I don't care! Revenge is the most important thing.
I can't show up directly, but what about Ichi Nishida, who Hanasaku Tenkawa seems to like? Didn't he create the perfect conditions for me last time? Can he do it again this time?
Ichi Nishida likes Hanasaku Tenkawa too, right? What if I tell him that a boy his age has appeared by Hanasaku Tenkawa's side, and they are very close? I could say I saw them holding hands and wasn't sure if they were dating. Wouldn't Ichi Nishida get nervous and call Hanasaku Tenkawa to ask?
Whether it's true or false, he can be used to lure Hanasaku Tenkawa out, under the guise of an apology. When the time is right, I can suddenly appear, and Hanasaku Tenkawa will be fish on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered.
If Ichi Nishida is cooperative, I can let him have some fun after I'm done. If he's not, heh heh.
Thinking this, Reiji Matsuoka immediately pulled out his phone and called Ichi Nishida. Just as he predicted, the otaku who had never tasted meat immediately started stammering upon hearing the news. Initially, he insisted they were just friends, but when Reiji mentioned the appearance of a boy near Hanasaku Tenkawa, his tone grew anxious. After a few brief sentences from Reiji, he wanted to call Hanasaku Tenkawa right away to confirm, but the timing was wrong. There was no way Reiji would let him call now. After some persuasion, they decided to talk again the next day at noon.
Our naive Ichi Nishida put down the phone, his thoughts drifting back to the first day he met Hanasaku Tenkawa.
Back then, his grades were poor, and he was a sort of invisible nobody in his class. He had no special talents. If he had to name one, it was his ability to memorize every actor and director of the movies he watched. But what use was that?
If he suddenly disappeared one day, people might only find it strange that one person was missing from the class. As for who exactly was gone, who would care?
After school, he went to the Film Research Club, as usual. Although there were only a few members, they were all marginalized figures in their respective classes, just like him. They banded together for warmth, perhaps the only way to prove their existence.
But everything changed starting that day.
He pulled open the door of the Film Research Club. Through his watermelon hair that obscured his eyes, he saw a beautiful person inside, like an angel. Because his grades were usually poor, that was the best description he could conjure for the girl before him. He instinctively thought that even the prettiest girl in his class couldn't be half as beautiful as her.
Ichi Nishida was nervous and apprehensive. Confronted suddenly by such a beautiful girl, he didn't know what to do. Fortunately, a club member came over and told him the girl was there to join the club. Hearing this, Ichi Nishida was secretly delighted. After all, it would be a pleasure to watch a movie with such a beautiful girl every day after school, even if nothing more happened.
In the following time, he learned the girl's name.
Hanasaku Tenkawa.
Her name was as beautiful and pure as she was.
After one movie screening, he overheard the girl muttering to herself nearby, something like, "I'm so stupid, I can't even remember the names of the actors and the director after watching the movie." For some reason, he immediately blurted out the names of the actors and the important characters in the movie. This instantly drew an admiring gaze from the girl. In that moment, he felt the meaning of his existence.
He relished the girl's admiring look, but he hid one thing: he had watched that particular movie no less than ten times. Every night when he got home, he only passed the time by watching movies; studying was out of the question.
Since then, it was as if he had found a goal in life. He watched movies during class, memorizing all the directors and characters. Then, after school, he would play the movie, confidently stating the names of the director and the characters, which always brought that admiring look from the girl.
After a semester of this, he naturally assumed the girl had fallen for him. However, he didn't dare confess, fearing it would be a joke and he would lose his last sanctuary. It would be fine if things continued as they were, but then Reiji Matsuoka appeared.
Ichi Nishida had heard rumors about Reiji Matsuoka. Reiji Matsuoka was a rich second generation with some influence, someone he couldn't afford to offend. Moreover, Reiji's reputation was terrible. He belonged to some Blonde gang, and its members were notorious, often cuckolding others. Reiji Matsuoka was one of them. He heard Reiji had seduced several women with no power or influence, even getting a female trainee teacher pregnant, resulting in an abortion that his family covered up. Ichi hadn't expected him to show up at the Film Research Club and take an interest in Hanasaku Tenkawa.
Ichi Nishida wanted to punch Reiji Matsuoka when he saw him flirting with Hanasaku Tenkawa, but seeing how tall, well-built, and wealthy he was, he immediately backed down. He could only badmouth Reiji to Hanasaku Tenkawa after Reiji left. Fortunately, the girl didn't like Reiji Matsuoka, which brought him a sense of relief.
What thrilled him even more was that the girl actually invited him to see a movie! He suppressed his inner joy and agreed, eagerly anticipating that day. But when the day arrived, he was close to the meeting spot when his phone suddenly rang. His parents' voices came through the phone, asking him to come home because they needed his help with something.
He hesitated between the girl and his parents and ultimately chose his parents. He stood Hanasaku Tenkawa up. For him, it might just be an apology call away, but for the girl, it felt like being played with, violated, and ultimately broken down into a rag doll. The outcome was predictable.
But when he heard that Hanasaku Tenkawa had a close male friend, his immediate thought was betrayal. He subconsciously regarded Hanasaku Tenkawa as his girlfriend. He wanted to call and ask her about it, but it felt more like an interrogation.
Reiji Matsuoka stopped him, saying it was impolite to disturb her at night and suggesting it would be better to meet face-to-face tomorrow at noon to discuss everything, as face-to-face communication was better.
Ichi Nishida was swayed and touched. He hadn't expected Reiji Matsuoka to be so thoughtful of him. It seemed the rumors weren't necessarily true. After all, who would go to such trouble for someone else?
Sure enough, the next day, Reiji Matsuoka appeared at his doorstep. He warmly put his arm around Ichi's shoulder like a good friend, constantly analyzing the situation for him, advising him on what to say when they met, and how to win back Hanasaku Tenkawa's heart—a face of a true mentor and friend.
Ichi Nishida, who had few friends to begin with, was deeply moved. He spoke with Reiji Matsuoka until about 12 PM. After eating lunch, they went together toward Hanasaku Tenkawa's house.
They lingered near Hanasaku Tenkawa's house for a while. Following Reiji Matsuoka's suggestion, Ichi decided to resolve everything face-to-face at the movie theater. As Reiji Matsuoka told him, they should thoroughly resolve the problem where it all began. However, Reiji's face looked awfully grim, but Ichi didn't think much of it. What reason did he have to be set up by Reiji Matsuoka?
Midway, he sent a text message to Hanasaku Tenkawa, confessing his feelings to the girl. He received her reply much later.
He was rejected.
He felt upset. Was Reiji-kun right? Did Hanasaku Tenkawa truly have someone she liked?
What was he to her, then?