed down in just this one spot.

“…It’s fine. I don’t care.”

Rei was the one who finally broke the silence.

Just from the words alone, it sounded like she was accepting our apology.

But the expression on her face wasn’t her usual easy-to-read one.

There was no emotion I could make out—just a blank, unreadable look. And that left me feeling seriously unsettled.

“R-Really? I’m glad you’re okay with it. Actually, Rinna brought something she wanted to give you—to make up and be friends again.”

Even though something about this felt deeply wrong, I forced myself to ignore it and tried to move the conversation forward.

“…Is that all you needed? Then I’m leaving.”

Rei cut right past my words and turned to walk away.

“Re—Rei? Hold on a sec—”

“So what, does that mean you really don’t care about us at all anymore? You damn Prince.”

“Wait—Rinna!?”

I’d just managed to get things moving smoothly—had Rinna ready to hand over the apology gift, and we were finally on track to making up…

So why was she picking a fight now!?

And seriously, she dropped the nice-girl act way too fast!

This was right in front of Eio Girls’ High, with Rei’s fangirls all around us.

If you call her that here…

“Look, Rinna-chan… That’s not okay, even if you apologized earlier.”

Ah.

Yeah. Rei’s pissed.

Well, at least it stopped her from walking away, so… mission halfway accomplished?

Though now, in exchange, we were getting death stares from the fangirls—me and Rinna both.

Man, this is terrifying…

“Whoa-whoa, let’s all just calm down—”

“I was going to apologize properly a moment ago. But if the Wimpy Prince is gonna act like she doesn’t care, then fine. Why should I bother?”

I pulled out the classic ‘whoa-whoa’ to cool things down,

But Rinna ignored it completely and kept going.

Seriously… that line never works when it actually matters. Damn it.

“I didn’t even do anything wrong this time… It’s up to me who I get close to or not. That’s my choice.”

“…So you’re saying… you really don’t want anything to do with us anymore?”

“…Yeah. That’s right, Saito.”

Honestly… it hit me hard.

Rei had always been so clingy, always by my side.

Somewhere deep down, I’d thought that if we just met and apologized face-to-face, everything would go back to normal.

I was way too naive.

And now, the guilt of realizing just how badly we’d hurt her weighed even heavier on my chest.

“Hmmm… So you’re okay with me stealing Saito away from you, then?”

“…!?”

“H-Hey, Rinna!? What are you even saying right now—!?”

“We go to the same school. I sit right next to him. And you—well, you just cut off your only connection to him. Wonder what’ll happen now~?”

Ah… I get it.

Rinna was provoking her.

Even if it meant making Rei mad, she was trying to stop her from walking away—to get her to react.

…Right, Rinna?

You’re deliberately playing the bad guy for her sake, aren’t you?

Thinking that, I followed Rinna’s lead.

“Hey, Rei… if you think about it, we were never supposed to even talk to each other, right? Different schools, completely different lives… If that thing on the train hadn’t happened, we never would’ve crossed paths at all.”

“…………”

While Rinna swung the whip, I tried to offer the sugar—

Speaking softly, carefully, trying to reach her.

“But after that, we somehow just clicked… and became close. Sure, a lot happened along the way. Like that video getting posted online. But even the bad stuff didn’t feel that bad—because I went through it with you, Rei.”

“Saito…”

“So… please don’t say something sad like goodbye.”

That was my honest, unfiltered truth.

A lot had happened recently.

But it all started the day I stepped in to help Rei on that train.

And still, not once have I ever regretted it.

Even if they—my so-called parents—found out, I wouldn’t care.

Because I followed what I believed was right.

“Saito… I… I just…”

Rei looked down, her shoulders shaking.

Maybe my words had reached her.

Maybe my feelings got through.

It was way more dramatic and emotional than I expected, but still—this should’ve been the turning point…

“That’s exactly why… you’re the one person I didn’t want to find out. That’s why… I’m sorry.”

Rei looked up.

Tears—big ones—were falling down her cheeks.

Why…

Why is Rei the one apologizing?

“…Goodbye.”

“Ah—wait! Rei, stop!”

She spun around and took off running,

And I hurried after her in a panic.

Maybe it was because of her pants-style uniform, but she was fast—really fast.

I had to catch up to her—now!

“Please leave now.”

“We’ll take it from here as her Royal Guard.”

But—

Just as I was about to chase after Rei, her fangirls stepped in and blocked my path.

Through a gap in the crowd, I caught a glimpse of a few of them running after Rei.

At this rate, even if I managed to catch up to her,

There’d be no chance to talk.

Why…?

What did I do wrong?

Where did I mess up?

Those questions spun around in my head over and over, leaving me completely lost.

“Everyone, settle down. Thank you, Kujou-san.”

“Ah… Sasaki-san…”

While Rei’s fangirls bristled with tension and I stood frozen in confusion,

Their leader—Sasaki—stepped forward, calming the atmosphere with her presence.

But this girl had always been openly hostile toward me.

Was this where she’d finally say, “Don’t go near Rei-sama ever again” or something?

I tensed up, bracing for impact.

“I’d like to talk to you about Rei-sama. Please come with me.”

“…Huh? Uh—yes, of course.”

To my surprise, Sasaki’s voice was gentle.