The morning after Kurumizawa-kaichou visited the morals committee room.
I was going to school by myself, butー
「Hmm?」
At the school gate. A girl was standing there, holding the edge of her skirt and looking down.
While surrounding students are rushing through the gate, she’s not moving a step.
Looking closelyーThat’s Shibayama Ichika.
A girl in the same class who received suspension during around the end of April. Apparently, she’s back to school today.
Although the reasons were hidden, the rumors grow on their own when there’s silence within the confines of the school. There were rumors that she did compensated dating, but nobody knew the truth.
And today, with a gap of a month, passing through the school gate must be awkward.
「Shibayama!」
I called her since I noticed her.
「Huh…」
「Good morning!」
「Err, good morning」
Her voice is filled with tension.
I try to show a bright expression.
「What’s wrong, did you forget something at home?」
「Oh, no, Uhm…」
Shibayama’s gaze wanders and she lets out a sigh.
「You probably already know, but I was away for a while. So, it’s hard to get in」
I hear frail panic from her voice. No matter the truth, she will bear the stigma of getting suspended and the eyes will not go easy on her.
As I was hesitating to say something…
「Hey! Ryougo!! Woah, you’re on the edge today!」
A noisy voice approaches.
Turning around, it’s who I expected it to be, Ayato came running.
「Hmm, oh, Shibayama. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?」
「Eh, ah, yes. It’s been a while Seki-kun」
Shibayama tensed up slightly.
「There were rumors that you did something indecent that got you suspended, is that true?」
Hey, read the room, Ayato!
Geez, he put all his stats into his appearance and he’s got zero delicacy.
Ayato grinned and patted Shibayama’s shoulder.
「Not that it matters. Nobody really cares. Come on, the bell’s gonna ring soon」
You’re being too light about it.
But, that’s why I feel the air of salvation comes in.
「Shibayama, what if you go with Ayato? Stop by the staff room first」
I gave him the signal and Ayato grinned and nodded.
「Yes, The demon of the morals committee already says so. If anything happens, he’ll use his authority to protect you!」
Wait now. There’s a lot of holes in what you said.
Although, maybe that’s fine.
「Shibayama, Ayato’s right, you don’t have to worry. You can just enter the room normally」
「See? Let’s go」
「O-Okay, thanks. Seki-kun and..morals committee head!」
Shibayama left with Ayato and they went inside trotting.
Watching their backs as they leave, I stood there for a while.
Then, I screamed in my mind.
ーYou don’t remember my name?!
It was rather shocking.
Even though we talked several times, my presence was nothing more than that.
At least Ayato’s there for her. Although, he’s a player so I have to warn him not to get his hands on Shibayama later.
Still, it’s awkward.
Even if it is true that Shibayama was suspended, since she was under restraint for a month, her guilt should have already been cleared. Despite that, losing her sense of belonging, it’s just pitiful.
So, I…
As the head of morals committee, and her classmate, I’ll do what I can for Shibayama.
† † †
「Shibayama, about the suspension, there were rumors that you were doing compensated dating, but what’s the real story?」
「Err…」
Shibayama’s taken aback, I dropped the bread bag I was holding.
I was having rooftop lunch with Ayato and Shibayama during lunch break. Ayato suddenly brings up the conversation, Shibayama and I were both frozen.
「Ayato, that’s just too far」
「What’s the harm? Putting Shibayama aside, we do not mind, don’t we?」
「Well, that’s true, but you know…」
I looked at Shibayama’s expressions. Although she looks awkward, she doesn’t seem angry.
Chosing her words, she softly opened her mouth.
「It’s not compensated dating. The man I liked was older…Actually, we were dating properly. He’s a 24 year old working adult, but we don’t have a compensated dating arrangement」
「Hmm, how about sex?」
Ayato? Have some tact.
I was shocked, but on the other hand, I was impressed by the lack of hesitation.
Shibayama smiled a little. A color, faintly appears on her face, reminiscing of the past.
「I don’t know if you’d believe me but we didn’t. We held hands, but that’s all. He was saying that we should do it once I’m an adult」
Seems like the guy was a good boyfriend for Shibayama.
They’re sticking to the relationship someone under 18 can do.
「Woah, what a waste, if it was me, I’d jump in right away」
「Police, this is the guy」
I pushed back at Ayato and Shibayama chuckled.
However, her smile clouded over.
「But, he’s a good man. I kept it a secret to everyone around me, but due to the incident, Mom found out and she removed all my contact with him and forced us to part ways. Then, I was forced to stay at home for a month. It’s heavy, relatively」
That’s less of a wry smile and more of a self-mockery.
「That’s what I thought at that time. It seems like romance has an age grouping. There’s a wall that nothing, not even my feelings can overcome, and for the first time, I fully understood it」
Shibayama’s voice is calm.
However, her feelings for her ex deep down still remain strong.
I decided to ask one thing that’s been bothering me.
「Still, how did the school found out?」
「Huh?」
「You were seeing each other in secret, right? If you weren’t found, you wouldn’t be suspended」
Shibayama nodded, and shrugged her shoulders.
「Someone saw us together. I think it’s probably because we were near the hotel district. Then, they reported to the school」
「Oh, but you just happened to pass by that place, right?」
「Yes. It was really just that」
「Who was it? The leaker?」
「I don’t know, but maybe who it is isn’t a problem」
Then, Ayato interjects.
「If so, why didn’t you just say you don’t know who it is from the start?」
「I thought about it, but…」
Shibayama smiled wryly and let her gaze drift into the air.
「I was quiet at first. But they kept asking me for an hour in the principal’s office, asking “Are you sure they have it wrong?” “What were you doing?” and “What kind of relationship do you have?” It was tough. I gradually start to feel like I was lying」
「So, you told them the truth? Why?」
Ayato asks, Shibayama smiles.
「I feel like I was lying about my feelings…I loved him you know」
Ayato and I exchanged glances, our expressions were unreadable.
I think Shibayama’s telling the truth.
The age of the person she was datingーthose were viewed as an issue, but the feeling she had for the other person is something that can be easily denied.
In response to that, a month of suspension doesn’t seem to heavy. In think the school had reasons for the severe punishment, but there was no physical relationship.
However, there was something I can’t help but wonder…
Someone saw it and reported it, that’s a fact.
It means that the school had acted because that someone can move the school.
…Miyake Ramu is also a leak from somenoe.
The fact that someone had leaked it is consistent, regardless of whether the leak comes from the school or the student council. We don’t know if it’s a coincidence, or if it’s the same person.
Shibayam’s right, perhaps who leaked it isn’t a big deal…
I’m starting to feel uneasy with these thoughts.
『Sawa-kun will have to guess the color of my panties without looking』
『Whatever Ryo-chan wants to do, I’ll do it…even sex』
These two beautiful girls who are megatron-level landmines in our morals committee.
I need to be careful too. Knock on the wood.
† † †
After school. I quickly pack my things and hurried to the school gate.
Starting today, our investigation on Miyake Ramu beginsーthe mere thought of it makes my steps feel incredibly heavy.
After hearing the story from Shibayama during the lunch break. There’s no way I can get into this.
Arriving at the school gate, I see Fuyutsuki and Mio waiting.
「Hey there」
I speak softly, and Mio came scurrying over, saying “you’re here”
「Ryo-chan, listen to this」
「Hm, what’s wrong?」
Mio, looking excited, lowers her voice while paying attention to the gazes around her.
「Look, I talked to the student council girl in our class today and the “No romance” thing we discussed yesterday…She said it might be serious」
「Huh? Seriously?」
Was Fuyutsuki’s predictions correct?
「She said that there’s a meeting to prepare the student general meeting after golden week. At that time, Kurumizawa-kaichou proposed about strengthening the rules on romance」
「So, did the proposal pass?」
「It hasn’t been decided yet, it’s a split within the council. But they say that the chairman is pushing things forcefully. Also, there’s also a draft ready for it」
I can’t help but frown.
The chairman’s serious about this.
She’s trying to control romance using school rules. Until now, I only thought of this as a joke.
「She’s here」
Fuyutsuki whispered.
Looking back, Miyake was coming out of the exit with several friends, chatting and laughing.
Honestly, I’m starting to get lost here.
Whether we should proceed with the investigation according to the chairman’s intentions, orー
「Sawa-kun, what’s the plan? Are you going to investigate Miyake-san’s suspicion to support the school rules against romance?」
I hesitate for a while, then speak up
「We’ll investigate Miyake Ramu」
「Ryo-chan」
Mio’s voice was wavering.
「But, this isn’t for the student council」
I speak clearly, Mio and Fuyutsuki’s eyes widened.
「We’re strictly the morals committee, it’s our job to verify the truth of suspicions. There’s no harm in having nothing, but if that’s suspicion is trueーWell, we’ll think about it later」
I say with a wry smile, Mio reluctantly nodded.
Fuyutsuki’s, well, she’s making the usual blank face, and I still don’t know what she’s thinking.
However, she neither denied nor affirmed my decision.
† † †
The shopping street in front of the station.
Miyake’s walking and laughing with her friends.
The three of us kept following them while keeping our distance.
「Hey, Ryo-chan」
Mio whispered to me suddenly.
「Do you want to walk together like a couple? That’ll keep suspicion off us」
「Huh?」
「I mean, if it’s a man and woman walking together, it would be unnatural, right?」
Mio said that, and she wrapped herself around my right arm.
「Mio…」
「Shh..don’t make any weird movement, they’ll find out」
Still, this is embarrassing
Walking this close to Mio is a first time since elementary school, and we’re even linking our arms.
What’s different from the past is there’s something incredibly soft. My elbow’s touching Mio’s breasts. Each time it does, I feel a tingling sensation from my elbow to the soulder.
Damn, so soft.
Trying to suppress my thoughts, as soon as my heart began to beat fiercelyー
「I think that makes sense, but…」
Fuyutsuki stood on the other side, expressionless.
「If it’s for disguise, then it can’t be helped」
Fuyutsuki grabbed my left arm as she speaks.
My left elbow touched Fuyutsuki’s breasts. No, this one’s touching on purpose.
Fuyutsuki saw that I was shaking and she smiled mischievously.
「That’s 91F」
「No need to self report!」
「Hey! Fuyutsuki-san!」
「Quiet, Segawa-san. They’ll hear us」
I get sandwiched from both sides, I can’t move at all.
There’s no way we’d go unnoticed, the people passing by were sending us gazes as if asking “What are those three doing?”
「Hey, we’re standing out now」
In spite of my desperate whispers, Mio and Fuyutsuki glanced at each other.
「I’m letting go of Fuyutsuki-san goes first」
「Then, you can let go first. If Segawa-san won’t let go, I won’t either」
「You mean to say you’re not letting go?!」
While they were making that exchange, my elbow sank to both their breasts.
This is really soft. I never dreamed of a day where I would be sandwiched between an estimated H-cup, and self-reported F-cupーI can’t do this.
「I’m telling you, we’re standing out!」
My retort was in vain, the strength of their arms just grew stronger.
† † †
After that, we observed Miyake for several days.
To conclude, the life she’s living is surprisingly ordinary.
She parts with her friends in front of the station, go to the train, and get off at the station two stops ahead. Then, she goes straight to a family restaurant. That was Miyake’s part-time job, providing cheerful customer service in the hall.
There were times where she would make detours, but she goes shopping at 100 yen shops, supermarkets or drugstore before heading home. There’s nothing suspicious.
There was a time where we watched her until she’s in front of her apartment.
It’s an old building, the gutter was rusting, and even had weeds growing on stairs. Then, there…
「Oh, welcome back! Onee-chan!」
Miyake has a younger sister in the upper grades of elementary school.
It seems that on that day, she was waiting outside the apartment for her sister.
「I’m back~ Hey, I told you to wait inside because the evenings are dangerous, didn’t I?」
「I mean, Onee-chan comes home later」
「Okay, my bad. I was shopping on the way back. Onee-chan’s going to make delicious hamburgers instead of mama, okay?」
「Yay! I’ll help too」
「Okay! Let’s make it together then! Let’s get inside」
Miyake led her sister into the apartment room.
ーI’m having a feeling that’s hard to describe.
The financial situation in Miyake house might be tough. The tuition for our school isn’t cheap.
Beyond all that, she works at a part-time job, looks after her younger sister, and lives a very ordinary life.
She may look flashy, but Miyake lives modestly, is she actually doing compensated dating? I don’t want to think that.
「I wish this ends without trouble」
I can’t help but mutter, Mio and Fuyutsuki looked at my face.
「Ryo-chan, did you just say something?」
「Oh, nothing」
Mio’s dumbfounded, but Fuyutsuki stared at me in silence.
ーIn the end…
We investigated Miyake Ramu, excluding weekends, and there was no sign that she was doing compensated dating.
Before we knew it, it was almost June, and the area we live had entered the rainy season.
† † †
「Maybe she’s not doing compensated dating」
After finishing our one-week investigation. I mutter to myself, at the family restaurant Miyake worked part-time at.
It’s 9:30 PM It’s raining outside, steadily, continuously.
Miyake finished her part-time job and returned home about thirty minues ago. Confirming that she left, we ordered drinks as customers and we’re all lost in thought.
「I don’t know about weekends, but nothing happened on weekdays at least」
Fuyutsuki says calmly.
「Nothing on the weekends either. She’s working her part-time job from afternoon until night」
「Were you keeping an eye on her on weekends? By yourself?」
Fuyutsuki puts the class in her mouth without replying.
「Fuyutsuki-san, isn’t that a bit too far? You sound like a stalker」
Mio says in shock.
「We’re investigating. Besides, aren’t you the stalker, Segawa-san? Put your hand on your chest and think」
Fuyutsuki retorts easily, she’s unmoved.
On the other hand, Mio did as she’s told, puts her hand on her chest, and she smiled like a saint.
「My love for Ryo-chan is overflowing. It tels me that it’s okay to keep watching Ryo-chan from behind」
ーーWoah! That’s how stalkers think?
So you think that if you use the word “Watch Over” anything goes?
Even Fuyutsuki looks at me with a narrowed gaze.
「It’s nice that you’re loved」
「You don’t actually think that, do you?」
Get a grip.
「Should we call off Miyake-san’s investigation?」
I asked the two, Fuyutsuki nods.
「Just being able to confirm the facts mean something, I think」
「But you know…」
Mio slips a word.
「Miyake-san wasn’t doing anything wrong, was she?」
「Yeah. She may have a flashy gyaru vibe, but she has a good personality」
「Then, who sent that email to the student council」
Mio said, the air got quiet. The three of us exchange glances.
Even if we didn’t say anything, we must’ve thought the same thing.
ーWhy was there a target on Miyake Ramu?
Who spread that rumor, and for what reason?
The investigation has concluded, but the problem was not the suspicion itself, but the one who made that.
「Curious?」
Fuyutsuki looked at me and said.
「Honestly, a bit…」
「Then, why don’t we dig a bit more?」
Mio looked troubled as she says “Huh? We’re still doing more?”
I thought about it for a moment and shook my head.
「No, let’s not get too involved. At this point, knowing that she’s not doing anything is enough…Honestly, I’m mentally exhausted」
In the end, we chased after one girl because of an email.
The chairman’s intentions were clear from the start, and her true motives behind them were also see through.
No matter how much she spins it moving forward, there’s no way I would feel proud to call this a proper investigation, nor I ever believe this was for justice.
Even so, we did it knowing that.
「I don’t get it」
Suddenly, Fuyutsuki mumbles
「What’s your stance during the investigation?」
「Stance?」
I looked at Mio.
「What about you Mio?」
「I just follow Ryo-chan’s decision」 But, you don’t actually want to do this… Isn’t chairman awful too? Asking this while hiding her intention on banning romance. If I was told that, I would’ve been more cooperative
Then, Fuyutsuki and I both had a realization.
「Segawa-san, are you in favor of banning romance?」
「Huh? Is that weird?」
「Well, I thought you want to date Sawa-kun in the open」
「I mean, if it’s allowed, girls might go after Ryo-chan, you know? If that happens, Iー」
The next moment, light vanished from Mio’s eyes and her pupils widened.
「Who knows what Ryo-chan and those girls would do…」
Scary!
Fear had finally surpassed my love for Mio.
The order of the words and the predicates are quite important. 「Scary, but I love her and she’s cute」or 「Cute and I love her, but she’s scary」are two completely different sentences In Mio’s case, it’s the latter.
No, I’m sure of it now. School rules banning romance is necessary.
Although, it’s because Mio needs more restraint than the school rules.
「But you know, even if we cannot date because of school rules, Ryo-chan and I are still connected in our hearts, Isn’t that right, Ryo-chan?」
That’s not even asking for agreement, she’s just putting pressure on me.
「hahaha, right, our hearts are…」
「Why do you sound so unsure? Why? Hey, why?」
There’s no way to know what would happen if I were to date Mio in this state. I have no intention of cheating from her, but one misunderstanding is enough to ruin everything.
I knew it, I need to observe and accompany her in her rehabilitation(?) until Mio goes back to her original self.
Seriously, what even is love or romance?
「Then, what’s Sawa-kun’s stance?」
「Right… If you ask meー」
Then, I remembered Shibayama Ichika’s troubled smile.
「In the end, what mattered is what I wanted to confirm with my own eyes」
Mio asks “What do you mean?”
「At first, I was quite lost. If everything about Miyake was true, then it would be a problem, but believing what I was told feels wrong」
I stared at the glass in my hand.
「And so, I wanted to see it for myself. What kind of girl Miyake Ramu is? Is she really a bad girl? Or is she not? I wanted to make that judgment with my own eyes」
Mio closed her eyes.
「But, we’ve been tailing Miyake-san the entire time as a result, right?」
「That’s tre」
I involuntarily made a bitter smile.
「Somehow, this wasn’t meant to be justice, after all, what we’re doing was rooted in suspicion, but from Miyake’s point of view, this is just a creepy story. You can’t justify this entire thing」
Then, Fuyutsuki speaks up.
「But, if we did nothing, she would remain a “suspicious person” forever. Is that okay?」
I shook my head.
「No. Seeing, knowing, and realizing that there was nothing, that much seem to have meaning. That’s what I want to believe in」
「You’re right, yeah, Ryo-chan’s right」
Mio smiled gently, but Fuyutsuki asks, her expressions remain blank.
「Then, would you keep watching people as the morals committee, Sawa-kun? Or are you opposed to the romance ban rules?」
「If it’s between those two choices, Iー」
When I’m about to respond to that question, I feel my words slowly emerging from the depths of my throat.
This post is automatically published by Translation Assistant and Translation Assistant Publisher.