Unexpectedly, Futaba didn't listen to Shinra's words. She shook her head gently and said: "Not going back."
"What kind of tantrum is this?"
"Not throwing a tantrum."
Futaba Rio replied, then looked out the window.
Minegahara High School was near the downtown area, so through the window, she could see the neon lights of tall buildings outside.
"Then can you tell me why?"
"..." Futaba Rio was silent for a while. Seeing Shinra's insistent gaze, she shifted her eyes slightly and sighed.
Futaba said: "Feel sorry for Mai."
Shinra asked knowingly: "Sorry for what?"
Futaba Rio stared at Shinra for a long time before replying: "Sorry for everything. Especially knowing certain things clearly, but still helping someone hide it, and accepting her help shamelessly. This feeling is really terrible."
"Is that so."
"Even, even want to replace her."
"Is this a confession?"
"No."
Seeing the main character didn't move, Shinra had to sit back on the chair in front of Futaba again to further carry out psychological counseling work.
"I think you don't need to think this way at all. After all, the real fault lies with me."
Futaba Rio glanced at Shinra, her eyes clearly saying 'You know it too'.
"Then I'll go confess to Mai."
"Cough... no need to be so hasty." Shinra coughed, looking slightly embarrassed.
Futaba Rio showed an expression of 'sure enough', then said: "Since that's the case, why bother with me?"
As long as she disappears, the remaining Inner Futaba will definitely be on Shinra's side.
With the other self's 'shameless' degree, she will definitely help Shinra hide it well, until she gets eaten in the end, or gives up after being disappointed with Shinra.
Unlike her, worrying about this and that, daring not do this or that, ending up in this limbo state, only able to hide alone in the dark classroom wiping tears.
"Because I feel if I don't care, I will definitely regret it later. In the final analysis, your belief that as long as one person disappears, the other can be saved is just your wishful thinking. The reality is as long as the problem is not solved, even if the current 'you' disappears, another 'you' will appear later."
"Moreover, 'you' are still here proves that as long as the problem is not solved, you won't disappear. Even if you want to disappear, Adolescence Syndrome won't grant your wish." Shinra spread his hands, deciding to make things clear to Futaba Rio.
Surface Futaba could certainly choose self-exile, disappearing from the world named 'Futaba Rio', but even so, as long as the real cause inducing Adolescence Syndrome wasn't properly handled, Surface Futaba's actions were just escaping.
"So rather than abandoning yourself and feeling sorry for yourself here, better think about where the problem lies." Shinra concluded.
However, after saying this sentence, Shinra saw Futaba Rio in front of him staring straight at him.
Almost instantly, Shinra understood the meaning. The corner of his mouth twitched, pointing at himself: "So you think the problem lies with me?"
Thinking carefully, it seems reasonable. After all, the split of the two Futabas was caused by their different attitudes towards him.
Inner Futaba thinks chase if you like, don't worry about other things first, anyway Shinra isn't a good person either.
While Surface Futaba thinks Shinra is Mai's boyfriend; he can be shameless, but she can't let Mai down.
However, can't say it's all Shinra's fault. Even Futaba herself knows Shinra's existence is just a trigger. The real reason is the conflict between 'ideal self' and 'real self'. Shinra's appearance just detonated this conflict completely.
In other words, even without Shinra, Futaba Rio would have suffered from Adolescence Syndrome; the difference is sooner or later.
Therefore, Futaba Rio nodded then shook her head.
She said: "No, the problem indeed lies with me. Not much to do with you."
Shinra said: "Phew, that's good. I can't afford such a big blame. So... did you think of the reason?"
"Guessed a little, but..." Futaba Rio lowered her eyes. After Shinra's reminder, she didn't continue to drill into the dead end, but to say how to solve this problem, she could only say...
Don't know.
Some things you know are there, but just can't be solved.
Just like code; knowing which section of code has problems, but just can't change it, because once changed, bigger problems will appear.
Futaba Rio was the same here. Although she vaguely guessed how to solve the current problem, if really asked to do it, she couldn't start.
In the final analysis, Futaba Rio made the same mistake as Shinra—greed.
Wanting both a smooth romance and not wanting to lose Mai as a friend.
"But can't make up your mind, right?" Shinra seemed to guess Futaba's thoughts and said it directly.
"Mm." Futaba responded gloomily.
"In that case, let me help you make up your mind." Shinra let out a long breath. In the end, it has to be like this.
Just as Futaba Rio knew what to do but didn't do it, Shinra actually knew the best approach at the moment long ago. But the problem was the uncertainty of doing so was too great. He couldn't ensure Mai's reaction, which might likely lead to a lose-lose situation, so he wanted to see if there were other solutions.
But seeing Futaba Rio like this, Shinra knew there was no time left for him to find other solutions.
Sigh, if something really goes wrong, treat it as punishment for looking at erotic pictures.
Thinking this way, Shinra picked up his phone and dialed Mai's number.
The call was connected quickly, and Mai's voice came from the phone.
"Hello?"
Since there were only Shinra and Futaba in the classroom, even without turning on the speaker, Futaba Rio sitting opposite could hear clearly.
"I cheated."
As the voice fell, Futaba Rio opposite the table shrank her pupils, her small mouth became an 'o' shape, looking shocked.
She didn't understand why Shinra suddenly became so brave.
And Sakurajima Mai on the other end of the phone, after being silent for about ten seconds, said slowly: "Is that so..."
No rage, no questioning, as if what Shinra just said wasn't 'I cheated', but 'I won't come back to stay tonight'.
"Convenient to ask who the affair partner is?" Mai asked politely.
Shinra looked at Futaba opposite. Upon noticing Shinra's gaze, Futaba clenched the hem of her clothes involuntarily, her body tensed up, her smart brain almost completely crashed.
"Futaba Rio."
When hearing Shinra say her name, Futaba Rio's suspended heart finally died.
Just when Futaba Rio was about to open her mouth to explain to Mai that Shinra was joking, she heard Shinra say again: "Do you want to talk to her?"
"Let her answer the phone."
"Here."
Looking at the phone handed over by Shinra, Futaba Rio neither took it nor rejected it.
She glanced at Shinra resentfully. This is your method?
Might as well let her fend for herself!
No choice, Mai on the other end of the phone was still waiting. Futaba Rio had to brace herself and take the phone from Shinra.
"Hello."
Futaba Rio's voice carried a trace of tremor. Can't help it; in this situation, being able to speak out was already courageous of her.
"Rio, is what Shinra said true?"
"No..."
"Do you like him?"
"Didn't..."
"Truth?"
Just three questions silenced Futaba Rio directly.
"He should still be on the side, right?" Mai said.
Finally a question she could answer. Futaba Rio hurriedly said: "Yes, want to return the phone to him?"
"No need. Please ask that guy to go out for a moment. I have something to say to you." Mai directly extinguished Futaba Rio's thought of slipping away.
"..."
Futaba Rio looked at Shinra, finding that he had walked out of the classroom at some point and thoughtfully closed the door.
"He went out."
Futaba Rio was prepared to be scolded by Mai. Obviously best friends, but coveting the other's boyfriend—such behavior could never be forgiven, right?
However, the next second, Mai's words made her pretty face turn red instantly.
"Did you do it?"
Futaba Rio suspected she heard wrong. In her impression, Mai had always been that reserved and reliable senior image. How, how could she ask such a question!
"No."
"Kissed?"
"No."
"Held hands?"
"No."
Mai on the other end of the phone breathed a sigh of relief, then a helpless look appeared on her face, both towards that guy Shinra and Futaba Rio.
"Then to what step?"
"Gi... Giving him lingerie photos, does it count?"
Futaba Rio had given up. After all, Shinra had already exposed everything. In comparison, her photos seemed somewhat insignificant.
"Done by the other you?"
"Yes..."
"You like him."
This time Sakurajima Mai used a declarative sentence.
"Yes..."
Seeing no way to cover up anymore, Futaba had to admit it.
She indeed had improper thoughts about Shinra.
But soon she hurriedly explained: "I won't snatch him from you."
The implication was that her thoughts about Shinra would only stay at the thought stage and wouldn't be put into practice.
"I know."
Hearing these two words, Futaba breathed a sigh of relief, but Mai's next words made her hold her breath again.
"You won't do it, but what about her?"
Obviously, the 'her' in Mai's mouth referred to Inner Futaba.
You, Surface Futaba, won't put it into action, but what about Inner Futaba?
Even giving out those kinds of photos, what else does she dare not do?
"This..." Futaba Rio ran out of words because she knew the other self could really do such things.
Why am I so shameless!
Just as Futaba Rio planned to say something, Mai's voice sounded again: "If it's you, I can accept it tentatively."
"Eh?"
Futaba suspected she heard wrong.
What does Senpai mean by this?
"Don't misunderstand; I don't intend to yield him to you." Mai said.
"Then..." Futaba Rio had guesses about what Mai would say next, but dared not be sure. Her heart beat fast.
"That guy isn't as honest as on the surface, right?" Mai said.
If he were really honest, Shinra would have confessed to her immediately upon receiving the photos, but the problem was he didn't.
Although he confessed just now, he still concealed it, didn't he?
Mai wasn't the kind of person who couldn't tolerate sand in her eyes. If she were, she would have hung up the phone directly after Shinra said 'I cheated', and then cut off contact with Shinra completely.
However, the reality was she was here calmly 'comforting' Futaba Rio on the other end of the phone, who might become her sister-in-arms in the future.
"Yes." Futaba Rio couldn't figure out what exactly Mai wanted to say, so she could only agree carefully.
"Being philandering is a common problem for men, not to mention an outstanding guy like Shinra. Even if he doesn't actively seek, there will be plenty of people sticking to him. Compared to those guys, I trust you more."
Futaba Rio didn't expect Mai to think this way. Listening to her meaning, she seemed to have prepared for being cheated on (green hat) long ago?
And... seemed to plan to accept her?
How could she have such a dream?
Futaba's mouth was a bit dry, not knowing what to say.
"Don't tell that guy about this." Mai warned.
She could acquiesce to Futaba Rio's existence, but if Shinra knew, it would inevitably make him push his luck. Therefore, she didn't plan to let that guy know in the short term.
Now her thoughts were finished; it was Futaba Rio's turn.
"What about you? What are your thoughts?" Mai asked.
Coexist peacefully, or...
"I, I listen to Senpai." Futaba Rio stated her position immediately, then a smile appeared on her face.
The next second, the phone fell to the ground.
Hearing the noise, Shinra opened the door and came in, looking at the empty classroom.
His expression was somewhat complicated. He didn't expect Mai's tolerance for him to be so high...
Picking up the hung-up phone on the ground, he clicked on the wish-power panel.
...
On the other side, Sakurajima Mai's apartment.
"Mm, you should be relieved like this too, right?"
Hearing the busy tone from the phone, Mai looked at Futaba Rio in front of her.
Yes, when Shinra went to find Surface Futaba, Inner Futaba also found Sakurajima Mai.
Inner Futaba, no, now should be said to be the True Futaba Rio, nodded slightly after hearing Mai's words.
"She has disappeared."
"Disappeared?"
"To be more precise, she let go." Futaba Rio pinched the center of her eyebrows. At the moment the other Futaba disappeared, a complicated memory appeared abruptly in her mind, which should be the memory of the other self during this period.
Honestly, this feeling was quite novel, as if an extra life appeared out of thin air, but Futaba knew these were also real.
"Need to rest a bit?" Mai cared.
Futaba Rio shook her head, then said seriously: "No need, I just need to recover slightly."
"Rather than this, does Senpai know Yukinoshita?"