99 – Clue – 2
The kidnappers were wearing masks. It was a very casual outfit, and he kidnapped Shiraishi and Yuuki and led them to an abandoned factory where no one was around.
When I saw that scene from the reader’s perspective, the only emotion I felt was discomfort. They simply accepted it as a villain who appeared to harass the heroine and the main character.
A minor role at that moment to bring misfortune to them.
So, should I say that he is a supporting actor like me?
I didn’t want to recall that specific scene, but among the kidnappers, the man in the middle faced Shiraishi and took off his mask.
That was truly an expression fit for a villain.
“…… “You arrogant commoner.”
From noble mtl dot com
The man I was facing right now had the same expression.
But are you speaking informally and treating me poorly?
I laughed bitterly at that arrogant appearance. Perhaps the sight of me smiling made him feel even worse, and the man called Ryosuke’s face became even more crumpled.
“Miss Akira. “Who on earth is this man?”
Then, behind my back, I ask Shiraishi.
Shiraishi was unable to give any answer to the man who growled and asked, as if he could become even more angry depending on the answer.
“…… “You couldn’t possibly have spent an unpleasant time with another man, leaving your fiancé like me?”
“……… Well, that….”
She, who had been chirping like an oriole in a pleasant voice just a moment ago, quickly lost her energy and stuttered.
If I say that, will this man pretend that his relationship with Shiraishi never happened?
Although problems between families may spread, the future ahead of Shiraishi may be able to change.
“If something like that really happened, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I tried to take my time and wait until Akira graduated from the academy….”
“Ah, ah… that is… “I don’t have that kind of relationship with Minsu!”
Shiraishi shouted, interrupting his words urgently.
That’s not true.
This man seemed to have no intention of giving up his relationship with Shiraishi easily.
In fact, even one of her poems seemed full of her desire to be connected to her.
“Can I really believe that?”
“……… ….”
He turned away coldly and spoke as if chewing and spitting out.
“I can’t believe he left home on his own accord, ignored my relationship with him, hit on another man, and then got dumped.”
I glanced behind me.
Shiraishi bowed her head and said nothing.
“Well, it’s already happened. “Now I don’t really care.”
And this man also seemed to know that Shiraishi had run away from home.
Well, if you can come all the way here.
“I hope you will stop ignoring me any more.”
“……… Sorry. “Mr. Ryosuke.”
The corner of his mouth twisted at that apology and he turned around.
It seemed that the purpose was not to visit the patient but to receive an apology, and only then did he lead his employees and retreat.
“See you next time. “Miss Akira.”
“…… Yes.”
But before returning, he glared at us with hostile eyes and then returned.
“……… ….”
The relaxed atmosphere was broken by the sudden appearance of an uninvited guest, and the warm tea went cold.
Shiraishi, who was silent for a moment with his head down, soon opened his mouth.
“Excuse me… ! That person is my fiancé, Ryosuke Kitagawa… !”
“Engaged… Is it.”
“Yes… ! “We decided to have a ceremony as soon as I graduated from the academy and became an adult!”
“That’s… ….”
Senpai Takase, who heard the news for the first time, looked at her without saying a word.
“I… It looks like you came because you were worried about me… ! Oh hoho… !”
She was in no mood to evade, but Shiraishi smiled and tried to change her situation.
“… Like… Ho Ho….”
But her dry laughter slowly stopped.
“I… I’m going to get some fresh air for a moment. Now, here for a moment….”
Without even being able to tell her to wait, Shiraishi left the scene as if running away.
Her Elena did not follow her.
So I got up. That moment
“Manager.”
My senior stopped me.
“Wait here.”
“Yes? But… ….”
“I’ll go.”
“……… ….”
I thought I was the only one who could understand Shiraishi’s feelings and comfort him at this moment.
However, seeing my senior looking up at me without saying a word and smiling calmly, I slowly sat down.
Obviously, the senior doesn’t know about the engagement or the situation Shiraishi is facing.
I felt an unfounded sense of trust, as if I could trust her at this moment.
“…… “I’ll be back soon.”
After saying that, the senior also left the room.
The only one left is me.
Elena, who had been standing silently, sat across from her and put her snack in her mouth.
“… It’s a pretty delicious cookie. “Why isn’t anyone eating it?”
“…… “Mr. Elena.”
“Yes.”
I asked, seeing her sneakily picking up her snacks and eating them only when Shiraishi wasn’t around.
“…… Ryosuke… “Did you say that?”
“Ryosuke Kitagawa. “He is not as good as our Shiraishi, but he is from a fairly prestigious family.”
“What kind of person are you?”
Elena’s expressionless expression.
The corners of her eyes droop down.
With such a small change, she could see that she was also not feeling well.
It was just my guess without any basis.
“…… “He is just as you see.”
“Then…” .”
In fact, it’s not that he cares about Shiraishi or that she has a pure love heart.
A man full of greed, arrogance, and jealousy.
The way he looked back and forth between me and Shiraishi was definitely not normal.
“On the outside, he looks like a polite and gentle gentleman. “In situations where there is no need to do so, they are willing to show their true colors.”
“There is no need for that…” Well, that’s right.”
Neither Takase-senpai nor I have any connection to the world they live in.
He at least treated his senior with respect, but completely ignored me.
When I stopped in front of them, they openly looked down on me and called me a lowly commoner.
That meant that an ordinary high school boy like me was that kind of being to him. He can ignore and be rude as much as he wants.
Thinking like that, I understood his attitude toward Yuuki.
No, he and Yuuki have never met in this world.
His jealousy and desire to possess Shiraishi were revealed through me.
It might be better that way. At least I know what that man did.
Even so, it was hard to believe that someone could go that far.
“…… “You don’t have to follow me?”
Elena asked quietly.
“Because my senior went. “It’ll be okay.”
“……… ….”
“It’s okay. “Because he is a much more trustworthy and wonderful person than me.”
“That’s… ….”
She raised her head and soon muttered softly.
“It certainly seemed that way.”
“……… Ahahahaha.”
It’s so easy to admit this and it makes me feel sad. I didn’t want to hear the denial that I was better or that I wasn’t.
“But the boy has his own charm.”
“…… Yes?”
“Fresh yet cute. Being considerate of others. “To the point that he has no awareness of himself at all.”
“……… ….”
I could have skipped over everything else.
“Can you please stop mentioning that it’s cute?”
“…… Yes?”
“No, please don’t ask me this as if it’s absurd.”
I can’t stand hearing compliments of this or that kind in my face because it’s so unfamiliar.
“You should not deny your own charm. Boy.”
“……… ….”
It also resembles Shiraishi.
Does Shiraishi, who praised Takase-senpai endlessly and raised her to the point where her senior was embarrassed, resembles Elena-san’s personality like this? Or is it the opposite?
It didn’t matter anyway.
Recently, I became even more confused as I heard similar stories from other female students, including Haruna, who was accelerating preparations for the play and helping me dress and put on makeup.
***
I couldn’t leave the place empty for a long time without a guest, but even so, I wasn’t afraid to go back and see that person.
How should I explain further? What would people think of me for hiding the fact that I had a fiancé?
I caused trouble for Yuuki by hiding the fact that I had a fiancé, and I also hid it from the person who helped me until the end.
I was so embarrassed by that that I ran away.
There were a lot of things I wanted to say, but none of them came out.
I just looked at the withered flower and muttered those words.
“…… “Please don’t hate me.”
Please don’t hate me.
If I was hated by you….
“…… “Miss Shiraishi.”
I jumped up at the sound of that voice and turned around.
“…… “Eri.”
Eri came closer and immediately opened her mouth.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Well, I…” ….”
When I said no and tried to run away again
“No, you must listen.”
He grabbed my wrist and stopped me.
“Eh, Eri… this….”
“I know how you feel.”
“No, you don’t know… !”
No matter how much I shake my wrist, Eri doesn’t let go.
“I know. “Because I’ve felt the same way.”
“Well, what is that…” !”
I feel the same way.
Eri didn’t understand that and stopped me by holding on to my struggling shoulder and spoke softly.
“Because I like him too.”
“……… ….”
“So I know. “We share the same feelings.”
My legs lose their strength.
Eri held me by my waist, which was about to collapse, and looked quietly into my eyes.
“I might be able to help you.”
“……… ….”
Even though I didn’t understand what he was saying, I still calmly stopped in his arms.