Chapter 5

We finished the closing ceremony in the gym.

This marks the end of the second term, and winter break is about to begin.

"Ku-shun! Uu... I can feel a sneeze coming..."

"Are you okay, Shin-chan?"

Next to me is my so-called girlfriend, Matsubayashi Rika.

She has her dyed blonde hair half-up.

Despite the cold, she's wearing a mini skirt that shows almost her entire bottom.

But she doesn't seem cold at all... amazing...

"U, um... ku-shun!"

"Ah, here, use this."

Rika takes a pocket tissue from her mini skirt pocket and hands it to me.

"Thank you. Matsu... Rika"

"Mm. It's fine. ...Hehe♡"

I use the tissue Rika gave me.

It smells sweet... I think.

"Don't catch a cold. Do you want to use a hand warmer?"

She takes a hand warmer from the other pocket.

"N-no, I can't be that dependent... ku-shun!"

"It's fine, here, take it. Keep yourself warm and don't catch a cold, okay?"

"I-I'm fine. I haven't caught a cold in a while... but thanks."

Rika grins and says, "You're welcome."

Her smile is so beautiful... so gentle...

"Oh, right. In the next homeroom, after it's over, wait for me. The teacher called me."

"Okay... but wait for you?"

"Of course, to go home together."

"Eh!? G-go home together!?"

Why!?! It's like... like a couple... oh.

"R-right... fake dating."

"R-right. Don't misunderstand! This is just a pretend relationship!"

...Right.

Of course. A little sad, even though I know it's fake...

But... I think Rika's concern is genuine.

I'll gratefully accept it.

As we talk, we arrive at the classroom.

"See you later."

"Uh-huh, see you later."

Our seats are far apart, so we part ways for now.

"......"

The way my classmates look at me is scary.

They're grinning and smirking...

Of course... in the class group LINE, it's already spread that I've broken up.

My ex-girlfriend, Miko, is talking happily with a tall guy.

He glances at me for a moment and gives me a nasty smile.

I don't want to... I definitely don't want to get involved with him.

★

After school, as I'm about to leave the classroom...

"Hey, Otaku-kun. Can you show your face for a moment?"

Someone puts their arm around my shoulder without permission.

Looking up, it's the guy who was talking to Miko.

"Who... who are you?"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, that's harsh, Otaku-kun? You're in the same class, aren't you? At least remember my name, Otaku-kun?"

...That goes for you too, doesn't it?

My name isn't Otaku-kun.

"I'm Kiso River. Kiso River Kasuji."

...Ah, I remember now.

He's one of the popular guys in the class.

His tall stature and sweet face make him popular with the girls.

I think I heard that his older brother works at a major publishing company.

He used to brag about it all the time...

And most importantly, Kiso River is... the guy who stole Miko from me.

"I have something to talk about. Come with me."

"Um, no, I... I..."

Gah! It's hard to communicate with a popular guy!

"Just come! It's a good deal for you, Otaku-kun!"

What kind of good deal...?

But looking at his smirking face, it feels really bad.

In the end, I can't refuse and am led by Kiso River to the rooftop.

*Clank*...

"Ah, you're slow, Kasuji~"

"Ah, Karumi~. Sorry for keeping you waiting!"

Waiting on the rooftop is another girl from our class.

"Shiojiri...?"

"Yep. Shiojiri Karumi, Otaku-kun."

"Hi there."

Shiojiri is a tall girl.

And a gal.

If Rika is a modern gal, Shiojiri is a stereotypical gal.

She has tanned skin, dyed hair, and wavy hair.

Her clothes are also very relaxed... I didn't know there were still such stereotypical gals around...

"So, what's this about... Kiso River-kun? And Shiojiri-san too?"

He puts his arm around my shoulder and grins.

I can instantly tell he's looking down on me.

"I wanted to apologize to you, Otaku-kun."

"Apologize...?"

"You know, about Miko. Sorry! I ended up dating your ex!"

He doesn't seem sorry at all.

"It was bad timing, right? I started dating her the day after you broke up. I was worried that it might be misunderstood as me stealing your girlfriend."

...It's not a misunderstanding!

You stole Miko from me!

And the way you say it... I know you were cheating!

...But they think I don't know about the cheating.

I'm not in the class group LINE.

But... I have an ally, Rika.

So... I know all about your misdeeds!

I want to tell you, but I can't yet.

Rika and I made a promise to get revenge at the end of the third term.

Until then, I have to act like an ignorant otaku.

Kiso River continues, oblivious to my thoughts.

"I felt bad, so I decided to introduce you to a girl! That's why I brought Karumi!"

"That's not nice, Kasuji~"

"Come on, Karumi. Look, how about it? Karumi, will you go out with him?"

Kiso River grins, and I ask him.

"Why are you trying to set me up with this girl, Kiso River-kun?"

"It's out of kindness, of course. I want to help a heartbroken classmate. Don't you get it, Otaku-kun?"

...What kindness?

I've figured it all out.

Right. In the group LINE, there was a trend of setting up fake boyfriends and then revealing it was a prank.

This is probably it.

Shiojiri is in on it with Kiso River.

They'll reveal it was a prank later.

Otherwise, there's no way a popular guy like Kiso River would be nice to me.

...In other words, it's just bullying the weak.

"Karumi has big breasts, is pretty kind, and I think she'd be perfect for you. She's a real beauty, you know? You won't lose anything by dating her, right?"

...He's expecting me to jump at the chance.

Then, he'll reveal it was a prank, and I'll be devastated.

What a jerk...!

But... I won't fall for it!

"Sorry, but no thanks."

"Really? No thanks... ...Eh?"

"Huh? What do you mean...?"

Kiso River and Shiojiri are both stunned.

Of course.

If I were a non-popular, introverted otaku, I would have jumped at the chance to date a beautiful girl like Shiojiri.

If I didn't know anything, I might have fallen for the trap.

But... I know.

I know this guy is a jerk who stole my girlfriend and boasts about it.

And I know...

I have a kind gal supporting me from behind...

"I'm sorry, Kiso River-kun, but I can't date Shiojiri-san."

"Hey, hey! That's a harsh joke! You won't get another chance to date a beauty like her!"

Why are you so sure...?

Well, maybe you're right.

"Anyway, sorry. It's not going to happen. See you."

"Wait, why not? I'm really curious~?"

Shiojiri asks, seemingly interested.

She doesn't seem too upset about being turned down.

Of course.

She's definitely in on it with Kiso River...

Kiso River... well, never mind.

Kiso River seems more flustered.

"Hey! What do you mean no! I'm trying to do you a favor!"

A favor. Ha, what a joke.

You're just trying to trick me for your amusement.

You're frustrated that your plan isn't working.

I get it... you scumbag.

"Sorry. I'm already in a relationship."

"Huh!? Lying, aren't you? Who is it!?"

Kiso River grabs my collar.

Ha, what's that? Angry?

You thought I was lying? Too bad! ...It is a lie, though.

"It's Rika. Matsubayashi Rika."

"R-Rika!? Y-you... don't lie to me!"

"I'm not lying. Want me to call her?"

I take out my phone and make a LINE call.

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