Chapter 34: They are So Self-Sacrificing

They are So Self-Sacrificing

"I'm glad that the Ayanokoji incident turned out okay."

After school, Onizuka and I were sitting on the swings in a park near the school, drinking juice we'd bought at a convenience store.

"That's right."

Onizuka took his mouth off the bottle and nodded.

This was a story that took place after Ayanokoji's matchmaking session.

Ayanokoji says she was able to tell her parents about her dreams.

As a result, the engagement was called off.

Ayanokoji thanked me with tears in her eyes.

In the end, I didn't have time to look for Onizuka's necklace.

I thought I would look for it in the garden before heading home, but before I knew it, some adults working at the restaurant had heard the commotion and dragged me away.

And now.

I was worried.

I thought the same thing when Ayanokoji confessed to me, but perhaps if I went out with her, my current love story would have a happy ending.

Ayanokoji is my exact type, and she told me that she fell in love with me without minding that we were of the same sex.

There's probably no better opportunity than this.

However, there was only one reason why I was hesitant to accept her love.

It's about being a man inside.

I was sure Ayanokoji, who is a good person at heart, would say that she fell in love with me because I'm "me," regardless of gender.

But what if she's only interested in women?

This would mean betraying Ayanokoji.

Even if I explained, "I have memories of my past life and I'm a man inside," it's not something that's easy to believe.

If I carelessly hurt her or make her feel uncomfortable, I'm doing the same thing as her parents and her fiance.

I had no choice but to spend my time in this world without associating with anyone.　

To achieve this, I first aimed to restore the relationship between Ijuin and Onizuka.

That's why I caught up with Onizuka after school and decided to talk to him directly.

If clearing up Ijuin's misunderstanding didn't work, then I'll try to do something about Onizuka.

"Hey, Onizuka."

"Yeah?"

I started the conversation trying to sound as natural as possible.

"The reason you and Ijuin didn't get along was a misunderstanding, right? Why didn't you correct it?"

"...how do you know that?"

"...Ayanokoji saw it. On the day of the funeral, you were turned away by Ijuin's father."

"Ahh..."

"I see," Onizuka muttered softly and fell silent.

I waited, looking at Onizuka's slanted eyes, until he spoke.

"…………"

Onizuka kept his head down for a while, then he glanced at me, sighed, and spoke.

"...I was hated by Ijuin's father."

"……Huh?"

"I hated my own father too, so I couldn't deny Ijuin's father's feelings. I didn't think there was any need to tell him that."

How would Ijuin feel if he found out that his father hated his best friend?

He'll probably feel guilt-ridden.

Onizuka is the type of person who can predict the feelings of others.

Despite being a delinquent, he's kind and always ends up losing out.

"I was forced to take all sorts of lessons, and I would often sneak out of the house. I would go to a nearby church and cry until I felt better."

This is the second time I've heard the word church come out of Onizuka's mouth.

First it was the priest, an acquaintance of Onizuka's, who helped him find foster homes for the stray cats we picked up on a rainy day.

Perhaps Onizuka was influenced by the kind-hearted priest who had looked after him since he was a child.

"Onizuka..."

"So, it's fine, I don't mind."

Onizuka got off the swing and threw the empty plastic bottle at a trash can placed at the edge.

The plastic bottle reached the finish line easily.

It made a clanging noise, blending in with the trash that had piled up in the trash can.

"Even if Ijuin misunderstood me or disliked me, no one is at fault and no one will be hurt."

"Nobody..."

You're the one who's hurt.

For Ijuin, for his parents, Onizuka sacrificed himself and took on the role of the bad guy.

Your best friend hates you!

And you said it wouldn't hurt?

I also stood up from the swing.

I called out to Onizuka's back, who wasn't looking my way.

"Let's go tell Ijuin right now!"

"What?"

"Well... there's a reason you couldn't go to the funeral."

"So it looks like you've already spoken for me, haven't you?"

That's right.

Being able to predict the other person's feelings means he has a keen eye for observation.

Onizuka has already given up on repairing his relationship with Ijuin.

It's like Ayanokoji has given up on her life.

"...I-I just didn't get it! If you - Onizuka - had told him, I'm sure Ijuin would have...!"

"No matter who says it, it won't change anything."

It doesn't reach anyone.

Either Ijuin and Onizuka too.

Ayanokoji and Nagumo gave me a push, but I'm not good enough as an actor.

"Hey, what do you want to do?"

"Eh?"

When I noticed, Onizuka was looking back at me.

His red hair flutters in the evening spring breeze.

Onizuka's long eyelashes blinked slowly.

"What's your purpose in trying to get involved between Ijuin and me? What benefit would you gain from us becoming friends?"

"……That is..."

I hesitated.

The answer should have been obvious.

To stop you guys from falling in love with me.

...But is that really all there is to it?

Was my desire to get these two to reconcile really just a way to avoid the standard shoujo manga route?

"The reason I want you two to make up is..."

I got to know the good points of both Ijuin and Onizuka.

I learned about their complicated family situation.

I too wanted to see a future where the two of them never fell out.

That is, if Ijuin's parents hadn't been on bad terms with Onizuka's parents. If Ijuin's mother hadn't died.

There was no need for Onizuka and Ijuin to become enemies like this.

Whether it's Ayanokoji or Nagumo, why are the characters in this world having their lives controlled by their parents?

It's good if everyone can be happy.

You all will smile.

Before I knew it, I had been hoping for such a future.

"...Hey, why are you crying?"

"……Eh?"

When Onizuka pointed it out, I realized that tears were overflowing from both my eyes.

"Oh, what's this...? That's strange, I wonder why...?"

"Hey, don't rub so hard..."

Onizuka grabbed my arm as I roughly wiped away my tears with the sleeve of my sailor uniform.

My eyes meet Onizuka's beautiful slanted eyes.

His eyes were as fiery and red as his hair.

His slightly narrowed eyes approached me.

Our breathing tickled each other's cheeks.

Just a few centimeters left until Onizuka's hard, thin lips...

"Oi! Isn't that Onizuka?"

A dirty, hoarse voice spoke between me and Onizuka.

Beyond the bushes that separate the park.

Some unfamiliar high school students on motorbikes were glaring at us on the road.

I counted them and there were five of them, and they were all ugly.

"...Tch."

Onizuka clicked his tongue at the sight of them. I wondered if they were his acquaintances.

Onizuka let go of his grip on my arm and approached them.

...Wasn't I about to be swept away just now?

I almost kissed Onizuka, but he pulled away and I finally came to my senses.

Dangerous.

Handsome guy is dangerous!

"...What do you want? I thought I'd cut ties with you guys."

"Huh?! We won't allow you to leave!"

"Wha...! I even underwent that stupid purification ritual you guys were talking about!"

While I was reeling from the fact that I was being swept away, Onizuka had already settled things with the group of delinquents.

Both of them have loud voices so I can hear them clearly.

...An old friend?

Indeed, if you look closely at his face, they're an ugly men, different from the delinquent who bothered me on the first day I was reincarnated into this world.

This time, let's get away quickly before I get caught up in a fight between delinquents.

"...Hey, are you Onizuka's woman?"

When did that happen!?

One of the delinquents was behind me.

"No, I'm not Onizuka's girlfriend."

"Well, either way is fine."

"Ugh!?"

It was a merciless punch to the stomach.

A sudden shock.

The pain left me helpless and I lost consciousness