After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Ayakoji Chiyoko returned to Yuqiu High School as if nothing had happened.

She still had unfinished business here, having sneaked out under the guise of running a personal errand.

Even if she outright announced her visit to Tsukinomori Girls' School, no one would have thought much of it.

...No, that idea was probably wrong.

Even if everyone else hadn't noticed, Kiryu Hina would definitely have realized something.

After all, compared to Ayakoji Chiyoko, Sakata Asahi, and Kiryu Hina had a better relationship and had known each other longer.

If Sakata Asahi had known that Ayakoji Chiyoko's visit was with the intention of laying a trap for her friend, she likely wouldn't have helped her.

Originally, Ayakoji Chiyoko had thought that even if Kiryu Hina later found out from others about her visit to Tsukinomori and inquired about her past, she would have already fulfilled her purpose.

But her initial thought was mistaken.

She indeed had obtained a critical secret.

However, this secret could only destroy Kagura Hikaru, not Kiryu Hina. Once exposed, the latter would receive far more sympathy and support than malice, and it would fail as a bargaining condition.

However, it wasn't entirely in vain.

At least she discovered the true face of Kagura Hikaru, quelling her dangerous impulse to make friends.

From now on, Ayakoji Chiyoko would continue to trust him, but only as a tool.

In the beginning, she once speculated that Kagura Hikaru was a spy sent by Kiryu Hina.

But now she was utterly convinced that it was impossible for Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina to be in collusion, the only thing she was completely certain about.

Arriving at the Disciplinary Committee, voices shouting and the clashing of bamboo swords repeatedly echoed from the old classroom used as a training field.

Today happened to be the day Kagura Hikaru was 'on duty'.

Ayakoji Chiyoko didn't want to see that man's face for the time being.

Unfortunately, just as she was passing by the doorway, a male student dressed in a Kendo uniform happened to push the door open and step out from the classroom.

It was Kagura Hikaru.

"President Ayakoji," Kagura Hikaru greeted her as usual.

Ayakoji Chiyoko gave him a deep look and simply nodded, passing by without a word.

It was that very look that made Kagura Hikaru feel something was off, and he subconsciously let out a mind-reading attempt.

[Looking at this seemingly innocent face, who would imagine this is a treacherous man who has cheated.]

[Better not mess around on my turf, or else...]

[You have gained through peering into the mind: Sword Dao +2]

[Sword Dao lv4 (14/100)]

What is this...?

Kagura Hikaru stood frozen on the spot for a moment, his thoughts in complete disarray.

Accompanying the mind-reading, an image of a short-haired girl flashed by.

Kagura Hikaru recognized her, Sakata Asahi, his classmate from junior high, also… a friend of Kohinata Motoyo.

Mere mention of that name cast a gloom over Kagura Hikaru's heart, as if a pair of icy hands covered his eyes.

Kohinata Motoyo, Kohinata Motoyo.

Bangs showing under her long hair, slightly curled ends, gentle eyes, skin white as jade, fingers like scallions, skilled in singing and dancing, perfectly pure.

The best friend, the best club president, the ideal idol, dazzlingly kind, beautiful, natural, selfless, quiet, cheerful, virtuous, flawless, upright, noble, pure, intelligent, kind—

Kagura Hikaru once thought she would remain untainted by human vices, eternally flawless, a perfectly refined human.

He felt honored to be friends with such a perfect person.

But since that day, when Motoyo confessed to him like any ordinary girl, their friendship shattered, morphing into something even more twisted.

Who could have imagined, a person like that would, for her selfish desires, ruthlessly ruin the youth of two people without a second thought.

Beautiful memories were poisoned, festering into nothing but pain and scars scattered on the ground.

Now, the very existence of that name, everything about it, was merely meant to punish him, to demonstrate how ignorant and foolish Kagura Hikaru had been in the past.

"...Wait."

He suppressed his dizziness and confusion, turning to call out to Ayakoji Chiyoko.

She stopped in her tracks and turned around, her gaze cold, "Is there something?"

Kagura Hikaru hesitated for a moment, "You went to see Sakata Asahi, right?"

Sakata Asahi was a friend of Suse and also a friend of Hina.

Kagura Hikaru had never thought that Ayakoji Chiyoko would approach her.

Although it was also the most painful memory for Hina, something that absolutely must not be leaked, why!

His racing heartbeat pounded like muffled thunder in his eardrums, sadness and anger mixed together.

"...Did she tell you?" Ayakoji Chiyoko's expression changed for a moment, but then remembering Sakata Asahi's dislike for him, she denied it herself, "No, was it that girl you met only once? I didn't expect she would contact you on her own."

Kagura Hikaru didn't know what she was talking about, but it must have been a misunderstanding.

Indeed, at the time of graduation, he had completely severed ties with his middle school social circle, making a clean break with his former self.

Neither past classmates nor friends would be able to reach him again.

"Things are not as you think." Kagura Hikaru tried to argue calmly.

"So are you trying to say that you haven't cheated?"

"..."

"That leaves nothing to be said."

The light in Kagura Hikaru's eyes dimmed.

This matter was not so simple; the truth was different from what outsiders thought.

But, is the truth really important?

Could he simply say "I was threatened" and shirk the responsibility as if nothing had happened?

Besides, the real reality was so vile; how could it be let out into the world?

He did not know.

Who exactly was at fault—himself, Suse, Hina...he could no longer tell.

Secrets hidden within secrets, his choice was to forget, to take them to the grave after his death. He believed Suse would do the same.

Whether it was Hina, Ayakoji Chiyoko, or anyone else, he wouldn't tell.

"Kagura Hikaru, don't worry that this will affect our cooperation, nothing will change, everything will proceed as usual."

Ayakoji Chiyoko's eyes held an unmistakable disappointment, "You helped me once before with the blackmail case, and in exchange, I promise that this matter will not leak from me."

Everything will remain the same.

Although she said so.

But Kagura Hikaru understood that he probably had already lost the possibility of becoming friends with her.

The tone of disappointment said it all.

He could understand Ayakoji Chiyoko's feelings; because when he learned about his own mother's affair, he also felt a similar betrayal and anger.

His mother was a gentle, cheerful, and accomplished woman, just the mention of her involvement with the word infidelity felt jarringly out of place, and no one would believe it if it were spoken aloud.

But she did it anyway; such is the fickleness of human nature.

The intense disconnection he experienced at that time, even today, five years later, still haunted Kagura Hikaru.

Ayakoji Chiyoko probably felt the same.

In front of her, Kagura Hikaru, the seemingly harmless ally, had such a dirty side behind his back, and if she didn't still need him to confront Kiryu Hina, Ayakoji Chiyoko would definitely break off their friendship.

Given her character that despised evil, she would undoubtedly do so.

After all, she was also a woman.

The attitude of all women in this world towards infidelity was uniform.

"That's it, you can go now," said Ayakoji Chiyoko before she left.

Until the very end, Kagura Hikaru didn't know what to say, he could only watch her walk away.

Perhaps, from the very beginning when he chose to hide the issue from Ayakoji Chiyoko, the outcome of the story had already been destined.