Possession

By the time everyone persecutes me of being the uploader of those lecherous photos, an extremely dismayed Akari-san appeared in front of me.

"H...How could you....? I trusted you, Tanaka-san." said Akari.

Why are these guys staring at me like I am trash?! They wouldn't die if they try to hear me out!

Koyanagi, Okamoto, Tatsumi..... Why do you look at me like someone who can do that move?!

"W...Wait! Do I look like I have the guts to do something despicable such as that?!" I asked.

"You do not," answered Akari. "...but humans were born to have the ability to control themselves, and one of the attributes is to hide their feelings."

Hide?! Why is she justifying things?

Every classmate of mine is just looking at me with anger or pity. Man, this sucks!

"Tanaka! What happened?" asked Miyuki as she comes running from the hallway.

"Miyuki..... For some reason, my account has been compromised and they wouldn't believe me at all!"

"Guys, can you let Tanaka express his side? You can't just blame him for this incident!" said Miyuki.

W...Wow, is she protecting me? S...She's concerned about me.

"Side? The proof is right on his phone!" shouted Koyanagi.

"I...It's true, but the possibility of his account being hacked should still be considered!" responded Miyuki. "You call Tanaka your friend but you couldn't even let him explain properly? What a friend you are!"

G...Guys, please stop quarreling.

Though to be honest, I feel that someone still cares about me. I am so delighted Miyuki came to my rescue.

"Tanaka, let's go to the nurse station. You're having trouble breathing," said Miyuki.

"What about the case?! We have to settle this in the disciplinary office," said Akari.

"I'll be the one to set up the schedule in the disciplinary office. You don't have to worry about anything, Vice President," answered Miyuki. "Let's go, Tanaka."

Miyuki is my superhero for the whole week! Waah~ She's there for me whenever it counts!

.....

< Since my classmates' sight has been on me now that the issue has been spread out, I decided to leave the school early and for some reason, Miyuki came along with me.>

"Look, I am happy that you are here for me but I don't want you to miss classes because of some loser like myself," I said.

"It's fine. I want to go home too, anyway," said Miyuki.

Wow, is she being a delinquent type now? I never expected his from her.

Both of us are eating at MgRonald's right now, sipping my favorite cola to relieve some of my stress.

"Honestly, who dared to touch my account? I am not even that popular in school so what's the point?" I ranted.

"I'm not sure either. Do you know anyone who had any grudges against you before this incident?" asked Miyuki.

Grudges? I am sure that I am a kind guy! The possibility isn't a drop to zero-rating though. Something like a mistaken identity thing happened and the culprit unintentionally takes his/her revenge on me! Waaah!!

"Don't be so lonely. We'll get that hacker in no time!" said Miyuki.

"I just couldn't believe that my friends reacted like that. I thought they trusted me so well to the point that they should know I'm not going to do something terrible as that."

"Let me ask you, then," replied Miyuki. "Are they your friends?"

Huh?

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Pardon, let me reiterate my question. Do you think they strongly consider you as a friend?" asked Miyuki.

T-Them...? Do not consider me a friend...?

"T...That's a fact! Those guys... they have become my circle of friends since I met Suzuki. They even requested that they call me by my first name."

"Hmm, what if they are acting? You know, people tend to befriend someone when they need something or think that the person is weak enough to be manipulated," said Miyuki.

"W-What are you saying? That I shouldn't trust them?"

"No, it's not like that. I'm jotting down possibilities since I want you to ponder about people's characteristics, especially that 'girl'," answered Miyuki.

That 'girl'?

"Are you talking about Suzuki?"

"Did she ever contact you this morning?"

That reminds me, we aren't talking that much nowadays. I mean, that is understandable 'coz she's busy with the elections.

"She's currently immersed in the election tasks so I do think she has a reason not to get in touch with me," I said.

"Is that truly the case?" asked Miyuki. "I bet that the issue has reached her by now, yet you haven't received any message of concern from her."

"As I said, she's...!"

"If the person cares for you, then she could have at least used a minute trying to mail or call you. Am I wrong?" added Miyuki.

S-She has a point. If that teasing maniac does mind me at all, then she could have done at least something like sending me a message. Hmm...

"Say, who is Suzuki Kotori to you?" asked Miyuki.

"S...Suzuki? Well, s...she's a friend."

"Why do you look so outcast when I said there's a chance that she doesn't care for you?"

"I...I do not feel lonely or what! I'm like this every moment."

"You are blushing. Why are you so in denial with your feelings?"

I...In denial?! Is she pointing about me like I do have romantic feelings for Suzuki?!

That is not possible, she's just a friend.

"You know, there's this rumor circulating the class," said Miyuki. "They say that your beloved friend Suzuki lingers some feelings for you."

HUH?!

"T...That's impossible! M...Maybe folks just overheard her teasing me and they came up with that kind of result so... it ain't true!"

"Still defending her, eh?" said Miyuki. "Well, if ever that was true, then she would get her way for you in this kind of situation. Haha, sorry for revealing such allegation."

P...Probably, the issue reached her at this point and must be laughing at my back. S...She has that personality, to ridicule me or so. She's such a bully.

Even if I couldn't confirm it right now, why does my heart hurt so much?

"This sucks..." I uttered.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"I'm going home. I don't feel so well. Goodbye."

"H...Hey, wait."

Yes, I just have to stay home. I don't want to go to the class for now. I should just play my games and stick inside my room.

"Curse everything today."

This incident doesn't have to merit anything against my reputation. This is not fair. I am scared, not only due to my account being hacked but also seeing the distrust expressed by my friends towards me. How could they?

Miyuki is right. If they are a bunch of true friends, they are the last people not to have some faith in me.

Forget school, I'm staying home. I shall isolate myself from people, including Suzuki. Time for ridiculousness to cease and have myself a peaceful student life.

....

"Are you sure you're going inside the campus? The student body got their eyes on you like you have a bounty on your head," said Miyuki as we are walking towards the entrance gate.

"Even I don't want to come here, but Suzuki insisted that I should meet her. She needs something from me."

"See? They just remember you if they need something from you. This is risky, you should not go." said Miyuki.

Honestly, I'm just curious about what's in store for me today. Ugh, gotta go home once this is over.

As expected, everyone in our way has their eyes on me.

"Miyuki, you don't have to go with me. I can do this on my own."

"I'm staying. I don't want anyone to hurt you."

I can't help but let her stay. I'd feel bad since I think I owe her.

"S...Science lab... Science lab... Oh yes, it's on the farthest side." I said.

"Have you already forgotten it? Though, we're on the right story level."

We are continuously walking and thank the deities that there are fewer people in this part of the school.

"Right behind this door is where Suzuki resides, I still wonder what she needs from me," I uttered. "Anyway, I'm opening it."

As I opened the door, what exposed onto us was Suzuki sitting on a metal stool but... she is not alone.

"S...Suzuki... Everyone... Even Akari-san... Why are you all here?" I asked.

"Hello, Tanaka. It's been a while. Sorry to call you here so suddenly after a week that we're not conversing. Missed me?" answered Suzuki.

"I...I didn't...! For what reason you have called me here?"

"Well, this is the election day so us candidates finally have some free time," said Suzuki. "Plus, I think this is the perfect time to expel the truth from someone's fraud antics and clear your name from all of the assertions."

"F...Fraud antics? What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Well, well. You two have a seat." offered Suzuki. "We shall have a nice, exciting discussion to make. Fufu."

-------------TO BE CONTINUED--------------