Chapter 98: Satsuki and Masaki [side Mishima Satsuki]
All eyes are on Masaki as he chases after me...!
This is not the kind of attention I want, and it's just lowering my value!
When I escape to an empty classroom, Kousuke is already there...
Maybe Kousuke is good enough? Let's help Masaki understand his situation objectively.
Kousuke: "You two are idiots."
What I wanted to hear was that I was right and Masaki was wrong.
But instead, Kousuke gave up on both of us, criticized us, and left, exasperated...
Aren't I the ex-girlfriend? Shouldn't you cover for me?
...That's why I get abandoned, isn't it...?
Masaki, seeming convinced by Kousuke's words, mutters the thing that annoyed me the most,
Masaki: "...I stole a girl who already had a boyfriend, so I guess I can't complain... Yeah, there's no way a girl like that would be faithful..."
Maybe I agree with the idea of breaking up, but why is Masaki just taking Kousuke's words at face value?
Masaki looks like he's about to cry,
Masaki: "I liked Nagase-san, kept trying to get her attention, kept approaching her, but she never gave me the time of day... But Kousuke... even though he's obviously so quiet and expressionless, Nagase-san cares about him... When I realized Satsuki was Kousuke's girlfriend and I managed to steal her away, it felt amazing."
"...What's with you all of a sudden...?"
Masaki: "But at the recent school festival, Nagase-san picked Kousuke again! Made him the class festival committee rep? He handled all the planning and execution perfectly? Even won the top prize at the hamburger shop. He became a regular in the club his first year, made it to the top 8, and only lost to a strong school..."
So he lost in the end.
Masaki: "Even though it was a crushing defeat, he didn't quit the basketball club. On the contrary, he's known for pushing through tough physical training. Even that Yukari Tomonaga was produced by Kousuke, right?"
I don't even want to remember the beauty contest...!
Masaki: "...And he got 8th place in the last finals, right? That's seriously impressive, Satsuki's ex..."
Irritated, I say,
"Since I dumped Kousuke so harshly... doesn't that just show how great a girl I am?"
Well, the more Kousuke shines, the better I look by comparison, right?
*Satsuki's existence is a minus for Kousuke.
Masaki: "...Yeah, to beat Kousuke, I've got to keep this Satsuki around..."
Huh? Keep me around?
We're both getting emotional and getting nowhere...
Maybe we should check what we actually want to do?
I suggested we calm down, since we're always butting heads and our talks just turn into arguments...
Back in the day, when we'd argue over silly things, Kousuke would gently smile... This was actually Kousuke's idea...
Masaki, hyped up, starts talking about his dreams and ideals—passionately, and pointlessly.
Masaki: "In the future, I'll start a business with my family's assets. Until then, I'll work as a YouTuber to build up funds and name recognition!"
*He still thinks he has assets.
Seriously?
I just have to say something.
"Can't you do that on your own?"
Masaki stares at me with burning eyes and grabs my hand.
Masaki: "I want you to handle the filming, editing, planning, organization, publicity, and all the producing!"
*He's dead serious.
That's a total sinking ship!
There's no way an amateur with no connections, skills, money, or something special can make it big!
Even I, with no knowledge, can see that!
And shooting, editing, and everything else is all on me... Even YouTubers say editing and producing after filming is hard work.
"I don't have the time or skills. Seriously."
Masaki: "It's okay! I inherited my dad's business sense and ideas! ...It'll take time, and the hours will be long too..."
This plan is a total mess!
Satsuki: "That's why! You can't do that while going to school, and stuff like that only works if you're a pro!"
Masaki: "DA! KA! RA! I'm quitting high school, so you quit too and come with me."
Masaki's a cocky, confident pretty boy. But that confidence and pushiness did make him seem strong and attractive as a guy... But the instant he loses his money and status, he just looks like a shady, flimsy, sketchy guy...
...But what about Kousuke...?
Satsuki: "Is it really that you just don't want to repeat a year in high school, so you're dropping out, but you hate the idea of your girlfriend still going?"
"Because you'd totally look down on me, wouldn't you?! A guy with no education! Satsuki absolutely would!"
Satsuki: "Well yeah! It's embarrassing to date a guy like that...!"
Masaki: "...No way?!"
Oops, that just slipped out...
Society seems to expect you to stick by your partner through changes.
Like musicians who get dumped by their girlfriends who supported them before they made it, and get criticized,
Or the story of the businessman who tells his girlfriend he's in debt after a failed venture and asks her to leave, and the beautiful woman gets criticized for agreeing.
...I honestly believe people change with their status or position, so right now Masaki just isn't enough for me, and I'm not satisfied.
But if I said that directly, I'd get totally slammed, so I have to sugarcoat it, right?
What do I want?
"I think... Masaki, you should focus on yourself right now. ...Focus on your studies? Maybe try for a better school? Get your equivalency and get into a better university? ...Your family's got it tough, right? You don't have time for dating, do you?"
I claim it's for Masaki's sake!
It's not wrong, right?
It's not the time for that, and you don't have the money, energy, or favor to spend on me, do you?
If that's the case, we shouldn't be together.
I want you to come back to me after you've become a guy worthy of me...
Wrap that up in a big sugar coating.
"So, okay? Come back when you're a guy who's worthy of me? Like, after you get into a better school, or a great university, or after you succeed in business?"
Masaki: "...Don't say such cold-hearted things...! We loved each other so much...!"
In the end, after talking everything out, we decided to wait and see for a bit.
Masaki will try to improve himself and show results!
I'm supposed to support and help Masaki a little.
Later, I thought,
Breaking up or staying together—it really is all about momentum.
Because we decided to wait, our relationship started drifting, to the point where we had to question the whole point of being together.
By talking everything out, we both learned each other's true feelings.
If Masaki repeats a year or his family goes under, I want to distance myself from him.
Masaki likes Nagase Aya, has always been after her, and got close to me because he noticed Kousuke, whom Nagase likes.
By talking things out, we ended up with a rift between us...
☆ ☆ ☆
We just dragged out the breakup talk and were left with nothing but awkwardness.