Operation Cheating Scene Paparazzi

That night, I immediately called Yota Ishida. I’ve known him since our third year of middle school. We went to different schools but became close at the same prep school; in high school, we were in the same class all three years. To me, he is someone I can truly call a best friend.

“So, that’s the deal. I want to catch Kamokura-senpai and Karen in the act. Can you help me out?”

Ishida agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

“Got it. I’m in. If it’s a Monday or Thursday, I don’t have my part-time job, so I can make time. I just need to wait at Nippori Station after school whenever you contact me, right?”

“Yeah, exactly. Thanks, I owe you one.”

“Don’t worry about it. I was already ticked off by what Kamokura-senpai did. That jerk… always acting like a big shot and bossing people around just because he’s a senior.”

I listened in silence. Remembering it made my blood boil all over again. To steal the girlfriend of a fellow member—a junior, no less—is just beyond trashy.

“Still, Toko-senpai is something else. To stay that calm even though she knows her boyfriend is cheating…”

“Seriously. This whole thing has made me realize once again how incredible she is.”

“And that revenge plan… ‘dump him at the moment he’s most in love with you and spend the night with another man.’ Man, if that happened to me right in front of my eyes, it would be traumatic.”

“I never would have thought of something like that either.”

“Women are terrifying when you make them angry.”

Then, Ishida asked with a look of genuine curiosity.

“By the way, according to that plan, the one who gets to go to the hotel with Toko-senpai at the end is you, right, Yu?”

“I told you already—that hasn’t been decided yet. It’s only if I’ve become a man worthy of Toko-senpai’s notice by then.”

“But as of right now, you’re the closest one to that spot. Isn’t that a hell of a lucky break? We’re talking about the Toko-senpai—the one we’ve admired forever.”

Ishida’s words brought back memories of our high school days.

Yu, Ishida, Toko-senpai, and even that Kamokura guy all graduated from the same high school. Toko-senpai was one year above us, and Kamokura was two years above. Toko-senpai was in the Literature Club and also served on the library committee. That was how she got her nickname: “The Goddess of the Library.”

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Toko-senpai—refined, intellectual, and dignified—was the object of desire for every boy in school. And despite her slender frame, she had that ample bust!

How many times had I, Ishida, and all the other guys let out heavy sighs just seeing her on the way to or from school? When Ishida and I passed our exams for Joto University, we even talked about “confessing to Toko-senpai with a ‘do or die’ spirit!”
But as soon as we entered university, we learned that she had started dating Kamokura.

Tetsuya Kamokura was a “sunny” hottie who had been chased by screaming girls since high school. He was smart, athletic, the vice-captain of the soccer club, and their center forward. He was 180cm tall. He had great grades but carried a “bad boy” aura; he was always at the absolute top of the school caste, the center of attention in every class and club. There was no way he wouldn’t be popular. And there was no way guys like us stood a chance against him.

When Ishida and I found out she was dating him, the two of us spent the night drowning our sorrows in cheap booze. Thinking about that, if things actually worked out with Toko-senpai now, it truly would be a case of “good luck coming from misfortune” or “turning a curse into a blessing.”

“Well, if it actually happens,” I said with a sigh. In reality, the probability seemed low.

“Work hard to make it happen! If things go well with Toko-senpai, you’ll be able to forget all about Karen-chan and Kamokura, right?”

Well, that might be true. They say the best way to heal the shock of a broken heart is to find a new love. Right now, I can’t even imagine “healing from the shock,” though.

And… today, now, at this very moment… Karen might be making sweet sounds underneath Kamokura.

I wonder how Toko-senpai is feeling right now… I suddenly wondered.