A cold rejection

"Riyuzaki, do you really mean that?"

"No, but it seemed to be the right thing to say. Acting is difficult for me, but it looks like I managed to entertain you, Minami-san."

I felt as though I'd been stabbed. Was Riyuzaki saying that he just acted as though my crying affected him?

"…Why?"

"I promised you an authentic date, and it looks like I have managed to meet your expectations. I hope now you will keep your end of the deal?"

I hadn't really thought about it until now, but I should have seen this coming. From the very beginning, he had acted unusually considerate toward me. I should have realised that it was an act, but I was enjoying myself too much and didn't notice that, to Riyuzaki, this is just a job.

I nodded to his question. It looked like with both Remi and Riyuzaki I had made the mistake by assuming that they have some good inside them. But, in reality, they are just heartless monsters.

"Well then, I will take you back, Minami-san."

When we got out of the bus by the park, where we met up in the morning, I had wanted to coldly decline Riyuzaki when he asked to walk me home. I knew that it would be as effective as saying to the billboard next to him, but I wanted to hurt him the same way he hurt me.

However, he asked me no such thing. In fact, once he got out of the bus, he left me without so much as a nod. After that, I could no longer afford to be angry. Everything he had done so far, was just to get me to do what he wanted. Could a girl receive a colder rejection than that?

The loneliness overwhelmed me again. It's like a tightening in my chest. There is no where I could run to this time, so I cried under the bus stop.

"Minami? Minami, what's wrong?"

"Go away!"

I don't want anyone to see me like this. Just leave me alone.

"Minami, it's me, Takada. If you want me to go, I will."

Takada?!

"W-why?"

He took out some tissues from this pocket and handed it to me.

"We were just playing some football in the park. I saw you and decided to come over… there is something that I want to talk about, but now's probably not a good time, right? … Was that Riyuzaki?"

Takada's voice trailed off as he looked in the direction Riyuzaki had gone. I didn't say anything.

"Never liked that guy. Want me to kick his ass for you?"

I laughed a little as I imagined that. Takada is athletic, but short for a boy, so it seemed to me like he would struggle to win against Riyuzaki in a fight. Especially since that guy didn't feel anything.

"No, it's fine… I'm going home now."

"Alright, let's talk again at school."

When I got home, Reiko, my little sister, is there to greet me. It looks like this girl has a lot of free time.

"Reiko, could we talk later?"

It's dangerous to talk to her right now, with my mental state. The last thing that I wanted to do is vent my frustration on her.

"He~ You didn't come home last night. Out enjoying youth, onee-sama?"

"You know I was with my friends."

"And what about the clothes you're wearing? Even though all the hand-me-downs you give me are disgusting, it looks like you finally grew some working eyes for your date. Convenient for you, right, onee-sama?"

I tried to get past her, but that is not easy with a wheelchair.

"Where are you going? You haven't told me about your boyfriend with the disabled girl fetish, onee-sama?"

My face must have given something away because Reiko suddenly smiled.

"Turned down again? That's unfortunate~ Well, at least we know what they're put off by, right, onee-sama?"

You don't know anything, idiot.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Safe! If it had rung any later, I might have ended up scolding Reiko very harshly. Although she deserved it, it would be better to do that kind of thing with a cool head.