"W-why? Amane, why would you do this? You clearly know... know that even if you told a lie right now, I'd be willing to believe it, why..."
Karuizawa's eyes, which had already cried dry, welled up with tears again.
Amane gently patted Karuizawa's back, trying to calm her emotions a little, so she wouldn't be so heartbroken that she'd suffer any mental problems.
If Karuizawa suffered mental trauma, then... it wouldn't be perfect.
"Do you feel better after crying?"
Karuizawa nodded, tears still flowing.
"A little better. After getting used to crying, it seems there isn't as much sadness when I shed tears."
Karuizawa got up from Amane's embrace and slowly stood up, leaning against the wall behind her.
She could only barely stand by leaning against the wall.
Morofuji had stomped on Karuizawa's legs a few times, and Karuizawa's legs were still trembling uncontrollably.
Karuizawa, now standing, didn't question Amane about why she had found people to beat her.
Did bullying need a reason?
If a reason had to be given... was 'not liking someone' enough? In the past, she had been beaten plenty because others didn't like her, not to mention her pretense of being an arrogant person, so getting beaten was even more normal.
She was only worried about one thing now.
"Amane, can you... not tell anyone about that matter? If you're still not satisfied, you can treat me however you want, please... don't, don't tell anyone about that matter."
Karuizawa was naturally not referring to this beating. Amane thought for a moment and immediately knew that Karuizawa wanted Amane to keep secret the news that she had been bullied before.
"Why are you afraid of that matter being revealed? In my opinion, having been bullied is a plus for you, isn't it? If you reveal this bullying incident as well, many people would sympathize with you."
Amane was somewhat curious about what Karuizawa truly cared about.
This bullying, because Manabe and Morofuji had gone too far, would undoubtedly come to light as soon as Karuizawa appeared before a teacher. Manabe and the others wouldn't be able to escape.
It could be said that Karuizawa held the absolute trump card at this moment, so why was she still dwelling on those old events?
"If it gets out... I'll be laughed at."
Karuizawa gritted her teeth and said something baffling.
Laughed at?
Would this be laughed at? The other party was numerous and powerful. Would anyone really laugh at the person who got beaten because they were too weak and deserved it? If there truly were such people, Amane wouldn't mind letting them experience the taste of being bullied too.
Just as Amane was about to speak, she noticed something amiss.
Karuizawa was afraid that the past incident would be exposed and she would be laughed at, which meant... she was worried that her current strong image would be completely destroyed?
At the beginning of the school year, Karuizawa quickly established her position in the class by being Hirata's girlfriend. Then, with her assertive and strong personality, she became the core of the girls' clique. She had always played the image of a strong queen to maintain her false status among the girls.
Simply put, she used Hirata's popularity and prestige to package herself as a strong person, and then used others' admiration for strength to gather people around her.
Then she used this star-studded momentum to reinforce her prestige.
When others saw Karuizawa with a large group of people following her everywhere, they would naturally feel intimidated.
Even Manabe didn't dare to provoke Karuizawa when she had many people with her, and that was the reason.
Those who followed Karuizawa felt that she could conquer a boy like Hirata, and combined with her strong personality, she must have her own methods, so they would follow Karuizawa.
And those who disliked Karuizawa, due to Karuizawa's influence and Hirata behind her, didn't dare to do anything to her.
Thus, Karuizawa used this to her advantage and lived a comfortable life in Class D. Just as she thought she had completely escaped bullying, Manabe awakened her nightmare.
What a pitiful fellow.
"Are you still planning to rely on Hirata to protect you?"
Amane's direct question left Karuizawa somewhat at a loss.
"Hirata-san would definitely help me..."
"He's kind to everyone, isn't he? Not to mention you two are just a fake couple."
Amane mercilessly stripped away Karuizawa's last shred of dignity.
"Did Hirata tell you all this?"
Karuizawa could hardly believe that someone like Hirata would tell Amane a secret he had promised to keep.
"Of course, otherwise how would I know everything about you? From elementary school to middle school, for such a long time, you were constantly bullied. It's truly amazing you managed to endure it. So you came here and deliberately pretended to be strong and not easily bullied, right?"
Amane's words were entirely correct.
Karuizawa hung her head, silent. Everything about her was exposed before Amane. Karuizawa had no intention of resisting, and of course, she had no strength to resist.
She had no idea what to do. Manabe hitting her hurt, it was painful.
But she knew that as long as she didn't make a sound and endured it, like a corpse giving no feedback to the other party, the bullies would naturally leave out of boredom.
Their bullying was for fun, not to kill.
There was no need to waste effort on Karuizawa, who was playing dead.
But facing the soft-spoken Amane, she had no idea what to do.
Playing the emotional card, Amane observed coldly. She tried to show her value in pleasing others, but Amane pointed out her thoughts.
All her weaknesses were in Amane's hands. She could only sit and wait for death; there was no other way but to accept it.
"If not... I would have been bullied like this from the beginning, so I..."
"So you'll keep up this disguise until Hirata abandons you or you find your next host, right? If I'm not mistaken, you'll probably swallow your pride during this bullying incident too, won't you?"
Faced with Amane's barrage of questions, Karuizawa nodded.
It was unclear which of Amane's statements she agreed with, or if she agreed with all of them.
This was not hard to understand. If she reported Manabe, the school would have to investigate the cause of the incident. Manabe would undoubtedly expose Karuizawa's bullying scars without hesitation, and her painstakingly built image would instantly collapse. This was far more difficult for her to accept than the pain she endured from this bullying.
So, even in a winning situation, she dared not play her winning hand.
Karuizawa suddenly knelt before Amane, her forehead touching the dusty ground.
"Amane, you look down on me a lot, don't you? I know I look really pathetic like this, but I can't… I really can't help it. I just hope you can keep my secret, Amane. I'll do anything, please, just give me one chance, okay? I promise I won't cause you any more trouble in the future… Please…"
Her choked voice was moving to hear.
Her humble figure and tearful plea would likely even make Kushida, in her true form, sigh.
And then let this poor, unfortunate soul go.
But she, of all people, met Amane.
"You'll do anything, right? Then how about being my woman?"
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