"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yamasaki-san."
Yamasaki was already standing at our designated meeting spot when I arrived. As I stepped out of the car and called to him, he flashed a wide, meticulously crafted smile.
I had always thought he was repulsive, but knowing his true nature made him look even more loathsome.
"Not at all. I only just arrived myself."
I fought the urge to roll my eyes at his cliché response. Just act normal for now, Eri.
"Well then, shall we head out?"
The mere thought of sharing a car with him made me feel unclean. I struggled to keep my face a mask of polite indifference, hiding the internal revulsion I felt.
...Later, I’ll have to make sure every single spot Yamasaki touched is thoroughly disinfected.
"I’m truly honored that you would invite me, Eri-san."
Eri-san, is it?
I didn’t recall ever giving him permission to address me so familiarly, but somewhere along the line, the man had presumed to start using my first name. Well, I didn’t want to engage in any unnecessary conversation anyway, and today would be the last time I’d ever have to see him.
I endured the trivial chatter as we drove, finally arriving at the venue.
In the lobby, about twenty of Yamasaki’s subordinates were loitering around. Since this was a small party with an internal announcement, I had instructed Yamasaki to only invite those from companies closely associated with his. Of course, I had purposely contacted him at the very last minute so he wouldn’t have time to scheme.
"Yamasaki-san, thank you for inviting us today," one of them said.
"Don't mention it. You guys support me day in and day out, after all. Consider yourselves the select few."
Yamasaki spoke with a patronizing air. These people were likely important pawns in his eyes. That worked out perfectly for my purposes. I wondered how they would feel when they saw him cast aside right in front of them.
Though the doors hadn't officially opened to the guests yet, Yamasaki and I entered the venue ahead of the crowd. Since the guest list was small, the room was relatively intimate.
"I’m looking forward to the announcement. Might there be a story regarding the two of us?" Yamasaki asked with a faint, oily smirk.
A story regarding the two of us? Was this man seriously so delusional that he thought there would be a convenient announcement about our "future" together? It was revolting; that was the only word for it.
I decided to move things along quickly.
"Yamasaki-san, I need to step away for a moment. Please wait here."
"Of course. Take your time."
Leaving Yamasaki alone as planned, I exited through a side door. Waiting there were Takanashi-san, Hanako-san, and Tachikawa-san.
We exchanged silent nods, and the three of them slipped into the venue just as I left.
Now, let the operation begin.
"I’m so happy Hayato-kun invited me!"
When I had messaged her on RAIN, asking if she could help fill a spot for a mixer, Yuzuha Sasagawa had pounced on the invitation with sickening speed. We had met up at the station and were currently heading to the venue in a taxi.
"I wonder what kind of guys will be there~"
She spoke as if she were going to inspect a new batch of merchandise. A wave of irritation surged through me.
"...Hey, about those rumors from Kazunari’s middle school days."
"Oh, did you hear about them?"
How shameless. She was the one who had started them in the first place.
...It wasn't part of the original plan, but I decided to probe a little further.
"Is all of that actually true?"
"Yeah, it’s all true. Kazunari is a really awful person, isn’t he?"
"There are a few things that don't quite add up, though. If he’s been a stalker for as long as you say, that would mean he was a stalker back in kindergarten or elementary school. That seems impossible to me."
"Eh...?"
Yuzuha looked caught off guard, as if she had never been asked to justify the timeline of her lies before.
"I could understand Kazunari getting into a fight if it was for someone else’s sake... but who did you hear these stories from, Sasagawa-san?"
"Um... from my boyfriend."
Yuzuha answered timidly, her confidence wavering. It seemed no one had ever dared to point out the inconsistencies to her face before. Someone should have noticed—which meant Yamasaki had undoubtedly been manipulating things from behind the scenes to keep people from questioning her.
While we spoke, the taxi pulled up to the destination.
"Well, we're here. Let's head inside."
When I spoke to her, regaining my composure, she flashed a relieved smile and stepped out of the car.
"Hey Yamasaki. Long time no see."
When I called out to Yamasaki, who had his back turned to me, he spun around in surprise. The moment he saw my face, his expression twisted into a mask of pure contempt.
"Why the hell are you here?"
"Why? Because Nishikawa-san invited me."
"Hah? Why would someone like you be invited to a place like this?"
Yamasaki shot back with his usual condescending sneer. Every word that came out of his mouth managed to grate on my nerves.
"It's been a while, but you haven't changed a bit. He’s standing right here, so the simple fact is that he was invited. 'Why? How?' You sound like a kindergartner."
"Even if it's the truth, he's too dim to realize it. Keeping quiet would have been an act of mercy," Hanako-san added.
Tachikawa-san and Hanako-san looked down on him, clearly savoring the moment. It was only then that Yamasaki seemed to notice the others standing with me.
"And who do you think you are? I don't know what the connection is here, but does this Deluded Trio think they can talk to me like—"
"Oh, that's right, Yamasaki. I have to thank you."
I cut him off before he could start screeching, robbing him of his momentum. I had no interest in hearing his high-pitched whining.
"Thank me? You’re talking nonsense."
He was clearly irritated, but the weight of my words seemed to give him pause. He settled down just enough to listen.
"You went to all that trouble to interfere with me at our school, didn't you? Well, one thing led to another, and I ended up getting my hands on something very interesting because of it."
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
He flinched for a fraction of a second but immediately feigned ignorance. However, in a situation like this, shifting your eyes away was as good as a full confession.
"No need to be modest. Thank you for the fascinating lead about you introducing victims to that criminal named Sagawa."
"HUH!?"
This time, his face transformed into a look of genuine, unadulterated shock. It was a perfect "bolt from the blue" moment.
Snap.
Hanako-san captured the look on his face with her smartphone. Noticing the flash, Yamasaki turned to glare at her, his face turning beet red.
"What do you think you're doing!?"
"It was such a funny face, I just had to take a commemorative photo. Your whole expression was screaming, 'How could they possibly know that?'"
"Hanako-san, please show me that later."
Yamasaki was reaching his boiling point. Between the provocation and the fact that we were talking over him so he couldn't get a word in edgewise, he was vibrating with rage.
"Hmph. Making baseless accusations without evidence is a serious crime. I'll sue you immediately. I'm not some commoner like the rest of you."
"Then why do you think we know about it in the first place?"
"If you think we'd come here with nothing after telling you this much, your head is as empty as your threats," Hanako-san remarked.
The reality of the situation finally seemed to sink in. Yamasaki visibly faltered.
"Hmph... I suppose I know the story you're referring to. But I only introduced them. I never imagined what would happen next, nor was I involved. Since my involvement ended at the introduction, I haven't done anything wrong. Too bad for you."
Suddenly, Yamasaki’s confidence returned. He looked strangely triumphant as he spoke. Indeed, as far as this specific matter went, he likely had only played the middleman. But for us, the mere fact of his involvement was more than enough.
"You're right. Even based on the information we've gathered, it seems you only introduced them."
When I admitted that, he broke into a smug smirk and began to boast.
"Exactly. Because that's the truth. I don't know where you dug up that old story, but I'll have you stop these slanderous accusations. You seem to have been invited by Eri-san as well, but why don't you try staying quiet and acting your station?"
That smug face... it was exactly the same as it had been back then. He hadn't grown an inch.
"Oh my, it sounds like things are getting quite lively over here."
"Eri-san!"
Nishikawa-san appeared right on cue. I had given her the signal, after all. Standing beside her was Sara-san, who had somehow changed into a party dress.
It was my first time seeing Sara-san in formal wear. If we weren't in the middle of a confrontation, I would have been at a loss for words.
"Pardon me, Eri-san, but who is this beautiful lady with you? If you wouldn't mind, please introduce—"
"Fufu... Kazunari-san. I feel a bit shy when you stare at me like that."
Sara-san completely ignored Yamasaki and spoke directly to me. She had clearly noticed me admiring her and broke into a happy, bashful smile.
Seeing Yamasaki’s fake smile twitch, Nishikawa-san cleared her throat, acting as if she were going to proceed with the introduction.
"Let me introduce you. This is Sara Satsukawa-san. She’s my best friend."
"Satsukawa? Is she the Satsukawa-san?"
Yamasaki’s reaction was strange. He didn't seem to know Sara-san personally, but the name clearly meant something to him.
"...I am Sara Satsukawa."
"I’m Kazuma Yamasaki. It’s an honor to meet such a beautiful woman. I certainly hope we can become close..."
The expression that crossed Sara-san's face as Yamasaki spoke to her was more chilling than any I had ever seen from her. Her eyes held nothing but raw loathing, as if she were staring at a pile of rotting garbage. She didn't even attempt to hide her disgust.
Even Yamasaki felt the chill, and his words trailed off.
"Um... is something wrong?"
"No. I have been reluctantly approached by many men in my time, but this is the first time I've felt such intense nausea from a simple greeting. I am genuinely surprised to find that the bar could be lowered even further."
Sara-san’s words were a bit sharper than we had rehearsed. It was a little early to turn the atmosphere completely sour, but I suppose she just couldn't stomach him.
"......Huh? What did you—"
"Wait, Kazuma-kun? What are you doing here?"
Yuzuha’s voice drifted over, sounding entirely too cheerful for the situation. Hayato had arrived right on schedule.
"!? What the hell are you doing here!?"
Yamasaki’s shock was profound. Beside me, Hanako-san was grinning as she snapped more photos. Tachikawa-san’s face remained a mask of stone.
But Sara-san... her expression was becoming truly dangerous.
When my eyes met Nishikawa-san’s, she seemed to sense my concern and gave a small, knowing nod.
"Oh? Yamasaki-san, do you know this girl?"
"N-No, she’s—"
"I’m Kazuma-kun’s girlfriend!"
And there it was—Yuzuha’s airheaded declaration.
Neither of them realized it yet, but that single sentence was the beginning of the end for Yamasaki. Nishikawa-san’s lips curled into a predatory smirk for a split second.
"...Oh, Yamasaki-san. You had a lover? I see. My apologies... I was under the impression that you were making advances toward me."
Nishikawa-san adopted a look of feigned disappointment, beginning the final act of her performance.
Now, let’s see just how far things go according to plan.