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After the school season ended, in Class 1B, Hikaru was packing up his belongings, preparing to return home. Suddenly, Akemi approached him.
"Hikaru-kun!" said Akemi, approaching Hikaru. "Going back with Mizuha-chan like usual?"
"Not today. Mizuha said she needs to do something, so I'm going home by myself today," Hikaru replied.
Akemi then thought, Good, this is a chance for me!
"Then, how about walking me home instead? It's been a while since we walked together," Akemi suggested.
"Why not? If you want, I can walk with you," Hikaru said.
"Lucky! But wait a moment, I need to pack my bag too," Akemi said.
Suddenly, Akemi received a text from someone asking to meet her.
"Tch, why now, all of a sudden?! You ruined my chance to walk back with Hikaru-kun!" Akemi muttered, irritated.
She turned back to Hikaru and said, "Sorry, Hikaru-kun, I need to go somewhere suddenly, so I can't walk with you."
"Oh, it's okay. It's fine with me. Maybe next time, okay?" Hikaru said.
Akemi then left the classroom for her meeting.
Suddenly, Takeru grabbed Hikaru's shoulder.
"Then, how about going back with me instead, Hikaru-kun?" he said.
"Wargh, Takeru...!" Hikaru groaned, annoyed.
"What's with that attitude? “Aw, don’t ditch me for the girls!”Takeru said, pretending to sulk.
"It's not like that, idiot," Hikaru replied.
"So you agree with me, yeah?" Takeru said happily.
"What are you, a girl, huh?! Oh, whatever. Okay, let's go. Also, I want to repay you for protecting Mizuha before," Hikaru said.
"Oh, you're so kind, Hikaru-kun," Takeru chuckled.
"Oh, shut up," Hikaru replied.
Takeru then thought, Okay, I'll keep Hikaru busy with me now. But what you want to do with this, don’t tell me you already….? thought Takeru after being asked by Shimizu to keep Hikaru busy.
Meanwhile, Akemi walked up to the school rooftop. As she arrived, she looked around.
Zul was already there. He noticed Akemi's arrival and said, "Oh, you finally arrived. I've been waiting for you."
"Wait... Zul? What are you doing here?" Akemi asked, shocked to see Zul there.
"You've been waiting for me? I thought Shimizu was asking me to come meet her here," Akemi said.
"Oh, Shimizu? Don't worry, she will be coming after this..." Zul paused. "Actually, there is something I want to ask you," he added.
Huh, what does this guy want actually? He's usually quiet, now he wants to ask me something, thought Akemi. Wait, don't tell me... she added mentally.
"You're the one who started a rumor about Mizuha, right?" Zul asked with a serious expression.
Shocked hearing Zul say that, Akemi remained calm and said, "Rumor? Me? What are you talking about, Zul?"
"Why accuse me of all people? You know it was all Kurumi and her friends' doing, right? Everyone saw that," Akemi replied.
"She's the one who's been spreading rumors about Mizuha-chan so much. She even caused trouble for Mizuha in the toilet yesterday. We all saw it together, right?" Akemi added.
"Also, Mizuha-chan is my friend. No way would I do that to her," she added.
"Yes, it's true Kurumi is the one spreading them, but you're the one who started it, right? You know Kurumi has hated Mizuha from the beginning, so you pretended to want to help her, You was the mastermind all this time” Zul said.
"What? You're talking nonsense, Zul. Like I said, I'm not involved in this," Akemi said.
"Don't play innocent. I saw you talking with Kurumi yesterday, here. Why were you here with her yesterday? You two planned to do more bad things, right?" Zul asked.
"That... That was Kurumi asking me to help her with her studies, so I came to discuss with her here," replied Akemi.
"Don't suddenly accuse me out of nowhere because you saw the two of us together. You don't have any evidence to accuse me, okay? It's not good, you know," Akemi added.
"You know me, right? We've known each other since junior high, right? Have you ever seen me doing bad things back then?"
This girl, she really knows how to manipulate the facts to save herself with her words, thought Zul, feeling uneasy.
“So, can you let me go now, I’m so tired for today” after Zul’s thought.
Suddenly, someone appeared from behind Akemi, opening the roof floor stair door. They approached the pair and played a recorded conversation between her and Kurumi from that morning.
"I'm sorry for telling you this, but I think I don't want to do this anymore. I'm done."
"Wait, what? Why are you suddenly having a change of heart? Don't you want to get close to Hikaru? If you follow our plan, you might actually win him over this time!"
"I think I've had enough. I don't believe Hikaru will ever fall in love with me," Kurumi's voice was filled with regret. "You heard him, right? He openly exposed me in front of everyone. From the way he spoke, it's clear he has no interest in me. So I decided to give up on him."
Akemi paled hearing that and thought, This is my conversation from this morning with Kurumi. How and when did they record this?
Akemi turned to face the source of the audio and saw Shimizu looking at her, holding her smartphone and playing another recorded audio.
"Damn it! Why isn't my plan working like I expected?!" they seethed. "Too many interferences... and Kurumi is useless. Just one warning, and she already gave up? What a coward."
Akemi was shocked and turned pale after that. "Shimizu..." she mumbled.
"What do you think of this, Akemi? You wanted evidence, right?" Shimizu said after the audio stopped playing.
Akemi gritted her teeth hearing Shimizu's words and kept silent.
"Still not admitting it yet, huh?" Shimizu continued. "Very well planned, using Kurumi and others to do your dirty work without getting your hands dirty," she said, walking to stand beside Zul.
"How about your next plan? Were you going to use another person now instead of Kurumi?"
"So nothing to say?" Shimizu pressed. "Don’t try to flee, you cannot run anymore. We've already found you out," she added.
Tch, I was already trapped. I have no luck today, huh? Better I give up,I know I will can’t win against this two thought Akemi.
Akemi sighed and raised her hands. "Alright, alright, I give up," she said. "That's really enough evidence to accuse me. Not only did you witness it, you guys even recorded my conversation and trapped me like this. You really act like detectives. Congratulations on finding it out."
As expected from you two, Mizuha-chan's friends. Then there's no need for me to pretend anymore."
"You two were right. I was the one who started the rumors and used Kurumi to spread them to make Mizuha-chan look bad. Satisfied now?" Akemi said, finally showing her true colors.
"Ah... it was supposed to work, but with all these interruptions from you guys, everything got ruined," Akemi added.
"I wasn't even ready for my next plan yet. Too bad." She chuckled. "I never thought this fun would end so soon."
"What's so funny?" Shimizu asked. "Do you even realize how much trouble you caused people?"
"Do you not feel bad about this?" Shimizu added.
"Not at all. Besides, she deserved it," Akemi smirked.
"What did you say?!" Shimizu yelled, stepping forward, but Zul held her back.
"So that's what you really think, huh..." Zul muttered.
Shimizu turned around. "What do you think about this, Mizuha? Do you trust what I said now?"
Mizuha suddenly appeared, coming into the confrontation with Elly.
"Mizuha...chan?" Akemi muttered, her eyes widening. I thought you had already gone home earlier as Hikaru told me before, she thought.
"Is it true, Akemi-chan? That you were the one who did this to me?" Mizuha asked.
"Yes. I was the one who did it. You heard that," Akemi said. "What's this, are you disappointed? Stop giving me that sad look. I really hate it!" she yelled.
"But why? Before this, you said you were my friend. You even apologized to me back then," Mizuha said.
"That was all a lie. I never intended to be your friend in the first place," Akemi said.
"It was all an act to make you let your guard down. In reality, I hate you so much," Akemi added.
"See, my act really works, right? Enough to make you think we were friends," Akemi said smugly.
Shimizu and the others looked at Mizuha after Akemi's declaration. Mizuha's expression showed deep disappointment.
"Mizuha...chan?" Elly said, concern in her voice.
Shimizu feel irreriated then said, “So, you don’t care if, Hikaru finds out about this?” said her to Akemi while smudged,
Akemi shocked listen that Shimizu word and grinned her teeth.
“What do you mean, Shimizu, suddenly bringing Hikaru out of sudden?” said Mizuha.
“You see Mizuha, like Kurumi , this girl also has feelings to Hikaru even she has feeling since long time ago , is I right?” said Shimizu.
“Is that true, Akemi-chan? Do you like Hikaru too?” said Mizuha.
“That right, I like Hikaru, so what you problem? Said Akemi.
“But why you did all this thing to me? Answer me, Akemi-chan” said Mizuha.
“Because you is obstacle to me, Mizuha-chan” said Akemi. “You taking him from me”
“I like him since long time ago, but he never paid attention to me”
“I even decided to go same high school with him to give another try, but it not work either
"Wargh, what a stalker," said Shimizu teasing Akemi.
“Shut up, I not talking with you” said Akemi annoyed. “Wargh, why you upset to me?” said Shimizu. “Shimizu-chan, keep quiet” said Elly.
Akemi ignore Shimizu after that and keep the conversation, “But I keep give it so hard to make him like me but since you transfer here, he suddenly got more interested to you, even walking you home together everyday, I only get a little talk to him in classroom”
“I already used to losing him to his ex once before, now way I let same things happened now with you either.
“Hey, Elly, is that correct Hikaru used have girlfriend?” whisper Shimizu to Elly.
“Yes, that right, Takumi-kun used having girl friend but for some reason they two breakup suddenly, I not sure what is it?” said Elly.
“But I think their break up is really good thing for Hikaru, as I really hate that person, she is the worst, even Akemi is better compare to her” said Zul interference their whispering.
Both of Shimizu and Elly shocked hearing that. “Is she really that worst?” tought them at same time.
Akemi then continue, “Not only that, you also taking my place for honor student, even got more popular than me” how can I just let you like that. I really hate you for that.
“That why you, using Kurumi making a trouble to make me look bad?” said Mizuha.
“Yes, that, right, I doing everything to make you look bad and take back Hikaru” said Akemi.
“So, you don’t care if we all tell us Hikaru about this?” said Shimizu.
“Go ahead, is does matter for me, anymore?” said Akemi.
“Okay, we will telling him later, let’s go you guys, I think we done here” said Shimizu to Elly and Zul, start want to left the rooftop.
“Wait, Shimizu, no need to telling him yet” Mizuha stopping Shimizu.
“Mizuha, but why, you want still keep silence about that, what happened if she doing another trouble?” said Shimizu.
“Don’t worry about it I will settle it today, by the way can you guys go first, I want to have talk with her, I catching with you guys later” said Mizuha.
Shimizu sighed, “Alright, alright, I knew this would be happened, but don’t too soft with her and calling us went you need us okay”
After Shimizu and other left, Mizuha turn back facing to Akemi.
“Why you need stay here with me, why not you go with them, go tell him about what I bad thing I doing to him, let he know the truth” said Akemi.
“I will not tell him” said Mizuha.
“Huh, why? You still want forgive me, like you forgive Kurumi and her friends, after what I have done?” said Akemi.
“Don’t telling me you’re feeling pity for me?” she added.
“No, it not like that, I never blame anything at you Akemi-chan, I just don’t want you to be thought of badly by person you likes” said Mizuha.
“You see, I want to tell you this, after hearing that you working so hard to make Hikaru fall for you” said Mizuha.
“I….really in love with Hikaru… I have a feeling for him….” said Mizuha.
“Huh, why you telling me that, I know you have feeling for him all this time” said Akemi.
But tell this to your friends really make your heartbeart so fast,right? as people said.” Mizuha reply.
"My heart is beating so fast… just like when I’m with Hikaru," Mizuha thought.
“This is must same feeling when you tell me earlier, right?” she added.
Akemi grip her fist and said, “What is this? You still calling me your friend?”
“I told you, I not your friend!!!” “Stop comparing yourself with me” said Akemi.
Shimizu and other still not go yet from earlier still hiding behind rooftop floor stair door and watching them quietly.
“Geez, they not finished yet, what are they doing?” said Shimizu.
“Hey, Shimizu-chan, let’s go, what happened is Mizuha-chan found?” said Elly asking to Shimizu to left.
“That right, don’t blame me when we got caught” said Zul.
“Ah, you guys too noisy, I know” said Shimizu finally agree and left with them.
Back to Mizuha and Akemi’s conversation, Mizuha asked,
“Umm… Weren’t you nervous? Weren’t you embarrassed? Didn’t it make you a little happy…?”
“Does telling me you like him make you happy?” Mizuha said.
“‘Happy,’ you said?!” Akemi muttered, gripping her fists.
“What is this? You’re here to expose me as the mastermind of the rumors, right? Why are you suddenly trying to understand me? You don’t know anything about me!” she yelled.
“I told you—you’re just in the way! You were lucky get to be with Hikaru-kun without even trying, and I hate you for it!”
“I was so sure I could win if I were matched with you, Mizuha-chan… Because I… I love him more than you do even longer than you. Why does it have to be you and not me…?” Akemi said, a tear falling.
She really… loves Hikaru, Mizuha thought, feeling guilty.
“I’ve worked all this time to change my appearance, get better at socializing, and study hard to become an honor student—just to make him acknowledge me!
If Hikaru-kun won’t fall in love with me, what’s the point of working so hard? I know he doesn’t notice me… I’ve always watched him.
When he’s with you, he smiles genuinely compare the fake smile he usually give to me
Why did you even transfer here? If you hadn’t, I’d probably already be with him!” Akemi cried.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to—" Mizuha said, unable to finish.
She's right, it might be my fault, but I can't blame myself too. I was transferred here because of my parents' work.
I also didn't intentionally want to steal Hikaru from her. Both of us slowly became close out of nowhere, and I fell in love with him during the process after being together with him for a while, she thought, looking down and keeping quiet.
Akemi looked annoyed and frustrated with her tears. “Ah, what’s with all these tears? Please stop.”
"Why am I crying for nothing in front of someone like you? This is really pathetic, damn it," she said.
"Ah... so frustrating," Akemi yelled wipe her tear with her hands.
She turned to walk away, and Mizuha asked, "Wait, where are you going?"
"I've had enough of this. All these tears make me look so ugly. I'm going home," Akemi replied.
"Sorry for causing trouble all this time. I won’t do it again," she said hesitantly.
Mizuha stepped forward. "Hey, we can still be friends, right?"
Akemi scoffed. "Friends? Stop calling me your friend."
Mizuha felt relieved and said, "Akemi-chan..."
Akemi's tone changed. "But don't think this is over and you've won because I'm not done with you yet. From now on, we're rivals."
"Huh!? What do you mean!? I don't understand what you're talking about?" said Mizuha, confused.
"I mean, I still won’t give up on Hikaru. I’m not letting you have him until I confess to him myself. Just wait. I’ll work hard and make sure I win next time."
"Why is it so hard for you to understand what I'm saying?
You might be the smartest person but sometimes you're really slow, Akemi thought while sighing.
Akemi picked up her bag, then left the rooftop and went home.
"Okay, see ya," said Akemi and started walking.
"Wait, Akemi-chan…" Mizuha called after her, but she ignored her and walked away, disappearing from Mizuha's sight.
Akemi thought as she left the school building and walked to the school gate, Ah, why was I so emotional earlier? It was so embarrassing... out of all people, it was in front of them. I never thought I would confess everything to her earlier.
"Calm down, Akemi. You might not have won this time, but if you try harder next time, you’ll surely take Hikaru back from her," Akemi told herself.
As she arrived at the school gate, she saw Shimizu, Elly, and Zul were still there waiting for Mizuha. "Huh!? These guys haven't gone home yet?" she thought.
As she passed through them, she just walked by without looking at them and said, "Hmph!!"
Shimizu then tried to stop her, asking, "Hey, wait!! Are you two already done!? How about your conversation earlier, is it already over!?"
"You're too noisy," Akemi replied. "Why don't you ask Mizuha-chan yourself, you idiot, bleh!" she said, mocking Shimizu, trying to make her upset.
"You, what did you say?" Shimizu grew angry and tried to approach Akemi to hit her, but Zul pulled her hands to stop her.
"Okay, stop, no need for that. Just let her go," said Zul.
"Haha, what an idiot!" said Akemi as she left them.
Shimizu felt annoyed and thought, "This girl…"
At the same time, Mizuha walked alone, leaving the school building. She thought, "What did Akemi-chan mean about us being rivals? I really don't understand that," while holding her chin, thinking.
Elly then noticed Mizuha walking toward them and said, "Huh, that's Mizuha-chan." "Mizuha-chan!!!" Elly called, waving her hand to Mizuha.
"Elly-chan…?" said Mizuha, walking fast to approach them.
"Huh, why are you guys still here?" "I thought I asked you guys to go home first earlier," said Mizuha.
"Well, we were too worried about you. We couldn't bring ourselves to just leave like that," said Zul.
"Are you okay, Mizuha-chan? Is it already done?" asked Elly with concern.
"Yeah, did that idiot already apologize to you for all of this?" asked Shimizu.
"Yes, it's already over, you guys. She already apologized for it, no need to worry," said Mizuha.
"Are you sure, Mizuha? Just forgiving her like that, and letting her go just like that?" said Shimizu.
"Did you get assurance that she won't do that again?" she added.
"What's up, Shimizu? You're talking like you're really worried about me," said Mizuha, teasingly.
"Not like that," she said, blushing. "You're too soft on her. I'm just worried that she might plan something else next time," she added.
"Who knows!? From what I saw earlier, she might not do that again, I guarantee," said Mizuha.
"She also called me her rival from now on. I think she still hasn't given up on Hikaru yet, haha," she added, trying to lighten the situation.
"Are you sure that you don't want to tell Takumi-kun about this?" asked Elly.
"Yes. I don’t want Akemi to be hurt because of this."
Mizuha bowed her head. "So please, don’t tell Hikaru."
"Alright, alright, we won’t," Shimizu said.
"Thank you, guys," Mizuha said, relieved.
Zul then thought, You're really something, Mizuha. Even after being hurt by bad rumors, you can still forgive them and even cover for them. What a pure, kind heart you have. I'm really amazed by you.
"Zul, do you have something on your mind?" asked Elly.
"No, it's nothing, don't worry about it," replied Zul.
Shimizu then sighed. "If you say so, then it can't be helped. I'll just do as you ask." She stretched. "Huh, I'm so tired today with all that's happened. Let's go home, you guys."
"Yes, let's go. Also, look at the clouds. It might rain again, so we'd better get moving now," said Mizuha.
They all agreed and started walking, leaving the school area and heading back to their homes.
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5f26HIc4H
To be continued... Amemonogatari VIII...
ns13.58.172.97da2
