"How come you enjoy snitching so much? You're welcome to finish the food at my house as well." Daichi, the usual chunibyo, transformed into an innocent shota, pouting with a cute face.
When Akira saw Daichi attack him with cuteness, he gave up. No, he is not weak with cute; he was just a little confused because he was pounding yesterday when he saw Daichi's cute expression.
"Forget it!" In any case, I'm not a stingy person."
Akira took a cold drink from the refrigerator and sat down in front of Daichi, ready to question him.
"Now tell me what brought you here."
"Couldn't I have come if there was nothing?"
"No, no. You usually only come when you need my help." Akira flatly refused.
Daichi made an awkward laugh. "So, that's... You have proven to be my best friend."
"What is the connection?" Tell me now or I will kick you out." Akira gave the order.
Daichi told the Takaoka family's young master about his meeting with Yua.
"Did she really become an old man's mistress?"
Daichi nodded. "Yes. But she claimed she had no choice because she needed the money."
"Needed money for what? I heard she was from a wealthy family." Akira's brow furrowed.
"She said it was to treat her younger sister, who has leukemia."
"Younger sister?" Akira's brow furrowed even more. "As far as I know, Yua Miyagi only has an older brother."
"Eh? How did you know?"
"I overheard someone talking about Miyagi-san's older brother being a lawyer."
Daichi was perplexed now. "Her brother is a lawyer?"
"Yes. He is a rising young lawyer. Takumi Miyagi, perhaps you have heard of him." Akira informed.
"Takumi Miyagi..." Daichi recognized the name and tried to recall where he had heard it. "Ah, I remember! I saw his news on the internet because he was accompanying a famous celebrity! So he is Yua Miyagi's brother?"
Akira snapped his fingers. "Exactly. That is him."
Daichi was overjoyed, but a split second later he was downcast. "So she lied to me."
"It is obvious." Akira exhaled heavily. "I'm not sure what she is up to, but I don't think she is a good girl. It is best if you break up with her right away, Dai-chan."
Daichi agreed quietly. "Yes, I intend to end my relationship with her right now."
-
He really did break up with Yua that day, just like Daichi said.
Faced with the girl he would only met a few hours before, Daichi felt as if he did not recognize her. It was the lie that separated them across the continents of Asia and Europe.
"Let's just break up," Daichi suggested.
"Eh? How come senpai is suddenly...?"
"You don't have a younger sister, and your family is wealthy. I already know you lied to me today."
Yua remained quiet.
Daichi did not want to wait for the girl's response either. "From now on, we don't have any relationship," he added.
Then Daichi walked away from Yua.
-
The news about Daichi and Yua's breakup quickly spread throughout Sakuraoka High School, even before Daichi arrived the next day.
Furthermore, when his friends noticed Daichi walking alone, they immediately surrounded him and cheered him up.
"I didn't expect such a well-known person as you to be dumped."
The others agreed by nodding.
"Dumped?" Daichi said it again.
"Isn't that how it is? Yua Miyagi ended her relationship with you because she could not stand your childish attitude."
"Hah???"
Daichi's first thought was to find Yua Miyagi and question everything. Daichi sped towards class 1 oblivious to the strange looks that were directed at him. Fortunately, he came across Yua and her friends in the corridor.
"Miyagi-san." Daichi called.
Yua, who had been laughing with her friends, froze when she saw Daichi. "Nishiyama-senpai...."
"Let's talk."
-
Daichi and Yua locked their gazes on each other.
"Can you explain why rumors are circulating that I was the one dumped?" Daichi began his question.
"Nishiyama-senpai, I...I didn't mean it that way. I swear."
"So, what do you mean? Don't beat around the bush; say everything at once." Daichi's tone became harsher. He despises people who talk for an extended period of time.
Yua only spoke after a while, as if she was struggling to form words.
"I did it because I was embarrassed if word got out that I had been dumped." Yua finally admitted.
Daichi's pupils constricted. "And you hurled this shame at me?"
Yua is deafeningly quiet.
Daichi's handsome face was etched with a cynical laugh. The chunibyo in him could not accept treatment that could harm his reputation in this way.
Daichi ruffled his bangs in frustration, as is his habit when he is annoyed or confused.
"Isn't it enough for you to lie to me, Miyagi-san?" But now you have made yourself the victim of this; don't you see how evil it is?"
"I have to as well!" Yua yelled. "I told you I would be embarrassed if word got out that I would been dumped! Don't you understand, senpai?"
"You have a big ego, don't you?" Daichi quips sarcastically. "Aren't you afraid I will retaliate by publicizing your status as an old man's mistress?"
"Do you dare? Do not forget that my brother is a lawyer! I have the right to sue you for defamation." Yua responded with a threat.
Daichi was deafeningly quiet this time. He was taken aback by how poisonous this seemingly gentle girl turned out to be.
"Remember, Nishiyama-senpai, keep your mouth shut and let the gossip flow. Don't blame me for being impolite if you talk about trivial matters."
Yua averted her gaze and walked away.
Daichi was left on the basketball court by himself. Not long after, he let out a frustrated scream.
"Aaahh! How vexing!"
Daichi yanked his hair as he yelled. Because he was so irritated, the young man made strange body movements. How could it not be, this incident had a significant impact on his self-esteem. It really jolted his body and soul.
Daichi was lamenting his fate when he noticed someone watching him from behind. Daichi turned around to see Shuhei Yoshimoto sitting casually on the field's edge, not far from him. Shuhei appeared to have been there for quite some time.
Daichi's face became pale. He immediately regretted having chosen the basketball court as the location for his meeting with Yua.
"This time, my pride is gone!" he exclaimed quietly, nervously.
Daichi was enraged from head to toe. His heart was racing as he waited to see what kind of mockery Shuhei Yoshimoto would heap on him.
However, after such a long wait, the mockery never arrived. Daichi looked up at Shuhei, surprised.
"Why didn't you say something?" Daichi couldn't take it anymore and asked.
Shuhei placed the water bottle next to him and raised it toward Daichi. "Do you want something to drink?" he inquired.
"Hah?"
Shuhei's indifferent demeanor adds to the young Nishiyama's anguish. Shuhei's indifference, he believes, is another form of teasing him. Daichi rushed over to Shuhei and grabbed him by the collar.
"Are you mocking me? Just say it loudly! I despise people who are unclear and long-winded like that!"
Shuhei was stunned when he was suddenly approached, pulled, and shouted at. He spontaneously denies Daichi's accusations.
"No, I'm not mocking you."
"Is it true?" Daichi laughed. "So, why did you offer me a drink? You should have mocked me because you already saw how pitiful I was!"
Shuhei seemed perplexed. "I thought you were tired of standing for too long, so I offered you a drink."
Daichi could sense Shuhei's innocence in his response. Instead of calming down, the young man became even more agitated.
"Aaaahhh!"
Daichi let go of Shuhei's clothes and sat down next to him.
The young man remained silent for a long time as he attempted to reorganize his feelings. But, according to Shuhei, Daichi appears to be depressed right now.
Shuhei hesitated before reaching for Daichi's shoulder. "Are you OK?"
Daichi raised his brow. Her beautiful eyes glazed over as she looked at Shuhei, her naturally red lips slightly opened.
"My heart hurts," Daichi said. Because he was irritated, his voice was soft and a little hoarse.
Shuhei was taken aback by his expression and voice. His heart was pounding wildly. Shuhei froze for a moment, unable to respond to Daichi's words.
Perhaps because there was no reaction from the other person, or because Daichi finally realized who he was talking to, the handsome young man who could look beautiful at times turned his gaze elsewhere.
"I'm fine. Thank you for your inquiry." Daichi stood up weakly and walked away.
Shuhei gave Daichi a complicated look as he moved further away. His palms crept up to his heart slowly, while his gaze remained fixed on Daichi's figure.
"Why does it always pound so hard like this...?" Shuhei mumbled.
-
The gossip continued, making Daichi unhappy for the past few days. He does not leave class during breaks, and he is even willing to eat his lunch in class to avoid people.
Daichi does not want to hear people speak negatively about him.
This worries Akira, Daichi's best friend, but he has no way of comforting him.
The homeroom teacher arrived after lunch to make an announcement.
"The school's annual activity, camping, will be held this weekend."