Volume 2 - CH 7.3

“–No way ……, then I?!”

“I can’t reach Yukito! Where the hell is——“

“Please, there’s got to be a way to get in touch with–!”

The principal’s office was in disarray. The school teacher, Sayuri Fujishiro, was also there.

Just a few minutes ago, there was a call from the Board of Education here as well. It was similar to what Hideomi had heard, but the problem had grown exponentially and could no longer be contained within the school.

A conflagration that made people want to cover their eyes. Even Yoshinaga would not be spared from punishment.

After hearing the whole story from Mutsuki, Erika was in tears. Her father, Hideomi, has also lost his vitality. Erika , who tried to trick an innocent person, must also be punished.

In fact, Yukito Kokonoe has been suspended from school, which is equivalent to a suspension, despite the fact that he was not at fault in any way. Erika was only unilaterally involved in the ridiculous commotion caused by the Tojo family. Depending on the situation, Erika could be expelled from school at worst.

And once this happened, it was none other than one student, Yukito Kokonoe, who held the power of life and death over Erika, Hideomi, the principal Yoshinaga, and everyone else.

At the very least, Hideomi Tojo has no future unless he can get Yukito Kokonoe to intercede with the Himiyama family. Even his current position might be revoked soon.

“Erika, what you did is unforgivable. But if it was for my sake, then I am just as guilty. It is my fault that I have not explained anything to the people around me because it is a sensitive issue. In the worst case scenario, I will leave the school with you.”

“I’m sorry, Mutsuki! It is my fault! You don’t have to leave!”

Yuuri gives them a cold stare. Her anger grows.

Just when she thought things were headed in the right direction, this is what happens. It’s always this kind of disturbance, as if with malice aforethought.

And each time it happens, Yukito Kokonoe breaks down. He had reached his limit. Just when she thought her little brother had opened his heart to her, even if only a little, the thought that he would break down again, that he would treat her like a stranger again, was unbearable.

“Both of you need to leave! I don’t want anyone around that boy who wants to hurt him!”

“Yuri …… sorry ……”

The air is tense, as if it’s tense. There is nothing to be done about it.

The only one who can fix this situation was not supposed to be here —-.

“Yo~o, how y’all doing?”

The man who holds the power of life and death in this place, Yukito Kokonoe, appears with an uncharacteristic line and the frivolity of a businessman who just happened to drop by a tavern on a whim.

“Judgment time—“

“Stop it”

“Yes.”

With a line no one could understand.

“You, why are you here……?”

“When someone contacts me like that, one would think something was wrong, right?”

When I left the hospital and turned on my smartphone, the incoming calls and texts were horrendous. I thought I was getting a lot of spam as a result of my personal information being leaked.

However, they were from my sister and the school, and I knew that something must have happened, so I went over there. I was in my casual clothes.

“Why couldn’t we get in touch with you?

“Oh, I was out for a while.”

“You’re under suspension…….”

“Do I have to comply with that?”

The principal’s expression turns awkward. It’s no wonder. As long as I am not at fault in any way, there is no reason for me to comply.

It’s a clear injustice, and if it became public, the person who decided on the punishment would be in trouble.

“So, what’s wrong?”

“I apologize, Kokonoe-kun!”

The first to apologize was a third-year student. I had never met her before and was not acquainted with her. Her eyes were swollen. Was she crying? Next to her was a man of mature age. He bowed his head in rapid succession.

“I am so sorry!”

“First of all, can you explain to me what happened?”

I know it’s a rough spot, but I can’t explain it to you. I know it’s a hellish situation, but since there was no explanation, it was all gibberish to me. I’m Yukito Kokonoe, not Prince Shotoku, who can understand what people are saying. One of the ordinary people.An ordinary person cannot do the imitation of hearing one thing and knowing ten things.

After listening to the whole story, I became reluctant. That’s right. This incident really did seem to come out of nowhere, but the more I listened, the more I realized that it was far more than just an unrelated incident.

It just happened without my knowledge. That’s unreasonable!?

“I mean, what’s the point of all this? I’m being forced to clean up the mess that you guys have created on your own, is that it?”

Too much of a nuisance! It was a complete waste of time. It was as barren as an egg-carrying quest in a hunting game. Why do they even put huge rocks on the path to obstruct it? I am not the only one who is fed up with the harassment of the development staff.

“I will take responsibility and leave the school. So please, please, please forgive Mutsuki! Mutsuki is the kind of student this school needs!”

The senior who identified herself as Tojo was pleading with tears in her eyes. But when I heard that, I thought how selfish she was. This person doesn’t understand anything.

“You’re saying that you’re going to drop out of school without thinking about it, after misunderstanding and humiliating me without any reason, assuming that is an apology for the trouble you’ve caused me?”

“But ……!”

“If it hadn’t been for me, if I had been punished by the school for spreading those rumors, I might have committed suicide, you know? Even if it wasn’t for that, you would have been greatly hurt. I’m sure you’ve been hurt a lot after all. Will your expulsion heal these wounds?”

“Senpai, if it weren’t for me, I might have received an unfair punishment from school and could have even committed suicide. Even without that, I would have been greatly hurt. Just because you dropped out of school, do you think those wounds will heal?”

“—-Suicide!? “I’m really sorry!”

Senpai crumbles as if in shock. Her father supports her in a moment’s notice, but he is no better. He is the main culprit and party responsible for worsening the situation.

I have a mentality as hard as gorilla glass, so it’s not a problem, but if I were normal, I would have been in despair.

The school is also in on it, imposing punishment on me. I can’t help but be saddened that I have no one on my side.

“What would you do if I had died as a result of your malicious intent? You too. Tojo-san. Why didn’t you check the facts? What are you in that position for?”

“It’s my fault.”

“I only managed to get by because there was someone to help me, otherwise I might have continued to be treated unfairly. In that case, what would have happened?”

“Yukito, let’s file a lawsuit claiming damages for defamation.”

“That’s fine, too.”

“I’ll pay however much it costs. I am so sorry! I have been making efforts to educate people. I never thought I would do such a thing. ……”

“Father, no, it is my fault. I am the one–!”

“Kokonoe, part of the blame lies with me.”

It is utterly deplorable. If you regret it so much, why couldn’t you have been a little more thoughtful in your approach? As I mentioned earlier, I had nothing to do with this, and yet I was forced to be the one to clean up the mess.

I’ve come this far, and my bad luck with women is nothing more than a gag.

Haa. A big sigh escapes my lips. The people around me react with a startle. I feel their eyes on me as if they are looking for my expression. Why do I keep getting into trouble like this?

This world is so hard on me. I want it to stop.

How would I have responded in such a situation? I think about that. If she wants to drop out of school, she can. What she did is unforgivable.

Besides, she is irrelevant and unimportant to me. I wouldn’t care if she was gone. I wonder if I would have answered in such a way.

President Kedou also had a pained expression on her face. She, too, was an outsider who had nothing to do with the situation. She is just a victim of this situation.

If Tojo-senpai was expelled from the school, would the chairman be saddened? HIPBOSS has a strong sense of responsibility. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have persistently tried to get involved with me after that.

I have one thought. I have bad luck with women. That is already certain.

However, it was also a woman who helped me in this situation. Like Himiyama-san, my sister was also angry with me. The student council president also felt responsible for the situation here and now.

I had always thought it was okay to be alone. I thought I should be alone.

I would hurt someone. Being alone is very good for me. It doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t feel lonely. But there were people who still wouldn’t leave me. There were people who wanted to be close to me.

I’m supposed to be a “shady,” a “lonely” person, but now I’ve built relationships with people that I can hardly call myself that. I can no longer say that I am a loner, let alone a loner in the shadows. I have to admit it. I have to recognize the situation correctly and change to move forward.

I don’t want to remain oblivious to the feelings that the girls are supposed to be expressing to me. I don’t want to see anyone cry anymore. And yet, someone is crying in front of me again.

I see Tojo-senpai’s tearful face. If I were to say it, she is my enemy. She should be someone I hate. However, I haven’t had such emotions towards someone I hate for a long time.

That’s why—-

“Tojo-senpai, I will punish you. First of all, you must make public what you have done. Try to restore my credibility. Otherwise, if you don’t, I’ll be a shiny, demon first-year student.”

“Yes”

After a pause, I take her hand and look her straight in the eye.

“And, please be my friend.”

“Eh?”

“I don’t have any friends at all. I’ve always been a loner.”

“Uhm…”

“It’s not like you can just drop out and run away. The only one who will be saved by that will be you, Senpai. I won’t get anything in return. How can you be allowed to leave me empty-handed after causing me so much trouble?”

“B-but …… are you okay with that?”

“I’ll make sure you apologize for the trouble you’ve caused.”

“Thank you very much ……. I’m really sorry! Why, why did I hate you and do terrible …… things to you…..”

“By the way, Tojo-senpai, how did you find out about the situation? The fact that the president falsely accused me and framed me as the culprit should not have been known…?”

“I received a letter. It said that you set a trap to frame Mutsuki.”

“Idiot! That’s the culprit!”

“Who could have done such a despicable thing! Erika, where is that letter?”

“I’m sorry. I was so angry about the contents that I immediately threw it away.”

“But then again, I guess that’s what you call a daily routine. I’m going on a pilgrimage to purify myself, so don’t mind me, President.”

I didn’t know they hated me that much. I could have easily started my life over if I was a loop princess.

For some reason, my sister hugs me from behind. The twin hills are asserting their presence over my back, but I look up at the azure sky through the window to cover it up. It’s so soft. …… ( far away eyes )

“Yukito, are you okay with that?”

“I had a feeling you were going to take something. Chills?”

My sister is saying something I don’t understand.

“But, Yukito Kokonoe, you were actually punished and Erika was tricked. Hideomi, we cannot just leave things as they are, can we?”

“Yes, I agree. Principal Yoshinaga, I would like the school to be very careful in handling the information. There seems to be something suspicious about it.”

“O-of course”

My suspension was lifted on the spot. I was now a free man.

It seems that a much stronger pressure was exerted on the school side compared to the prefectural assembly member Hideomi Tojo, and in any case, it was immediately lifted, but what did Himyama-san do? Terrifying. But it’s even more terrifying to hear about it.

I remember what happened when I went to her house last time. She’s a witch. She must be a witch. She was a bewitching woman who deceived me. I mean, why did she – oops, I almost slipped.

“I’m sorry, Kokonoe. I know it’s very irresponsible and regrettable to say this kind of thing to you. It’s all my fault. But please! Please help me connect with Himiyama-sensei?”

“Himiyama-sensei, I only know Misaki-san”

“Misaki….?”

“Besides, I don’t touch—“

“Please! If this continues, it will be the end for me. It might even become difficult to let Erika live the same life as before! Please!”

A grown man was on his knees. Wasn’t he a member of the prefectural assembly?

He must have been given a very strong moxie by Himiyama-san, because he was being shamelessly exposed as a pathetic figure. From what he said earlier, I wonder if his life as a member of the assembly is under threat.

In any case, this is too mature a story for me to intervene.

I would just have to go along with Himiyama-san.

“I understand. But the only person I know is a woman named Misaki-san. I’ll talk to her, and you can do the rest yourself. I don’t really know what’s going on.”

“Thank you, I owe you! The woman …… is she a relative of Rishu-sensei?”

“She called him her grandfather, so she might be his granddaughter.”

“So that’s how it was. No wonder Sensei moved so quickly. You really are amazing. How on earth did you get such connections ……”

“Chest… your chest…why are you taking off your clothes…stop ……touching…..”

“Yukito! What’s going one Yukito?!”

“Huh!? The door to the sealed memories was about to open!?”

“Wait, what just happened!? What’s going on!?”

“I almost drowned in maternal instincts.”

Hey! What kind of relationship do you have with her!? Tell me honestly!”

However, having lived as Yukito Kokonoe the Yankee form until now, it’s going to be tough to go back to school normally from tomorrow.

“Um… what about me?”

“Guilty.”

Afterward, Principal Yoshinaga received disciplinary action and was punished with a one-month pay cut.

As a result, the principal’s attitude towards Yukito Kokonoe changed completely and he was frequently seen around the school trying to please her. However, Yukito was still treated as a troublesome person, even though he was unaware of it.

When I left the principal’s office, many students gathered around me.

“Yuki, are you all right? If Yuki had just disappeared like this, I……. Hey, w-w-what’s wrong? Did they do something to you? Yuki!”

“Crack!”

Shiori’s bearhug, which boasts the strongest physical strength among women, explodes into a frenzy. Hearing his bones creak and squeak from the unusual power of the barehug, his consciousness gradually fades away.

“Hey, Shiori, please stop it. You’re making Kokonoe-kun not okay.”

The one who saved the day was Hasumura, who unexpectedly should have disliked me.

“I’ve been a nuisance to you, too,…….”

Hasumura-san gives an awkward smile. She had glared at me when I had called her before, but her impression was quite different from that time. Maybe this is the real Hasumura-san.

“I’m sorry, Kokonoe! If only we had done a better job of communicating with her!

“I’ll be more proactive from now on, Shu-chan!”

“Is there no option but to rethink that preacherly behavior?”

I’ll nail the bard duo to the wall.

“I’m glad to hear that your suspension has been lifted. I’m so happy for you, Yukito!”

“Hagure goddess senpai ……”

“Ara, what’s the matter? Are you overcome with emotion?”

“Yes. I didn’t know that Hagure Goddesses could appear in places other than the fire escape.”

“Okay, this time I won’t let you get away with it.”

I apologized.

“Geez. You always make me worry all the time.”

A fresh, handsome guy blurted out. There were giggles and laughter from all over the place.

All of them were familiar faces. Some were classmates, some were upperclassmen.

It seems that my sister had hurriedly called out to them and gathered them together.

Well, I’m just impressed by her kind heart. How much virtue do you intend to accumulate in this world? Thank you, Fierce Heavenly Host Uriel.

I heard earlier that my sister, the president, Hinagi, and others broke a lot of bones trying to save me. I’m worried that it might be a compound fracture.

“Thank you very much.”

I bowed to all of them. It is difficult to extend a hand without getting something in return.

No one would blame me if I ignored them. They are strangers after all.

Before I know it, the legend of the evil Yukito Kokonoe has faded away. Rather, the legend of the saint has begun. It is extremely unpleasant, but it is not the atmosphere in which such a thing can be said.

It is too heavy a load. I should write a letter of thanks to everyone who has contributed to this project later.

Why in the world would they go to such lengths for a mere guy like me?

“Not just anyone. Because it is you, Yukito”

Hinagi stepped forward from among the group.

I remember that everyone is in uniform except for me. I can’t deny that I feel out of place. I feel alienated, as if I am a foreigner. That’s exactly the feeling I’m used to, and somehow it makes me feel at ease.

But that may no longer be allowed.

I was helplessly saved.

From so many people.

At times like this, the words to say are always simple.

“Welcome back.”

“I’m back.”