Chapter 20
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“Really, it was obvious even if you tried to hide it.”
In my blurred vision, clouded by nausea and pain, Mishima’s twisted smile continued to spew nonsensical words.
“Kawakami, you’ve always been around me since elementary school.”
“…You always forced your way in, so don’t act so self-important now.”
“Oh, see! You always speak a bit harshly only to me.”
“That’s because you always do things that make people angry.”
“There you go again. And acting indifferent sometimes, that was just to get my attention, right?”
“I was just ignoring you because it was a hassle.”
“Hehe, you don’t have to be so shy.”
“!?”
Suddenly, her thick lips pressed against mine. The sticky feeling from her lipstick made my skin crawl.
Disgusting.
Disgusting.
Disgusting.
“How was it? Finally getting to kiss me? It felt good, didn’t it?”
Her lips finally parted, spouting repulsive words.
“I feel like slicing off my lips right now.”
“Oh, you’re so insincere. You’ve always been like this.”
Her makeup-smudged face showed a look of exasperation.
“Even in high school, you dated other girls just to get my attention.”
…What?
“Without even realizing it, that girl thought she was your girlfriend and got all excited… but you were fed up with her, right? She never even noticed.”
“Mishima, what are you talking about…”
“So, when we were in our second year, I told her straight. Kawakami really loves me, so you should break up with her.”
Then, Mayuko’s words about being betrayed first…
“She didn’t believe me at first, so I told her every day. Eventually, she started to realize it… Around that time, Kawakami, you were busy with your part-time job and tried to keep your distance, right?”
It’s true that at that time we had a new part-time employee, and I didn’t have much time to spend with Mayuko.
So that means…
“Then she played the tragic heroine, clung to our homeroom teacher, got pregnant, and had to drop out. It’s hilarious!”
…It was all my fault that Mayuko was unhappy.
“Kawakami, it must have been tough for you. Even if you were dating her out of spite, it must have been a shock when she suddenly got pregnant. Did you think I would do the same?”
Mishima was still raising her grating voice while straddling me.
“Don’t worry. If you just be honest with me, I’ll love you the most.”
I couldn’t comprehend her words at all.
But I knew she wasn’t in a sane state because her eyes couldn’t focus.
“Well, I can understand being too nervous to confess to someone as cute as me.”
If I handle this wrong, it could be life-threatening.
She was just slamming my head against the floor earlier.
So—
“After all, there aren’t many girls as cute as me!”
“If you truly think that, I recommend seeing an ophthalmologist or a counselor.”
“What?”
—Might as well push her over the edge.
“What nonsense are you spewing!?”
“Ugh…”
Her short fingers dug into my neck.
“You should be grateful that a beautiful girl like me is offering herself to you!”
“Guh…”
She bounced on me, making it even harder to breathe.
“Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? Why the face?”
“…”
The pain, suffocation, and nausea darkened my vision.
The annoying voice faded away.
If I disappeared like this, maybe Mayuko would forgive me…
“Get away from Kawakami-san!”
“What… Ah!?”
—Crash.
At the sound of something breaking, my body felt lighter.
“Please, stay with me!”
In my blurred vision, someone was shouting with tearful eyes.
“Kawakami-san! Kawakami-san!”
…Not Mayuko, but Tsubaki.
Of course.
“Ugh…”
A small groan caught my attention.
I looked over and saw Mishima crouched, holding her head.
Nearby, a white bag lay open with pieces of something white scattered around it.
…So you’re really gone.
“Are you conscious?”
Through the blurry view, Tsubaki’s tear-streaked face came into focus.
“Thanks to you… I am…”
“Then let’s get inside quickly.”
“Yeah… let’s do that.”
“Lean on me. Just a bit more, hang in there…”
“Got it…”
With her support, I crawled back into the room.
“Hey! Open up! I’m not done talking!”
Mishima’s shouting and the sound of her pounding on the door continued from outside.
“I’ve called the police and an ambulance, so it’s okay now.”
“I see… thank you… Sorry for causing trouble…”
“No… It’s more important that you’re okay…”
“Ah… yeah. I’m just a bit tired… Is it okay if I rest until the police come?”
“Yes…”
“Thank you…”
When I closed my eyes, I saw Mayuko scattered across the hallway.
She glowed unnaturally bright under the fluorescent light.