Nakamura-san appears in the library and says she has something important to discuss.

What could be more important than a confession? I am a little defensive.

「An important talk?」

「Yes, it’s hard to talk here, so why don’t you come home with me when you’re done with your library work?」

That meant being alone with Nakamura-san.

It reminded me of what Aizawa-san said the other day.

「Sorry, I can’t leave alone with Nakamura-san right now.」

It may seem offensive to put it this way, but it can’t be helped.

「Perhaps…… you already knew?」

Nakamura-san seems to have come to tell me that something happened, but I know nothing about it. I still have a bad feeling about this.

「No, I know nothing about it.」

「I see… but, I’d prefer to talk to you somewhere less crowded if possible.」

You never know when people will come to talk at this counter.

But fortunately there are no people here now.

「Okay, I’ll listen to you here. And there’s no one here right now.」

「I understand. Tōyama-kun, look at this.」

Nakamura-san operated her own phone and offered it to me over the counter.

「Your phone?」

——!

I could not hide my surprise when I saw the image displayed there.

「How, that photo…」

The picture was of me and Nakamura-san hugging each other. It looks like someone was spying on me when she asked me for that hug.

「…Where did you get this picture from?」

I turned my suspicion on Nakamura-san.

Naturally, there was a possibility that I had been set up and photographed by Nakamura-san.

「I’m really sorry… I apologize in advance. But I didn’t know this was being filmed until a friend showed it to me.」

If Nakamura-san had planned this to frame me, there is no need for her to come to me now to tell me. All she have to do is keep quiet.

「Nakamura-san said her friend showed her this, do you know where it came from?」

「No… I don’t know. There was a boy in our class who made a pass at me and showed me this picture and asked me if “I was dating Tōyama.”」

Did the boy spy on me? Or did someone give her the pictures? This alone doesn’t tell me anything.

「This picture has already gone viral, and everyone in the class seems to know about it.」

…This is the worst. What Aizawa-san said to me is passing through my mind. It seems that I have caused trouble for Nakamura-san as well because I was naive.

「Nakamura-san, sorry. I feel like you’ve gotten yourself involved in some weird stuff.」

「That’s wrong! I’m sorry I asked Tōyama-kun to do something crazy…」

Nakamura-san is drooping, tears in her eyes.

「Nakamura-san, I’ll be fine.」

I don’t care what they say about me, but I am afraid that Nakamura-san will be harmed.

「If…… Tōyama-kun says anything, I will testify properly. I said that this was my request and that Tōyama-kun was not to blame.」

If she can testify to that, it won’t matter if something goes wrong.

But can I trust her word now? Nowadays there is hardly anyone in the class that can be trusted.

「You know that I have been the subject of unfounded rumors about the last group chat, don’t you, Nakamura-san?」

「Yes, I saw the group chat message too.」

Then we can talk quickly.

「I don’t mean to offend you, but would you mind if I record what you just said? You said it was a consensual hug. I’m not doubting Nakamura-san, but I wouldn’t feel safe otherwise.」

I don’t want to ask her to do something that she don’t trust. But considering what Aizawa-san had told me, I was sure that I had no choice but to do so.

「Yes, of course I will cooperate. The seed was originally sown by me. I have no reason to say no to Tōyama-kun in order for you to trust me.」

「I see, then I’m glad… Well then, please do.」

「Now here?」

「The sooner the better, if possible.」

「I understand… ah, why don’t you take a video anyway? Wouldn’t it be better to have my face on it as evidence?」

「Certainly… Okay, I’ll let you shoot then.」

Nakamura-san even helped me by taking video of the evidence. At first I was skeptical, thinking it was some kind of trap, but she would be trustworthy.

But even if I wanted to photograph her, I couldn’t find the time as the returning students started to arrive.

I went to the counter.

“We are working on it in the back room. Please use the return box. If you need something else, please press the doorbell.”

And a pop-up on the counter reads.

「This buys us a little time. Let’s get a quick shot in that room there.」

This separate room, to which Nakamura-san was invited, is a room where surplus stock and materials are stored and can be entered by general students with the permission of the library committee members to search for books and materials.

We were able to finish without the doorbell being pressed during the shoot.

「Nakamura-san, thank you for coming all the way here to tell us. You even testified as evidence, which was very helpful. And this whole thing is my fault. I’m so sorry I got you into this.」

Why do people get involved with me? Is this because I lack a sense of urgency? Or is it still because of my own past behavior that I have been branded a gloomy person?

「No, don’t say it like that. It was my selfishness that led to this situation in the first place, so I’m the one who should apologize.」

Nakamura-san is really apologetic.

「I don’t like to think about this stuff, but there are some malicious people in my class, and I think you should be careful, Nakamura-san.」

It’s enough for me to get involved.

「Yes, I understand. Be careful, Tōyama-kun. Talk to me if anything happens.」

She left the library with few words.

「I hope nothing happens to you on this one…」

Was it a coincidence that I was being voyeuristically photographed, or was there someone watching my every move…… There were so many things I didn’t understand.

Even though Nakamura-san allowed me to photograph her testimony, I was still uneasy.

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