After that hopeless, horrible birthday, I shut myself in my room so my mom wouldn’t see my swollen cheek. Dad passed away from an illness three years ago. Now it’s just me, Mom, and my older brother. Both of them work long hours, so they get home late. Luckily, I managed to avoid getting noticed.
I sent them a message saying, "I’m not feeling well, so I’m resting in my room," then locked the door. They came home from work worried and called out to me through the door. Feeling guilty, I lied and told them, "I might have a summer cold. I don’t want to pass it on. I’ll just sleep until break is over."
They left porridge, pudding, and sports drinks outside the door. I forced some down without much thought, then slept without letting myself think about anything else. That’s how my important second-year summer break came to an end.
In complete emptiness I kept having nightmares.
In them, I was stuck and trapped watching a monitor, as Miyuki and Kondo-senpai held each other and kissed in a hotel room. I banged on the screen, but no reply came my way.
"Eiji is seriously disgusting. I was nice to him because we’re childhood friends, but he got the wrong idea and confessed."
"Just forget about a creep like that. Look only at me now."
"Yes, Senpai!!"
Even after ten years together as childhood friends, I had never once laid a finger on her. Kondo made her badmouth me over and over, clearly getting off on it.
It was just a dream, but the nausea wouldn’t stop. My dignity as a human being was being destroyed. I could hear my heart breaking.
Please, just stop already. This can’t be real.
I knew exactly what couples did in those adult districts. Even an idiot like me understood. She had ditched our birthday date because he mattered more to her than I did.
In the end, I had no value as a man.
I started the new semester feeling utterly sick. I somehow got into my uniform and headed to school. The whole world felt like it had turned sepia. The hill on my usual route now felt like pure torture.
"Hey, isn’t that Aono? The one who hit Amada-san."
"Ew, gross."
"Poor Amada-san. She had bruises on her arm, right? Guys who hit girls are the absolute worst."
"She’s way too nice. That’s why a stalker like him misunderstood."
"I thought we were friends, but I’m not talking to him anymore."
"And Kondo-senpai is so cool. He stood up to that stalker abuser and drove him off. Total badass."
Every time someone looked at my face, whispers followed. A dull pain stabbed through my chest. I already knew. I had gotten messages from friends a few times since that day, all asking about the rumor that I had been violent toward Miyuki.
It seemed Kondo-senpai was actively spreading the stories. The info always came from the soccer club guys...
I told them over and over that it wasn’t true, but no one listened.
"Criminals always say that."
"We’re done. Don’t talk to me at school either."
"Scum!!"
My close classmates had blocked me on social media. I had no allies left.
I ignored the cold stares and made it to the classroom somehow. Sure enough, it was hell there too. No one would even look me in the eye.
"Idiot."
"Die."
"Criminal."
"Violent jerk."
"Don’t come to school."
My desk was covered in nasty graffiti and insults. I could hear quiet laughter from across the room.
Miyuki arrived a little later. Our eyes met for a second before she awkwardly looked away. The girl I once saw as an angel in her blazer had turned into a demon who framed me.
"Miyuki-chan, are you okay? Any injuries?"
"That must have been scary. If he does anything else, tell us right away."
"Getting violent just because she tried to break up with him? Total lowlife."
Miyuki gave vague responses and sat down. To anyone who didn’t know the truth, she looked like an innocent beautiful girl. That only made everyone sympathize with her more.
Damn it. Why won’t anyone believe me?
I never stalked her.
I got worked up and grabbed her arm too hard, but it wasn’t enough to leave a real bruise.
Why? Why? Why!!!
I couldn’t take it anymore and bolted into the hallway. But another demon was waiting there.
Kondo.
He stood there grinning, watching my miserable face. He had probably come to peek. He used his soccer club underclassmen to spread the bad rumors and came to enjoy the results of isolating me at school.
"How’s it going, criminal boy? How are you feeling...?" He sneered.
The flashy pretty boy smirked with a smug look.
"Why... would you spread lies like that?"
"Because it’s fun. Having stolen your ’girl’ from you and then you’re losing everything? It’s the best show ever. This is what happens when a delusional guy like you tries to touch someone like Miyuki. Just drop out or whatever already. I love destroying other people’s lives. I’m a total psychopath."
As Kondo left, a faint smell of cigarettes came from Kondo. He also chewed gum loudly, like he was trying to cover it up.
It got on my nerves.
My knees gave out. I let out a silent scream as my body collapsed. After feeling the cold hallway floor, my consciousness slowly sank into darkness.