Higashi Hazuki Feels Very Guilty

It’s right here, President.

The person I had seen in the kendo club nodded toward Amano Sora.

How is Ichijō, senpai?

He was grabbed as soon as he went in, and he’s resisting right now.

How many people are there?

About twenty or so.

He looked nervous.

Can we call a teacher over now, President?

Eh, how could that work.

Amano Sora looked at me.

Everyone who has been targeting Higashi, senpai, is here.

If we call the teachers, they won’t be able to stop this many people, and if they take the opportunity to run away, that would be troublesome.

That “not being able to stop so many people” was a lie.

More than that, it depended on whether he wanted to do it or not.

Come to think of it, both Higashi, senpai and Ichijō, senpai were attacked by these people in secret before.

If we don’t properly pay them back now, it’ll be too late.

What do you think, Higashi, senpai?

He looked at me.

Although he wore a very gentle smile and showed concern for our situation, there was also a faint hint of impatience mixed in.

From this position, I could see what was happening inside.

Ichijō Riku was holding a rope, strangling and forcing back those who tried to rush forward and restrain him.

But this situation wouldn’t last long, and his breathing was already clearly becoming ragged.

In the end, wasn’t I the one who caused him to fall into this situation?

Even though I only meant to use him as a tool to get myself home, still—

He never needed to listen to me in the first place.

You tell me not to force myself, but aren’t you forcing yourself too, Ichijō?

I really am someone who brings no good things with me.

No matter where I go, it’s always the same.

Ha—

Amano Sora is right.

If we take them all down here in one go, it saves us the trouble of dealing with this bizarre variable later.

I didn’t think too deeply about it.

Sora, senpai, please help Ichijō, senpai.

Alright.

Amano Sora patted that person on the shoulder.

Call everyone in the club over.

Now is the time for some proper real combat.

No matter what, we can’t allow these people to bully a junior student.

An evil group like this cannot be allowed to exist at Sakurano High School.

Yes, President.

Ichijō—

Tenzan Kaoru, who arrived afterward, covered her mouth and let out a low gasp.

Riku.

Nishimura Noriyuki’s expression changed completely.

He was usually stiff and expressionless, but now he was about to rush in.

Don’t go, Noriyuki.

This is something the student council should handle.

Kushō Kikuko was a bit calmer.

She grabbed Nishimura Noriyuki and immediately turned and ran toward the student council office.

At the same time, a group of people holding wooden swords rushed over, and more or less noticed the situation in that corner.

Riku.

Uehara Tsukimi shouted in surprise.

Everyone, you can see it, right.

Ichijō, senpai is in trouble.

Learning kendo isn’t just about protecting yourself.

It’s also about protecting innocent people who are being harmed.

That’s the philosophy I’ve always upheld.

So please, follow me.

Amano Sora took a wooden sword and charged forward.

The members of the kendo club followed after him.

Among them, Uehara Tsukimi ran the fastest.

She knocked back the person who was pressing down on Ichijō Riku with her wooden sword.

She gently touched the places where Ichijō Riku had been hit several times, comforting him in a low voice.

Ichijō Riku also began responding quietly.

As for what they said—

I was completely unable to help, and from this far away, I couldn’t hear a thing.

Compared to Uehara Tsukimi, I really am a terrible friend.

All I can do is stand by and watch.

Why are the kendo club people here.

And what are they trying to do?

Did they draw their swords to help someone in trouble.

Do they think this is ancient times?

Their unexpected intrusion immediately wiped the playful expressions off the faces of those inside.

Some people, sensing trouble, tried to sneak away.

But they were blocked by the kendo club members, and after a few blows, they were beaten into submission and begged for mercy.

In just a short moment, the situation inside was completely under control.

I hurried a few steps forward and looked him over, letting my gaze sweep across his body before showing a faint smile.

Are you okay?

I’m more or less fine, Higashi.

Ichijō Riku moved a little and gave a bitter smile.

This time, we really have Sora, senpai and the others to thank.

By the way, Higashi, did you call Sora, senpai over?

No.

I shook my head while he was still stunned.

It was Sora, senpai.

He’s been watching us all along.

I turned my gaze toward Amano Sora.

I had originally thought he was someone easy to control, a useful tool in certain situations.

But now, a change had appeared that even I found difficult to handle.

Who is the leader.

Could you step forward and let me get to know you?

Amano Sora put away his wooden sword and looked at the group squatting on the ground with their heads down.

They looked at each other, and in the end, their eyes settled on a short, chubby boy.

Amano Sora, what do you want?

Faced with this situation, the boy no longer tried to hide it, and glared back with hatred.

Are you going to make a move on Lin too?

I’ve already investigated everything.

There’s no need to look at me like that.

Amano Sora shook his head.

All this time, you’ve been squatting behind Nangō, senpai.

You’ve constantly threatened anyone who got close to her.

You call yourselves her guard squad, but in reality, you’re more like people who want to use your own desires to toy with Nangō, senpai’s life.

And among you, you’re the worst.

He seemed to have everything figured out and pointed at the leader.

Nakamura Kenta.

You only wanted to get close to Nangō, senpai.

That’s why you created this organization under the name of protection, an organization that exists solely to fulfill your own desires.

All of these letters were received by Nangō, senpai during this period of time.

He pulled out several letters, and Nakamura Kenta’s expression changed.

The contents were blatant harassment.

Using vulgar language to constantly ask about Nangō, senpai’s private matters.

And shamelessly turning all of your actions into so-called achievements.

For you people, isn’t the one who wrote these harassment letters the real person you should have been targeting?

And the one who wrote them—

Amano Sora held the letters right in front of Nakamura Kenta.

Was none other than your so-called guard squad leader, who keeps claiming to protect Nangō, senpai.

Is that really true?

At those words, everyone’s gaze gathered on Nakamura Kenta.

And that person’s face turned deathly pale.

He wanted to argue, but no words came out.

Everyone, the way we’ve been doing things all this time has been wrong.

Someone walked in from outside.

Judging by his appearance, he was also part of this strange support group, and it seemed there had already been a split among them.

The fact that he could appear safely and even nod to Amano Sora showed that Amano Sora’s thorough investigation was connected to him.

He must have played a role in it as well.

We were formed so that Lin could smile happily.

So that she wouldn’t be harassed by people who used despicable methods to approach her.

But because of Nakamura’s faction, we completely strayed from the right path and became accomplices to wrongdoing.

We said we were protecting her, but we kept hurting her instead.

Everyone, take a look.

Because of our actions, how many people were unwilling or even afraid to get close to Lin.

I saw it myself.

I saw Lin crying.

We interfered too much.

The man spoke passionately, and his words moved some of the others.

Their faces flushed with shame as they lowered their heads.

If earlier they had still felt resentment from being forcibly suppressed by the kendo club, now there was heartfelt guilt.

Let’s confess everything to everyone.

And truly exist as people who protect Lin.

And just like that, it was resolved.

This variable was actually something worth being happy about.

Even though it felt like a huge hassle, at the very least, we no longer needed to worry about Ichijō Riku’s route being interfered with.

Everyone, state your names.

The student council members arrived, along with teachers who hadn’t yet left, and took those people away.

Hazuki—

Hanama Aiba was naturally among them.

Before leaving, she returned my phone to me.

I’m sorry.

I was just following Murata’s instructions.

I couldn’t refuse him.

In the end, I had only treated you as another radio receiver.

I wasn’t cautious enough, and in that sense, it was my fault too, wasn’t it?

But I won’t refuse an apology.

Because it lets me gain quite a bit of pleasure.

Someone I never cared about in the first place.

Yet at this moment, this rotten version of me received something that could be called a sincere apology.

It really was enough to make one laugh.

When I opened my phone, sure enough, the saved videos were gone.

There was also a message telling Riku to come to this place.

And—

She must have carefully observed me.

The wording and tone had no flaws.

No wonder Ichijō Riku hadn’t noticed.

In the end, it was on my side that something went wrong.

If this counts as something going wrong—

Then now, I have to bear the consequences of that failure.

Higashi, senpai.

Amano Sora looked at me with eyes so gentle they seemed to drip water.

It was obvious what he meant.

I’m sorry, but there’s one more thing I need to say.

He walked over in front of me.

With the most sincere tone, and a smile that would be enough to make the majority of girls in the school fall for him.

From a long time ago, I’ve been deeply drawn to you, Higashi, senpai.

You’re the most special girl I’ve ever met.

No one else can make my heart burn so passionately the way you do.

Your warmth, your gentleness, your brightness and generosity.

Everything about you keeps challenging my heart.

I can be certain now.

I like you, Higashi, senpai.

In front of the people who still hadn’t left, Amano Sora said it out loud.

How should I put it.

I’ve heard confessions like this many times before.

But one this solemn was a first.

And it was a very clever approach.

Facing the girl whose trouble he had just resolved.

And being such an outstanding man by any standard.

Most girls would simply go along with it and accept.

Dragging along this rotting body, I really am quite popular.

Perhaps without my worrying, you’ll be able to find your own happiness, Higashi Hazuki.

For some reason, I really wanted to turn around and see Ichijō Riku’s expression.

For him, this might be the first time he’s seen someone confess to me.

But still, I shouldn’t drag him into more trouble.

So, would you go out with me, Higashi, senpai?

The breeze carried the scent of youth, just like what I was feeling now.

This is difficult, Higashi Hazuki.

I’ve just received someone else’s feelings.

If I refuse to take responsibility, it’ll make people resent me.

It might even turn into a bigger problem.

I was silent for a moment.

In truth, there was an indescribable discomfort.

Why was that.

The variable had clearly been resolved.

But—

Sora, senpai.

From the moment Amano Sora took absolute control, I had already lost the ability to directly refuse.

This is the price I have to pay.

And also the punishment for being so rotten.

Still—

Could we start with going on dates first?

Agreeing outright would be a bit—

Yes, that sounds good too, Higashi, senpai.

Amano Sora laughed happily, like a victor.

In the end, I didn’t look at Ichijō Riku.

I only knew that he was pushed by Uehara Tsukimi, asking to leave early, and then left like that.

And I was sent back to the classical literature club by the considerate Amano Sora.

I resumed my usual typing work.

Late at night at the convenience store, no one attacked.

And likewise, he didn’t appear.

After all, in one sense, I had already betrayed the promise I made to him earlier.

That nothing would develop between me and Amano Sora.

In the end—

I still couldn’t resist sending a message to Ichijō Riku.

Good night.

Good night, Higashi.

After receiving his reply, I felt much more at ease.