Chapter 8: Rumors and Gossip as Expected
And the next day, upon arriving at school,
Whisper, whisper.
As expected. Just as I predicted...
Two of my calm friends hurriedly approach, pulling me into the hallway.
Hiroshi "Kousuke!"
Koji "There's a rumor going around that you did something terrible to Mishima...!"
As expected.
But since I sent a message on LINE, these two friends already know the situation.
"Yeah, it's fabricated. I settled things yesterday, though..."
I let the two of them listen to the recording.
I show them that the timestamp is from yesterday.
I've already explained the situation last night on LINE to people at school, warning them that a rumor inconvenient to me might spread.
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Satsuki "Some people know that you and I were dating, right? Not many, but I've mentioned it too. ...If that's the case, the dating period with Yamamoto-kun wouldn't add up, would it? So! I want you to make it seem like we broke up amicably much earlier! And make it your fault!"
"Huh? Why? You're the one who cheated, so you're at fault, Satsuki, aren't you?"
Satsuki "If that's the case, people will think badly of me and Yamamoto-kun! Anyway! When a couple breaks up, it's always the guy's fault! Even in divorces, the wife usually gets alimony, doesn't she?"
"...In a divorce, the at-fault spouse obviously pays alimony! It's undeniable that the one who caused the divorce through cheating or violence is at fault."
Satsuki "Huh? So you're saying it's my fault! I can't believe this! You just said you loved me so much, and now you're blaming me with that same mouth!"
Refer to Chapter 6: To See You One Last Time
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Both of them are taken aback.
So, that's how it is.
I put on a dejected look, though not all of it is an act.
Hiroshi and Koji look indignant with displeased expressions.
After all, she herself admitted to overlapping dating periods and insisted that I be made the one at fault, and I've got clear evidence of her saying it.
I'm not planning to spread it myself. But if someone asks, I'll answer.
She clearly calls me by my name, Kousuke, and the recording on my smartphone has the date and time.
Hiroshi and Koji said they'd spread the word that it's not just a rumor to deny, but a malicious false rumor.
Even so, several people mention it to me during the day.
It's such a hassle to play the recording app for each person! But if I slack off, there are plenty of guys and girls who believe the rumor that I'm the bad guy, Satsuki is pitiful, and Yamamoto is the hero who saved her, and they come charging at me.
During lunch break, Nagase Aya from the seat next to me speaks to me.
Nagase "Kousuke-kun, are you tired? Today seems tough for you."
Kousuke "...Yeah, kind of. I managed to break up peacefully, but... I'm fed up with these false rumors being spread..."
I naturally put on a sad face.
I've been letting everyone listen to it, but what's actually on the recording?
When she asks, I let Nagase-san listen too,
Nagase "That's awful! It's all for her own convenience! She doesn't care about your feelings at all, Kousuke-kun!"
Nagase-san shakes her ponytail and looks angry, and all the boys are staring at her!
...I get it. She's a girl with expressive features that draw attention. Is it a kind of healthy allure?
According to Nagase-san, there are two rumors.
The first is that Kousuke and Satsuki were never actually dating, and I was completely smitten with her, spreading those rumors myself, but Satsuki didn't know! Recently, Yamamoto-kun and Satsuki started dating!
The second is that Kousuke and Satsuki were sort of dating, but I was controlling and abusive, and Yamamoto saved her, so the two of them started dating!
That's it.
Somehow, the first rumor feels like it was spread by Yamamoto, and the second by Satsuki.
The former has less malice, with minimal damage to everyone involved, a low-impact but subtle rumor that might slowly take hold as a low-risk, low-return safe bet.
The latter benefits only Satsuki and Yamamoto, making me, Kousuke, the sole villain! It's more scandalous and spreads easily, seemingly effective at garnering sympathy for Satsuki's side, but since some people have heard her say we were dating, it inadvertently confirms that we "were dating."
(Even if people say we were dating now...)
Because it's so scandalous, many people question if it's true, and it reaches my ears too.
If I've prepared countermeasures, I can refute it, and moreover, if people think about who spread the rumor and who benefits from it, it's easy to figure out who started it and whose scheme it is.
The low-risk, low-return rumor being spread continuously would be tougher on me. It erases my relationship with her, and even if I say I was told such things and play the recording, there's a chance people might think, "What's with this guy?"
...Objectively, Satsuki's words are so harsh that I might still get some sympathy, though.
While sorting out these thoughts and talking to Nagase-san,
Nagase "You seemed pretty shocked yesterday, but... you're calm now... impressive!"
(I'm not impressive... It's just the bare minimum defense for a guy like me who got cheated on...)
While thinking that,
"It's because Nagase-san and everyone encouraged me..."
That's right, during lunch break, Tanaka-kun and others were saying this and that, like, "Gather evidence for stuff like this! Someone should be with you! Let's record it!" So I thought, "Ah, I'll just record it!"
On the day Satsuki berated me and unilaterally declared our breakup, I didn't have the composure for that at all.
Nagase-san gave me strength!
In the end, today was a day of letting several people listen to the recording of my conversation with Satsuki and explaining the situation.
After school,
Even during basketball club practice, people bring up the rumor.
I calmly explain it again.
Sahori "Nah, you probably did something sleazy, didn't you?"
Sahori-senpai is a third-year and our ace. But he's a vulgar guy who helps the strong and crushes the weak, so I feel no respect for him at all.
Sho said it before. People can only judge others based on their own capacity. I really think that's true.
? "Sahori-senpai says things he doesn't mean. Sorry, Kousuke-kun."
The one offering that follow-up is the second-year female manager, Tendou Airi.
Airi-senpai, as we call her, is our source of comfort.
Airi-senpai has glossy brown long hair, slightly droopy eyes, and a curvy, elegant demeanor—an easygoing beauty renowned even within the school!
She's kind and smart. Though she's not good at sports, she wholeheartedly takes on all the behind-the-scenes work for the basketball club, a gentle older sister figure!
Her one and only major flaw is... that Sahori-senpai from earlier is her boyfriend...
Sahori is sleazy, Airi is healing! That's the motto of the basketball club (lol)
Airi "...Kousuke-kun wouldn't do something like what the rumors say, right?"
Tilting her head as if it's only natural to trust me, I feel glad and let her listen to the recording.
Airi "Yeah, yeah. I thought so. I'll mention what I heard now, okay? Don't let it get you down, alright?"
Airi-senpai is truly healing.
Sahori really should be grateful to Airi-senpai and live accordingly. That's what I think.
For several days, I kept refuting the rumors whenever they came up.
Naturally, that's something Satsuki doesn't like.
Three days later, when we passed each other, she glared at me with an intense look.
...No, I really don't get it.
Why do I have to be her punching bag?
You're the one who spread malicious false rumors, aren't you?
I didn't spread the recording evidence on my own. I only play it for those who come to ask me, right?
If you have any idea why, Satsuki, you should take steps to stop those false rumors from spreading, shouldn't you? (lol)
Even so, I wasn't in the mood to actively refute the rumors and loudly proclaim that Satsuki is at fault!
And so, I somehow managed to endure the malicious rumors that were spread about me.
I threw myself into studying and club activities with all my might to prove myself.
It was partly to distract myself from the heartbreak.
Because remembering it made me so frustrated and sad that I felt like I was going crazy.
Even though it turned out like this, I did love Satsuki.