"Hey, Senpai, why are you making all this noise here? Didn't anyone teach you how to behave?" — I provoked him.
"Now our honorable male scholarship student comes—or should I say our honorable student council member... though, nobody asked for your presence."
"Are you blind? Or playing dumb? Look around you, you were almost begging for attention until now. So you have mine."
"Always asking questions, is there something you at least know in your life?"
"I have one... thank God Tachibana-san cut ties with you!"
"YOU! ... Sigh~ I guess stupid people will always remain so... Do you know what she did all this time? Every day she went to my club to watch me play. After school, she always talked to me despite knowing I have girlfriends. And now she just stopped. Tell me, our honorable student, do you think this is right?"
Usually, going after a person who's already dating wouldn't be right. But, since we're in a world where polygamy is accepted...
Actually, never mind, he already has two girlfriends, and now he's after Tachibana-san!
"I can't see any problem with that. Let me summarize what exactly she did... she met you and realized that you're a scumbag. Did you understand?"
"Morikawa-san! Stop talking nonsense! If you keep talking like this, we'll complain to the president and even to the principal!" — the tomboy girl said.
"He's the one who started it. Now I'm just making sure he tastes his own medicine. Or what? Are you telling me it's okay for a man to humiliate a girl in front of everyone, but when it's him, we need to be kind and understanding?"
"..." — the tomboy girl went silent.
"This is it! Morikawa, I'll make sure to tell the student council members, all the teachers, and the principal what kind of person you are. You act like you're on the right side, but you're doing the same as me."
Both his girlfriends nodded, agreeing with Senpai's plan, and all the witnesses started mumbling again.
You know what? Screw this.
"Feel free to do that, I can't stop you. But if by any chance everyone agrees that what you've done is reasonable, then none of you need to worry about me anymore... I'll be happy to leave this school."
Silence. All the murmurs suddenly stopped.
"You... you're just acting tough. Seems like you really trained to perform well in your theatrical play, I'll give you that. What a waste of time. I'll leave now."
"Since you're leaving, let me ask you one last time... Do you have any grudge against me? You can say it to my face."
"You finally managed to ask a good question. Let me answer it for you, that's because you're a pain in the—"
"Because you envy him." — Ayame-san said.
Everyone started looking at Ayame-san.
"What..." — Senpai said.
"It all started in the auditorium when Tomoki-kun began representing the worries of the boys' side... no, it could've been way before, when he proposed the idea to share our worries. That's when everyone started noticing the presence of the male scholarship student... including your girlfriends."
"Wait..." — he started mumbling.
"That's why you were eager to help Tomoki-kun with his studies. You wanted to know him better. But when you did, you realized that what you planned didn't work. The reason you got impatient with his questions isn't because he kept asking, but because the thought that you failed to help him started eating at you each time he asked you."
"No... that—"
"Then, you started doubting—not your own shortcomings, but Tomoki-kun's achievements. And that's where everything went wrong."
Everyone fell silent — even Senpai and his girlfriends. While his girlfriends looked down at the floor, Senpai kept his eyes on Ayame-san.
"Tomoki-kun's presence in this school grew stronger. He became a member of the student council, started giving successful advice that even helped your relationship, and he was recognized by the most important person supporting this program. I bet you noticed since it was aired on TV and posted on the internet."
"Wrong..."
"That's why Tachibana-san's presence was important to you—the girl who was rejected by the male scholarship student. At first, maybe you felt sorry for her, and that's why you let her approach you. I don't know. But regardless of how it started, you began taking interest in her to the point that you started neglecting your girlfriends. And not only that—the more interest you had in her, the more you doubted why she didn't ask you to be her boyfriend."
"..." — he went silent.
"The fact that Tachibana-san didn't confess to you but only to Tomoki-kun is what made you impatient. Not to mention, they're good friends now. And when Tachibana-san clearly wanted to find another person she liked, you couldn't bear it anymore."
"Wrong! Me, being envious of HIM!? What kind of nonsense are you talking about? It's all in your head!" — Senpai said, clearly losing his composure.
"Something bothered me from the start... Why did you mention him to mock Tachibana-san?"
"Haha... that's because he has the lowest score on his test, obviously."
"Sure, he does. But everyone acknowledged his effort despite that. Why don't you feel the same?"
"That's... that's because you have no idea how much trouble I had teaching this guy."
"Satou-san had the same trouble, but in the end, he acknowledged him too... no, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually admires him. So... why?"
"I..."
I know what you're going through now, Senpai. It's her eyes, right? The eyes of someone who can see through you. I'm used to it, but it still makes me uncomfortable sometimes.
"I noticed you changed your demeanor when you met Tomoki-kun before entering the fortune room... why?"
"Please... stop asking..." — Senpai wasn't in the state to answer properly anymore.
"Edomae-san... you must feel great talking big like that, as expected from the daughter of the Edomae president... You said his advice was a success? Look at us, where do you see success in that? We should've asked Shirakawa president that day." — said the girl with glasses, tears in her eyes.
"Even if you had, I don't think it would've changed much. Besides, didn't you say that Tomoki-kun's advice worked for you? This is the problem with you two... or actually, you three. You always shift the blame to others whenever things go wrong since it's easier to do that."
The three of them couldn't retort anymore.
"I advise that you three go home and calm down. After that, I hope you reflect on what you've done until now—and what you'll do from now on."
Everyone started agreeing with Ayame-san. After all, keeping this discussion would only make everyone uncomfortable, especially on a day when everyone should just enjoy themselves.
The three of them started walking away and went home, I guess.
As for the witnesses, they began moving little by little, returning to normal.
"Shouta-senpai, Kaoru-senpai. Sorry for disturbing you in front of your classroom." — I said, bowing my head to them. Ayame-san did the same.
"Both of you, it's okay. If by any chance they bring this up to the student council or the principal, we'll make sure to respond." — Shouta-senpai said.
"Not only us, but everyone would agree that what he did was wrong." — Kaoru-senpai said.
"Thank you very much." — I could only be grateful.
"We'll definitely come watch your play. I can't wait to see it!" — Shouta-senpai said.
"Me too... but I'm kind of worried about that girl—Tachibana-san, right?" — Kaoru-san said.
"We'll try to talk to her. If you'll excuse us."
Then we left and tried to search for Tachibana-san. Since we didn't have much time, Ayame-san and I split up to find her.
And I messaged Ryuichi, asking him to call me if he saw her.
♦♦♦After a few minutes♦♦♦
"I couldn't find her. How about you?" — I asked.
"Me neither. We should go to the auditorium. Maybe she already went there."
Notification received.
[Tomoki, is Edomae-san next to you?]
[Yes, she is.]
[Great, Tachibana-san is already here. She's fine.]
"Ayame-san, like you said, she went to the auditorium."
"Then we need to hurry."
So Ayame-san and I walked as fast as possible to the auditorium.
"Tomoki! Edomae-san! You need to change into your costumes!" — Ryuichi said.
"But where's Tachibana-san?" — I asked him.
"Tomoki-san! Edomae-san! I'm here! Sorry for all the trouble I caused you both!" — Tachibana-san replied, surprisingly looking fine.
"Is everything okay?" — Ayame-san asked.
"Yeah, don't worry about me. I'm already fine. You two will be the stars of this play. I'll make sure to do my part."
Tachibana-san is really strong. Since she said that, then we must do our part too.
"Everyone! Be ready! The show will start now!" — the director said.
Wait! I still need to change my clothes.