Life In The Reverse World

The warm yellow ceiling lights intertwined with the slightly cool white spotlights, creating within the multipurpose restroom an unhurried atmosphere, as though time itself had begun to flow more slowly. Paired with the sweet-and-tart citrus aroma of yuzu drifting from the diffuser, it eased the nerves and relaxed the body without one even noticing.

And yet, it was still just a restroom…

Harutaki dug his fingers hard into his thigh, using the pain to keep himself alert, reminding himself not to lower his guard around the girl in front of him.

“I’m very interested in you.”

What was that supposed to mean?

If an ordinary girl had said that to him, he might have indulged in a bit of self-satisfaction, praised himself internally, and then gently turned her down without hurting her feelings.

But the one who said it was Sanada Minako.

Standing before her gave him the strange sensation of looking into a mirror.

Only, the figure reflected back wasn’t an exact match.

Both of them concealed their true feelings, constantly observing the expressions and reactions of those around them. Both were equally adept at presenting the version of themselves most likely to win another’s favor, polished, adaptable, and socially flawless.

They were both maintaining personas.

And yet, for some reason, Sanada always gave him a faint sense of contradiction. It wasn’t like Nogami or Shihou, this contradiction was deeply hidden, far more complex.

Perhaps only when he could glimpse her true inner self would he have a chance to touch the truth.

Unfortunately, ever since class assignments were finalized a month ago, their relationship had amounted to little more than exchanging a few words when they happened to meet. From another angle, almost every opportunity he’d had to interact with her existed solely because of Nogami.

One could even say that his understanding of Sanada Minako was probably less than how much she knew about him, Hoshikawa Harutaki.

If this were a game, then as he looked into those fox-like, matcha-colored eyes, he knew he’d already fallen behind from the very start.

A stunning girl with an enviable figure, whose personal details were completely unknown, there was no advantage he could claim here.

One thing, however, was certain.

Sanada might hold some special opinion of him, but there was no way she saw him as someone special.

She wouldn’t harbor feelings that could develop into “liking,” the way Nogami did.

She said she was interested, yet in Sanada’s eyes, he saw nothing that could be called affection. What he saw instead was amusement, an expression like that of a hunter gazing at prey.

“Don’t you think we’re very alike, Hoshikawa-kun? And that we’d suit each other quite well?”

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. After more than ten seconds of silence, Minako was the first to break the tense atmosphere surrounding them.

“Life like that might be easy,” he replied, “but it would definitely become boring. Besides, I don’t believe you could fall for me in just one month with barely any interaction.”

Mindful of Shihou and Nogami outside, Harutaki didn’t want to beat around the bush. He responded directly.

“After all, you said it yourself, we’re alike. And I know very well that neither of us is the type of idiot who can’t draw clear boundaries or lacks a sense of distance.”

“Really? I don’t buy it.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly, locking gazes with his deep violet pupils, as though trying to peer straight into his heart.

“If you truly understood what ‘drawing boundaries’ means, then why pursue Shihou-san while simultaneously placating and deceiving Izumi?”

So she was finally willing to address the real issue?

He exhaled softly, gathered himself, and answered seriously.

“I don’t know why you’d call that ‘placating.’ I was simply responding to Nogami’s feelings.”

“Then tell me, Hoshikawa-kun, if a man has no intention of dating a girl yet continues to respond to her affection, what would you call him?”

Her tone sharpened, as though the seductive fox from earlier had never existed.

“A… ladies’ man?”

Under Minako’s disdainful gaze, he clicked his tongue and raised both hands in surrender.

“…A scumbag.”

He knew exactly what he was doing. He’d just been avoiding it, unwilling to tear off that shiny, respectable façade.

“So you dragged me here to warn me to stay away from Nogami-san?”

“Oh my, so that’s how you see me? That’s really hurtful.”

Please stop fake-wiping those tears, he thought. Though admittedly, Sanada putting on that act was beautiful too, especially with the enticing sway of her chest, enough to make anyone’s mouth go dry.

“Or are you trying to play matchmaker between me and Nogami-san? Sorry, but the one I like right now is Shihou-san. Also—”

He continued probing, but was abruptly cut off.

“That’s enough. You and I both know this kind of verbal fencing could go on forever if we took it seriously. I told you we’re alike, you should know exactly how much nonsense you’re spouting.”

“…”

Harutaki fell silent for a moment, then let out a helpless sigh.

He felt like he’d sighed more today than in the entire past month combined.

“Whether to pour maple syrup on pancakes or add whipped cream seems like a simple choice. But if you only get one chance to choose, I think anyone would struggle to decide, wouldn’t they?”

“So your decision was to turn both Chouko and Izumi’s conflicts toward yourself?”

A trace of unease crept into Minako’s voice.

“What’s the benefit in that?”

She really was like him, he thought, but not entirely the same.

“Since you’re already a scumbag, why not commit fully?” she snapped. “Doing these hypocritical things under the banner of ‘for their own good’, are you trying to be a scumbag, or a hero? Men are always like this… fickle, pretending to be righteous while feeling guilty, shedding crocodile tears as you quietly satisfy your own desires.”

“Well, damn… with you putting it that way, how am I supposed to argue back?”

He let out a flippant laugh, took a few steps forward, and backed Minako against the wall before asking:

“Then tell me, have you ever considered the consequences of being alone in a private space with a scumbag like me?”

“Pfft, give me a break~ If Izumi or Chouko weren’t virgins, I might believe you…”

Though she recoiled dramatically, taking several quick steps back, the girl still pierced straight through his bluff.

“You’re gentle like a scumbag, but in truth, far gentler than one. There’s no way you’d hurt an innocent bystander like me.”

“Compared to being gentle, you could just think of me as a petty villain who repays favors with demands. I helped Nogami-san solve her problem, saved Shihou-san from a trashy guy, then tried to exploit that gratitude to claim both their hearts and bodies. A despicable little man.”

If only that were true, everything would be simpler. He laughed bitterly at his own misplaced sense of aesthetics and stubborn principles.

Being a villain, or a scumbag, was far easier than playing the role of a righteous gentleman.

Possessiveness really was a curse…

Harutaki believed he treated every feeling with sincerity and respected the girls’ choices. But still…

Having his fig leaf torn away by Sanada forced him to think everything through clearly.

If he failed to make the right choice, if he walked the wrong path, then one day Shihou or Nogami would date another man, holding hands like they once did with him, kissing, touching each other’s skin… even sleeping together.

“Hoshikawa-kun, there’s no room for you to run anymore. You and I aren’t fools. We both know this fragile balance can’t last forever.”

Minako’s words were like a depleted uranium round, effortlessly shredding his defenses.

“You’ve heard the story of the dog and its reflection, right? Chase an illusion, and you’ll never reach the bigger piece of meat, while the one in your mouth slips away.”

“I think… I can still try a little harder.”

A statement as hollow as covering one’s ears to steal a bell.

If effort alone were enough, then construction workers who broke their backs every day would all own apartments in the city.

“Where did the courage go, the one you had when you stood up to Izumi before? Never mind, no matter what I say, you probably won’t listen.”