Chapter 35: Suzuka Hashimoto (Part 2)

"Would you mind if I explained how the rumors began to spread? It relates to my personal background..."

Suzuka asked, and I gave a silent nod in response.

"Until last year, I was living overseas. When it came time to attend high school, I enrolled at Hirayama High School, where my grandfather serves as chairman. So, I came to Japan alone."

So Suzuka was the chairman’s granddaughter... That explains it. I'd always found it odd that such a tiny club with only two members had its own room—but now it makes sense.

"At the time, because of how I spoke and carried myself, I stood out and had difficulty fitting in. I lost confidence in myself. I used to hide my face behind long hair, narrow my field of vision with non-prescription glasses, and hunch my back so my chest wouldn't draw attention. That was how I lived day to day."

...As she said that, an image flashed through my mind.

A plain-looking girl from one of my old classes came to mind—someone who fit the description Suzuka just gave. I think she might have been a classmate back then.

So that was her... There's no trace of that in how she looks now. No wonder I didn’t recognize her.

"Even someone like me eventually managed to speak a little with my classmates by the end of the first semester. Then, one day, the topic turned to whether any of us had ever been confessed to by a boy. When someone said, 'Well, I doubt you ever have,' I—without thinking—blurted out, 'That’s not true.'"

Suzuka slumped her shoulders, her voice bitter. The regret was clear on her face.

"Of course, they didn’t believe me. They pressed me for a name, and I was at a complete loss for what to say. So, in desperation, I said the name of a classmate who had gone missing at the time—Kisaragi Ikuto-san..."

If she used the name of someone who was missing, there’d be no way to confirm it. And even if he did return, no one would remember a silly comment like that. If that’s what she was thinking, it wouldn’t be surprising.

"The rumor grew when someone threw out a wild theory—that Kisaragi-san had thrown himself into despair after I rejected his confession. That speculation spread like wildfire. As it passed from person to person, the theory hardened into conviction, and the story took on a life of its own, repeated as if it were undeniable truth..."

Suzuka took a breath and spoke her final words.

"This is the true story behind the rumor. I deeply apologize for spreading such a dishonorable story about your brother-in-law..."

She bowed her head in apology.

"It's okay. I’m not bothered by the rumor. And I don’t think Ikuto-nii-san would be either. You have my word on that."

"...I see. I’m very grateful to hear that."

"But... could you tell Souta about all this too? He’s been really worried, thinking that Ikuto-nii-san was carrying some kind of burden he couldn’t share with him."

"That can't be... Souta-san never once showed anything like that in front of me..."

"Maybe he didn’t want to worry you, Suzuka-senpai. I heard it directly from Souta."

"I had no idea… That I made Souta-san feel that way… because of me…"

Suzuka looked completely shaken, her face turning pale.

She brought a hand to her mouth and rose unsteadily from her chair.

In doing so, she accidentally bumped the teacup on the table. It fell to the floor and shattered with a sharp, shrill sound, like a scream.

Without even glancing at the broken cup, Suzuka bolted from the classroom.

"Suzuka!"

I rushed after her in a panic.

It looked like she had headed up the stairs toward the rooftop.

I sprinted up the stairwell to find the door to the roof wide open.

"Tch... Don’t you dare do anything stupid!"

I dashed after her and burst out onto the rooftop.

It was a vast concrete expanse, surrounded by a two-meter-high fence. Thankfully, it didn’t look like something you could easily climb over.

I spotted Suzuka right away. She stood near the front fence, her right hand gripping it, her back turned toward the entrance. She looked like a lost child with nowhere left to go.

"Suzuka… senpai…"

I called out her name, panting for breath.