Volume 1 - CH 5

Saturday finally arrived.

Looking back on the past week, Kanade and I were relatively busy setting up the surveillance cameras and making sure the images could be seen properly from afar and the audio was audible, in addition to our club activities. I wish I’d had a more legitimate youth to keep me busy.

Thinking of this, I opened the door to my house and found Hazuki waiting for me in front of the house.

“Yuuri, good morning.”

The same face, as usual, the same voice as usual. Hazuki greeted me with a kind smile again today. I felt a prickle of pain in my chest when I thought that I was going to deceive my beloved girlfriend today.

“Good morning. Then let’s go.”

Hazuki and I started walking toward a karaoke bar in front of the station.

“I’m looking forward to it because it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a karaoke place. Yuuri hasn’t been to karaoke at all, has he?”

“I don’t go to karaoke except with Hazuki. I think the last time I went was last fall with you.”

“Then you’ll be going with me. What shall we sing today? I’m looking forward to seeing what Yuuri will sing.”

“Ah, Hazuki’s always busy with cram school and all. I’m going to sing as much as I can, so let’s release all the stress from our daily life!”

“I wonder if it’s okay for you to say such a thing. Once I hold the microphone, I’ll probably not talk to you for the rest of the session, okay?”

Hazuki seems to be really looking forward to karaoke and seems to be in a good mood as she clears her throat. Normally I would be happy to see Hazuki like that, but today I can’t help but take a step back and look at things from a different perspective.

I can’t believe that Hazuki and Kouki are cheating on me after all. However, there is a part of me that suspects that they might be cheating on me. For the sake of my own satisfaction in clearing up this doubt, I’m going to deceive them and spy on them now.

(Huh, that really sucks….)

———

As soon as we entered the karaoke room, Hazuki started to sing a lot of songs happily as he had declared. And Kouki, not to be outdone, was also singing along.

Although Kanade and I were less excited than the two of them, we tried our best to liven up the situation, as we knew that if they became suspicious of us, it might hinder our future plans.

However, even if we forced ourselves to raise the tension, our feelings did not match up, so we could not say that we were truly enjoying ourselves. It seemed that Kanade was the same way, and at a moment’s notice, I saw her let out a sigh out of the corner of my eye, saying, “Phew….”

I wonder how long it had been since the karaoke started. I got up from my seat between songs and said, “I’m going to the bathroom.” I heard the door open and turned around to see Kanade coming out of the karaoke room.

“Yuu-kun, are you okay?”

She looks at me with worried eyes.

“I’m fine. Even Kanade seems to be in less energy than usual.”

“Ehe, well, you know. But it can’t be helped, we are going to do that now.”

“I guess so. However, if you look this gloomy, they’ll notice. So let’s have fun with karaoke!”

“I know. I agree! Let’s sing MIYUKI when we get back!”

Then, following the back of Kanade who started to walk in front of me, we tried to force ourselves to be excited.

———

“Ah, I sang like crazy.”

“Yes, you did. I sang a lot today, too, so I feel very refreshed.”

“Hazuki still has the same great singing voice today, doesn’t she?”

“Really? Thanks. Kouki sang well too.

Hazuki and Kouki were talking happily as they were at the karaoke party. The destination is my house now. I’m going to deceive my girlfriend and my best friend. But I’ve come this far, there’s no hesitation. I’m going to do the worst possible thing to clear my name, but I’m sure they’ll forgive me.

“What shall we do when we get to my place?”

“Let’s play our usual games for now.”

“We’ll play that game again, huh? I’m not very good at it, but Kanade was pretty good at it.”

“I play that game at home too! Fufu, I’m going to beat everyone again!”

“Anyway, after the game is over, let’s laze around as usual.”

As Kouki says so when they come to my house, each of them spends their time freely playing games, reading manga, talking, and so on. The three of us have been coming here since elementary school, so we probably think of it as a second room of our own.

I wonder what’s wrong? Yuuri is not in good spirits, is he?”

“Hmm? That’s true. What’s wrong?”

The two asked me worriedly, perhaps wondering why I hadn’t joined in the conversation much.

“No, I felt like I was forgetting something, and I was desperately trying to remember what it was. But, well, it’s no big deal.”

“Really? Then that’s good. Oh, by the way, there seems to be a new ice cream product on sale at the convenience store. Let’s all buy some before we go.”

I guess they didn’t think it was too serious, and I was glad that the topic was quickly diverted.

But the truth is, I was getting nervous and waiting for the conversation to end because I was afraid that if it went on any longer, I would start to lose my nerve.

———

“Wow! It’s so cool!”

Anticipating the time it would take me to get home, I had pre-ordered an air-conditioning unit.

“That’s Yuuri. That’s really nice of you to be so kind.”

“So true! I really admire your consideration!”

I was just setting the timer for the air conditioner, but Hazuki and Kouki complimented me so much that I was embarrassed, scratched my cheeks, and turned away.

(I’m going to deceive these good guys from now on, aren’t I?)

Seeing the two of them talking to me in the same manner, as usual, fills me with a sense of guilt inside. I tried not to let them know how I felt inside, but I forced myself to smile brightly and said, “Let’s play a game instead!”

———

Oh, I just got a phone call, so I’ll be in my room.

It was Kanade who said so and went out. Hazuki and Kouki, who were concentrating on the game, did not seem to mind Kanade’s presence. But I could feel my heart rate rising.

(At last…)

———

It was three days ago. It was when Kanade and I were doing a final check of the surveillance cameras.

“On the day of the mission, my sister will call me at the designated time, and I will use that as my cue to carry out the plan.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’m going to pretend that the call was from a club. That day, the rival school is supposed to play a game in the evening, so it wouldn’t be unnatural to pretend that I was asked to go scouting for the rival school, right?”

“No, that would indeed be too sudden and improbable, wouldn’t it?”

“The manager who was originally scheduled to go suddenly couldn’t make it, so I’m going to pretend that he contacted me. So, Yuu-kun, you’re going to have to be the chaperone, too.”

“I see. Hazuki doesn’t seem to have any friends in the soccer club, and Kouki’s school is different from ours, so it seems unlikely that he will be suspicious of us.”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I’m going to tell everyone when the call comes in, and you can follow along while acting like you’re having a hard time.”

“I never thought that Kanade would come up with something like this. It changed my impression of her a little.”

“Hey, Yuu-kun, what do you mean? I’m doing my best to clear up your doubts!

“Haha, sorry, sorry! I appreciate it, seriously.”

“That’s all right then, that’s all right!”

I was so impressed with Kanade, who was smiling like a naughty child, that my heart ached with a prickle of guilt for having gotten her involved in such a situation.

———

“Can I have a moment, guys?”

All eyes were on Kanade as she returned to the room after the call.

“Actually, the girl who was supposed to go scouting for the rival school today suddenly had to cancel. So, do you mind if I and Yuu-kun leave for a bit? I’ll probably be back in two hours, so let’s play again when I get back.”

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with waiting here, is there? Right, Hazuki?”

“I’m a little lonely, but if you’ll come back, I’ll be happy to wait here for you.”

They readily agreed, so I feigned a bit of laziness and stood up, saying something like, “That’s a hassle.”

Sorry. I’ll be out in a bit.

“I know it’s sudden and tough work, but do your best.”

“Thanks. Don’t forget to RINE me when you go home.”

Hazuki was smiling at me, but I wondered if I was smiling back.