Chapter 69: What Goes Around Comes Around [side Osada Ai]
I explained that there was a chance she could lose the very source of her pride—her title of Miss Hokusho.
Yukaricchi had a shocked look on her face,
Yukari: "Huh? Cloudy white?"
"It's not cloudy and white."
Yukari: "Ugh, I'm gonna hurl..."
"What are you, a country bumpkin?"
Yukari: "...Intensity?"
"You sure are at ease, Tomonaga, huh? No, I'm being serious here? I'm trying to let you know, but you're not listening, you're rebelling..."
Seriously hopeless.
Yukaricchi...no, Tomonaga is so honest—or maybe just shallow.
I thought I'd been looking out for her because of that, but she just went and did something way beyond anything I'd imagined...
I don't feel any need to protect her when she bites back at me.
It leaves a bad taste, so I'll just tell her what I know now...
"Because of a complaint to the student council, they're considering it, okay? You might even get called in for questioning as soon as tomorrow."
Yukari: "Huh? But that was a film club project, right? It's a documentary about me dieting, isn't it? Even if it's for promotion? It's fine to let your own class or club and your friends know, right? Why? Why? The film club shot it as a club, didn't they?"
Well, yeah.
I think she's right about that.
Yukari: "Yeah, it's totally wrong to pick on a film club project like that, isn't it? It just trashes all the hard work we put in!"
Tomonaga probably feels like they're not just picking on her, but on the documentary with her as the star.
Well, I get that, but it's not really my problem.
Yukari: "That complaint is totally unfair! Tanaka-kun and the others who made the film won't just let that slide!!"
I don't owe her anything anymore, but I'll tell her anyway,
"It's not about letting it slide... The biggest complaint came from the film club itself, you know? They said your Miss Hokusho win was unfair. That the documentary was too biased, led votes, and seriously undermined the fairness of the contest. The documentary won't be submitted to any external film contests—they're discarding it."
Yukari: "Huh? Tanaka-kun and the others? Huh? Why? Why are they stabbing me in the back?!"
*Says the pot to the kettle.*
"I thought you and the film club were close, that you had trust. So, yeah, I was being sneaky, but I let them help with makeup, costumes, and the crowd for this event by collaborating with the film club's project... or, well, piggybacking on it. I was busy...no, that's just an excuse, I took it too lightly and put it off. I'll go apologize right away."
Tomonaga is standing there in a daze.
"That's why yesterday, I asked if you'd done anything you couldn't tell people about? What I found out today, while gathering info, is that there's a rumor going around that Yukari Tomonaga used Kousuke Saito, who supported her so much with her diet, and then ditched him to give all the credit to Kuzu-kun—a total man-eater... The rumor's spreading, you know? This is my last warning."
Tomonaga suddenly realized and started desperately apologizing to me,
"I hate cheating and NTR stuff. Seriously can't stand it. We're totally incompatible, so bye!"
Gyaru: "Ai-chan's scary-looking, but she's actually super pure, okay?"
Gyaru: "Saito-kun's got it rough, but honestly, not dating her was the right call!"
Straight-laced girl: "No way, I can't believe she'd bite the hand that covered for her—Osada-san!"
The followers all pile on and start hurling insults too.
Whatever, even if they don't, she's gonna have a rough time from here on out anyway.
More importantly...
I politely turn to face them; actually, there's been a guy quietly filming in the corner of the classroom this whole time.
"You're with the film club, right? I've seen you filming Tomonaga a bunch of times. Sorry for being late—this is Osada from class 1-6. Could you introduce me to the person responsible for this documentary? I want to apologize."
The inconspicuous glasses guy stops filming,
and bows.
Tanaka: "I'm Tanaka, a first-year in the film club. ...The one you just mentioned...Kousuke-kun, I'm friends with Kousuke Saito."
Yukari: "Eek! Captain Tanaka?!"
Tomonaga is startled—yeah, I just realized too.
What the heck? Does he have stealth mode or something?
Tomonaga, scared of Tanaka, puts on a fawning smile and walks over,
"...Tanaka-kun? So, um, can I talk to you? ...About Kousuke-kun? ...It's a misunderstanding...yeah, just a misunderstanding...!"
She looks sad, pained—even I'm amazed at how much of an actress she actually is.
She really is pretty right now, you know? That Tanaka-kun over there? When he was filming Tomonaga, his eyes were sparkling, so I thought maybe he liked her.
Tanaka: "...Is that so? So you didn't betray Kousuke-kun...right?"
Tomonaga's face suddenly lights up,
Tomonaga: "Yes! Exactly! There's no way I'd betray him! I mean, we were together so much...right?"
Tanaka: "...Yeah, yeah! That's right, isn't it?"
Tanaka-kun smiles happily.
Tomonaga smiles happily too.
Tomonaga: "So, um, about that complaint against my Miss Hokusho title? Is there any way you could do something about it?"
She takes Tanaka-kun's hand, fawning and pleading.
...Tanaka-kun looks like a classic awkward-with-girls introvert...
But Tanaka-kun, still smiling,
Tanaka: "There's no way, you know? Do you even get what you did? I can't even face Kousuke-kun...!"
Tomonaga: "...Huh? Why?"
Tanaka-kun laughs like it's funny,
Tanaka: "You know, I used to like you, Tomonaga-san..."
Tomonaga: "What? Then why?"
Tanaka: "Because of Kousuke-kun. Back when my best friend and I were bullied, Kousuke-kun and Sho-kun took on the bullies head-to-head to help me... Giving up on my crush was easy after that... But I never thought things would turn out like this..."
*See the main story's showdown series—back in middle school, Kousuke and his best friend Sho faced off against the bullies.*
Tomonaga is totally overwhelmed by Tanaka-kun.
There's no trace of the introvert left—just an angry guy.
Tanaka: "I can't forgive myself or you! Just watch! After all Kousuke-kun did to help you, this is how you treat him?! I'll make you regret it!"
Yukari: "Eek! Over something like that?!"
Tanaka: "...You're still saying 'something like that'? That 'something' is what saved me and my friend! I've got nothing more to say to you!"
Tanaka-kun turns to me, apologizes for being rude, and asks me to come to the film clubroom during lunch tomorrow.
I say I'll be there, and that's the end of it for now.
Tomonaga...you're not just losing your place in class—soon you won't have anywhere left.
I almost say it, but stop.
Maybe she wouldn't get it even if I did?
There are things you can only learn through pain.
Leaving the stunned Tomonaga behind, we leave the classroom.
So? Looks like the student council never got those love hotel photos of Kuzu and Tomonaga?
Who took the photos?
Why did they take them? What for?
Was it out of grudge, personal resentment, jealousy? Then why not turn them in to the student council or school?
Why were they put in my desk?
Someone must have some plan, but I still don't have enough info to make more than a hazy guess.
...Well, whatever, I'll figure it out eventually.
I announce, "We're done!" and head to the vending machine to buy a strawberry milk.
When I need to think, it's gotta be strawberry milk!
☆ ☆ ☆
On her way to the vending machine, Osada Ai runs into her boyfriend right in front of it.
Ai: "Ah! Ryo-kun!"
Ryo: "Oh, Ren! Good work!"
Ryo-kun is a first-year in the sports department, and a baseball club scholarship student.
Osada and Ryo went to the same middle school. Ryo confessed to her when they started high school, and they've been dating ever since—but Ai is way more smitten.
The kanji for Ai's name can also be read as "Ren," so that's what he calls her.
Ai corrects other people when they call her that, but she lets Ryo get away with it.
Ai: "Geez! Are you drinking protein milk again?"
Ryo: "This is the best, I'm telling you!"
Ai: "You need to get your nutrition from real food or you'll never get bigger! You need a balanced diet!"
Ryo: "I know, I know! But more importantly, I wanna see you in that maid outfit I missed at the culture festival!"
Ai: "Geez! You always dodge the question like that!"
Warm and fuzzy. Ai turns bright red and smacks Ryo on the shoulder!
They're a total lovesick couple.
Ryo-kun is a muscle-brained, refreshing handsome guy. He's not great academically, but he's straight-laced and earnest.
Ai loves Ryo! And of course, Ryo loves Ai too!
After a brief chat, those two say bye-bye.
Ryo's friends tease the pair as they wave to each other until they're out of sight.
Friend: "Ryo, don't you know how scary Osada-san can be? She's super intense, seriously terrifying!"
Ryo looks puzzled, then says in surprise,
Ryo: "Of course I know? She's got her own rules, you know? She's always cute in front of me, though? Oh, maybe I'm the first person in the world to discover this...!"
Friend: "The world calls that gap moe, or tsundere, you know?"
Ai and Ryo. Those two are actually doing pretty well.