How we used to be...

"Iino?" 

The familiar short girl with brown hair, which she tied in pigtails, appeared before him.

Still, this was weird, especially when the class was about to start, and considering how rigid and good a student this girl was. 

Ishigami knew this girl well, and she should have been entering the class at that moment as it was impossible for her to come late, yet here she was, appearing on his way when he was about to go back as if she had been waiting for him. 

"What's wrong?" 

"...why didn't you tell me?" 

"Tell you what?" 

"About what was happening!" 

In Ishigami's silence, the girl's face twisted with a mix of emotions and tears streaming down her cheeks. She was clearly in pain, her feelings complex and hesitant. It was evident that she was desperate to know why he had kept this problem from her. 

Before the incident that happened to him, their relationship was so close to each other. 

In middle school, he had no one after he quit the soccer club, and Iino also had no one due to her stuck-up personality. They happened to be together, often talking and supporting each other silently. 

However, when that incident happened, everything changed, and they parted ways. 

"If only you told me... then..." 

If only Ishigami had told her, then would their relationship have changed?

But—

"How could I tell you?" Ishigami looked at Iino with a helpless expression and said, "If I told you that someone told me that I could sleep with that girl if I kept quiet about these wrongdoings, how would you respond?" 

"I..." 

If it had been before, Ishigami wouldn't have said all of this, but as he wasn't the original Ishigami and everything was exposed, there was nothing wrong with saying everything. 

Yet, frankly, whether the original Ishigami or Iino, the two of them were nothing but children at that time. 

While Iino was stuck with her idea and completely broken that she couldn't bend, the original Ishigami also wasn't sure how to face the problem that he encountered in middle school, especially when he was being slandered in front of everyone and suddenly became a bad guy in everyone's eyes. 

If the original Ishigami could trust Iino at that time, it might have been great since he wouldn't be alone and would have someone to support him. 

However, the original Ishigami also wished to keep everything hidden since he didn't want the reputation of the girl he once loved to be tarnished by being exposed by the bastard who slandered him. 

Nevertheless, this matter was already over, and Ishigami knew that it wouldn't be a bad idea to mend his relationship with Iino. 

"To be honest, even now, I am not even sure whether my decision at that time was correct or not."

"No, you are not wrong... you are not wrong..." 

However, it was impossible for Iino to feel happy with Ishigami's decision. 

Rather, she didn't feel that the girl was worthy of Ishigami's effort and sacrifice. 

'If it isn't for her...' 

Yet, she didn't deny him since she knew if someone was affected the most by this incident, it would be Ishigami, who had tried his best to endure everything. 

Still, she was glad for whoever it was who had exposed the truth. 

If this person didn't expose the truth, she would remain blind and know nothing. 

"Thank you." 

"No, it's okay..." 

Even so, Iino knew that she shouldn't deny him, but after that, what should she do? 

While Ishigami wasn't sure what Iino was thinking, if he knew he could only look away, pretending that everything had nothing to do with him, but then again, let's just finish this matter since it was all the in the past, and he was no longer the previous Ishigami. 

"Oh, the class starts." 

The sound of the ringing bell echoed within the school, telling all of them that the next class was about to start. 

"Wipe away your tears. What if someone thinks that I am bullying you?" 

"I-I know..." 

Yet, even if Iino tried to wipe her tears, they kept falling from her eyes. As for the class, while she cared about that before, she didn't care about it now. At this moment, she wondered what would happen between her and Ishigami. 

Would it end just like this? 

Just like this? 

Then, nothing had changed. 

Frankly, unlike the others who had persecuted him, Iino tried her best to defend Ishigami, yet with her nature, how could she tell him that she had done all of that?

More importantly, she didn't help him because she wanted to get his gratitude. 

At the same time, she wondered how Ishigami felt toward that girl. 

Did his love remain? 

'I don't want that...' 

When she thought about that possibility, her heart felt almost crushed that she couldn't breathe. Facing this hateful guy, she should just ignore him, but the thought of him going out and becoming close with one girl after another made her annoyed and irritated. 

However, her feelings were impossible to express. 

No words came out of her lips, and she just wiped her tears, which couldn't stop no matter how many times she wiped them.

"Geez... you are so handful." 

"Eh?" 

Iino was stunned when her tears were wiped by Ishigami, and due to his action, her tears stopped naturally. 

Yet, Ishigami, who touched Iino's face and cheeks, felt that they were soft. Probably as soft as Chika's chest, but if he dared to say that, he was sure that he would be killed, so he would just remain silent. 

As he did this intimate action, Iino didn't do anything and just stared at his face in a daze with a cute blush that slowly spread from her cheeks to her ears. 

She didn't wear makeup, and her face was all natural. 

Still, her base was good, so even if she didn't wear make-up, everything was okay. 

Her rosy cheeks, pale white skin, and small cherry lips. 

Ishigami realized this girl was more charming than he had thought; he couldn't help but stare at her in a daze as he softly caressed her cheek.

"I-Ishigami..." 

When her mosquito-like voice was heard, Ishigami quickly realized what he was doing. "I-I am sorry, Iino." As he apologized, he sighed inwardly, wondering whether he was so thirsty. 

"I-It's fine... it-it feels good..." 

Iino had to admit that it felt good being touched, and his slightly aggressive eyes made her heart race so hard! 

What was wrong with this guy?!

Iino felt that Ishigami had changed so much, but... she didn't hate this change. 

"It feels good?" Ishigami looked at Iino weirdly, then decided to tease her for a bit. "Pervert." 

"I-I am not! You are the one who is a pervert! You kept touching my face!"

How could Iino accept Ishigami's slander? So naturally, she had to fight back!

With a slightly teasing tone, Ishigami said softly, "I wonder what those students you reproach would think when they know that their strict Public Morals Committee Member would get excited over this..." 

Iino felt her body hot, thinking of a lewd plot in those obscene books that she had collected from those bad students. 

When Iino thought that such a plot would happen to her and was done by Ishigami, she felt like... she felt like... 

"Let's go back. Stop thinking about something perverted." 

As Ishigami pulled Iino's pointy nose lightly, he turned and walked toward the class. Frankly, this conversation was dangerous, and if someone happened to hear them...

Fortunately, they were alone, which made him sigh in relief. 

Yet, this also made him wonder whether this girl was a masochist. 

Still, he had to say that this girl was a little too easy, right? 

As he thought so, Iino quickly chased after him. "I am not!" She wanted to bite this bastard who kept teasing her, but then she got worried and asked, "But we're already late. Are we going to be okay?" She had been a good girl, so when she realized she was about to enter the class late, she couldn't help but feel worried. 

While Ishigami was speechless by her concern, he said, "Leave that to me. You only need to nod and follow my lead." 

"O-Okay." Iino was in doubt, but she nodded obediently. 

Naturally, when they came to the class, they became the center of attention, and the teacher asked why they were late. 

"There was a little problem on the student council, and she happened to help me." 

"I see. Please sit down." 

"Thank you, Sensei." 2x

Unlike his reputation, Iino's was flawless. She was a good student in the eyes of teachers and also had the first rank in the entire grade. 

As long as Ishigami used Iino's name, everything would be alright. 

"See?" 

Watching him look at her with a complacent wink, Iino pouted and blushed lightly as her heart raced, thinking about the bad thing they had done, but she didn't say anything since they were in the middle of class. Nevertheless, she was happy inwardly because she felt their relationship had returned to how it used to be. 

Or they might even become closer, so as Ishigami walked away, Iino stared into his back and smiled softly. 

However, when she was happy, some people weren't happy.

---

By the way, has anyone watched "Higurashi (Higurashi When They Cry)?"