Classroom of the Elite - Revenge [Cote X OC]

Vol. 5 Chapter 10: The Weight of the Past

[3rd February, Wednesday]

[Kurushima Pov]

"Well... I'm getting more attention than I had expected. That wasn't how I wanted it to go like."

Standing before my locker two days after the certain incident occurred in my classroom I was looking with a wryly awkward smile at my locker.

They were filled with love letters... again.

It was four times as much as the day before yesterday: a total amount of twelve.

"Did so many confess to me because... They know now who I am?"

Being the richest person in Japan seems to have made people have a change of mind about me apparently.

I disliked that very much. I did not mind it much if they confessed to me because of superficial reasons such as my appearance, but because of my wealth... that was something I always heavily disliked.

If it was not for mother teaching me always to be respectful to those who take courage to confess I wouldn't even appear and reply to them at all.

"Haah... What a drag."

"Kuku. It seems like you have all of your hands full, Kurushima."

I looked around noticing that this guy was bothering me again. "Following me around again? Are you still not past your obsession with me?"

"I told you already—"

"That you'll beat me up, right? Please just let it be. That's impossible for you to achieve. I know it and you know it as well. Spare me the trouble for heavens sake."

I continued his sentence and told him the undeniable truth to his face. Then I turned myself around to collect the love letters in my locker.

But that rude guy behind me had closed my locker before I could touch the love letters and put them in my bag.

"That's quite the rude habit you have, you know? What should I do if one of the love letters ends up getting damaged as a result? It'll be awkward and impolite if I can't even appear and properly reject them."

He looked at me with a confused question mark on his head.

"Do you really mean that, Kurushima? I didn't think a heartless bastard like you would feel obligated even appearing, yet waste your time rejecting them."

"You're completely right. I feel particularly annoyed doing this. But I promised it to someone close to me long ago. To be mindful of their feelings. That's all."

"Ironic, coming from your mouth. It seems like that person failed you, then. Perhaps that person should have made more efforts teaching you this lesson better."

I stared at him deadly in the eyes. "One more word and I'll rip your tongue out of your mouth."

He was a little bit stunned by my warning, gulping his throat for a moment since no word came out of his mouth. But then, he looked at me with his casual smile again, having recompensed himself. "Sensitive topic, huh? Calm down, Kurushima. It's just a small little joke among friends, right?"

As he was finishing his sentence he looked to the side with a mischievous grin, whereupon I followed along out of curiosity.

But the moment I laid my eyes to that direction I was particularly perplexed by the situation in front of me.

I saw the girl I had broken up a while ago. It was Hiyori Shiina, my one and only love.

The fleeting raw emotions of anger I felt dissipated when I saw her face. It was strange that I was getting this vulnerable, feeling so warm, yet also this pained whenever I looked at her.