Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818622176203883003
“Today, I wanted to clear up some misunderstandings, so I asked everyone to come here! I’ll answer your questions as much as I can! But please, let’s make this the last time!”
As soon as I finished speaking, I bowed deeply to the people who had gathered here.
“How did you meet Asahina Toka?”
A deep voice from the back of the room asked me a question.
“We went to the same high school! I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time, so I approached her.”
“…”
The room fell silent. Even the sound of camera shutters stopped, and everyone seemed to be waiting for me to continue.
“What is your relationship with Kagurazaka Kaede?”
“We just happened to be at the same event when we went shopping! I knew that Kagurazaka-san and Toka-san were seniors and juniors, so I was surprised.”
The stares from those around me felt painful. I felt like they were looking at me with disappointment, frustration, or boredom. But that’s okay. I’m not here to meet anyone’s expectations. I’m here for Toka.
“Are you aware of the controversy surrounding Asahina Toka’s agency?”
“I know.”
“What does she think about it?”
“Honestly, I don’t think she even knows about the backlash.”
“Why doesn’t she know?”
The sharp question left me speechless. My throat dried up, and I couldn’t breathe properly. Why? When spoken to coldly and matter-of-factly, the courage I had earlier seemed to be slowly eroding. But—I couldn’t run away. I slowly raised my head and looked at the reporters.
“…Toka tries to avoid looking at her smartphone or watching TV as much as possible. I think she’s afraid of getting hurt.”
“What do you mean by ‘hurt’?”
The female reporter asked. Her detached attitude made me feel like my blood was boiling.
“She’s afraid of encountering malicious words or misunderstandings. Because she was once on the receiving end of such treatment… There’s another reason I didn’t mention the backlash! I didn’t want to speak ill of the people she was deeply involved with! I didn’t want her to hear any bad news.”
My tone grew increasingly forceful.
“Toka san is a very compassionate person… If I could protect her, I wanted to take it all on myself.”
The shutter sound rang out. I struggled to suppress the urge to flinch at the sound.
“I don’t want to see her get hurt anymore. So please!”
I straightened my back to look as strong as possible. The journalists in front of me shifted their expressions. Surprise, interest, suspicion—I felt a mix of emotions.
“She used to be a celebrity, but now she’s just a high school student. She’s a normal girl who’s struggling with family issues and desperately trying to pass her final exams! So please, just leave her alone!”
I bowed deeply to everyone once more. No matter what kind of gaze was directed at me, I couldn’t stop speaking. I couldn’t bring myself to stop.
“Toka believed she had no value, that she wasn’t needed! I couldn’t stand seeing her like that! I wanted to do something for her! That’s why I’m here today, asking everyone for your help! She’s no longer a celebrity. She’s just an ordinary girl trying to find her place away from the spotlight!”
In the silence that filled the room, I prayed from the bottom of my heart. I wished everyone would support Toka like they used to…
“Please watch over Asahina Toka. Please stop sending letters or conducting interviews at my house. If she can’t even stay at home, she’ll truly lose her place to belong…”
My eyes welled up with tears at my own words and my feelings for Toka. But I couldn’t afford to cry here.
“Please, I beg you. Please quietly support her future.”
I managed to squeeze out the words.
“…Aren’t you going to stop? It’s abnormal to make a high school boy say something like this. Normally, you can’t call everyone and do something like this.”
Those words came from somewhere. With that one sentence, I could feel the atmosphere in the room softening. I could see a few reporters looking at each other and nodding slightly.
As I was relieved by that exchange, the front door opened quietly.
The buzzing atmosphere came to a sudden halt.
Why… I told her to wait in my room today because it would cause a commotion…
Toka approached me step by step, her face tense.
“Thank you all for coming today.”
Her voice was clear and composed. She was so different from me… It was easy to hear and very confident. I felt a sense of reliability that I had never felt from her before.
“Everything he just said is true. So, there is nothing between him and Kagurazaka-san. Of course, there is nothing between me and Kagurazaka-san either. But! There is one discrepancy in his explanation!”
“Huh?”
A strange sound escaped my lips. Suddenly, Toka started saying something I never expected. Did I say something wrong?
“We’re not just lovers! I plan to be with him in the future! I can’t live without him anymore!”
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”
Wait, wait! When did you say that?! I heard that before! No, wait, what the hell?!
Seeing me panic, the people around us started to giggle.
“The person he’s dating is not Kagurazaka Kaede, but me! If you’re going to write, please write about us!”
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