Volume 1 - CH 11

[Hazuki’s Point of View]

“Yo. What a coincidence to see you here. By the way, you look like you just came out of a love hotel, what were you two doing together?”

From behind my back, I heard the voice of someone who was not supposed to be there. I fearfully turned around to see Yuuri standing there with a smile on his face. The expression on his face was a smile, but Yuuri’s eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion.

“Yu, Yuuri… Why are you here…?”

“Hm? I followed you guys after the game was over.”

“Wh-why…why did you do that?”

“Hmmm. It’s a little hard to talk here, isn’t it? Let’s go to my house and talk slowly.”

As soon as he said that, Yuuri slipped past us and walked toward the station without changing his expression. Kanade followed behind her with a short run and started walking next to Yuuri. It was there that I first realized that Kanade was also present.

———

(What? What? What do you mean? Didn’t Yuuri have club practice? Was he following us? Why? Why did you think it was suspicious? Did he know about my relationship with Kouki? When? How long had they known?)

I was confused. In all my life, I had never been so confused in my mind.

I am aware of it, but I think I am relatively calmer than others. I have been called ‘cold’ not a few times. But even I have my problems and I sometimes want to cry.

“Hazuki. You have a problem right now, don’t you? Don’t try to solve it by yourself, always rely on me, right?”

Yuuri always helped me by saying so. But now I can’t put my trust in him. That’s supposed to be that way. Because it is Yuuri himself who is the cause of my confusion right now.

———

We arrived in front of Yuuri’s house. I don’t know how many times I have been inside this house. I have been inside this house since before I can remember. I know this house as well as my own. But I have never felt afraid to enter this house.

I thought we were going to be taken to Yuuri’s room, but we were taken in front of an empty room that was used as a luggage storage space. When Yuuri opened the door, it was already someone’s room, not a storage room. And that someone would be none other than Yuuri.

“What? Why is the room changed?”

I let out a few words without saying to anyone.

“Hmm? What is it, Hazuki? Do you want to know why I moved rooms? You at least know why I can no longer stay in my old room, don’t you?”

Yuuri knows everything. He knows about my relationship with Kouki, and he also knows what we did in Yuuri’s room during that time.

I collapsed on the spot. My body was so cold that I felt as if all the blood had drained out of me, and my hands and toes were numb.

Hazuki, are you all right? Come into my room.”

The voice that reached my ears had its usual gentle tone, so I looked up with anticipation. However, that expectation was soon betrayed. The smile was already gone from Yuuri’s face, and he simply stared at me with a blank expression. When I saw his eyes, my whole body trembled and I couldn’t move.

Kanade, who couldn’t bear to look at me like that, asked, “Can you walk?” and let me into the room.

*****

[Yuuri’s Point of View]

After making sure everyone was inside the room, I looked around at all the members there. Hazuki was sitting on the floor and Kouki was sitting in a chair at his study desk. Kanade was sitting on the floor with her back against the door, looking at me anxiously.

“Everyone sat down. Well, first of all, I want to ask Hazuki and Kouki something. Why did you two come out of the love hotel together earlier?”

“Ah…… that’s…….”

“Hazuki seems to be confused right now, so I’ll explain that to you. Is that okay?”

“Yeah…”

“After the game, I had some free time, so we decided to hang out in front of the station. I was just taking a little stroll and Hazuki suddenly got sick, so I took her to a love hotel right in front of me to rest. There are beds there, you know.”

“I see… So you’re sure it’s not the kind of illicit relationship I’m suspecting?”

“Yes, of course. You may suspect that Hazuki and I did something in the room, but even that is a misunderstanding. I swear. I swear to you, Hazuki and I do not have the kind of illicit relationship you think we do.”

“Ha ha …… ah ha ha ha ……… ah ha ha ha ha!”

Seeing me laughing like crazy, Kouki and Hazuki are wide-eyed and astonished.

What is this guy talking about? Misunderstanding? Did you swear? What are you swearing to? You don’t believe in God, do you? This is too funny. I didn’t think you had this much sense, Kouki.

“What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m sorry. No, I didn’t expect to hear you say that. Because who would believe that nothing happened when the two of you came out of the love hotel together? Kouki, if it were you, would you believe it if the guy she was with said something like that?”

“Tsk…”

Perhaps thinking he had lost the upper hand, he clicked his tongue and Kouki went silent as it was. I glanced at Hazuki and saw that she continued to wobble and shake with a pallid expression on her face.

“Well, you know. That was mean, wasn’t it, even my question. But, you know, I trusted you to apologize. I thought you’d feel guilty about me being your childhood friend and boyfriend who’s been with you all your life, but it looks like you didn’t even have that.”

Hazuki’s shoulders jumped when she heard those words.

“I know about your relationship, by the way. Before I explain how I came to know about it, I have to apologize first. I’m sorry. I had surveillance cameras set up in my old room.”

“What?”

“What,…?”

“I couldn’t believe you guys, so I set up a surveillance camera in my room to film the two of you. When we hung out at home last week, you remember how Kanade and I said we had to scout for club activities and left in the middle of the day? That was a lie. We went into a nearby coffee shop and I got to see the whole story of what you two were doing here.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No, it’s true. If you want, I can show you the proof.”

After saying that, I opened the app on my smartphone and played a video.

Hazuki watched the video and held her head and said, “Stop it. Stop it already ……,” she complained with tears streaming down her face. Kouki said, “Damn it,” and glared at me with his tongue lolling out.

(Hey, hey, hey. All your reactions are what I want to do.)

“So, Yuuri. What do you want us to do? Don’t be a b***h about it, just tell us what you want.”

“Hey. Don’t be so backhanded. I’ve been on the verge of losing my temper for a long time now, but I’m trying my best to hold it in.”

I turned to Hatsuki as I said that.

“I want two things. First, I want to ask you when and why you started this kind of relationship with Kouki. Of course, you’ll tell me, won’t you, Hazuki?”