As I peeked from where I was, the calmness of Ogawa was nowhere to be found anymore. His shoulders were shaking and his hands were clasped tightly into fists. .𝘤𝘰𝑚

Perhaps whatever he was trying to hold back earlier was now surging out of him.

In front of him, I could only see Hina’s back, slumped shoulders and lowered head.

Seeing her like that, the urge to come and hold her up welled up inside me.

However, I stopped myself from doing that. The girl also needs this. For her to truly decide for herself, she needed to hear Ogawa’s words.

Since I failed to hear their first exchange, I waited for a while before Ogawa opened his mouth again.

“I’m sorry, Hina. It’s like this. I like you as my friend but Nanami, I love her. You know that. You’re all aware of that. I love her enough that I even accepted that ‘act’ even if I don’t like it. You’re also aware of it. That Onoda, he’s taking advantage of the both of you. You’re being threatened by him, am I right? Don’t worry. I will expose him, I’ll expose what he’s doing and remove you from his grasp.”

Taking advantage? Threatened? Expose me? Expelled?

This guy… He created his own scenario, huh? So that’s part of his new fantasy?

At least he already gave her an answer.

He did change but instead of accepting that he already lost to me when it concerned Nami, he created a convenient scenario for him to put the blame on me.

Perhaps if he really spread that fantasy of his as a rumor, a lot of them would believe it. He’s Ogawa after all. The Mr. Nice Guy while I was an upstart whose name was slowly becoming well-known.

Being well-known only brings negative things though. Perhaps, there’s already someone out there hating my guts for being close to Shio or for being part of some rumors.

In any case, we’re not in the inner court of a Royal Palace where rumors that became distorted to an extreme extent could become the accepted truth as long as it passed to many ears.

Upon hearing that, Hina’s slumped shoulders also began to shake. It stirred her emotions. She did hear his answer to the question she asked him. But perhaps his next words were what affected her the most.

“W-what taken advan–”

Hina tried to respond to him but was cut off by him when he continued. At this point, the guy was looking above as if he’s up in the sky, where his fantasy world was probably existing.

“I’m Nanami’s boyfriend. Not Onoda. Before I expose him, I will have to pull you both away from him. Can you… Can you help me take him away from her? After I get her back, I will come for you next…”

Because his chin was lifted as he stared at the sky, he failed to see that Hina stopped shaking. She then lifted her lowered head and stepped forward as her hand slowly raised.

Slap!

Along with that resounding sound, Ogawa’s head tilted sideways because of the force Hina used.

“Kazuo… Can you stop with your fantasy? You’re looking pathetic today. Even more pathetic than the one I saw from the other day. What you’re saying… It’s all written on your head. Do you think he’s threatening us? You’re blind. Can’t you open your eyes for once?”

“You slapped me?”

Instead of answering properly, the guy was only focused on the slap. His right cheek now had a red palm print and his eyes widened in disbelief.

Perhaps, he never thought that Hina would slap him.

He probably never considered that thought. In his mind, Hina is his childhood friend who’s always there for him. His childhood friend who likes him enough to keep chasing after him despite knowing that he likes someone else.

“I did! I get it. You love Nanami. That’s fine. I’m only a friend to you. That’s fine as well. But never… Never slander someone you don’t know well. We’ve known each other for years. You’re not like this. When did you become someone who cannot accept his loss? I had no idea what really went on between Nanami and him but Kazuo, have you at least tried to ask her? You’re blaming Ruki but you don’t know what really happened between them, do you? It’s all your speculation.”

Hearing Hina’s answer, she’s more upset that Ogawa was blaming me.

But thinking about it, it’s really my fault. It’s my fault that Nami eventually leaned on me more than him.

I made sure that it would be the end result after all. Except for the fact that I didn’t threaten them, everything was close to the truth. I fooled Nami with my advice and I fooled Hina by saying I will help her to be with this idiot.

For Hina to defend me like this, I feel like I’m doing her wrong.

“It’s not speculation! That guy, he… He’s fooling my Nanami! I trusted him but he lied to me. He said he likes you but why… Why is he that close to Nanami?!” Ogawa blurted out. No, he roared it out.

He’s losing it. It’s time for me to stop this… farce.

“Alright. That’s enough. Hina, I’m sorry. You don’t need to defend me, alright? In a way, what he said was the truth.”

I stepped forward and closed the distance between us.

Putting her in my embrace, I said that in a voice loud enough for even the guy behind me to hear.

“You… Onoda.”

Ignoring him, I focused on the girl in my arms. Her whole body was shaking. The hand she used to slap Kazuo was clasped tightly and trembling at the moment.

“It’s my fault that it ended up this way. I shouldn’t have let you confess to him. I shouldn’t have let him hear about your feelings. We both know he’s aware of your feelings and he’s just acting oblivious.” I tightened my embrace and had her lean completely on me. But even if I did this, Hina’s shaking wasn’t stopping.

“Take your hands off her!” Ogawa shouted again.

And this time, I stopped ignoring him. While I kept my hold on Hina, I answered him.

“Shut up, will you? You’re riding your own fantasy but you’re aware of that, aren’t you? You’re an idiot, true. But you’re not this kind of fool. You love Nami? Why don’t you show it and appeal to her again?”

That’s how it is. He’s intentionally deluding himself in it. All because he can’t accept that his ‘girlfriend’ has already fallen to another guy.

Most likely, his response will be how he’s her boyfriend. As long as Nami doesn’t tell him straight up that she wants to break up with him, he will cling to that.

“Why will I do that? I’m still her boyfriend. Nothing has changed.”

See? Look at this guy. He even hit his own chest to add some kind of confidence or intimidation, whatever he wanted to convey.

Well, in a way, his claim was truly valid. I had Nami sort out her thoughts first and then her period arrived. If not for that, the reveal would’ve happened long before.

“No. A lot has changed. Step out of your safe space and clear your eyes. If you keep on clinging to that little confession that you did, you will not have any chance anymore. For your peace of mind, here’s a truth if you ever want one. I love Nami. And I also love Hina. I’m not like you. We’re totally different from each other. Blabber about that if you want. I don’t care. Just prepare yourself from a beating, alright?”