The String of Balls - Chapter 3

Episode 21: Carnage

“Is it okay if we go to an empty classroom? You and I are pretty conspicuous, so you go first.”

So cocky and brazen…

Was Hayama Aya also the type of person who would openly show hostility to this extent…?

Maybe he’s mistaking a childish possessiveness for romantic feelings…or maybe romantic feelings have truly blossomed…Either way, I won’t show any mercy if he tries to take Kotonoha away from me.

“…Kotonoha, please come with me. I’m uneasy about leaving you alone with that woman.”

“I’m not going to run away. I’ll be there right away. If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

“Tch… haa… Kotonoha, it’s okay. No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.”

With that message, he walked alone to an empty classroom.

Occasionally, students passing by would make way for me as soon as they saw my face, but… I don’t want Kotonoha to see me like this. With all my veins bulging, it’s probably not something I can show to anyone.

As soon as I reached an empty classroom, I inserted the key and turned it.

He opened the door, stepped inside, and roughly pulled out a chair and sat down.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to calm my mind, but… Kotonoha’s face appeared in my mind and I was troubled. That smile, as if possessed by something evil…

It would have been better if it had been some kind of mysterious evil spirit since in reality it was possessed by Hayama Aya, a childhood friend who had spent far more time with her than she had with me.

It must have been about five minutes later when the two of them opened the door and came in.

In that short time, various thoughts ran through my head, and I ended up getting tired of waiting because I was thinking incoherent things like “Please come quickly” and “Please don’t come.”

This woman still has that hateful look on her face. Kotonoha… I guess she won’t even look at me after all.

Hayama closed the door behind him, then walked up to me, folded his arms, and looked down at me.

My stomach was boiling so much I wanted to get physical, but I remained calm and told the b1tch who was just glaring at me in silence to take a seat.

“… Hang up. Is there something you want to say?”

“It’ll be over soon so it’s fine. First of all…Thank you for being my friend Koto. I feel a bit relieved knowing that you have other good friends besides me.”

“……teeth?”

The first thing you say is to thank your loved rival. Are you kidding me?

I’m disappointed, or rather…it’s off-putting…what are you thinking?

“The second reason is… thanks to you, I was able to realize my feelings. So, thank you.”

Again…what is with this woman…?

He wasn’t making fun of me, he was serious. With a stern look on his face, he thanked me, his enemy, twice…

Where should I put down this raised fist?

“…Do you think if I behave modestly I’ll be forgiven?”

He glares back at Hayama, refusing to get swept up in his pace.

With a look of hatred in his eyes, he said that if Kotonoha wasn’t there he would have strangled her right now and questioned her about what she was planning.

Undaunted by my gaze, Hayama took a deep breath and then spoke.

He looked down at me with a resolute attitude.

“Third, break up with Koto.”

…This damn amateur…is that his true nature?

“Finally… you’ve done a pretty elaborate imitation…”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“To thwart the plan, huh? You’ve gone to all that trouble. Unfortunately, I’m not the type of person to be attached to someone like that.”

He separated Kotonoha and me because he was conspicuous, leaving me alone and making me anxious. He appeared after a while, abruptly thanked me when I was angry, confusing me, and then took the opportunity to take the initiative…that’s bad.

Do you have something to say? What a mean person.

“So what are you talking about? Don’t say things I don’t understand.”

“Don’t play dumb… you are… I see… that’s right…”

This reaction…

“What? What is it?”

When this woman was fighting with Kotonoha before… she was too insensitive and expressed her feelings too directly. I can’t imagine that such a woman would resort to underhanded tactics.

“…It’s nothing. About what we talked about earlier…I can’t accept it. First of all, this is a matter between me and Kotonoha. It has nothing to do with you.”

It’s hard to believe, but he was probably serious about that.

She’s so innocent… no, she’s so naive. I can’t get along with her.

Kotonoha also has no idea what’s so good about this woman… Maybe her body? Her br3asts are big and her buttocks… Ah, no good. I’ve been completely turned off by her.

“It does matter. I want to date Koto. That’s why you’re in the way.”

“You’re being ridiculous… What are you planning to do about your stupid little brother? Are you dating that idiot?”

“Don’t whine… I’m breaking up with you. Just because I’ve found someone I like.”

“Fufu… well, do as you like… but even though we’re still formally in a relationship, repeatedly meeting up with me is blatant infidelity. If you declare that you want to go out with me, then at least behave with the minimum standards of a human being.”

I can’t believe he rejected me the same way I was rejected back then… Just because we’re twins doesn’t mean we have to be so similar… Ah, how funny.

My stupid little brother picked a bad opponent. Kotonoha is the cutest in the world… Having her stolen away by my sister’s girlfriend… Hehe… Huh? My brother’s girlfriend also stole my girlfriend? …This is no laughing matter.

“It’s fine. It’s not like we’re dating because we like each other.”

“…I’m not trying to protect that fool, but… what you said was terrible. He is certainly a fool, but he did care about you sincerely. If you treat those feelings with contempt, I will despise you with all my heart.”

“…I see…I’m sorry.”

Seriously, this woman… she didn’t even try to fight back, but instead honestly admitted her mistake. How many times do I have to be disappointed?

“You should be apologizing to the wrong person. Even if you were pressured into doing so, who agreed to go out with you? Make sure you settle things properly. We can talk about this later.”

…Why am I lecturing her?

I thought it would be a hellish scene with a lot of insults flying around…

Ah… Maybe it’s because the other person is a child. She’s so excited about her first love that she can’t see anything else, but she’s so frivolous…

“……Understood”

“…I’m…sorry…”

A mosquito-like buzzing sound hit my ears from outside the door.

The voice of my beloved, who had been silent since I entered this classroom.

Because he was looking down, we couldn’t see his expression, but it was easy to imagine that he must have been feeling unbearably sorry and embarrassed.

“I didn’t say that to you, Kotonoha. … Both of you, sit down. Let’s talk, the three of us. As for my stupid little brother… hehe… well, let’s leave that aside. If we want to settle this later, that’s fine.”

To be honest, I don’t care what happens to that fool.

I went to the trouble of giving him advice so that he could date Hayama Fumiko, but… it’s because he hesitated that this troublesome situation has arisen.

If Hayama Fumiko was homosexual, I can only say my condolences.

“…I’ll break up with you properly, so you should break up too. Koto, I’m going home.”

“Who was it that said it’s unfair to say what you want to say and then run away…?”

“…You really remember such small details.”

“I’m honored to receive your praise. I’m confident in my memory. Even if Kotonoha and I were to break up, I wouldn’t be satisfied unless we talked about it.”

I have no intention of breaking up.

As expected of a cheating partner and his girlfriend, the relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense and a truly hostile mood began to hang in the air.

“Kotonoha, come here.”

She gently looked up, watching the situation, and smiled at Kotonoha, then lightly patted her knee.

“You… what are you doing?”

“Hmm? Ah… Kotonoha always sits on my lap during lunch break. It seems like she really likes it there… hehe… it’s a bit of a problem though–”

“You’re kidding me!”

“Text!”

He caught Hayama’s hand as it was swung down at him and stood up from his seat.

His emotions suddenly surged and his hand gripped his wrist tightly.

“You’re the one messing around! How dare you deceive my words!”

“Ouch! Let go! This isn’t yours!”

“You too, Kotone! Stop it!”

Why protect this woman?

Do you like this woman that much?

“Kotonoha…I did say that I didn’t mind if you had feelings for Hayama Aya. But…I don’t remember saying that it was okay for you to cheat on me!”

“……sorry”

“Don’t hit me! You’re mad at me!”

“Shut up! You were the one who messed with Kotonoha! You――”

“Kotone!”

In a rage, he raised his hand, but Kotonoha held it back, bringing him back to his senses.

Hayama seemed to expect to be hit, as he stiffened his body and closed his eyes tightly.

…What is this…?

“…That’s enough.”

His whole body went limp, his arms hung limp, and he collapsed into the chair.

This makes me feel like I’m a bad person… If I hadn’t done anything, would the two of them have ended up together… I’m a nuisance… Kotonoha will be happy…

As I stared blankly at the two of them, a wicked thought suddenly came to my mind.

It would be one thing to just think it, but saying it out loud… hehe… who cares?

Rather than lose Kotonoha, I would gladly sacrifice myself, even if I was insulted as a villain and scorned as a beast.

…Even if Kotonoha ends up hating me.