Chapter 18: Heartbreak

TL: I thought Masato Hashima was a girl, but it turned out to be a boy. Well, I hate this guy _

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[Akari’s POV]

The morning classes are over and it’s finally lunchtime.

I stretches out.

Ahhh, I’m tired. ……

I’m going to have lunch with Yuji.

I took out my lunch from my bag and went to Yuji’s seat.

“Hey, Akari.”

Suddenly, I hear a woman’s voice from behind me.

I reflexively turn around and see a female student.

She has a dignified face.

Her golden hair reaching down to her waist.

She was dressed perfectly in the uniform of this school.

Her name is Kurosaki Kurumi.

She is my friend.

“What’s wrong, Kurumi?”

“Are you and Sakata-kun dating?”

“……?”

I involuntarily roll my eyes.

Why did she think I was dating Yuji?

I found myself uttering the question.

“Why would you think like that?”

“Masato-kun said before that Akari and Yuji-kun are dating.”

“……”

I goes silent.

I wonder why Masato’s guy is spreading the word about me and Yuji’s relationship ……?

Masato is just a little bit strange these days.

What is he up to……?

Well, whatever.

Seeing me being silent, Kurumi frowns at me.

“Are you really going out with Sakata-kun?”

In response to her question, I replies, “Yeah. …….”

Her eyes widen. She looks surprised.

“M-hm, you’re really dating Sakata-kun.”

Her voice was trembling. Even her body was shaking in small increments as she pulled and shook.

Seeing her upset, I tilted my head.

Why is she upset?

“……Masato-kun’s story was true. I’m shocked.”

“Hmm?What’s shocking?”

“Me too, I like Sakata-kun.”

“……Eh…….”

“Oh, but I won’t get in Akari’s way. Don’t worry.”

Does Kurumi like Yuji, too?

Suddenly, Masato’s words come to mind.

— “Yuji, he’s quite popular…”

Was that story true? To be honest, I thought it was a lie. ……

Is there anyone else who likes Yuji?

[Yui’s POV]

— Lunch break

Currently, I was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, eating melon bread.

All the while, I was shoveling melon bread.

“Hey, Yui.”

Masato Hashima suddenly called out to me.

I looked up and glared at Hashima.

“What do you want from me?”

“Let’s have lunch together.”

“Lunch?…… Well, I don’t mind.”

“Thank you.”

Hashima sits down next to me.

He’s always talking to me. ……

I wonder what he’s thinking?

Well, whatever.

“Yui and Yuji are siblings, right?”

“Yes, we are.”

“But you and Yuji don’t look alike at all.”

“We’re not blood related, you know.”

“Hmm. Then can Yui and Yuji get married?”

“I don’t know… ……”

Hashima’ casual remark made my body tremble.

Marry Yuji …….?

I want to, but Yuji doesn’t see me as the opposite sex. ……

If I confess now, I will be rejected.

I was depressed, but Hashima threw the words straight at me.

“Yuji, do you like him?”

“Yes. …… I like him.”

“…….”

Hashima’s expression was filled with astonishment at my response.

He looked shocked.

But soon he smirks and smirks wickedly.

“But Yuji, he has a girlfriend, right……?”

“Girlfriend?”

I cock my head at Hashima words.

Yuji has a girlfriend ……?

Haha, ahahaha…… you’re kidding, right?

Hashima had a serious expression on his face.

It doesn’t look like he is lying or joking.

Is Yuji really dating someone?

It doesn’t look like that.

“Who is she?”

“It’s Akari.”

“Akari ……?”

I crack up and blink.

“Akari means Akari Shinomiya, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“…….”

Recently, I heard a rumor that Shinomiya Akari had a boyfriend.

Does that mean that boyfriend is Yuji?

No, no, that’s not true. ……

Because the girl he’s dating is that Akari Shinomiya.

She’s cute, stylish, bright, and easy to talk to.

She’s the perfect girl.

In the “cute girl ranking” conducted among male students, she was ranked first by a wide margin over the second place.

There is even a “Akari Shinomiya Fan Club.”

She is like a popular idol.

Shinomiya is very popular among the male students, and it’s said that she often gets confessions from them.

She is always ready to answer any confession with, “Oh, I’m sorry.I’m not interested in romance.”

Yuji is dating such a school idol?

That’s impossible. That’s absolutely impossible. ……

— Night…

I was currently sitting on my bed playing a game.

I’m bored. Maybe I should study.

As I was thinking that, someone knocked on the door of my room.

From the back of the room, I heard “Yuji-kun.” from Yui’s voice.

Hm?What is it?

I got up from the bed and headed for the door. I open the door and see Yui’s figure.

“What’s wrong, Yui?”

“Uh, well, you know, …….”

Yui said in a voice that sounded like it was about to disappear.

“Are you and Shinomiya-san dating……?”

“Eh ……?”

I feel as if time has stopped.

How did he know about my relationship with Akari?

Could it be that Akari who told her ……?

No, I don’t think so.

Then, who told Yui about my relationship with Akari?

“Why did you think that me and Akari were dating?”

“Today …… Hashima said Yuji and Akari are dating.”

“……”

Hashima told Yui?

Damn, what is that guy thinking ……?

“Hey, is it true what he said ……?”

“……”

“Are Yuji and Shinomiya-san really dating……?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“……Oh……”

Yui’s face was stained with despair.

Her eyes were teary.

“Y-You’re lying, aren’t you ……?”

“It’s not a lie. It’s true.”

“O-Oh. ……”