(Chastity Reversed) The Legitimate Wife War: How I, a Harem-Hater, Ended Up Creating an Ultra-Eccentric Harem with a Villainess, a Sadistic Beauty Teacher, a Scheming Classmate... etc. - Chapter 121.2: Best Friend SIDE Setsuna Aoyama

Takeda-kun also came back wearing a long-sleeved swimsuit.

Maybe it was a bit small, as his muscles were showing, but it was better than being shirtless earlier.

Well, there were still girls blushing though…

How was his girlfriend Mizuri… huh? She didn’t seem to care much about the other girls.

Maybe compared to being shirtless earlier, this was nothing?

…No wait, I had another flash of inspiration.

Surely Mizuri now had the confidence of a girlfriend who knew everything about Takeda-kun.

Mizuri was doing what she needed to do properly.

So my dissatisfaction about her not telling me was building up.

Hmm, what should I do about this…

“Aoyama… hey, Aoyama? Aoyama!”

“Y-yes!”

Because I was thinking with my arms crossed, I didn’t notice the teacher calling my name.

“Really, if you don’t listen properly, you’ll get hurt. As punishment, you’ll help clean up afterward.”

What?! That’s too harsh!

“Eh?”

“…Got a complaint?”

“No!”

Since I was in the wrong, it was hard to rebel.

Actually, Mizuri, this happened because of you, so why are you laughing so carefree?

I’m definitely groping your boobs later!

The teacher’s voice echoed loudly across the pool.

“Boys, don’t push yourselves too hard.”

After that, the swimming class proceeded normally.

As expected, Sato and Tanaka couldn’t swim, but Takeda-kun’s trained body wasn’t just for show—he was the fastest in class at swimming 50 meters.

And Mizuri, as expected, couldn’t swim and was sulking. The class proceeded with me teaching her and helping her.

Summer swimming was indeed cool and felt really good.

I wanted to get in every day.

“That’s all for today! Do your stretches properly, and Takeda-kun, bring a proper swimsuit next time.”

“…Yes.”

Takeda-kun still seemed somewhat unconvinced. I didn’t know why he wasn’t convinced.

Wasn’t he embarrassed to be seen?

“Also, Aoyama, don’t forget to clean up. Don’t try to escape.”

“Tch.”

That teacher didn’t forget.

I was thinking of sneaking away.

I had no choice but to let everyone in class go home first while I cleaned up the swimming equipment.

I wanted to eat quickly.

The cleanup ended up taking about 15 minutes.

That teacher worked me hard!

Finally, I rinsed off with a cold shower before returning to the changing room.

At this time, probably no one would be there anymore… I should change quickly and go back.

And then I’d secretly tease Mizuri about not telling me about her relationship with Takeda-kun.

Thinking about that made me look forward to what came next.

I entered the empty changing room triumphantly, but contrary to my expectations, one person was still changing.

“Huh… Mizuri, you’re still chang… ing? Eh.”

The moment I called out, Mizuri quickly hid her clothes with a towel.

After putting on her clothes, Mizuri slowly turned her face toward me, but it wasn’t her usual bright face.

It was emotionless like a Noh mask. She had a flat expression. Like a completely different person.

“…Did you see?”

“See what, th-those wounds? Mizuri, what on earth happened?”

Countless wounds running across Mizuri’s back. Some looked like cuts from something, others like bruises.

There were relatively fresh wounds as well as old scars.

This was probably evidence that Mizuri had been continuously subjected to violence.

“A-are you okay? Anyway, we should go to the police—”

“—I’m fine.”

It was a tone that brooked no argument.

I couldn’t continue my words to the end. I wasn’t allowed to continue.

“No, fine isn’t—”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about anything. It’s a usual thing.”

Again, Mizuri cut me off and didn’t let me finish. Mizuri’s eyes were saying not to go any further.

She was probably drawing a line… right now.

“B-but still—”

“It’s fine. Besides, Setsuna can’t… no, it’s not just Setsuna, no one can do anything about it.”

Mizuri’s usual liveliness had withdrawn from her face, replaced by such a sad smile as if she’d given up on everything.

That’s exactly why I wanted to do something for her.

“That’s not true!”

“It’s love, so it can’t be helped… ah, but there is something I want to ask Setsuna.”

For just a moment, Mizuri made her usual smile.

I expected her to rely on me.

“Wh-what? I-I’ll do anything I can!”

If Mizuri was in trouble, I wanted to help her. I’d do anything.

I won’t forgive whoever did this to you.

Because we’re best friends. We’re supposed to be best friends.

“I see, thanks! …Then—”

Mizuri’s face wore a hollow smile as if it had been pasted on.

“—Please forget everything you saw today and don’t tell anyone. You didn’t see anything and nothing happened. Of course, this conversation didn’t happen either.”

“What?!”

Words that were the complete opposite of what I had thought, what I had wanted her to say.

Not words asking for help, but words rejecting help.

Words that wouldn’t let me do anything.

“Please? …We’re friends… aren’t we?”

She said it as if driving the final nail.

Mizuri’s face didn’t change at all during this.

“Well, I’m going back first. Let’s eat together later, okay? At that time, let’s be just like usual, okay? If not… no, never mind.”

It was like she was driving a nail into me.

And for me, it was as painful as being shot.

“…Ah, I messed up getting seen like that.”

Mizuri left, and the door closed with a bang.

Only I was left in the changing room.

The smell of chlorine lingered around.

“…I need to get changed anyway.”

I wiped off the water with a towel, but I couldn’t wipe it off as well as usual.

No matter how much I wiped my face, the moisture wouldn’t come off.

It tasted kind of salty.

“…Haha, because we’re friends, huh?”

Mizuri’s words from earlier echoed in my head.

[Don’t tell anyone… we’re friends, aren’t we?]

Friends… huh.

“What am I to you… that’s not what friends are!”

I felt like my heart had been covered with a lid.

No, that’s not it… to begin with—

“—Maybe it was only me… who thought we were best friends…”

That’s kind of…

“It’s sad.”

When we played together, wasn’t it really fun?

When we went out together, was it boring?

When we talked about ideal men, was I forcing her?

I don’t understand anything anymore.

“…Hey Mizuri? What am I really to you?”