Currently, Kei, who was attending class, appeared to be daydreaming listlessly. She frequently propped up her face with one hand while staring at the scenery outside the window.
Of course, she already knew the news about Ryunosuke carrying Arisu. After all, gossip spread very quickly; it was difficult for her not to hear about it.
"Haaah..." Kei let out a long sigh; she didn't know what to do. She didn't even realize that Sae was already standing behind her.
Sae folded her arms, making her shirt appear tight and accentuating the shape of her chest, as she spoke in a displeased tone. "Is my lesson so boring that you find it difficult to listen? You even dare to daydream right in front of me."
"Eh!" Kei only just realized there was someone behind her. She immediately snatched her textbook and pretended to read it, not even realizing that her book was upside down.
Sae laughed coldly. "Karuizawa-san, your book is upside down."
Embarrassed, Kei quickly flipped her book back over.
Sae said nothing more; she simply stood behind her, watching the girl. Kei felt shivers because she was being constantly watched; even the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
After a long while, Sae finally spoke. "Come to my office during the lunch break later."
"Yes..." Kei bowed her head dejectedly, but she could only accept it because it was her teacher speaking.
The lesson soon ended.
"Haaah..." Kei lay listlessly on her desk, appearing to have no will to live.
As her friends, Chiaki and Maya came over because they were worried about her.
"What's wrong with you? Why were you so out of it during class just now?" Maya asked in a soft voice while sitting beside Kei.
Chiaki did the same, pulling up her chair and sitting on the other side. When asked why she was so listless, Kei unconsciously glanced toward Ryunosuke's seat.
Well, now without even needing to think, they knew because of whom. Chiaki and Maya exchanged glances. Especially Chiaki; she stared toward Ryunosuke with a gaze full of hostility.
She had warned that man before not to betray Kei, but it seemed the man hadn't listened at all. Chiaki actually knew that Ryunosuke had a great many girlfriends. Even out of consideration for Kei's feelings, she had helped hide that reality from her own best friend.
One could say she had indirectly pushed her best friend into a pit of fire.
"Haaah~" Chiaki knew this action was not good, but at that time Kei was already too deeply in love and wouldn't listen to anyone else's advice. Even if she told her that Ryunosuke was a philanderer, with Kei's current nature, her first thought probably wouldn't be to end the relationship, but rather to find a way to maintain it and forgive the man.
Kei was the "parasite" type who depended on strong people. Without protection from a powerful party, she felt like she was nobody. Kei was very aware of that, so she couldn't live without Ryunosuke and must not lose the man. Because Ryunosuke had promised that no matter what happened in the future, he would always protect her.
Seeing Kei in this condition, Chiaki decided to settle the score with Ryunosuke. She asked him to meet on the balcony. Meanwhile, Kei had already gone to the faculty office to receive a reprimand, so she didn't know that Chiaki had gone to meet her lover privately.
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Once again the familiar balcony, the familiar wind, and the familiar guardrail. Ryunosuke arrived here and grumbled in his heart.
(Why do you girls always like asking to meet on the balcony? Is this a sacred spot for hanging out? It feels like I've been here more than 7 times. Plus, I've been here with various different girls; it really makes me lose my cool...)
Chiaki leaned both her hands on the guardrail, letting the sea breeze blow against her face. She didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the heart of the matter.
"Go see Karuizawa, comfort her... Do anything at all, or just sleep with her already. The point is, she really needs you right now; go see her."
Ryunosuke also leaned against the railing, putting his hands in his pockets and staring with "dead fish eyes." He couldn't resist commenting. "Hey, hey... what kind of words are those? Who pushes their own best friend into a pit of fire?"
"Whose fault do you think this is?!" Chiaki glared fiercely at Ryunosuke, though with her cute appearance, the gaze didn't feel intimidating at all.
Ryunosuke let out a resigned sigh. "Sooner or later she'll find out. How long can I hide it? It's better to hurt now than to have a lingering pain. Let her know early on that I am a philanderer."
"So because of that, you openly carried Sakayanagi?" Chiaki still felt annoyed. "Besides, you were bound to carry someone; why wasn't that person Karuizawa?!"
Ryunosuke felt helpless and defended himself. "Arisu's physical condition isn't good; have a little understanding."
Chiaki pointed to herself. "You're telling me to understand?! Then what about Karuizawa's feelings? Answer me!"
Ryunosuke chose to remain silent for a moment, then replied softly. "I'll find a way; you don't need to interfere in this matter."
"Bastard!" Chiaki felt her emotions explode for no clear reason; she turned to leave.
Before Chiaki truly left, Ryunosuke added. "Please look after Kei well; I'll go see her in a little bit..."
"I already knew that without you telling me!"
*BANG!*
Chiaki slammed the door as she left; it was clear she was very angry.
Ryunosuke said nothing. After all, it was impossible for him to let go of any of the girls. The next step was to find a way for Kei to accept the existence of the other girls.