When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 61: I'm The One Spreading The Word About Cohabitation.

I’m The One Spreading The Word About Cohabitation.

My cheeks twitched.

The one secret I didn’t want anyone to know—my cohabitation with Sajou-san. How had my classmate figured it out?

I had no memory of telling anyone. Sajou-san wouldn’t have spread it around either; I never saw her talking to anyone else. My sister knew, but I quickly dismissed the thought that she would blab about it. She loved drama but wouldn’t go that far, especially since she didn’t know anyone in my class.

So, there was only one explanation left.

“Have you been eavesdropping?” I asked, looking around nervously.

“No, no!” She waved her hands in front of her face, dismissing the idea.

“Then how do you know?”

Her surprised reaction made it clear she thought I was being ridiculous. “Why? You walk to and from school together, go shopping, talk about dinner, laundry, and cleaning—all in the classroom. It’s obvious! Didn’t you notice?”

“…I didn’t notice.”

How could I have been so careless?

This was beyond mere negligence. I had essentially been broadcasting it myself. It wasn’t even a secret to my classmates anymore—it was just me who was clueless.

The truth was out, and I was the one who had unwittingly revealed it.

But I couldn’t help it. Sajou-san was the only one I talked to in the classroom. Our conversations naturally revolved around our shared life at home. I never outright said, “We live together,” but the content of our talks made it glaringly obvious.

Wow, really?

I held my head in my hands. How much of our private life had spread?

At worst, if it was just among classmates, I could accept it, reluctantly. But if the teachers knew, it could lead to being called in for lifestyle guidance. It wasn’t something that would get me suspended, but it definitely wasn’t a situation that would reflect well on us.

As I pondered the implications of the conversation spreading not just to my teacher but even to the parents of students—my thoughts closed off. It felt futile to dwell on it, and honestly, I didn’t want to imagine that future.

Even without specific details, trouble was inevitable.

Already, I was troubled enough by the Sajou-san’s mother-daughter situation.

I didn’t want any more complications. I didn’t want to think about it.

“…I appreciate the advice, but could you not spread that story around?”

“I thought you didn’t care because you were acting so confident.”

Sorry for being so stupid.

“Yeah, I understand. Don’t worry. I have enough discretion to handle it. I’ll make sure to tell her too.”

“…I’m grateful.”

Honestly, are you really? I wanted to question further, but ultimately, I was the cause of it all, so I couldn’t blame my female classmates too much.

That onlooker looks like someone who can’t keep their mouth shut. Are they a walking speaker? I almost thought that, but I chose to trust the situation. Trust… trust…

Please, I’m begging you.

My heart was filled with unease, like water overflowing from a cup, as my female classmate redirected the conversation.

“You  go to school together in the morning, make lunch for each other, even go home together. On top of that, you’re living together, right? So if she’s not your wife, what exactly is she?”

“…We’re not married.”

On paper, Sajou-san and I are just strangers.

Even if we live together, without marriage, she’s not a wife or a bride.

“But you’re dating, right?”

“We’re not boyfriend and girlfriend.”

I said, and my classmate’s face twisted noticeably.

A face unbecoming of a girl, something she shouldn’t have done. When I jokingly said, ‘You won’t be able to get married!’ she angrily retorted, ‘Who’s stopping me from getting married?’ in a nonsensical way.

Why though? I don’t recall ever stopping you from getting married. I have no intention of stopping you.

“You ball-less wimp!”

“Ball… !?”

I was speechless at such an unexpected insult.

Do girls say things like that? At least be more refined. Please add ‘o’ before ‘tama’. Call me a ‘o-tama-nashi no yaro’.

[TL: she said “この玉無し野郎” which ofcourse is an insult but without an “お”(“O”). Generally adding O before any word makes it polite but I’m not sure about this LOL]

While thinking about such trivial matters, I was dismayed, and my classmate slammed the desk in a heated moment. I narrowly avoided hitting my face and instinctively pulled back.

Her face heated up and approached me. Her face filled my field of vision, and her nose was almost touching mine.

“Why aren’t you making a move on that busty beauty you live with? Are you not into girls? Or are you some neutered herbivore horse munching on grass?”

“W-well…? I’m neither into girls… girl nor am a… horse…?”

Overwhelmed by her intensity, I couldn’t muster a proper rebuttal.

Why am I being scolded like this? Whether Sajou-san and I are married or just living together shouldn’t concern my classmates.

But regardless of right or wrong,

When earnestly challenged face-to-face, I start to feel like I’m the one in the wrong. It’s strange.

She presses her face closer, almost pushing her whole face against mine, not just her nose.

I raise my hands and lean back, but the chair’s backrest prevents me from leaning further back.

With sweat trickling down, I meet her turbulent eyes filling my entire field of view.

Her stormy eyes, brimming with intense emotion, seem to pierce right through my bewildered heart.

And then, she drives the crucial question straight into my chest.

“…Don’t you love her?”

Sajou-san.

It felt like a stake of white wood driven in, or perhaps a silver dagger.

My breath caught, and all that escaped my open mouth, as if trying to speak, was a breath that couldn’t form into words.