If You Play in the Shadows

Miyako

At first, I wanted to talk to Kurume.

To tell him how much this was weighing on me.

How much it hurt to watch people slowly isolate you.

But then I realized — if I gave up now, she'd win.

So I took a notebook.

And started writing names.

Who was spreading rumors.

Who whispered the loudest.

Who suddenly began "pitying" Kurume like he was the victim in our relationship.

I started going to each of them.

Quietly. Calmly. With questions.

— "Where did you hear that?"

— "Who told you I was 'pressuring' him?"

— "Are you sure it's true?"

They looked away. Got nervous.

Then started breaking.

— "It was... Sayo just kind of mentioned it. Casually. We... didn't think it was serious…"

Kurume

When Miyako showed me the notebook, I stayed silent for a long time.

It was filled with names and details.

Who, where, when. And what they said.

— "I don't want to break people," she said.

— "But if they choose to be weapons… they should understand how much it hurts."

I understood — this wasn't just a fight anymore.

It was a war for truth.

Break Time

— "Are you seriously compiling a file on me?" Sayo smirked when I ran into her by the classroom door.

— "I'm gathering the truth. That's not the same thing."

— "She thinks she'll expose everything. But you know, Kurume... people don't believe what's true. They believe what's easy."

I looked her straight in the eyes.

— "Then I'll make the truth easy to believe."

Evening

Miyako posted screenshots in the school group chat.

Anonymously — but with obvious hints.

Everyone saw how the rumors spread.

Who started them. And how they passed along.

Shock. Silence.

Then — a flood of comments.

> "Wait… this is real?.."

"Sayo lied?.."

"No way…"

"Miyako… we're sorry. We were wrong."

Sayo didn't say a word.

But the next day she came to school with her head down.

Even her smile — was inside out.