The Reason Why I was Cheated on By My Girlfriend - Chapter 47

Spring Shines and the Night Melts

Kaguya Sakashita’s POV

The preliminary rounds have ended, and we advance to the finals.

It’s actually not that surprising. After all, I’m top of my grade.

Since academic ability is a measure of how well one can score on specific tasks, it’s only natural that I would win in a straightforward competition.

Of course, there are exceptions—like human relationships and romance.

For some reason, I can’t seem to do well in those areas. It’s probably because they require completely different skills than academics.

My academic ability can be said to be the result of focusing all of the resources that could have gone into socializing into self-improvement.

To be honest, I’m not that happy about it.

But for once, it paid off.

Believe it or not, I ended up high-fiving Haruki-san.

Even though I’ve had much more intimate physical contact with Haruki before, a high-five feels completely different.

It gave me an entirely different kind of thrill.

If I have to describe it, perhaps it felt like the fireworks of youth.

The moment our hands touched, I felt the shock travelled from my skin to my neural circuits, reaching places beyond just my brain.

It was truly wonderful—so much so that I even felt joy when I high-fived Yua-san.

Just like that, time passes in the blink of an eye, and the finals arrived.

Right now, we are waiting backstage for our turn.

It seems the group presenting before us has named their group ‘Akki and Her Merry Friends’.

It’s the kind of mane that I would’ve rejected with all my heart and soul. Akki-san must be a very funny person.

Setting that aside, twelve groups made it to the finals, totalling about forty students.

Considering that our grade has 320 students, that means only around 12 percent of the students advanced to the finals. Well, objectively speaking, it’s fair to say that those who reached the finals are exceptionally talented.

—stab.

I feel a sharp pain deep within chest.

I hate my mother for measuring people by numbers. Yet, at this very moment, I am doing the exact same thing.

“I’m nervous.”

She said so in a small voice.

I turn to look at her.

Yua-san has a nervous smile on her face.

I feel the pain again in my chest, because her reaction is just…so normal.

Most people would probably be preoccupied with their own presentation.

However, right now, I’m measuring the abilities of my competitors.

“…that’s right.”

I replied a little late and turn my eyes back to the stage.

Right now, a short female student is giving her best at the presentation.

She has a strong voice, but it’s not high-pitched which is common among girls.

It’s a very pleasant voice to listen to.

Judging from the presenter’s name, I think that girl is Akki-san.

I wonder what kind of person is she?

I wonder what kind of thoughts are running through her head right now.

(…how ironic.)

Just a week ago, all I could think about was dragging Yua-san into hell.

My mind was filled with nothing but hatred for her, for making Haruki-san to suffer.

However, just a few days ago, everything changed.

Haruki-san became kinder to me, and his relationship with Yua-san went back to how it was.

Our once distorted relationship has come to a full circle and becomes normal again.

Right now, we are acting like typical high school students.

And that’s exactly why I can’t help but think,

Who should I truly hate—?

“Oh, it’s our turn.”

Haruki-san’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

“Wait, wait. Just give me five more minutes.’

“You’ll be fine. Kaguya and I are right behind you.”

“Isn’t that just cruel!?”

Haruki-san started joking with Yua-san.

It’s a very ‘friendly’ interaction, but for some reason, it makes me feel jealous.

“Kaguya-nyan, I’m counting on you!”

“I told you to stop saying that, didn’t I?”

“Haha, she’s seriously mad.”

Yet, despite this, Yua-san keeps trying to pull me into their circle.

She must be feeling more jealous than I am.

However, she doesn’t show it at all.

It feels really unsettling.

I hate that I’m feeling this way.

(…how can I become normal?)

I suddenly remember something.

The reason why I first spoke to Haruki-san in the library a year ago—it was because of this exact feeling.

Honestly, I want to enjoy this more.

Even though I truly want to enjoy this moment…those noise keeps creeping into my thoughts.

“The next presentation is—”

I hear the announcement.

In the slightly tense atmosphere, we turn our attention to the stage.

Then, I take a step forward.

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Akki’s POV

Phew, that was nerve-wracking! Nyababa! Baa!

I’m really excited, whee!

“That was a good presentation.”

Said the cool, black-haired boy with glasses, Fuyu-kun.

“It’s all thanks to me who warmed up the crowd!”

The loud guy with brown hair said so.

“…however, the main event is up next.”

Fuyu-kun muttered coolly.

Hearing his voice, I also calm down a little.

(…a messy love triangle.)

That’s what I call it in my mind.

The atmosphere I saw during their group work and field trip…well, it was quite something.

“Well, let’s start the presentation.”

The presentation time is six minutes.

There’s a rule that everyone must speak for at least one minute.

It looks like Niimi-san is the first presenter.

“Yua-chan’s smile is just unfair.”

“Shut up, you’re so noisy. I can’t hear.”

I ignore my childhood friends who is arguing with each other and focus on listening the presentation.

My heartbeat is still a bit fast since I just finished my presentation, but I feel much more at ease.

(…as expected, real extroverts are amazing.)

Our presentation went really well.

However, it was largely due to the noisy brown-haired guy’s opening talk that made it lively.

Yua-san’s presentation is really intelligent.

It’s not the kind that makes you laugh out loud, but it gives off a subtle impression of amusement.

“It seems that Niimi have broken it down really well. It’s well done.”

Fuyu-kun muttered so like a critic.

“From here, I’ll be presenting.”

After Niimi-san finished their introduction, the microphone is handed over to Sakashita-san.

(…uwaa, amazing.)

The atmosphere changed instantly.

An aura that repels anyone and an icy cold expression.

And yet, her appearance made the sharpness of her aura seem beautiful, combined with an elegant presentation.

(…that’s unfair)

I know she’s good at studying.

She’s always in the library, so I have the impression she’s smart.

However, being able to deliver such an amazing presentation, that’s just unfair.

“Ogura will make the final presentation.”

Their presentation is very interesting and easy to understand.

They’re really amazing.

Their presentation ends in the blink of an eye.

When the three presenters bow in front of the audience, a thunderous applause can be heard.

(…there is no way we can win against them.)

I also applaud for them from the backstage.

Right after that—

“Finally, please watch the video.”

…hmm?

I look at the screen, wondering what’s going on.

Suddenly, Sakashita-san appears on the screen.

She has a different expression than usual.

She then places her hands to her ears and says,

‘…let’s start the presentation practice…nyan~.’

Hmphhh!!

“…eh, was that Sakashita-san just now?”

“…this must be a hallucination.”

Seeing such an unbelievable scene, both Fuyu-kun and I can’t help but murmured so.

It’s a so-called blooper reel.

It’s a method used to show mistakes made during practice in the leftover time, and other teams has done similar things.

However— this is on a whole different level.

Seeing Sakashita-san who is usually so composed, blushing in red and taking on the role of the comic relief is far more shocking than any surprise footage you might occasionally see on TV.

(…there’s no way they don’t win first place.)

They will undoubtedly get the most votes from the students.

Watching Sakashita-san shaking Okura-kun’s shoulder in front of the screen and Niimi-san laughing so hard beside them, I’m convinced.

(…Kaguya-nyan will be the winner.)

Today, the cool image of Sakashita Kaguya melts away.