I was disoriented by the question I was asked. I mean if someone asked you if you raped your ex-girlfriend how would you reply.
Nevertheless, if I didn't reply they would just assume that it was true, and I definitely didn't need that.
"No, I didn't. What makes you think that?" I replied warily.
I knew they wouldn't believe me but at least now I disagreed and didn't take it face down—if I didn't, it might have affected me if I had a trial, especially with the cameras in class.
"Nakamura, I know you and I trust you. But..."
"You think I raped her, why would I do that? Where's even the evidence?!"
"The proof is on her clothes and there's a voice recording," Ito continued.
Wait what? She has a voice recording, but I didn't—Oh, that time that I fell on her. Well, it doesn't matter, I have an alibi.
"While studying I slipped and fell on—" I abruptly stopped.
"What?"
Wait, isn't Ito supposed to be on my side? He's my friend so why… Oh, I see. He's a savior and saviors don't pick sides.
This implies that he became my friend only because of his savior complex.
I didn't want to believe it but it was true. Ito wasn't really my friend, if not there would have been some sort of bias.
I had thought he valued me a bit since we walked to school daily, but I was wrong.
Also, if I mention that I did fall on her it could end catastrophically for me.
"I-I'm not lying, I promise," I pleaded.
I stuttered a bit at the beginning, but no one noticed it. Not like they really cared what I said.
"Nakamura, I want to trust you, but you have to think of it from my perspective. Why would Suzuki frame you?"
That indeed is the question.
Suzuki is lying but why? What would she gain from framing me? After all, she is the one who broke up with me, not the other way around.
"I didn't do anything. I have an alibi but think why would I do that to my girlfriend?" I said, leading the argument to a logical mindset.
This is hardly enough but they're supposedly the future of Japan so it should be sufficient.
"Nakamura," I heard a familiar voice, and was about to smile until I saw her expression. She looked like she wanted to end my life on the spot.
"Why are you even trying to lie," Yoshida interjected.
Talk about a thorn in my side.
"That's the thing, I'm innocent."
"We both know that's a lie so why try?"
"…It isn't a lie," I looked at the floor—it really did hurt to hear your friends accuse you.
"Let's think logically for a sec. Why would Aiya lie against you?"
How will I turn this around? No one in the class seems to believe me though I can't really blame them.
If a man you knew for a few years and a stranger were accused of murder, you'd probably believe the man you'd known for a while.
Humans, 9 times out of 10, will choose reliability or familiarity over any other option.
"Nakamura, why are you quiet? Cat got your tongue? Don't tell me that you can't think of a lie?"
"…I didn't do anything."
"There's no point in going back and forth, no one believes you. Consider yourself expelled."
"Yoshida, I don't think you should take it as far as expulsion," Ito interjected.
It seems despite not trusting me, he still doesn't want me to get expelled, huh?
"Why are you on his side?" Kato joined the conversation.
"Like are you implying that Aiya is lying?" Another girl added.
While the girls couldn't completely blame Ito because they liked him, some could.
"Everyone, do you think Aiya would frame Nakamura?" Yoshida asked.
"…No."
The 'No' was the collective voice of my classmates though it was hesitant and not everyone spoke, it was because no one wanted to be blamed for my expulsion.
That being said, no one would also help me–I turned to Miyamura and Matsumoto but the latter looked at me in disdain and the former averted his gaze.
I truly was on my own.
"It's not like I don't believe her, but Suzuki could you explain what happened again?" Ito still wanted to remain fair, not choosing favorites.
"I-I—" Suzuki was trying to formulate a sentence while crying.
"No, this is bullshit; there's no point in questioning her. Her story isn't as important as the fact we have a pervert in our class," Yoshida cut off.
"I agree, Aiya's story is unnecessary. I believe her already, we should punish Nakamura for his disgusting behavior or are you all just saying Aiya is lying about this?" Yumemiya added.
Everyone was still quiet, well most of them. While Aiya's friends and most of the girls were on her side, siding with Aiya still meant they were agreeing to expelling someone so they were hesitant—despite the fact that they wouldn't really be expelling me.
However, Yumemiya saw this and doubled down.
"Are you on his side, the person who attempted raping our classroom sweetheart and made her cry, I don't know about you, but I hate him," Yumemiya glared. "Think about it, it could be you that he tries to rape next, and you might not be as lucky as Aiya. And to the boys, it could be your girlfriend next. So I ask once more whose side are you on, the rapist's side or Aiya's side?"
After Yumemiya said that everyone, more or less, sided with Aiya.
Even those that were quiet about it before, spoke up against me.
Yumemiya created a situation where you'd be the outcast unless you victimized me.
It was then I found the instigator from the cafeteria—it was Yumemiya.
Way to find out late Eiya.
"Yeah, I believe in Suzuki too," Miyamura spoke up.
"Yeah, me too," the perverts from the first day spoke up.
"Count me too," Kato added.
Before I knew it, the entire class had surrounded me and started calling me names—scumbag, pervert, et cetera.
Well, not everyone. Arakawa grinned at me as he silently read a book—completely unbothered at what happened though his indifference didn't really put me at ease.
Anyway, I was relentlessly accused of being a rapist until—
Jackson-sensei came to class. She had an expression on for once, she was glaring at me.
"Nakamura."
"Yes ma'am," I said as politely as possible.
"Go to the principal's office," she said robotically, trying to hide her disgust and anger.
"…But I didn't do—"
"Did I ask? Now leave," she cut me off.
"…Ok."
I was leaving but then Yoshida walked up to me, striding as quickly as possible until—
POW
The slap echoed through the silent classroom. My face stung, but I barely felt it. The words, though? I felt every last one of those.
"Go kill yourself."
Yoshida's voice wasn't angry. It wasn't emotional. It was cold. Certain. As if she had already decided I was less than human.
I looked back to look at Aiya—sorry I mean Suzuki, no one was watching her and was focused on me, when she then pulled out her tongue at me—a gesture meant to taunt me.
I left silently, leaving the academic building for first years—the school had an academic building for each year.
The principal's office was in the administrative block which was a 5-minute walk from the school buildings.
On reaching the administrative block, it towered over me. As I walked into the building, I met a woman in her late 30s. She looked like the secretary.
"Good morning, ma'am I'm looking f—"
"You're Nakamura, right?"
"Yes."
"Ok go to the fourth floor, the principal's waiting."
"Uh sure, but what door would I go to?"
"Go to the door down the hall, also before you go you must leave your phone in this box," she said bringing out a plastic box.
"Uh ok."
Yeah, I don't really think they'd like people using recordings to blackmail the principal or something like that.
After dropping my phone in the box, I followed the elevator to the fourth floor.
I pondered on why he wanted to see me. I know it relates to this case.
But why would he call me? Wouldn't he assume that I will come there myself?
I wasn't sure and continued to ponder until I heard the chime of the elevator—signaling I was on the fourth floor.
I walked to his office, each step bringing me closer to the impending confrontation but at this point it was inevitable.
I then arrived at his door; I knocked on the door to signal if I was allowed to come in.
"Come in," he answered audibly so I could hear.
I took a deep breath then walked in.
"Huh? Where's the principal?"
The person before me wasn't the principal though I knew that considering he had a different voice from what I expected when he said I should come in—considering I heard the principal's voice on the day I came here.
"Forget about that old fart for now."
Despite saying that he looked older than the principal, he just happened to have hair—yellow hair to be exact.
"Anyway, Nakamura Eiya, Care for some coffee?"
"Uh no, and who are you?"
"You don't like coffee? Well, I suppose that's fine, also, I'm the chairman."
"Huh?" I was surprised at what he said but quickly regained my composure. "No, I do like coffee but…"
"Just try this one, it's a special brew."
"Sorry but I could always buy that later."
"Unfortantely you can't. It's not sold on school grounds for some weird reason."
"Then how'd you get it?"
"I got it from outside the school grounds."
"You can leave whenever you want?"
"No, I still have to follow the school rules, I can only leave on the last Friday of the month."
"But couldn't you just sign shipments to the school instead of having to leave?"
"You see I'm somewhat of a manager, and less of a chairman, so such stuff like that requires paperwork and I don't really like that you see. Also, I enjoy leaving the school, it's calming."
"Oh."
"Please sit down. It's weird to just see you standing."
"S-Sorry," I sat down promptly. I sat on the couch close to the door as the office was like a lounge–the chairman sat down at a table and chair where some paper work was.
"Anyway, about your expulsion."
I instinctively gulped at his words, while I did expect this, it was still nerve-racking.
However, there was still a nagging thought at the back of my head.
Why is the chairman of the school addressing me?
Before I could find an answer, I received words that shook my soul.
"Drop the act."
The words after that just reminded me of something. I was never out of my cage; I just took a leisurely stroll outside it.
Of course, I knew that—I expected it but deep down I still wanted to go by without having to use my plan.
I wanted to go without relying on it—but I must use it unless I will be sent straight back to that hell hole.
As me and the chairman began talking—I remembered what I did to get here and that I wouldn't just throw away my freedom—no matter what.
"So, you know all this?" I asked.
"Oh please, I know everything about you."
"Is that why you're threatening me?"
"Threatening you? I wouldn't think of it."
"What do you want, old man?"
"Lead your class to victory."
"…"
"Is that a no?" He grinned—he knew I couldn't say no yet he still asked.
"…No, it isn't. But can I ask why?"
"…For the betterment of Japan," he lied.
That's a lie.
I didn't know why I thought it was a lie but I just knew it was–I had an inkling that my expulsion wasn't revoked just because of Japan's betterment but for more selfish reasons.
After all, humans are inherently selfish.
"Since my expulsion is revoked, I can leave right?"
"Yes, but before you go remember to find the other assets. There are 5 of them remaining."
"Assets?"
"People who are on par with you."
"Is that right?"
"Yes, and they'll expel you again if you don't give them the proper attention they need. "
"Yeah, alright," I stood up to leave.
"Be careful. I don't want to have to help you again."
They sounded like kind words but they were words from a damn devil, perhaps even someone worse than him.
Because at least he wasn't a liar.
On leaving, I saw Satou Gotou standing outside, he was probably eavesdropping.
As our eyes met, he grinned and waved at me. I nervously waved back, not knowing how to take the gesture.
Why was he here? Maybe he was the one who made that bet and came to claim his reward.
That explains the eavesdropping, he probably heard about him.
I will find out later the important details now what's important is removing that damn devil from this school.
But there's the issue of the other assets and what Satou might do with the info he heard about me.
I thought I escaped my prison–there.
Well, not really, but now I have entered another one, and failing in this one leads me back to the one I was originally or might even lead to my death.
This is truly a dilemma.
It seems I underestimated everything about this school and because of that, I'm cornered.
I let my guard down big time.
I'm really at a loss, and I need to bend to his will or I'm finished.
I thought I was free.
I thought I could be normal.
I was wrong.
But why do I feel relieved?
I suppose old habits die hard.
But eventually, even old habits—
No, even I—no, the version of me that still clings to normalcy—
Will die.
Or hopefully or maybe by chance—
I will become normal, no, that must most certainly happen if not I can't survive like this.
At any rate, I can finally revert back to my true self.
The real problem is the other classes; I need to worry about them and the assets.
There's Akatsuki and there's also Suzuki—she's definitely one of the other assets.
Her acting ability is way above professional level, and for Akatsuki I need to see how his methods work and how he behaves, perhaps he's ...
It seems I've already started analyzing, huh?
I guess it doesn't really matter as these people are just variables that I can change, there is only one thing that is given, and that is–
I'll definitely survive.
(There's an illustration here, Nakamura has a blank expression and overall looks tired.)
***
Author's Note:
Woah! So, that's how it is, huh? Well, can't say I'm surprised considering I wrote it but I might as well pretend, right?
I don't really have the coherence to write properly or offer satire because I'm watching an anime.
It's called dusk maiden of amnesia–I'm in episode 10, and it's guaranteed peak.
Well, only if you like romance though.
Anyway, remember to comment, share, and leave a review. Thanks for reading the chapter and see you in the next one.