Chuuko demo Koi ga Shitai! - Volume 3 - Chapter 4.3

Part 3

"Really, what should I do...

I returned a bit before the lunch break ended, but the situation is totally hopeless.

If the retaliation even contains a possibility of expulsion, they are totally prepared to actually harm me. Why are they aiming to make my life this difficult!?

Regarding the rumor about myself, I had this careless attitude of not caring about it at all. Because no one in their right minds would believe in them. Thinking that it will disappear eventually, just like the monsoon.

TL Note: Monsoon in japan lasts for around a month in the middle of summer, and goes poof just like that.

But, that didn't happen. Probably Ayame also went through this when rumors about her had just started springing out...

After all, that I have to do something about the rumor... makes me agitated, but my hands are tied.

When it comes to myself, why does my thought process become dull?

"What do you think will happen when the eroge in the clubroom gets discovered?"

I discreetly ask Tozaki, who is sitting in the seat behind me.

"Suspension, I guess..."

"Yeah."

"But, there's something even worse than that, right?"

Don't say any further, Tozaki.

After suspension due to the eroge being discovered...

I'll probably get titles like "Eroge　emperor" or "18+ Meister", and it will stick for the rest of my school life.

"Even if I get suspended, we'll still be friends, right?"

"It depends on the situation. The answer would depend on just how your position would be affected."

... What a worthless friend.

But well, it can't be helped. This particular case.

If our positions were reversed, I'd give the same answer.

Especially Tozaki might become classified as the same kind of potato as me.

"... Come to think of it, where's Ayame?"

It's almost time for the lunch break to end, but Ayame cannot be seen anywhere.

She has stopped skipping classes for a long while now.

"Now that you mention it, she's not here. Maybe she went to pick some flowers?"

The next lecture is Ms. Kawada's Japanese History, so she probably won't be severely reprimanding if she's late.

"Ah, Ayame-san was... kind of in a strange area, though?"

The person who suddenly started a conversation with us was Nishihara.

With eyes that lack confidence, she looks nervous.

"Strange area?"

"I t-think she went towards the first building... Because she was walking towards a place where we don't visit a lot, it kind of stayed in my memory..."

Why was Nishihara watching her?

Just a coincidence? Well, not that I can think of any particular reason.

... Let's not doubt her observation for now.

The first building has... the third year classrooms, staff room, and the student council room -.

"Ah..."

That girl, don't tell me...!

"... Tozaki, sorry. I'll be right back. Answer my roll-call if you can."

"Ha? What are you saying, isn't that impossible!?"

I stand up and leave the classroom.

Then, run towards the first school building.

The bell marking the end of the lunch break will ring soon, and five minutes after that the classes will resume.

The teachers will come this way soon, and it'll probably become impossible to avoid them.

No matter how you think about it, what I'm doing is skipping classes in broad daylight.

However... there's no doubt that Ayame has headed towards the student council room.

Taking into account her personality, I have no doubts about it.

I should have paid her actions more attention.

『... What we were talking about earlier was that, if we hand you over to the student council president, then she would solve all of our problems.』

TL Note: Aramiya told this to Ayame back in Chapter 1 when they were buying stuff from the vending machine.

If I had known at that time that things would escalate to this level, I'd have not spoken a word about it to her.

Although I meant that as a warning to stay away from the president, to think that she'd willingly go over and do something like this...

If the person eavesdropping on my conversation with Kiriko-neesan was Ayame, then...

She'll definitely sell herself in exchange for my expulsion.

"Who are you kidding...! Don't make me carry that cross on my back...!"

TL Note: As in, he'll be guilty of selling Ayame indirectly, and he doesn't want to carry that guilt.

After crossing over to the first building via the second floor connector, I head to the topmost floor.

Climbing up the stairs, a hallway going further in appeared.

The student council room is further down this way.

However, two girls are standing guard right there.

The two minions from before. The vice president and the secretary. The president had referred to them as "Hana" and "Asuka".

"Where do you think you're going, Aramiya-san? Classes have already started."

The braided girl with glasses - Haha - warned me with a sharp glare. Attribute-wise, her character should be more gentle. A person donning three braids and glasses being a battle maniac is... something one cannot even think of.

"Let me go inside. Ayame is inside, right?"

"... I'm telling you to leave."

The secretary Asuka pushes a step forward towards me.

She had a pressure different from Ayame. Girls are strong, eh!

"I cannot turn back. Please let me pass."

I try to slip past them.

... But, she blocks my way mirroring my movements.

"Can't do. Go back."

"I don't have the leisure for discussion."

I forcefully push her to go past the duo.

But, she catches me by the shirt and stops me with an abnormal amount of force.

"I've been telling you to return to your classroom!"

"Right back at you, Student Council Members! Let me pass through!"

Ayame is there in front.

If she wanted to become a member of the student council by her own will, I'd have been OK with it.

But, she's doing this all for my sake. I must stop her, no matter what comes my way.

"You're persistent! Just go back to your classroom!"

She tries to throw me while gripping my shirt. Damn, she's powerful!

Is she really a girl? Is she the relative of the strongest apex-class girl or something?

"Tch."

Not only that, my Y-shirt got taken along with broken buttons and threads. Giving the shirt in her hand only a glance, the secretary with a huge build threw it away like a piece of trash, and tapped her hands as if to brush off dust. What the heck do you think someone else's shirt is?

She takes a half-bent posture, as if playing rugby. The vice president is keeping a watchful eye from behind. ...Don't tell me even the vice president is strong.

Just facing this secretary girl is a handful, and the vice president is blocking my way continuously, doesn't seem like they'll let me pass. Even if I get past the secretary, if I get blocked, it doesn't matter if the vice president is strong or weak. She can stop me on track no matter what.

And as I'm stuck, the secretary can drag me by the neck from behind.

There's no gap... but, even then.

I must pass through here. Since climbing up the school wall is physically impossible for me! Without even backup, who in their sane mind would try that!

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Lowering my head and posture, I make a wild dash.

I also know that it's very uncharacteristic of me, although the reason doesn't really matter now.

"You're so annoying!"

Instead of the Y-shirt that got sacrificed, this time she catches me by my T-shirt.

A ripping sound that I didn't want to hear, reverbated. My T-shirt got destroyed loudly. At this rate, I'll get scolded after returning to the classroom, and a thunderous sermon is probably waiting back home.

"We won't let you pass through!"

That figure of a Buddhist guardian god blocking the way is the definition of a daunting pose.

And, the vice president is perfectly watching the gap with her spectacles shining. A breakthrough is impossible...

If I was going to get half-naked anyway, I should have coated myself in oil. It'd have been easier to slip past. No idea where to find oil, though.

The walls or ceiling can probably be used for an easy breakthrough, but I won't be in this predicament in the first place if I could do such a thing. It'll be game over from spraining my legs the moment I try that.

"Give up and go back. The student council will refund your Y-shirt and T-shirt cost if you return rightaway."

"It's not even your money, how impudent..."

They took up too much of my time.

What should I do? The more time passes, the worse the situation becomes for Ayame. And my position too, from bunking the lecture.

The only thing I can think of right now is to thoughtlessly charge forward.

My morale is going down at this rate.

---Is there really no way out...!?

"Aramiya-kun!"

"Seiichi!"

Two familiar voices echoed throughout the hallway.

Turning around, I see Hatsushiba and Ibu who had just finished climbing up the stairs.

"You two...?"

"We'll talk later! Yuuka and Ibu will restrain those two, so keep going forward!"

"Go save Ayamecchi. Is my opponent that huge girl over there? Her breasts are smaller than mine though."

And then Ibu latches onto the huge secretary, and Hatsushiba catches the hand of the vice president to restrain their movement.

...Ibu's brute strength is amazing.

"Seiichi, fast! I won't last long!"

"Aramiya-kun, Cotton is in your hands!"

What is this, a Shounen manga? 「Leave this to me and go ahead！」 I didn't think girls would be putting that into practice.

But, I don't hate this Shounen manga-type development.

It's a situation very common in VNs too! It also happened in 『Nyolz Sea Dive 2』! That soldier who kept shouting despite getting his arm torn off was just amazing!

TL Note: Original VN is Baldr Sky Dive 2. The opening theme is sung by KOTOKO, so you must play it lol.

"I'm sorry, you two!"

Quietly passing by the two groups of fighters, I head towards the Student Council room.

"Halt it!"

"I'm your opponent here!"

Ibu is actually matching that secretary's power.

She's amazing. I see her in a new light now. If she gets seriously angry and hits you, it seems like your nose might dent. Let's be careful not to anger her in the future.

Piggybacking on top of the gour girls fighting each other like guys, I reach the Student Council room's door.

And slam it open.

It's as wide as a normal classroom, but it has a fluffy red carpet on the floor. The bookshelf on the wall is also made of high-class wood. The desks laid around are glamorous, as if for use by some CEO or Secretary of a huge company.

"...A-Aramiya."

In the middle of the room.

Ayame was standing still with President Yaotani hugging her from behind.

Yaotani's right hand was enveloping Ayame's waist, and her left hand was moving towards her breasts. She was leisurely licking Ayame's nape.

Ayame looked beet red, dying from embarrassment.

"......"

The situation was too lasvicious, and some people might succumb to the desire to see more.

However, the moment I saw them, my body became hot and my hands spontaneously made their way towards the president.

"Let her go!"

I forcefully tear them apart.

Unexpectedly, Yaotani let Ayame go without any resistance.

But, to prevent her from latching onto her again like a leech, I strongly embrace Ayame.

"A-Aramiya..."

"Why are you so forward!"

TL Note: He's saying this in the sense of "why do you jump the gun by yourself without talking to us?"

Ayame looks down in embarrassment from my words. Becoming limp, she leans onto me.

"...I remember putting Hana and Asuka on guard outside."

The President confusedly glares at us.

"The vice president and secretary are being held back by my companions."

"Is your naked upper half a sexual appeal?"

"Your secretary tore my shirts off. Send your complaints to that brute instead."

Opening her folding fan, the president hides her mouth while sighing.

"Good gracious. You kept being a hindrance to the end. You don't really want to become lovers with Ayame, right?"

"Yes, that's right. I have no romantic feelings for her."

"Then, what I do with her is of no importance to you, right? If you have no feelings, then can you please not hinder our love?"

Just as I mentioned, I don't have romantic feelings for her.

I do have this fluffy feeling in my heart that's not clear, but I'm not stupid to mistake it for love.

TL Note: No, you are pretty stupid. LOL

However-

"Of course it matters to me."

"...What?"

"Although I don't have romantic feelings for her, she's my very good friend. There's no way I don't care for her."

"Then, you saved her as a friend?"

"Yes, that's right. Is it strange to save your friend when they're in danger? Although I got saved by her twice."

Once during Songou's rape attempt.

Once more during Ibu's reverse rape attempt.

Both were terrible situations for me. If things went too far south, I'd have lost my virginity both from the front and the back.

TL Note: The original is "処女も童貞も失う". Japanese has two different words for virginity depending on the gender.

"Do you want to get expelled from that stupid rumor? Ayame submitted herself to me for your sake, you know? Do you want to make her prideful resolve all go to waste?"

The president asks so, looking down at me.

"Of course I don't want to get expelled."

"Then,"

"But, I myself want to leave a school that expels students based on rumors! No matter how terrible lies you spread out, or even if my secret gets found out, I'm never gonna bend! If you wanna break my school life apart, suit yourself! But, as long as my eyes are open, I'll never forgive anyone who tries to steal Ayame's dignity in exchange!"

Cover Illustration #g

"A-Aramiya..."

She looks like she's about to cry.

"D-don't misunderstand me! At the very best, only as friends, OK!?"

"Yeah, I know. For now, right..."

TL Note: Chapter title much? Also, She means it in the sense that they're friends for now, but it may change in the future. wink wink

At that timing, loud footsteps could be heard closing in.

"Airi-sama!"

It's the secretary.

"What did you--"

Do to the two, is what I wanted to say. But I got caught by the neck and my voice couldn't come out.

And she even pulls Ayame apart.

"Ngugugugugugu!"

"Shaddup. I won't cut slack for people who hinder Airi-sama."

My voice doesn't come out.

I can only groan.

Getting strangled, my blood circulation started to get hindered. My consciousness keeps fading away little by little.

This is bad.

If I faint like this--.

"What do you think you're doingm you bastard!"

From beside me, Ayame catches the muscular arm strangling me.

She compresses the arm to half its width in an instant.

"Ah, guh...!"

"Let him go. If you don't, your bones will break."

"Agagagaga! As if I, can...!"

I can see via my fading consicousness that Ayame's face is about to revert back to her former days.

It's a trend that must not happen.

"...If you don't wanna die, leave him."

"AAAAA!!"

A soundless scream mixes in with Ayame's cold voice from her former days.

The Ayame standing there was a delinquent.

At this rate, she can never return to normal!

"Buha! Haa! Haa!"

Thanks to her superhuman strength, the grip around my neck weakened and I could breathe again.

"...A...ya...me..."

But, my vocal chords that were restrained until now don't work at all.

My lungs are desiring for more oxygen.

I got completely limp and powerless.

"Just wait a bit, Aramiya. I'll complete the cleanup soon."

Wrong, you're doing it wrong! You cannot leave it all to anger!

Finally, the secretary frees my neck from her grip.

Unable to stand straight after being released, I drop to my knees.

"Why... do you all want to cause Aramiya to fall. What has he even done."

Dragging the secretary's twisted arm along, she now takes steady steps towards the president.

The unfortunate chair that was in her way got kicked and flown away. Hitting the bookshelf with a great force, it rocked some books off.

The president's pale face can be explained by Ayame's back.

Without even looking, I understood what Ayame is about to do.

Right now, she's completely left her devices to autopilot in serious anger. She's not thinking anything at all.

"I'd have been fine no matter what you did to me, but don't think you can get away with injuring Aramiya. You've put your hands on someone who you should never have."

"Stop it, Ayame-san. Using violence...!"

"Shut up. If Aramiya gets expelled, then I'll also--"

I immediately catch Ayame's ankle with my hands.

I can't stand up yet, so there's no other way to stop her.

Thank god I reached.

"A-Aramiya?"

"I'm telling... you... stop..."

My breathing still shallow, I can't speak properly.

"B-but!"

"I've told... many times. Violence... is... bad."

This is something I have to agree with the president on.

I couldn't look up to see Ayame's expression, but I understood that she was confused.

"Calm, down. Take a, deep breath... You... will not be violent... without meaning... anymore. You won't... be violent... even if there's... meaning. Right...?"

My lungs are still screaming, but I can't back down.

My vision keeps getting whiter from trying to speak while not having enough oxygen.

But, I must calm Ayame down somehow.

Even if I stop breathing, I won't let her ankle go.

"...B-but"

"Don't worry about me... If you keep... being violent like that... I'll hate you... from the bottom of my heart..."

I could feel her calming down from my grip.

I guess she finally put her hands down.

Thankfully she's back to normal.

"S-sorry..."

Letting go of the secretary, Ayame turns around and supports my upper half with an embrace.

With my breathing in place, my consciousness becomes clearer little by little.

"It's fine... I can walk in a bit... I like Ayame that... cares for others... like this, more than... the violent one."

"Aramiya..."

"Please don't forget... For real. If you completely... lose it and hit someone... I can't cover for you anymore..."

"Yeah. Sorry about it every time..."

"As long as you understand... In the first place, you went so far... for me... That made me... really happy."

And that's it.

My problems have still not been solved, but well, it's fine.

It's good enough that Ayame got saved. We can definitely come up with something if we all think together.

"Let's go back... I'm worried about Hatsushiba and Ibu..."

Guess they're fine, though.

"Yes, let's go back."

Leaning my body onto Ayame, we stand up.

"W-wait! Ayame-san!"

The president calls out to Ayame's back.

"President..."

"I can give you whatever you desire. We can even talk about 18+ games. If you wish for it, I'll even play your favourite genre."

The president keeps desparately trying to convince her, almost like a lover that got dumped.

"Guys are... the worst, Ayame-san. Although he might be treating you well right now, he'll definitely double-cross you in the future!"

She has her own reasons to think that way.

"Guys have brought misfortune to numerous girls. I'm also one of them. That's why I understand. That your love will never come to fruitition."

Just as she says. Rather, I myself don't trust girls.

"I bet on it. You'll definitely be left alone. Guys aren't what you think they are. They're vulgar, offensive, and don't do any good to this world."

The president keeps talking.

"They get close only for their own satisfaction, seduce beautiful girls for showing off to others, deceive your heart with misleading words, and finally throw you away calling you a pain. They say they'll be with you forever, while repeating the same words to other girls."

Digging up her old memories, she starts crying.

"And then, you'll be left all alone. We're just decoratives item necessary for their school life, and get thrown away once our use runs out! Even if we're truly in love, it doesn't matter. Their expression of love is temporary, and will fade away soon! Without realizing that much, I frantically chased love like an idiot...!"

While crying, she extends her arms to Ayame.

"But, I'll never let you down. Because we're both girls. We understand each other. We can share fun and happiness together. So, yield to me. I'll definitely show you to a new world...!"

Her long speech finally gets over.

While her words were a total mess, she put her heart into it.

Her vigor seemed to be able to easily capture the trust of other people.

In reality, because she was deceived, she doesn't believe in guys.

If you swap out "guy" for "girl" in her situation, she's the exact reflection of my own self.

Ayame who was supporting me,

Ayame dumps the pres

"...After all, Aramiya is the best for me."

Without a moment's dilemma, she gives a honest reply.

"Is that... because you don't like girls? Are guys better?"

With her hands on her chest, the president asks disheartenedly.

But, Ayame shook her head as expected.

"It's not like I yearn for guys."

"Then,"

"I like Aramiya. I have so much debt to him that I can't ever return."

"Debt... Isn't that just so that he can get close--"

"That's not it. I understand Aramiya's situation very well. Originally, it didn't even suit his character to come saving me. While it was a coincidence, he still rescued me. And then, he desperately worked his brains to dissolve my bad rumors. If someone goes that far for you... even if he doesn't have feelings for you, you can't help but fall in love, right?"

Hearing that, the president falls down on her knees limply.

"Well then. About your feelings... well, I'll acknowledge them."

With that, we leave the Student Council room.

"Cotton! Aramiya-kun!"

"Seiichi! Ayamecchi!"

Hatsushiba and Ibu who were haggling with the vice president come close to us.

"No way, the student council president... was..."

Leaving the two aside, the vice president scurries towards the Student Council room.

It's a relief that these two are also fine.

"Let's go back to the classroom already."

Ayame, who was lending her shoulder, makes a stern face.

"The infirmary comes first. You were strangled, after all. Worry about your own body before worrying about lessons."

Her pupils were shaking in worry.

Seems like she's more anxious than her voice can express.

"Yuuka, Suwama. Sorry, but..."

"No worries, Cotton. Yuuka will return to the classroom with her and explain first."

"Don't do anything strange, Ayamecchi~"

Leaving those words behind, the two left towards the classroom.

"Ah, uniform..."

"You can't do anything about the torn clothes, right? Let's go to the infirmary first."

"...Ah, okay."

Finally, after all this time, my consciousness starts flickering.

Maybe because I kept talking without catching my breath.

But, Ayame's strong support felt warm and comfortable.

To the point of thinking that it might be fine this way.

Walking down the quiet hallway while the lectures were running,

"You don't have to reply, but-"

Ayame whispers quietly.

"I was happy you came to save me. You appeared... like a VN protagonist."

That was definitely the highest praise I could ever receive.