The string of balls - Chapter 3 Kawasaki Kotone

–It was thanks to Hayama Fumiko that I was able to meet Kotonoha.

She stood out not only among our class B, but among all the first-years, and was a popular girl who always had people gathered around her. She was innocent and beautiful, and whether she liked it or not, she attracted people’s attention.

She had many friends, but it seemed she had a particularly close friend, and they were so close that she would sneak out of the classroom during breaks to meet him, and even try to have lunch together, even overshadowing her classmates. They were on the way to and from school together, and holidays together.

He is good friends with the famous Hayama Fumiko.

Intrigued as to what kind of person he was, I decided to observe him from afar (although I was by no means stalking him).

My first impression was that she was dark and plain, in stark contrast to Hayama Fumiko.

Her hair was medium length and straight, but still thick. It reached down to her eyes and hung over her black-rimmed glasses. On top of that, she had a hunched back, which made her look even more plain.

At first, I found the pairing strange, but it soon made sense.

They were both laughing naturally. Hayama Aya’s smile was different from her usual one only when she was with that girl.

After observing for a few days, he noticed that the girl’s eyes were filled with passion as she looked at Hayama Fumiko, and before he knew it, he spoke to her and came out to her on the day they met.

I was sure she was gay like me, but… hehe, I still can’t believe it. Even though there was only risk involved, I decided to confess to someone I’d just met. Strangely, I felt comforted by the girl’s expression, gestures, and aura, and the words just blurted out.

Looking back now, I think I may have already fallen in love.

That girl was none other than my beloved Honda Kotonoha.

However… Kotonoha has been acting strange lately.

Even though we’ve just gotten together and are in a romantic relationship, he still seems cold towards me… I think it’s a little too early for us to be bored with each other…

“Kotonoha? …Huh? Not again.”

“Ah… sorry…”

During lunch break, after finishing lunch in an empty classroom just the two of us.

Usually, he’d sit on my lap and act cuddly like a kitten, asking for kisses, but now we were facing each other with the desk between us.

They haven’t even kissed, let alone held hands, for the past few days.

Kotonoha said, “I don’t want to catch a cold.” She was often dazed, so I had given up and thought it couldn’t be helped, but this was far too long.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Have you gone to the hospital?”

“It’s just a cold, so don’t worry… Ah… I’m sorry…”

“Yeah… I don’t mind…”

He excused himself and took out his smartphone, then stared at the screen with a creepy grin on his face.

…It’s strange after all. No, to begin with, he rarely smiled with a grin, but…this isn’t the case…I have a bad feeling about this.

“…I don’t approve of people abandoning their lovers to focus on their smartphones.”

“Just wait a moment… hehe…”

He has never neglected me.

“…Kotonoha. I don’t want to be so persistent, but…”

“Sorry, I have a bit of a headache… I’m going to the nurse’s office.”

“If you’re not feeling well, just let me know… I’ll come too.”

“I told you I don’t want to move you, right? Don’t worry about it, Kotone.”

“I’m worried, I can’t just leave him like that.”

“It’s okay… I can go by myself, so don’t follow me…”

“Kotonoha…”

Kotonoha’s expression… looks haggard…?

It’s not a cold… I don’t think. Maybe it’s a lack of sleep? Whatever it is, I can’t leave him alone.

Kotonoha opened the door and walked out unsteadily, so I followed her carefully and secretly so as not to be noticed. …This is definitely stalking.

I watch from a distance until he turns the corner, and then the moment he does, I quickly run over to it.

It was hard to be considerate of the other students around me, but I couldn’t help it if they were a little suspicious. Kotonoha was my top priority.

…Huh? Don’t go into the nurse’s office…Climb the stairs…Where are you going?

The stairs are… a bit tricky… I might get found. But it’s better than losing him, I guess… I’ll just say I was worried he’d notice me.

I went up to the third floor and turned the corner again….there was a toilet in a place like this. But why did I go out of my way to find one…?

Not realizing that she was being followed, Kotonoha walked straight into the ladies’ bathroom. Since she had diarrhea, that didn’t seem like the reason… I knew it was no good, but I approached her while trying to silence my footsteps, and followed behind her.

At first glance it looks like there is no one there… but judging from the fact that the door to the private room at the very back is closed, Kotonoha must be there.

Shaking off the worst thoughts that were running through my head, I crept forward, holding my breath.

What I could faintly hear coming from inside the private room was the sound of my beloved’s moans.

“Hmm… Fumie, more…”

“If you don’t keep it quiet it will leak into the hallway. Hehe… hmm…”

…The more bad my premonitions, the more likely they are to be correct.

Even though she had caught her boyfriend cheating on her, she remained calm and thought such pointless things. She mocked herself, thinking that she had no idea she had a woman’s intuition.

He was calm because somewhere in his head he knew. He had been turning a blind eye, deceiving himself. There was no way Kotonoha would betray him.

As expected, the person in question was none other than Hayama Aya, Kotonoha’s childhood friend and someone she had been in love with for many years.

So… what should I do from now on?

Should I turn a blind eye again and continue playing lovers? …No way. Now that I know about his infidelity, there’s no way I can continue acting as usual.

So, should I give in to this rising passion? …No. If I do that, Kotonoha will leave me.

I am indeed disappointed, disheartened, and angry with Kotonoha.

But he loves Kotonoha so much that he thinks all of these things are trivial.

…Anyway, we have to talk.

I knocked on the door, somehow managing to calm my raging heart.

“…I’m in.”

“Tsk… I know it’s in there, thieving cat.”

I got annoyed at Hayama Bun’s drawn-out reply and ended up clicking my tongue.

There’s no doubt about it… This woman has deceived my Kotonoha. Kotonoha is not the kind of girl who can cheat. She’s a shy and gentle girl.

…Now that I think about it, why Hayama Aya? Isn’t she asexual?

No… it doesn’t matter. There are more important things right now.

The door creaks and slowly opens. It’s time to meet him. …I hope I can control myself.

“Eavesdropping is quite a hobby, Kawasaki-san.”

“What? Not as bad as you. Kotonoha, shall we go home?”

He smiled at Hayama and called out to Kotonoha, who was standing there in shock, with his head down.

Good. If they had hugged each other, I might have punched Hayama Aya. I can just punish Kotonoha later.

“…I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…”

“There’s no need to apologize. Come on, let’s go… Kotonoha?”

Even when he pulled his hand, Kotonoha didn’t budge, as if he had roots.

As if refusing to let me take him, he puts more strength into his other side.

“…What’s wrong, Kotonoha? Why is your face so distorted in pain?”

“Hehe… Koto says he wants to be with me. Will you not get in the way?”

“…What did you say to Kotonoha?”

“Don’t glare at me just because you weren’t chosen. I know you don’t like it. Let go of my hand.”

This b1tch…

… Ah… Calm down. This is exactly what the other person wants.

I can’t imagine that Kotonoha is more in love with this woman than with me. I know he adored her, but… when Kotonoha thought of Hayama Aya, his eyes were more lively.

Her eyes were by no means cloudy or dull, and she spoke with a bright expression… It was clear that the eerie smile she had seen earlier was also related to this woman.

“…Let’s change the location. Even if I’m going out with Hayama-san, there’s still a reason for everything, right?”

“I kept quiet because I felt sorry for Kawasaki-san, but–”

“I’m talking to Kotonoha.”

He glared at her, interrupting Hayama and peering into Kotonoha’s face.

He didn’t look embarrassed because his affair had been discovered… I knew he wouldn’t look me in the eye, but he looked like he was feeling guilty.

So it’s true that she was unfaithful. Haha… Even I feel heartbroken…

“Kotonoha… shall we talk?”

He spoke gently to Kotonoha, who remained silent.

I believe there is a reason. I can understand. Even if it was just cheating, I can forgive a one-time mistake. I just need to make him fall in love with me so that he will never think of cheating again.

And yet… my words still did not reach him.

“Koto, shall we go?”

“……Yeah”

“Kotonoha!”

Have you started to dislike me?

When he told me he loved me…was that a replacement for Hayama Aya?

The truth is, he loves that woman, and he’s going to dump me…that’s all…

Even though he liked me first…I was the one who confessed my feelings to him first and we were together, but he can’t forget his first love…?

“…I’m…sorry…”

“Shut up… Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m saying I’m going to talk. I have something I want to say to you too.”

……different.

Kotonoha loves me. Why are you being so weak-willed?

There’s no way I’m handing him over to a woman like that. If Kotonoha is laughing wholeheartedly, then I’ll back off… although I have no intention of doing so.

Kotonoha belongs to me. I can make her happy, and she can make me happy.

Who would tolerate unrequited love? Anyone who gets in the way of someone else’s love life should be kicked to death by a horse!