Even back in middle school, I wasn't really the type to make friends easily.
Whenever I talked to anyone, it was almost always through Miko. Once she and I practically cut ties, my isolation within the class became glaringly obvious.
During class and lunch breaks, I frequently caught her looking my way. Did she think staring at me like that would make me speak to her? Her line of thinking was far too childish.
Then came a certain day.
While I was ignoring her glances as usual, Ayano sauntered over with a smirk plastered across his face.
"Well, well, if it isn't Hatsukade-kun, the guy who got dumped by his childhood friend."
"..."
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Ah, right, of course it's awkward. Having the girl you're pining over in the exact same classroom, I mean."
The classroom instantly fell dead silent.
Ever since that fake confession, I'd heard my name mentioned here and there, but it was usually just people whispering behind my back to make fun of me. This was the first time someone had mocked me to my face.
"And?"
"Pfft, who're you trying to act tough for? Come on, don't get so mad. It was just a prank, wasn't it? Or are you putting up a front because getting rejected hit you that hard? In that video, Hatsukade looked so damn happy when Miko confessed to him!"
A faint chuckle escaped from somewhere in the room.
It was probably someone who had been up on the rooftop that day.
I remained seated, staring up at Ayano without a word.
"Wh-What's with that look?!"
I genuinely couldn't care less about a guy like him.
If they wanted to laugh like petty children, they could go right ahead.
I didn't have the slightest bit of interest in any of them.
Just as the thought crossed my mind—
"St-Stop it, Ayano-kun! Don't bully Subaru anymore!"
Miko called out, cutting him off.
"Bully...? I'm just messing with him a little."
"Subaru is uncomfortable, and doing this isn't right."
"You're making a big deal out of nothing. You're the one who went along with the fake confession for the punishment game in the first place, Miko."
"That... might be true, but..."
Even after spending years by her side, I had rarely ever seen her talk back to or defy anyone.
With beads of sweat on her forehead, she desperately tried to plead her case, and I silently watched their exchange unfold without interjecting.
"I just feel like it really wasn't a good thing to do. Besides, nobody told me anything about filming a video."
"What's the big deal with a video? It's only being passed around our class. Don't get so worked up over a little prank. Look, even Hatsukade is acting totally normal."
"Subaru isn't like this normally!"
"Huh. Beats me, but is that supposed to be some kind of childhood friend bond?"
"Whatever it is, let's just delete the video for now!"
"Telling just me won't change anything. If someone's already downloaded it, there's nothing we can do."
I didn't know what Miko's motive was in sticking up for me, but perhaps she wanted to clear the air of ridicule that had settled over the classroom.
From that day on, she went around pleading with everyone to stop picking on me.
She asked everyone who had been on the rooftop to delete the video. She even approached people who hadn't been there, telling them to lay off because it was troubling me.
Her words might have gotten through to a few people.
However, anyone with a shred of decency wouldn't have taken part in such nonsense to begin with.
Instead, her defense only served to add fuel to the fire.
Because she brought me up so constantly, the fake confession incident never had a chance to blow over; the rumors escalated and took on a life of their own.
After that had gone on for several weeks, someone finally muttered:
"Isn't Miko kind of two-faced? Acting like she's the only one who didn't do anything wrong."
Before long, Miko's own standing began to crumble.
She wasn't being outright ostracized like I was, but people had quietly started treating her like an outcast.
On the way home one day, Miko called out to me for the first time in a long while.
She clung to me, looking on the verge of tears.
"I never imagined that confession would turn into something like this..."
"..."
"I swear I'll make sure Subaru can live a normal life again... So please, don't abandon me..."
Why had it come to this?
Why was she doing all of this?
What was lost could never be recovered, no matter what she tried.
The one you should be answering to isn't those worthless classmates, but me, isn't it?
I wasn't hurt because people were laughing at me.
I couldn't forgive her because she, of all people, had betrayed me.
At this rate, the anger smoldering inside me would never fade.
What was truly standing in our way?
Was it Ayano?
He was the only one being persistently obnoxious about it.
In that case... I would simply eliminate him.
◇
I formulated a meticulous plan.
I calculated exactly what to do and when to strike to inflict maximum damage on him.
Unbelievably, given his wretched personality, Ayano occupied the role of a popular kid in class and apparently had plenty of friends.
Well, they were surely nothing more than shallow, superficial connections anyway.
The perfect opportunity arrived a few weeks later.
Today was open house day.
A day where students attended class under the watchful eyes of their visiting parents.
I had confirmed beforehand that my father wouldn't be attending.
With only my mother there, no one could stop me.
Class began, and our male homeroom teacher called on a student to answer a question.
However, I stood up before that student could even open their mouth.
"...What is it, Hatsukade? It isn't your turn to answer."
"I apologize, sir. However, I believe there is an urgent matter that needs to be addressed immediately, which is why I am speaking out."
The teacher furrowed his brow.
"And what matter would that be?"
"...The bullying in our classroom."
A low murmur rippled through the room.