Chapter 36: Suzuka Hashimoto (Part 3)

"...I'm sorry, Alice-san. I lost my composure."

…Good. Looks like Suzuka is in a state where she can talk now.

I waited in silence for Suzuka to speak.

The sky, which had been clear that morning, had begun to cloud over ominously, as if rain could fall at any moment. The rooftop, radiating heat from the concrete, was sweltering, and sweat began to seep out. My underwear was damp, clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

“…The first time I met Souta-san was when I was mentally cornered by all the rumors.”

Suzuka, still with her back turned to me, began to speak haltingly.

“The spread of those rumors turned my everyday life into something dark and bleak. People whispered things like, ‘It’s Hashimoto-san’s fault Kisaragi-san died,’ or ‘Poor Kisaragi-san…’ Before I knew it, no one would come near me.

After that, I started to fear people’s stares even more than before. Whenever someone talked, it started to sound like they were condemning me. Little by little, I grew more and more worn down…”

Maybe this whole situation was engineered with malice from the start. Given how she had always stood apart from others, it’s not hard to imagine she’d be an easy target for persecution.

“It was during that time that Souta-san appeared before me. He had heard the rumors about Kisaragi-san and asked me directly to tell him the truth.”

A childhood friend who had vanished during the school trip ferry ride… If there was some reason behind that accident—if I had been in Souta’s shoes, I probably would have done the same thing.

“At the time, because I had been accused so relentlessly by everyone, I had begun to believe that I really was the reason Kisaragi-san had died. That’s why, when I met Souta-san, all I could do was apologize to him over and over again.”

…That guy’s big and has a naturally intimidating glare, so people often misjudge him as scary at first. Considering Suzuka already wasn’t good with people, having someone like Souta confront her must’ve been absolutely terrifying.

“But Souta-san spoke to me gently, like he was trying to console me. He said that even if Kisaragi-san went missing because I turned down his confession, that was Kisaragi-san’s own responsibility, and that I shouldn’t let it weigh on me. He told me, over and over again, not to cry so much. He kept repeating it, trying to help me calm down…”

You could tell just how much those words meant to her from the way she repeated them slowly, carefully, as if cherishing every syllable.

“That wasn’t all. There was an incident where someone who held a grudge against my father hired a delinquent group to try and kidnap me. Souta-san happened to be there and protected me from those villains.”

So that’s where the story of him single-handedly taking down a gang of delinquents comes from.

Still, hearing it like this, Souta really does sound like the protagonist of some dating sim.

“Even how I look now is thanks to Souta-san. He told me that it was better to face the world with confidence and show my face proudly. So I started tying up my hair in two parts, took off my fake glasses, and began walking with my head held high. After that, the way people looked at me changed, and I started to feel more confident in myself.”

“I think the current Suzuka-senpai is really lovely too.”

Honestly, I’ve got to hand it to Souta—good job. The way Suzuka is now, so full of life, it’s a joy to see.

“Thank you kindly. You’re very lovely as well, Alice-san. Anyway, beyond that, Souta-san has done countless things for me. …But still, I ended up doing something that repaid his kindness with betrayal.”

Suzuka turned to face me.

But her gaze wasn’t directed at me.

As I followed her eyes and turned around, I saw Souta standing at the rooftop door, having appeared there at some point.

“…Souta.”

“…Hey.”

With a hand behind his neck, Souta gave a stiff, awkward greeting.

“There’s no truth to the claim that Ikuto Kisaragi confessed to me. That… was a lie I told.”

"...I see. So Ikuto wasn’t suffering or struggling after all."

Souta didn’t seem surprised by the truth Suzuka had revealed. He just looked as though things had finally made sense.

"I'm truly sorry for the pain I caused you with my lie, Souta-san."

"I don’t think of it as a lie. So you don’t need to worry about it, Suzuka."

"But! I heard that you were deeply troubled because of it. That’s my fault—it’s because of my lie!"

"You’re wrong. Deep down, I think I knew the truth too... that there wasn’t any deeper reason behind Ikuto’s death, that it was just an accident. But I couldn’t accept that. I wanted to believe there had to be a reason, that there was something I could’ve done. That’s why I chose to believe your story. In fact, when Hisui and Yuna heard the same thing, they didn’t believe it at all."

...Now that he mentions it, that’s true.

"At Ikuto’s funeral, Alice said something that made me realize it. All the apologies and regrets I’d held onto, thinking they were for Ikuto’s sake, were really just self-satisfying delusions to help me escape reality..."

"Souta..."

I’d been worried I might’ve angered him, getting too emotional. But knowing my feelings had actually gotten through to him... it made my chest feel a little warm.

"But now, I think I can finally come to terms with it. If anything, maybe I was the one using you, Suzuka... I’m sorry."

"!! Please don’t say that! You have nothing to apologize for!"

"Then I don’t need an apology either. If you’re really grateful, maybe you could give me something in return... I know—how about letting me grope your boobs?"

...W-What the hell is this guy saying?

"If... if that’s what you wish, Souta-san, I don’t mind."

Suzuka blushed, turning her gaze away as she answered quietly.

"...Huh? Isn’t this the part where you’re supposed to say, ‘What are you saying, you perv!’ and slap me or something?"

Your flag management is trash, man. Even from the outside, Suzuka’s affection for you is maxed out!

"If it’s something Souta-san truly desires, I’m prepared to do anything. That’s how much I feel indebted to you."

Hearing her say that so sincerely made even me and Souta both squirm in awkwardness.

"...Alice, what the hell am I supposed to do here?"

"...Well, it’s a rare opportunity, so maybe you should take her up on it. I’ll head back to the clubroom ahead of you."

"Wait—hey! Don’t leave me here in this situation!"

Says the person who created this whole situation.

...But honestly, if I’m being real—I kinda want to touch them too.

I mean, I’ve touched my own, sure, but hers... well, the size, you know?

‘...Ikuto-san, were you perhaps thinking something incredibly rude just now?’

Nothing at all. I'm really sorry.