What's Wrong With Interfering With My Childhood Friend's Love?

Chapter 35 : The Origin Of The Problem | My Revenge

Every morning, I drag myself to school in despair, and every evening, I return home burdened by boredom.

I, Takuma Ichinose, spent my days enduring this routine simply because it was a “civic duty” — an irrational, incomprehensible, and unreasonable justification.

“What’s the point of school, anyway?”

In the classroom, I remained unnoticed, as if I were just part of the air, quietly waiting for the school day to end. I would secretly fiddle with an obscure mobile training game that no one else cared about, without expecting anyone to share my interests.

I pretended to be a lone wolf, building an invisible wall between myself and others. I knew, of course, that wolves were social animals, and it wasn’t as if I looked down on myself for it.

Yet, somehow, I had convinced myself that this was my identity. “A lone wolf, Ichinose”—it had a nice ring to it, and I liked how it sounded.

This belief was sparked by something a famous con artist said on a variety show I happened to watch:

“People go through life mistakenly thinking they’re special. Young people today, especially, delude themselves into believing they’re unique, acting like eccentrics for attention.”

I couldn’t agree more. I wasn’t special.

But I started to think—maybe being a weirdo wasn’t so bad. If that became my identity, then at least I’d have something to take pride in.

That’s what I thought… until a year ago.

The change was purely by chance. When I entered my second year of high school, a certain girl

from my class suddenly started talking to me.

“Wow, you already maxed out your level? That’s amazing!”

“It’s really not.”

“Come on, the game’s only been out for a month! That’s impressive!”

“The level goes up on its own if you just let it idle. All I did was manage the resources a bit…”

“Still, being good at training games is pretty cool! I think so, at least!”

Her name was Kokaze Shino. She was bright, cheerful, and the class idol. She shattered the invisible wall I had built around myself and approached me without hesitation.

She was truly kind — I knew that because she treated everyone with the same warmth.

And I… I fell for her almost instantly.

When I was with Kokaze-chan, I didn’t want to be a lone wolf anymore. Just talking to her made me feel superior to the other guys who admired her. It felt like I had become special.

There were rumors among my classmates that Chiya Sahara was the cutest girl in school. But to me, Kokaze-chan was number one.

Her smile was like a gentle breeze, sweeping me away.

Lately, though, I started noticing something.

Every now and then, Kokaze-chan would make a displeased face.

Curious, I observed her closely and realized that her eyes always landed on one person — Riku Kaidou.

He was the lackey of Akito Akimitsu, a guy with no redeeming qualities who still had the audacity to approach Kokaze-chan.

Kokaze-chan was kind to everyone, so for her to make such a face… He must have done something awful to her.

Besides, Kaidou was disliked by many girls from different classes. I had even seen him arrogantly lecturing people before.

Who does he think he is? Seeking out others just to scold them — only a real piece of trash would do that.

I had recently learned about the concept of “righteousness junkies” from TV, and Kaidou fit the description perfectly.

He was the type to prey on timid girls under the guise of justice. And every time a parasite like him fed on the sweetness of others, someone else suffered for it.

I despised Kaidou from the bottom of my heart.

But even if I hated him… I couldn’t do anything.

Because, at the end of the day, I had nothing.

If I truly cared about Kokaze-chan, I should have acted. I knew that. But knowing and doing were two different things.

And I hated myself for that most of all.

So, I made up my mind — I would help Kokaze-chan. I would do something for her.

And yet, when the time came, I did nothing.

On the first day back after the weekend, I froze.

Kokaze-chan had stepped between Yuto and Akimitsu while they were having a meaningless argument. I should have been by her side, supporting her.

But I couldn’t move.

I was pathetic.

After school, I slumped over my desk in frustration.

That’s when someone walked up to me and tapped on my desk with their finger a few times.

“Yasuike-san. Do you need something from me?”

“Hmm… I suppose you could call it sympathy?”

“Sympathy?”

“I thought I’d help wake up poor little Ichinose from his dream.”

“You think I’m pitiful? I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say.”

“Oh? You’re not rejecting the conversation outright. So you can talk.”

“What’s that supposed to mean—”

“You used to keep up that whole ‘invisible wall’ act, but you’ve changed, haven’t you? Thanks to Shino, maybe?”

I didn’t see any reason to ignore someone who talked to me.

And if they wanted to credit Kokaze-chan for that, I didn’t mind.

“So what? If Kokaze-chan helped me open up, then I should just be grateful to her. I still don’t see your point, Yasuike-san.”

“That was just a little test… Pfft, but the way you call her ‘Kokaze-chan’ — you’re really smitten, aren’t you? That works perfectly for me. Let’s get to the main topic… Do you know who Shino likes?”

“…..”

“No need to pretend you don’t.”

“I don’t know everything about her.”

“Alright then, who do you think has the best chance?”

“Why should I answer that? It’s not my place to interfere with Kokaze-chan’s personal life.”

Even as I said it, I realized my mistake.

The question wasn’t why should I answer? — It was why should I even think about it?

By hesitating, I had practically admitted that I already knew the answer.

At that moment, Yasuike smirked.

“Shino is always glued to Akimitsu-kun, isn’t she?”

“…………”

“I’m a girl too, you know? I can read other girls. A few weeks ago, I was in that same spot.”