Chapter 68 - Long-Distance Love Sorrows
(1)
"Toya-kun, lunch break is almost over~"
Airi calls out to me softly.
Is it that time already?
I open my eyes.
And there, before me, is Airi, generously exposing her beautiful leg lines.
It seems she shortened the length of her skirt.
I almost fell backward instinctively.
"...Does it suit me?"
"It suits you."
"Kyaa, yay~ I was praised~"
"See, I told you, right? I told you that you should try it!"
Kanna's idea, perhaps?
Airi is monopolizing the gazes of the other boys.
"Are you okay? If the teacher finds out..."
"Mizuta-sensei isn't that strict, so it's fine."
Well, the uniform inspection just finished, so maybe it's okay?
I've heard this high school isn't very strict to begin with.
But it really is right on the edge.
If she jumps around that much... I can see, you know?
"You're beautiful, so don't jump around in joy too much, okay?"
"Eh? Why?"
"What do you mean why..."
Does she intend to make me say it here?
It's half a public execution.
Even though I only told her not to jump, the cold gazes of the other boys are piercing through me, as if telling me not to say unnecessary things.
"You were thinking something lewd just now, weren't you?"
No, I wasn't. I was just thinking something natural for a boyfriend to think.
I whisper in Airi's ear.
"I'm the only one who needs to see things like that."
"Why? ...Ah, I see what you mean."
It seems she understood.
"Hmm, you should just be honest. You can brag about it, right? Like, 'Toya-kun's girlfriend is this cute'."
I understand what you're saying, but...
At that moment, there was a girl who slammed her hand down on my desk with all her might.
"Stop making a fuss every single time just because you shortened your skirt!"
"A-Ai, sorry."
Airi chases after the girl who shouts a single word and walks away.
"Ah, look at that, getting all hysterical... how unsightly..."
Kanna says this with a sigh.
"Did something happen?"
I asked Kanna.
"Yeah, actually..."
At that moment, the teacher entered the classroom.
"Ask Airi about it later."
Kanna says that and looks forward.
(2)
Irritating.
Those two, flirting over trivial things, are irritating.
For a while, I was bullied for it, but since the two of them didn't budge at all and instead heated up even more, everyone eventually gave up and stopped bothering me.
During the overnight training, they were getting along.
But after summer vacation ended, they started becoming an eyesore for one reason or another.
The cause is probably me.
Yes, it's just jealousy.
Because I know that, it makes me even angrier.
I had someone I liked, too.
Only, that person isn't here.
They are on the other side of the internet.
A relationship of only messages and calls.
I had no choice but to believe the words saying they loved me.
A real-life boyfriend? I had one.
But my real-life boyfriend also had an internet girlfriend.
No matter how you excuse it, it's cheating.
So I got my revenge, too.
My partner was a man ten years older than me.
He was very kind.
Just the words, just the voice, were healing.
However, the distance was too far.
Not a distance a high school student can travel.
He was a working adult.
His time off was limited.
It was painful for me.
One day, I found out.
That my internet boyfriend also had a girlfriend in the real world.
I cried.
I just cried and cried.
There were times I begged him to "break up with her."
But he wouldn't look back at me.
And finally, the last words came.
"Sorry, let's end this."
Is it because I'm a child?
Because his real-life girlfriend is more important?
Then why did you accept me when I confessed?
"I just intended it as a game."
Too cruel of words.
After that, I thought about stopping the messages.
But I couldn't stop.
Even as I changed partners, it was a repetition of the same thing.
There is no one who can surpass that person.
I just keep rolling down, getting hurt, cracking.
Until the moment I shatter into pieces.
(3)
"Heartbreak!?"
I unintentionally shouted.
I remember hearing that she was dating Kiritani-kun, though.
"I don't really know the reason~ she won't tell me even if I ask, and I feel like it's something I shouldn't ask."
Hmm, is that how it is?
"So Toya-kun, you can't tell anyone either."
"I know. But when did it happen?"
"I heard it right after the second semester started, so probably during summer vacation?"
"Hmm."
"...That's rare. For Toya-kun to take an interest in other people's romance."
Well, yeah. Because I haven't heard much about it.
When it comes to love talk, I've always been the one forced to talk, so it's okay to listen once in a while, right?
"I wish you'd show that much interest in me too~"
"I'm always interested in you, aren't I?"
"That's different from just reading my mood, you know?"
"For example?"
"...Actually, I want to ask instead. What part of me is Toya-kun interested in?"
If I say "reading your mood"... she'll probably get angry.
Hmm...
"An example is fine, right?"
"Yeah."
"Like, I wonder what clothes she'll wear today? Or I wonder how she'll wake me up? Or... I wonder what Airi is thinking right now..."
"Right now?"
"Always. Thinking that so Airi doesn't cry, so she isn't lonely, I'm right here!..."
Oh no, this sounds like nothing but reading her mood.
Will I be scolded again?
"...You thought I'd get angry, didn't you?"
Yes, I did.
However, Airi smiles brightly.
"Wrong~ ...Heh, so Airi doesn't cry, so she isn't lonely... for someone who says that, you make me cry all the time."
Ugh...
"Just kidding. Since entering high school... to be precise, since last year's birthday, that's completely disappeared."
That's right, that's true.
"Rather than reading my mood, Toya-kun is just always earnest. Though, if I had one complaint..."
...I feel like I vaguely understand.
"I wish you'd direct just a little bit of that passion for food toward me."
"I always pour passion into Airi, too."
"That's a lie. When Toya-kun is eating, he's thinking of nothing but food."
"...I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I think it's better than you directing it toward other girls. I can feel secure in that."
I don't know if I'm being praised or insulted, but it's probably not a bad thing.
(4)
"I'm sorry!!"
When I was called to the rooftop, he suddenly bowed his head.
Actually, I thought about not coming. But I came anyway, somehow.
Trying to get back together now?
Isn't that a bit too convenient?
"Is that all you have to say? Then, bye-bye."
As I said that and tried to leave, he grabbed my hand.
"Let go!"
"L-Listen to me!"
"You cheated on your own, and now you're saying 'I'm sorry.' Stop making a fool out of me."
"I don't remember dumping you!"
Hah?
"You laid hands on another woman, and because you were dumped, you want to come back to me... either you're overconfident, or you're underestimating me!"
"I admit that. But it's not because I was dumped. Actually, I'm the one who dumped her."
"If you understand that much, you don't need to say the rest. Goodbye."
"At least listen to the reason why I dumped her!"
"...I'm only listening to that, okay?"
"Fine, that's enough..."
And so he began to talk.
"We talked and called through messages, but it felt empty. We couldn't meet. Hearing stories of cheating through other people. Even if I'm told to believe, it's impossible to believe someone I've never met, right? Wasn't it the same for Ai?"
I couldn't talk back.
Because it was the same reason I was dumped.
"And?"
"It was a momentary lapse in judgment. I'll do anything if you forgive me! So please forgive me!"
"You said you'd do anything, right?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Then, what if I say, 'Never stalk me again'?"
"I-Is that really not allowed?"
He looks very depressed.
"It's a joke. For now, show me your message history."
"I blocked and deleted them, so I don't have any."
"Then show me your friends list."
"Alright..."
He operates his smartphone and hands it to me.
I check it.
Well, there are quite a lot of women's names.
Without any hesitation, I deleted all the women's names.
"Wait a minute!"
"This much is nothing, right? If you promise not to cheat."
"There were real-life friends in there too!"
Who cares!
While I was at it, I made him leave all the groups, too.
"How could you!"
Ignoring him as he resisted, I continued operating the phone.
Once I finished everything, I returned it to him.
He laments.
Now it's my turn...
I take out my own smartphone, leave all the groups, and block and delete all the men's names.
Then I showed him the screen.
He seemed to notice. That his name was pinned and at the very top.
"So, is it okay now?"
"Y-Yeah. No, wait a second."
"What?"
"In the end, am I forgiven?"
"...I'll be doing periodic smartphone checks!"
He'll realize it now.
It seems he realized.
His expression brightens.
"Yeah! Then, shall we go back?"
"Yeah."
It's not like we're back to how we were.
But let's start over from one.
I hope it goes well this time.
I'll flirt just as much as those two so I don't lose to them!
(5)
That night, the phone rang incessantly.
Come to think of it, did I give them my number?
"Why did you block me?"
Mostly, that was the content.
I explained the reason each time.
"Because I got a boyfriend."
"A boyfriend? A real-life one?"
"Yeah."
"Even if it's just messages, won't you date me?"
"I'm sorry. I've decided not to have those kinds of sad loves anymore."
"...I see."
As I repeated the same exchange many times, a call came from him.
"Hello?"
"Ah, it's me..."
"What's up?"
"No, you know, I finished studying, so I thought I was bored~"
"I'm about to start studying."
"Ah, sorry. Then I'll call back when you're finished."
"I'll sleep when I'm finished. Well then, good night."
A message arrived.
"I won't cheat anymore! The only one I love is Ai."
"Yes, yes, say things like that in person!"
Another call.
"I love you, Ai."
"...I'll believe you just this once. There won't be a next time."
"Does Ai love me?"
"I guess that depends on Eita from now on?"
"What do you mean?"
"Let's see, maybe you should follow Katagiri-kun's example?"
"Why does Toya's name come up there!?"
That's because those two are an enviable couple.
"I wonder why. Well, see you tomorrow."
"Ah, wa-wait a minute."
Beep... beep...
Tomorrow, huh.
I hope things get even a little bit better.