The situation changed suddenly the day after talking with Fuyutsuki and Mio at the family restaurant.
「ーYou were the one chasing me the whole time, weren’t you?」
Evening, the back alley in the hotel district. Ramu Miyake pressed on me, I was leaning against the wall.
「Well, that’s…」
「Don’t play dumb. You were there at my part time job too, weren’t you? You kept glancing over by the station, and you followed me to home from behind. What are you? Is this a hobby? Fetish? Or are you a stalker?」
「No, wait, that’s not it」
「Hmm?」
Miyake stared intensely as I desperately denied it.
「You’re the head of the morals committee, aren’t you? You were greeting people at the gate, weren’t you?」
Oh shit. She knows.
Miyake lets out a triumphant smile.
「I see. The head of the morals committee is a stalker. Hmm…」
「I told you no! Let me tell you the situation”」
「Then, tell me. Just the two of us」
「What do you mean?」
「I mean, let’s go there」
Miyake points at the love hotel towering in front.
「Wait, no! We’re minors! We’re wearing uniforms! That’s just wrong!」
「Are you really in a position to say that?」
She pulled my arm.
「Stop dawdling and come with me」
ーIt wasn’t supposed to be this way.
While being half-dragged along, wondering how this happened, I started recalling my memoriesー
† † †
Lunch break that day. I was reporting our investigation on Miyake Ramu in the student council room.
Based on our one week observation, we cannot confirm the reality of her doing compensated dating. Rather, I simply conveyed that it was clear she’s living a normal life.
「ーThat’s all」
「I see. Thanks for doing the investigation」
Kurumizawa-kaichou rests her chin on her clasped fingers and murmurs.
Next to her is the third-year male student named Ashiya, the vice president wearing glasses looking at me with an assessing gaze.
「Ashiya, what do you think?」
「The fact that nothing happened was good, but…」
Ashiya furrowed his brow and raised his glasses using his middle finger.
「We can’t rule out the possibility that she does compensated dating, but not as a regular occurence. It’s also possible that we completely missed it during the investigationー」
「Hey now」
I can’t help but interrupt.
「If that’s your logic, then you cannot rule out the possibility that she’s not doing it at all, can you?」
「You…」
「There’s no point in discussing the chances is there? We already did our investigation, including weekends」
I speak in a stronger tone, Ashiya’s eyes narrowed. Seems like he doesn’t like it.
「However, when there’s smoke, there’s fire」
「I thought so too at first」
I interrupted Ashiya.
「But the truth is the rumors are just blown out of proportion」 Finding it interesting and twisting it to their convenience. That’s the case with Shibayama Ichika. She was suspended, and the rumors about her selling herself had spread out. But, nobody takes responsibility when it wasn’t the truth.
The chairman suddenly asks.
「Do you know why Shibayama-san was suspended?」
「I heard it from Shibayama herself, that’s not the point however」
I said it strongly, the chairman’s eyes widened.
「What’s important here is the attitude of trying to figure out the truth. We investigated because you asked. If you don’t believe us, then do it yourselves」
「You! How dare you speak to the chairmaー」
The moment Ashiya speaks up, the chairman raised her hand stopping him.
「Sawa-kun, no, the morals committee head is reasonable with what he says」
「Chairman」
「We’ll conclude that she has no issues during the investigation. That’s enough correspondence on Miyake Ramu」
Ashiya tightly shut his mouth, glaring at me with regret, but he didn’t say anything.
「Morals committee head. Thank you for your input. Also, I’m sorry」
The chairman stood up and bowed her head. She had no hesitation in her actions.
I wasn’t surprised, but Ashiya looks shaken.
「The truth, for the general meetingー」
「You were planning on adding a romance ban in the school rules, weren’t you?」
The chairman stopped moving and her eyes opened wide in surprise.
「How did you…?」
「Fuyutsuki and Mio told me. Those two are smart, and they’re well informed」
「I see, it’s those two」
The chairman lowered her gaze, and sighed.
「Then, you did the investigation knowing the premise?」
「Well, I got fuzzy about the things hidden, see?」
I paused before continuing.
「I’m in a position where it doesn’t matter whether there’s a romance ban or not. The morals committee will have an increased burden, and we also have the same desire to protect the students from gender related issues. However…」
I stared intensely.
「As the head of the morals committee, I can’t overlook the act of hanging someone just to get their opinion through」
I turned my back to the chairman and left the student council room as I have nothing else to say.
† † †
「Good job」
The moment I closed the door, a flat voice greeted my side.
Fuyutsuki was leaning against the wall, her arms closed, and she looked at me.
「Were you listening?」
「I was wondering if Sawa-kun can say it」
「What’s this? A class observation? Thanks」
I gave a wry smile and said something sarcastic, but Fuyutsuki smiled for the first time.
「The last part where you speak about being the head of the morals committee was a bit cheeky, but that was good enough for you, Sawa-kun」
「What do you mean by that?」
「Releasing your suppressed desire」
「Huh?」
Fuyutsuki smiled as if she’s about to do a prank.
「Maybe Sawa-kun has become able to speak his feelings openly because of the secret special training?」
「You fool」
I walk off feeling disbelief, Fuyutsuki follows beside me.
「However, I think that conveyed the stance of the morals committee to them. The morals committee is different from before. We’re not their errand-runners」
When I said that, Fuyutsuki looked pleased and gave a small nod, saying “yeah”
「So, did you contact Mio?」
「Done it earlier. She’s waiting in the morals committee room」
Fuyutsuki said, and her face returned to the usual blank look.
「So, is the case with Miyake-san over?」
「No, it’s not」
I said that, Fuyutsuki looked at me and asked “huh?”
「We still have things to do, don’t we? One last thing…」
† † †
Opening the door to the morals committee room, Mio’s waiting.
「Ryo-chan, good job with the report~」
「You too. That was rough」
「I see. Then, that’s the end?」
Mio lets out a sigh of relief, but Fuyutsuki and I looked at each other.
「No, about that, I decided to go see Miyake-san after school」
「Oh? Still ongoing?」
Mio frowned but I shook my head while smiling wryly.
「No, I’ll apologize to her. I want to apologize to her for doubting and investigating her without her knowing」
「But, isn’t that going to be awkward with Miyake-san? If we talked about someone sending a weird mail…」
「That’s why we have the morals committee. The morals committee trusts Miyake, and so if we tell her that we’ll listen to her when she has concerns, she may feel relieved」
Mio laughed awkwardly.
「I guess. It might make her feel bad, but I also want to apologize properly to Miyake-san」
「No, I’ll do it as the head of the committee. Even if she snaps at me, I can at least manage to cover for myself」
「No, but if it’s just Ryo-chan, won’t she get suspicious? If Fuyutsuki-san and I go with you, it might be easier for Miyake-san to talk」
She looked at Fuyutsuki’s face, and they seem to share the opinion so she nodded.
「If so, would you come with me?」
「Leave it to me!」
「Yeah」
Mio and Fuyutsuki nodded.
But what awaited was a scene of chaos, far from an apology.
† † †
After school.
Mio, Fuyutsuki, and I were heading to the class 2-B
「ーRamu? Err, she had something to do today so she went home early」
A girl who was often with Miyake told us. She was in the same class as Mio last year so she asked her.
At times like these, Mio’s face pass helps out.
I stare at Fuyutsuki’s profile as Mio’s talking to her.
「What?」
「No, I wonder if you even have friends」
I try to imagine how Fuyutsuki spends her time in the classroom, and all I can picture is her fiddling with her phone or reading a book alone.
「I don’t need to make one」
「I thought so, I’m relieved」
Hmph, Fuyutsuki turned away.
「I do. Two people」
「Huh? Oh, I see…」
Oh, she has two friends.
I thought I angered her, but that kind of attitude is unusual for her.
「ーI see. Thanks!」
Mio finished talking, and she turned to me.
「It looks like she just got off, maybe we can catch up to her, what should we do?」
Although doing it on another day is an option, today’s a Friday. Doing it on Monday, or within the weekends, is an option, butー
「Let’s go. The sooner the better」
† † †
And so, the three of us left school, following after Miyake.
I arrived in front of the roundabout of the station, then I spotted a familiar figure near the ticket gates.
「Oh, there!」
Light blonde hair, our uniform. It’s impossible to misidentify her even from afar.
However, she went to the station restroom, and a few minutes later, she came out as if she’s a different person. A casual cardigan and miniskirt, with her chest boldly showing off. It’s less like a high-school girl and more of someone coming out to play.
Mio casually murmurs.
「Is she meeting with someone?」
At that moment, the worst possibility comes to mind.
Fuyutsuki mutters without hesitation.
「It would be fine if it was the same age…」
I thought so too, but could this be?
「Anyway, let’s talk to her」
As soon as we took a step, a man dressed like an office worker appeared at the edge of my vision and spoke to Miyake.
In an instant, tension runs between us.
Miyake continued to talk to the man in his forties, wearing a navy blue suit, carrying a black bag.
「Ryo-chan, isn’t that?」
「No, we can’t say for sure yet」
I held Mio off while hushing my voice.
My eyes met with Fuyutsuki. She nods without speaking.
ーThen.
Miyake and the office worker started walking side-by-side. We kept our distance and followed quietly.
「Let’s wait and see for a little longer」
Although I’m speaking calmly, there’s a roughness deep in my chest.
Maybe it’s her father, a relative, or maybe an acquaintance…
No, I just want to make that assumption.
This afternoon, I reported to the student council that there’s nothing. I don’t want to think our investigation was wrong up to this point.
I feel the impatience tightening my throat.
Before long, Miyake and the man she’s with headed to the opposite side of the station. The lighting in the restaurants increases, the colors become deeper. Beyond that is the hotel district.
「Sawa-kun, this is…」
「Yeah. But there are restaurants, we can stillー」
Just as we were about to speak, the two turned the corner.
We dashed and turned to the same corner butー
「Huh? They’re gone?」
The street is lined up with izakayas, bars, hostess clubs, and love hotelsーnight places.
There were a lot of foot traffic, and it has a somewhat peculiar liveliness.
「Ryo-chan, what now?」
Mio’s voice is trembling.
「Okay, let’s split up」 I will go alone. Fuyutsuki and Mio goes together. Don’t push yourself too hard」
The two nodded, and we split up and began searching.
I had the two go to the brightly lit main street and I headed to the back street.
The air in this area is completely different. Although it’s a commercial area during daytime, the light from the signs and the damp air changes everything when the sun sets.
The noticeable words on the signs are “Rest” and “Rooms Available” This is an area packed with love hotels.
「Why?」
Why am I getting flustered?
If Miyake was doing compensated datingー
Do I want to discover it, or do I not want to?
Maybe I was hiding my curiosity using the pretense of being someone in the morals committee.
Perhaps, by pretending to be just, I was trying to pry into someone’s private life.
Perhaps by taking the seat where I can judge others, I mistakenly believed that I was right.
ーIf so, I’m the worst.
But the more I thought about it, the more unsettled my heart felt.
When I walk alone like this now, the correctness I believe, and it’s sheer thinness, is thrust upon me to the point where it is unbearable.
ーEven so.
I want to believe in Miyake Ramu.
Even though we never spoke to each other, I have no reason to doubt that she’s living a sincere life.
I don’t know if this comes from my position as the head of the morals committee, or a personal feelingーbut I will apologize properly, and that’s what I want to convey.
「Ugh, where is she?」
ーAnd in that moment..
「ーWho are you looking for?」
I hear a voice from behind.
「?!!!」
My heart jumped,.
I turned around and found Miyake Ramu standing there.
Hwoever, there’s no sign of the office worker walking with her just now.
「…Need anything from me?」
She crossed her arms and tilts her head, glaring straight at me. Her expression clearly shows suspicion and discomfort, I got a little scared.
「Well…About that…」
I was trying to speak up but Miyake came closer.
The distance is now just a few centimeters. Too closeーAs I was thinking that, she grabbed my arm.
「Come with me!」
Then, she took me to the back alleyー
† † †
ーThen, she took me to a love hotel.
「Can’t believe stopped us at the entrance~」
Miyake said with a wry smile and shrugged her shoulders.
ーRight after entering the love hotel.
The employee who saw me wearing a uniform calmly stopped me and said “This place is for adults only”
As a result, we moved to a small park right nearby.
「You were seriously trying to get in…」
If that continued, and Miyake had brought me inside the love hotelー
『Oh well. Put on the condom already. If you came to apologize, at least make me feel good』
Miyake says and slides her panties to the side.
『Scratch that, putting on a condom takes too long. Are you a virgin?？』
I nodded and Miyake grinned.
『Can’t help it then. ──You can go raw on your first time, kay？』
驚く俺に対し、『早くしろって』とキツく促す。
『Ah, yes, thereーah ♡ wait a minute ♡ you cling too much♡』
ーIt might’ve turned to an erotic development.
There’s no other reason to go to a love hotelーI believe that way.
「Oh, but I wasn’t planning on having sex you know?」
Miyake said with a straight face.
「Huh?」
「I was about to strip you naked and take a photo」
「Seriously?」
「Seriously」
Some may get excited about that, but unfortunately, I’m on the other side. I’d like to believe I’m still normal.
「Then, I’m going to tell you to come closer~」
「Oh, that one」
「Had some weird expectations?」
「Nope」
「Liar! You were thinking about it! What the, our morals committee head is a perv」
I won’t deny that part.
Rather, men should be.
However, I need to manage my thoughts that keep bringing things to the horny direction no matter the situation. I feel like it’s gonna be an accident someday.
† † †
ーAfter a while.
Miyake and I sat on a bench. I feel the cool touch of the wood on my back.
The park’s deserted at dusk, the streetlights are lit, one by one.
「So, what’s the morals committee head want to do by chasing my ass?」
Having come to terms with it, I let out a small breath before revealing it.
「There’s an investigation. Since there’s a report that you were doing compensated dating, we had to check that it’s true」
Miyake furrowed her brow immediately.
「Huh? Compensated dating?」
「Yeah. But, I know it’s late to say this, but it wasn’t like I believed it. I didn’t want to believe it」
「What do you mean?」
「If anything, I just wanted to prove that no compensated dating happened」
Miyake stared at me silently, let out a deep breath, and shifts her legs.
「But, isn’t that the other way around?」
「Of course, I don’t even think I did the right thing, nor do I intend to justify it」
At that time, I hear a voice from behind calling “Ryo-chan!”
Mio and Fuyutsuki rushes over. I stod up, bowed my head in front of Miyake.
「We followed you without you knowing and even made you feel unpleasant. I’m really sorry. I want to apologize personally as the head of morals committee. I’m truly sorryー」
I bow my head, then Fuyutsuki and Mio who understood the situation, also bowed their heads.
「Miyake-san, we’re really sorry for doubting you」
「We must’ve hurt you, Miyake-san, I’m sorry!」
We kept our heads bowed, Miyake lets out a sigh. Standing up with her arms crossed, she said while looking away.
「Well, it’s fine now that you apologized. But you know, it annoyed me」
「Really sorry…」
After the apology, I told her about the report I gave to the student council at noon.
I feel sorry for Kurumizawa Kaichou, but I also mentioned that the student council is involved. Besides, they made us do this investigation without telling us about the romance ban, so we have no obligation to protect them. Therefore, I told her the story from the start.
「ーSo, we reported to the student council that there was nothing. And so there won’t be any further investigations on Miyake」
I finished speaking, Miyake blinked and looked completely puzzled.
「Wait a sec. Why were you following me today?」
「We wanted to apologize to you by today」
For a moment, Miyake looked shocked, but then she smiled.
「Then, you could’ve asked me if I was doing compensated dating from the start, shouldn’t you? You were roundabout with everything」
「That’s true, but…」
I smiled wryly and scratched my head.
「Would you answer honestly if we directly asked you?」
「Good point」
Miyake laughed, shaking her shoulders.
The air felt less tense. But the laughter didn’t last long.
「But you know, that guy who sent that mail, I can’t forgive him」
A low deep voice. Deep in her eyes were an emotion that was neither anger nor sadness.
Then, I relaxed my shoulders and sat back on the bench.
「Should we search for the culprit?」
「No need. Or rather, I’m tired of all this…」
That line was flat, but it carried a certain kind of weight.
「Honestly, our family is poor」
Brushing up her bangs, Miyake began to speak in small phrases.
「Now I’m living with my Mama and sister, and dad’s debt from when he died of his illness still remains. Even so, I thought that entering the academy would change my life, so I worked hard while doing my part time job」
Her profile with her wry smile made her look somewhat mature.
「But there’s a limit, see? Time and money are both tight. Sure, I’ve considered compensated dating. But I thought that mama and my sis would be sad if I did something like that…」
Then, Mio speaks up hesitantly.
「Then, who was the old man talking to you in front of the station just now? He looked like he was about to meet you」
「Oh? That one. That guy asked me if I could spare him some time」
「Woah, you mean?」
Needless to say, it was that kind of guy.
「I was just waiting for my friend. But since I knew that you were following, I asked him what his intention was. Since the old guy approached me at the right time, I talked along with him casually, kicked him mid-sentence, and got him to leave.
This girl’s strong.
Shocked, but I’m also a little amazed.
「Actually, I was supposed to hang out with my middle-school friends after that, but because of you guys, I bailed without notice. Give me a break」
「Our bad, but I’m just glad that it wasn’t compensated dating」
Mio says with a sense of relief, Miyake smiles faintly. However, it doesn’t look like a pained smile.
「But, this made me realize. I’m not suited for this school」
I can’t help but say “huh?”
「Not suited?」
「So, maybe I’ll quit school」
「Wait, that’sー」
「No, I’m tired. Even when you try your hardest, you still end up looking like a fool… It was a good lesson」
I can’t refute it.
Even when she’s doing the right thing, even when she’s trying hard, but it’s not rewardedーand I know that’s reality. There, you’d also feel anxiety, irritation, and resignation.
「But, wouldn’t it be a waste to end it here?」
He speaks before even knowing it.
「At least, we talked today, that’s one misunderstanding cleared, the student council will no longer pursue it. I feel like it would be a waste…」
「Even if you say that, it’s rough. Being suspected, even my current life」
Miyake says with a wry smile.
At that time, I speak the words I’ve been planning to tell her.
「I guess it’s rough」
「Huh?」
「Being suspected is just rough. It’s awful, nobody would like to be in that spot」
「…」
「But, we decided to believe in Miyake. The morals committee is on your side no matter what, so, you may still distrust us, but we want you to believe in us」
Mio and Fuyutsuki nodded.
It was an embarrassing line to say. But, I want to tell Miyake that.
Miyake remained silent for a while, staring at me.
She didn’t respond, but the silence wasn’t rejectionー that’s what I feel.
ーThen…
「What’s Miyake-san’s issue? is it just money?」
Fuyutsuki speaks, everyone looked at her.
「We believe in you. We want you to stay in school. The morals committee will promise to protect you as a group. Also, the only problem left is money, I think」
While slightly overwhelmed by Fuyutsuki’s matter-of-fact tone, Miyake finally managed to speak.
「Eh? Err, I guess that’s all?」
The street lamps shine the park as the veil of night began to fall.
In that light, Fuyutsuki speaks with full conviction, still expressionless.
「If so, there’s a good method. It’s a possibility, but if you leave it to the morals committee… ーSawa-kun, the head of the morals committee will take care of it」
Wait, you’re just dumping it all to me?
Despite my surprise, Fuyutsuki remained still, letting her confidence show. Rather, she seems to be smiling a bit.
Looking at her expression, I lost the will to argue.
「Ryo-chan, don’t worry, I’ll help you!」
「Mio…」
「I’m also part of the morals committee, feel free to ask me anything」
Oh, that’s reassuring. The usual Mio’s back.
I sighed out.
It’s not that I gave up, it was to take a deep breath and fill myself with motivation.
「Miyake. We’ve reflected on this event, and we want to show you that reflection properly. I want you to believe in meーcould you let the morals committee take care of this?」
ーAlthough, I can’t quite say the reason…
Even so, I believe in Fuyutsuki’s confidence, and what lies within what she said.
This post is automatically published by Translation Assistant and Translation Assistant Publisher.