CH 2.5

[Mio PoV]

Who in the world could have predicted that this would happen?

My head is so messed up right now that I can’t easily recover.

I thought for sure that today was going to be a great day for me.

I’ve seen Taiga almost every day and chatted with him every day, but today was the first day I became his lover for first time.

Taiga told me yesterday that he’s been thinking about me for 10 years, right?

I do too, right? I’m still too embarrassed to tell him directly, but I’ve been thinking about him for just as long, right?

That’s why I was surprised at the suddenness of yesterday, but I was really…really happy about what Taiga said. When I went home and was alone in my room, I was so happy that I cried.

That’s why today was such a special day for me.

Because it’s the first day that I meet the person I love for the first time since we became lovers.

I was in the happiest mood until I came to the classroom, you know?

The atmosphere was sweeter than usual, and I was trying my best to act as cute as possible. I tried to tease Taiga, who was grinning at me with a vacant look on his face next to me.

We used to hold hands as a matter of course when we were kids, but it had been a long time since I held his hand as a grown-up. I was so nervous during the whole way to school.

After arriving at school, I was thinking about when I would tell everyone about us when I opened the door and was greeted by my good friend Rinto.

Everyone in the class congratulated us.

I was so happy.

Yeah, our happiness will start from now on.

We have waited for 10 years for each other, so God will forgive us even if we are a little bit over the moon, right? I was thinking like that while I was chewing on my happiness.

But then…

“You tried to attack me yesterday! I thought we were friends… you sex predator!!!!”

Rena? What are you saying? Who is this sex predator? It can’t be Taiga, right?

Taiga would never do such a thing. I know that better than anyone. I’ve been watching him more closely than anyone else.

“Don’t play dumb with me! You tried to attack me yesterday after school! You even took a video of me on your phone and threatened me so that I wouldn’t be able to resist you.”

What are you saying, Rena? Yesterday after school, Taiga was with me the whole time?　We did club activities next to each other, went back to the classroom together, and went home together, right?

And there’s no way he could do such a terrible thing!

I have to say something. I have to say something to protect him…! I’m too scared to speak.

The whole class is looking at me and I feel like they’re pouring their malice on me and Taiga….

I was so weak-minded that all I could do was to hide behind Taiga and hold on to his uniform.

“If he took a video with his phone, there must still be some video left, right?”

It was then that Rinto helped Taiga to the boat and I was able to get a hold of the uniform. I was so happy to see him. I should really be helping him, the man I love so much. I feel ashamed of my own weakness, but now I have to be grateful for Rinto’s kindness.

I see..! Taiga left his bag in the classroom yesterday. He was with me the whole time. So there was no way he could take the video like Rena said. I realized this from the beginning.

And if there was such a video in the bag…someone set up Taiga….

I am so confused because so many things happened so suddenly, but I know that much.

If that’s the case, what kind of grudge does Rena have against Taiga? And the person taking the video definitely has a grudge against Taiga as well.

Either way, I would be the only one on Taiga’s side.

And if there were such a video, this time I would be the one to speak up and say, “Taiga was with me all yesterday”.

As the class was enveloped in an indescribably strange atmosphere, Tachibana-san, the President who was in charge of checking the video, opened his phone.

It is honestly a pity that she was suddenly entrusted with such a big role. Even though she is petite, serious and firm, her hands are shaking.

No wonder. I would have run away from this situation.

I watched her with bated breath. But it’s okay.

This time, I will protect Taiga no matter what she says!

“Trying to push down Saito-san who was crying with her clothes disheveled… and Saito-san ran away. Also, there are many other videos of Saito-san doing, um, indecent things saved… When I pressed for more information, Saito-san’s words revealed that the two of them were actually in a relationship.”

Eh?

Eh?

[They used to be together] ???

[There are many videos of them doing naughty things]. ？？？？

The moment I heard those words, my head became lightheaded and I could feel my entire body drained of power. It was as if it wasn’t my body at all.

And yet, those words instantly took over my brain.

Eh? Did Taiga always have feelings for me, and was it a lie that we had a crush on each other for 10 years? I misunderstood that we had a crush on each other for 10 years.

Wait, no, no, no, no, now is not the time. Calm down, me.

Tachibana said there’s a video of him attacking Rena. That means someone is setting up Taiga for sure.

I have to tell you that here first…!

I swore to protect Taiga …… I will protect Taiga this time. What if I don’t protect him this time…!

I have to do something quickly… and yet… and yet…

I don’t know if it’s true or false that he was dating Rena, but I was so shocked that all I could do was break down and cry on the spot.

Were yesterday’s words a lie?

I’ve only held hands with him, but he did this and that with Rena-chan?

Aah… I really suck… me. Even at a time like this, I can’t move because of this stupid “jealousy”….

Everyone in the class, convinced that Taiga is the one who is evil after hearing the contents of the video, all shouted at him to go home.

He approached me with dazed steps and looked at me as if clinging to me with his usual gentle face distorted into a sad expression.

I could do nothing but sob and cry in front of him.

I will never forget the look on his face when he saw me crying.

I couldn’t protect the person I love in such an important moment.

I really want to hug his trembling body right now. But I can’t do that because I’m too weak.

Taiga leaves the classroom in a daze.

I finally couldn’t stand up and crouched down in the classroom.

[Mio PoV]

Even in times like these, time continues to flow in equal measure.

I am not even given enough time to regret what I have done, nor am I given the grace to somehow recover from my crying because I cannot protect the people I love.

After Taiga left the classroom…while I was frozen in place, everyone in the class was throwing horrible words at him one after another, as they pleased.

“I was so surprised that we had been friends with such a scum……people really are not what they seem.”

“I feel so sorry for Rena…. And is Sakuragi okay? I guess in a way I’m glad for her. You could have been played by that a*****e.”

How can you say that to a friend who you were laughing with just a few minutes ago…….

At this rate, they must have forgotten that Taiga left his bag with his entire smartphone yesterday.

Even if they did remember, he could have returned the phone with it and made it look as if he took it out of the bag.

Everyone in the class is already a complete enemy of Taiga.

I know, right? They don’t mean it maliciously. I know that they are angry at him for my sake.

If I were his childhood friend and not his girlfriend, I would probably misunderstand him like they do.

But still…….. This is too much!

It seems that when something too painful happens, people can calm down a little bit. I tried to protest to everyone while wiping away the tears that were still streaming down my face.

“Wait…”

I was about to say. A petite girl raised her hand.

“Um! May I have a word?”

It was Tachibana-san, the President. She had a very serious expression on her face and her voice, even for her, was loud enough to attract the attention of the class.

“E-everyone, please calm down for once. I’ve been thinking about it calmly, and I think we should talk to the police about this matter. I don’t care about the n-n-naughty pictures when Yagami and Saito-san were officially dating, but if he really tried to attack her even after they broke up, I think that’s an indisputable crime!”

I think what Tachibana-san is saying is right. Rather, we should definitely talk to the police.

I wonder how seriously they will treat it. From Rena’s testimony, she was his girlfriend until the day of the incident, so I wonder if they will take it seriously.

Of course I have never been in the care of the police, nor do I have any particular knowledge of such things.

I didn’t actually watch the video. Depending on the degree of complication, it might be treated as just a lover’s quarrel between a couple of students.

Still, I would rather bet on the possibility that Taiga’s innocence will be proven in a proper place than that he will be treated as a criminal.

Or rather, since Taiga is innocent, he should be properly proven.

“I agree! Taiga is not a person who would do such a thing! Because… because… I know that he is kinder than anyone else! He was with me yesterday!”

Finally… I managed to squeeze out a few words while sobbing.

I could tell that everyone was surprised that I was able to speak up after not being able to say a single word until a few minutes ago.

But soon, everyone’s eyes turned to pity.

“Poor Mio-chan. You still believe in him even after all this…”

“Mio…you were deceived. It’s okay. You are just confused right now. Leave the rest to us, your classmates.”

No, I’m not! I’m not being deceived! I’m begging you, please listen to me!

“A-Anyway! I’m asking you to objectively investigate whether or not Yagami-kun really did something terrible. Uhm? Are you listening to me??”

Even Tachibana-san, who has little to do with us, is actively speaking up in this atmosphere.

And yet……..I, as a lover, can’t help but to try!

“Everyone, please listen to me.”

“….There’s no need to talk to the police.”

Then it was Rena-chan who raised her voice as if to obstruct my voice.

Rena-chan is considered to be the victim of this event. My voice was drowned out as if it had never been heard, and everyone was focused on her next words.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s enough that I was able to expose his true self in front of everyone. I’m not going to make it too big of a deal. I don’t want to make it too important. I’m sorry but there is a part of me that still wants to forgive him…”

Rena-chan said with tears in her voice.

I’m at a loss for words.

This girl understands her current position perfectly. She’s a very good schemer.

She is a tragic heroine who was dumped by her boyfriend and almost assaulted by him. And this poor girl is the most popular girl in her class.

“So I’m going to erase all the photos and videos he took of me right here and now.”

Wait.

That’s a definite no-no. I have heard that if the police get serious, they can recover videos and such. But I doubt if they would even investigate the case properly, and that would be an absolute no-no.

Rena began to operate the phone while crying…probably acting like a famous actress.

“Oi…are you sure you want to do that? Well, if she’s okay with it, that’s fine.”

“Rena…how kind of you…. I can’t believe he did this to you and you’re still willing to forgive that piece of s**t.”

At that moment, something inside me snapped.

Rena-chan, that woman…the traitor who I thought was my friend, was never protecting Taiga.

Stop kidding around. Enough already….. stop kidding around….

Enough is enough alreadyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Taiga didn’t do anything wrong! Even yesterday, he was with me the whole time after school!?!?

Don’t be fooled, guys! Rena, that woman has been lying to you from the very beginning! CUT IT OUTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!”

I run toward Rena-chan, shouting louder than I’ve ever let out before.

I’ve never been this angry at another person before. I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve even been angry.

Why didn’t I raise my voice for him earlier? I know it’s already reached the point of no return.

But ……….still……………..! There is still something I can do!

Just when I was on the verge of desperately reaching out and grabbing the phone from the lying b***h…

I was suddenly seized by someone from behind.

“Let go of me!”

“Calm down! It’s okay! It’s okay! You’re just confused. See? You’d better rest now. Hey, girls! Don’t just stand there, hold Mio together.”

“”Y-yes!””

Rinto? Why?

If you’re smart, Rinto, you know that if the video is erased, Taiga’s position would be even worse, right?

I apologize to Taiga in my mind while being seized and unable to speak.

(I’m sorry, Taiga…. I couldn’t do anything after all…)

When I looked up from the ground at the face of my former friend, Rena Saito, I felt the corners of her mouth turn up a little.

This b*tch

“LET GO OF MEEEEE!!! TAIGA IS MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

After that, I could only cry and scream until the teachers noticed the commotion and rushed over.