39 - Final quest!

"Rion..."

Hearing his father call his name, Rion, trembling, struggled to stand. He stood with his head hung low, his fists clenched weakly.

"D-Dad! I'm sorry! It’s all a misunderstanding! I didn’t do any of that!"

Rion's father let out a long sigh, staring at his son with an annoyed expression. "The evidence is all here, and yet you still dare to say that?"

"A-AH! NO! WHAT I MEANT WAS... YES! I was wrong. But... I never knew I was being recorded like th—!"

The sound of a loud slap broke the silence. Rion's father slapped his son’s face so hard that the clear imprint of his palm was left on Rion's right cheek.

"STOP EMBARRASSING YOUR FATHER!" he said loudly. His gaze was sharp as he looked at his son. "RION. APOLOGIZE TO YAMASHITA-SAN NOW!"

Rion simply rubbed his cheek in despair. His eyes were filled with tears, and he seemed to have no courage left to defy his father’s command.

"APOLOGIZE!" Rion’s father repeated, this time more firmly, as he didn’t get a response.

Rion hesitated, raising his head slowly. He looked around nervously, then slowly bowed his body in front of all the guests.

"U..."

"Everyone, I apologize. Akane-san and to all the Yamashita family members. I— a lowly person, shamelessly insulted my fiancee foolishly."

"Once again, I’m sorry for causing all this trouble. Although I am a fool, I promise I won’t repeat this and will withdraw from this engagement according to the contract," he stammered. Rion’s expression showed that he was struggling to hold back tears, making Yuichi unable to contain her laughter.

"Pfft... Ahahahaha!"

Yuichi shook her body enthusiastically. "Akane-san! Did you see that? He tried so hard to act cool like a villain, but as soon as someone nudged him, he started crying."

I sighed in relief while watching Yuichi's joyful face.

"Mhm." I nodded slowly.

For some reason, it seemed like the people around me were even more excited about this revenge than I was. Like my dad... and... Yuichi... At least they were happy.

It seemed like this was enough. I was satisfied. Besides, Rion would surely receive more punishment from his father when they got home. There was no reason to keep him here any longer.

But just as I thought that, a chill ran down my spine. Even though I felt satisfied, it seemed there was still something left to deal with.

I got a bad feeling…

Suddenly, my dad stood up from his seat and quickly walked to the stage with a grin that he couldn’t hide. Once he arrived, he turned on the microphone and set it to the highest volume.

"Yamamoto-san," my dad called Rion's father with a broad smile. The person he called only stared silently at my dad, his eyes filled with annoyance.

"What do you think? Shouldn’t you have raised your child better?" my dad added, without hesitation.

Rion’s father gritted his teeth in anger and looked away. "What do you want, old fox? Do you want to insult me?"

"Hm... I just wanted to give you a compliment."

"Honestly, I’m impressed by your son, Yamamoto-san. On his own, he managed to ruin the good reputation that the Yamamoto family had built. Isn’t that incredible?" my dad said with an even wider smile.

"Stop talking nonsense, you old fox! Just get to the point!" Rion’s father snapped angrily.

My dad could no longer hold back his laughter. He struggled to grip the microphone stand so he wouldn’t fall from his own excessive laughter. "Heheheh...! Sorry, sorry..."

He wiped the tears from his eyes caused by too much laughter, then suddenly changed his expression to serious, though still with a smile. "Alright. Since it's like this, the marriage contract is really cancelled, right?"

There was a brief silence while Rion’s father seemed to be deep in thought.

"Tsk!"

"Do whatever you want!" Came the short response from the head of the Yamamoto family, without looking at my dad. He turned around and stormed out of the banquet room, dragging Rion and several bodyguards with him.

"Be careful on the road, YA-MA-MO-TO-SAN!" my dad said mockingly, waving his hand energetically.

Hearing his name being called, Rion’s father glared at my dad for a moment, then continued dragging Rion away without responding.

"How cold."

A few remaining guests in the room were still stunned as they saw my father's face without his mask.

So, dad also decided to take off his mask in front others huh...?

I sighed deeply. Meanwhile, my father gave me a thumbs-up from across the room.

"Yeah yeah..."

I then turned my attention to the two people beside me, Yuichi and Nagi.

They— were my precious childhood friends, and they were willing to help me break free from the fate that had bound me. I have to thank them again, because without them, I wouldn't have survived this long.

"Nagi-kun, Yuichi-san... Thank you."

They exchanged glances for a moment before giving me warm smiles.

***

A few days later, the news of Rion becoming the main topic spread all over social media. Not only was the video evidence revealed, but his past also came to light— such as his habit of playing around with many girls and drinking alcohol.

The parents of the girls who were wronged teamed up with netizens to launch an attack. Everyone pressured the Yamamoto family to release an apology video.

However, even though several days had passed, they still hadn’t given a response. Of course, because of this, public outrage grew, and many of their business locations were vandalized.

It seemed Rion’s father tried his best to manipulate the media, but the power of the Yamamoto family alone was not enough to suppress all the information that spread. In the end, he gave up.

Since then, Rion stopped attending school. He had also disappeared completely from the public eye, no one knew where he went.

Thanks to my friends, I was able to confidently step back into school. Everyone welcomed me back with wide smiles, and almost all the students intentionally gave me many gifts at school.

Their support allowed me to finally remove the "mask" that had constrained me. I had decided not to hide anymore and to move forward bravely. I would be myself, no longer bound by a "mask".

All of this happened thanks to Yuichi. She gave me the courage to move forward.

I don’t know if this is good or bad, but.. My locker is now strangely full of love letters. It used to be only a few, but now it’s tripled.

It seems that the news on social media has increased my popularity at school.

***

After school.

I didn’t have the chance to talk to Yuichi or Nagi because many curious students interrogated me all day about my issue with Rion.

So, I had no choice but to wait until school was over.

Yuichi invited me to the rooftop with a letter she had slipped into my locker, buried among the love letters from other students.

The drawing of a couple pendant shaped like a half heart stick on the back of the letter, made me instantly recognize who sent it.

This drawing... So she still remembers it huh? It warms my heart when I think about it. I suddenly remembered the couple pendants I bought with Yuichi when we were kids... It seems she had lost it now, but... I think it’s fine. I’m just happy to know that she still remembers those pendants.

The letter asked me to meet her on the rooftop to discuss something "important". Excitedly, I walked with light steps. The interrogation in class had worn me out, so— meeting Yuichi was like a rehabilitation for me!

I finally arrived at the rooftop and saw Yuichi waiting with a soft smile and gaze. "Akane-san. I’ve been waiting for you!"

Ah...

Seeing that gaze, for some reason, my heart suddenly ache.

I remembered my confession of love that Yuichi had rejected, and now seeing her expression— it reopened that wound.

I could tell at a glance. Yuichi’s face now looked clearly like a girl in love. Her cheeks were as red as apples, she nervously played with a strand of her hair, and her eyes couldn’t meet mine. Was she... going to talk about Nagi?

My heart hurt... But I couldn’t be like this.

I must support Yuichi's love, no matter how much I loved her. Aside from the fact that my love was rejected, Yuichi had helped me without expecting anything in return. But I couldn’t be like that— I had to repay her kindness.

And this... was the right time.

"Yuichi-san!"

I looked at Yuichi with determination. I had made up my mind. My goal now is to help them both GET TOGETHER!

THIS IS MY FINAL QUEST!

TO BE CONTINUED.