NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43: Ayano's Values (3)
I’m having a hard time because I’m being bullied.
Ayano listened intently to Kentaro as he spoke about his situation and his feelings.
To be honest, Ayano felt sympathy for Kentaro. Having experienced unreasonable bullying, she even felt anger toward those who bully for no good reason.
“Um, Matsuyuki-san. …. Would you go out with me?”
So when Kentaro confessed to her without any context, she stopped thinking for a moment.
She had not expected a confession at a time like this. In Ayano’s experience, now was not the right time to confess.
“It’s okay. Let’s go out.”
Ayano immediately accepted the confession.
It did not mean that she had no idea what she was getting into.
If a boy confessed to her, she would say yes so as not to raise any red flags. It was a rule for Ayano to protect herself.
That was the reason why it came out of her mouth faster than she could think of it in her head.
“I want to hear more about you, Kentaro-kun.”
Ayano was trying to make things right. In contrast, Kentaro was just as happy as if spring had come to this world.
(I did it. ….. Even if I had refused, it would have only made it worse…)
If she accepted once, there was nothing she could do. Let’s refuse again at an appropriate time, saying “I didn’t intend to become your girlfriend.”
Ayano, who had no dislike for Kentaro, was trying to think of a way to leave without hurting him as much as possible.
*****
The guys who bullied Kentaro were three boys in the same class as Ayano.
(Three guys? ……. I can handle this many people.)
The boys who were bullying were students who were perceived as honor students.
Even seemingly serious people like to bully. The kind of people who used to bully Ayano.
(Now, what method shall I use to stop the bullying of Kentaro-kun?)
Sympathy for Kentaro, who was being bullied. Guilt that he confessed to her and trying to pretend it didn’t happen after all.
Ayano decided to take action to resolve this matter. She was going to be filled with apologies if she didn’t at least do something about it.
“You guys need to stop messing around with Kentaro!”
Before Ayano could do anything, Chinatsu was face to face with those who had been bullying Kentaro.
(W-Wha-Wha-Wha, What should I do!)
Ayano witnessed the scene and became impatient. Although she was trying to look composed on the outside, inside she was in a state of confusion and excitement.
Ayano honestly thought Chinatsu was amazing for daring to do it.
But it was dangerous for a girl alone to deal with three boys in an unpopular place. There was no one around and it was unlikely that she would be able to call for help.
Ayano could not hide her worry. She felt weak, but all she could do was watch and see how things would turn out.
Fortunately, she was able to get Kentaro’s bullies to promise to stop bullying Kentaro Osako. After witnessing this, Ayano was more relieved that Chinatsu was safe than that the bullying had stopped.
*****
A few days passed after Chinatsu stopped her bullying of Kentaro.
“Ayano, I need a favor.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. I will spare no effort to help you as much as I can.”
Kentaro bowed with a serious expression on his face, so Ayano accepted the request.
“–I’m going to take revenge on Chinatsu.”
Ayano’s thoughts stopped. Kentaro kept surprising her in a bad way.
(How did that happen?!?!)
When she asked him why, she had no choice but to be dumbfounded. It seems that he was told that Chinatsu was the mastermind behind the bullying.
Kentaro seems to have believed what his tormentors told him. Even when Ayano tried to gently lead him on to believe that it was “impossible,” Kentaro stubbornly believed his own thoughts.
(These eyes …. I guess it doesn’t matter what I say ……)
Kentaro’s eyes, burning with revenge against his childhood friend, were so similar.
–They looked very much like the eyes of those who had been hurling terrible words at Ayano up until now.
“I understand. But, Kentaro-kun, please choose your words carefully, because if you use abusive words, you will lower your own dignity.”
“I know that much.”
That’s when Ayano gave up. She felt that it was pointless to put words in Kentaro’s mouth.
Surely, even if she told him that Chinatsu was the one who had stopped the bullying, he would not believe her. A shadow casted over Ayano’s heart, saying, “It’s always been that way.”
At the very least, she would watch over Chinatsu so that she would not be hurt any more than necessary. That was all Ayano could do.
*****
Kentaro then called Chinatsu to an unpopular school building.
“I’ve had enough of this. It’s already too late, Chinatsu,… because you betrayed me.”
“T-that’s not…No…it’s not Kentaro”
Kentaro’s revenge took place.
Chinatsu was soaked in tears. Ayano could only watch on with a smile strapped on her face.
(Even though they’ve known each other since childhood, …… he is able to flip so much ……)
She could feel it because she was standing next to Kentaro and watching him.
He felt pleasure in blaming someone. It didn’t matter how sad the person who was told to do it was. He placed the highest priority on putting his own feelings on the line.
Ayano had seen everyone doing this.
(Is that …… Masataka-kun?)
While Kentaro was cursing Chinatsu, Ayano spotted Masataka looking at her.
(If it’s Masataka-kun, he should be able to stop it… Because Masataka-kun likes Chinatsu-san.)
Contrary to Ayano’s expectations, Masataka did not intervene.
Ayano left the place with Kentaro, satisfied that his revenge was over. Chinatsu’s sobbing voice never left Ayano’s ears.
(Why, Masataka-kun, ……. Why didn’t you save Chinatsu-san?)
Thinking about it, Ayano probably knew that there was nothing that could be done in this case.
She, too, had been unable to do anything when Chinatsu had rebuked those who had bullied Kentaro.
Ayano had faith that Masataka would be able to do what she could not. Ayano had such selfish trust in him that she felt betrayed without her permission.
(More importantly, how I looked in that scene….)
The smiling woman next to the man cursing his childhood friend.
This was a situation that would normally be impossible. That’s why it occured to her that it was She who made it possible.
(I always …… end up being the bad guy anyway ……)
She didn’t intend it to be this way at first.
Someone was crying. She kindly listened to him and he told her that he was having a hard time because he was being bullied.
Because Ayano knew the pain of being hurt. And because she knew the joy of talking to Masataka as an equal and being listened to.
–She just wanted to be kind to someone, that’s all she wanted to do.
But no one would believe her.
Ayano was always the bad guy. No matter how much she tried to explain herself, she was never once believed, even when she didn’t mean to be.
Even people she thought were her friends denied her. Masataka was sure to deny Ayano, too.
(… What? Isn’t it the same as usual?)
Ayano smiled.
It didn’t matter that she was sad. No one was interested in Ayano’s feelings.
So, she would do her best to put on a smile. That was the best Ayano could do as a bad person.
*****
From then on, Her response to Kentaro was the same as she always did to misunderstood boys.
She behaved in an idealistic manner, responding to his requests. That’s how I made him prideful.
“Kentaro-kun, you seem to be pretending to be my boyfriend, but I have no intention of becoming your girlfriend.”
And She crushed his heightened pride as usual.
Despite some trouble along the way, the result was as usual. Ayano was relieved that she had not been hurt.
…Perhaps it was Ayano’s unconsciousness taking it out on her that made her shake her head a little more sternly than usual.
*****
Meanwhile, Masataka and Chinatsu had become lovers.
At first Ayano was rooting for Masataka’s love, but then she felt a kind of sting from the gap between herself and Masataka.
“When Kentaro-kun was blaming Chinatsu-san and making her cry, Masataka-kun was also there. It was nice to have the chance right in front of you.”
Was that the reason? She said something she didn’t want to Masataka
She simply wanted to embarrass him. It was Ayano’s childish desire for revenge.
(It’s not fair, Masataka-kun. ……. But I’m the one who’s really sneaky. …)
Ayano and Masataka overlooked Chinatsu’s predicament. However, the subsequent outcome was very different.
What Masataka could do, Ayano could not.
Ayano had always thought she had no intention of doing so, but now she wondered if she might really be a bad person.
The wicked will one day be punished. That was exactly what she had been taught since childhood.
“Matsuyuki-san, can you give me a moment of your time?”
Suddenly Chinatsu spoke to her, and Ayano prepared herself for the time when the punishment would come.
Before Ayano knew it, Chinatsu and Kentaro had made up. It was probably also thanks to Masataka.
If Ayano had not been there, things might not have gotten out of hand in the first place. Still, seeing the three of them making up and laughing together, Ayano felt envious.
She wondered if her existence was worth anything if she couldn’t get along with anyone? Ayano’s heart was on the verge of giving up on her very existence.