Chapter 37: Is Game Over Soon?

Just as the three of them stood frozen by the suddenly opened door, Kohara Yuko’s gaze locked onto Ishikawa Yuka.

The hostility in her eyes was unmistakable, and Yuka could feel it clearly.

“It’s you! Someone like you!”

As she spoke, Kohara Yuko strode toward Yuka and raised her hand.

“You little…”

“!”

‘Ah… I dodged by reflex.’

For some reason, after approaching Yuka, Kohara Yuko had raised her hand as if to deliver a slap.

Yuka found it hard to imagine that a member of the Ōka Association—especially a sixth-grader toward a first-grader—would resort to physical violence in front of everyone.

But what did that gesture mean just now?

Did she truly intend to hit her? And why?

Judging from the fragmented conversation she had overheard earlier, it seemed Kohara Yuko could not tolerate Yuka’s presence in this Salon.

As a member of the Nogami faction, Kohara was likely harborng a grudge over the palm strike and shoulder throw Yuka had used against Nogami Hiroki.

She couldn’t forgive Yuka for doing such a thing and still having the nerve to stay in the Salon.

But hadn’t Kohara Yuko just tried to use violence against her as well?

If that were the case, then it wasn’t a matter of “you are unfit for the Ōka Association because you used violence,” but rather “you are unforgivable for using violence against Nogami Hiroki, but it’s fine for the Nogami faction to use violence against others”?

That was a blatant double standard.

In Yuka’s view, Nogami Hiroki was partly to blame for his own fate.

Who told him to shove Matsuyama Shoko, a girl, for no reason?

Even if Hiroki had his own reasons or grievances, pushing someone indiscriminately was wrong, and he deserved the retaliation.

Of course, Yuka admitted that regardless of her intent to counterattack, she had used force against Nogami Hiroki and was willing to accept criticism for “using violence.”

However, if she was deemed unforgivable simply for “using violence against Nogami Hiroki” while “the Nogami faction using violence against others” was permitted, she could not remain silent.

“Y-You…! You dared to dodge…”

“Senior Kohara… by your actions just now, did you intend to hit me?”

Yuka looked directly at Kohara Yuko, who had raised her hand again, and asked her straight.

The hand stopped in mid-air as Kohara Yuko spoke.

“What is wrong with making someone pay the price for committing such a violent act against Young Master Hiroki!”

“I do not deny that I used a palm strike and a shoulder throw against Nogami-senpai. If it is decided that I am a person who resorts to violence and is thus unfit to remain in the Ōka Association, I will leave at once.”

“Hmph! Trying to please us with words like that now? Don’t think you’ll be forgiven! However, if you leave of your own accord, we might be inclined to show you some leniency.”

Hearing Yuka’s words, Kohara Yuko crossed her arms triumphantly and puffed out her chest.

But Yuka did not intend to end it there and simply walk away.

“If a person who uses violence is unfit to remain here, then shouldn’t Senior Kohara, who just attempted to use violence, also be expelled from the Ōka Association?”

“…Huh?”

Kohara Yuko looked dazed, as if she hadn’t understood the meaning of the words.

But as the realization dawned on her, her face began to flush with rage.

“I only intended to teach a lesson to someone who laid hands on Young Master Hiroki!”

“Then, is it permitted as long as it is a counterattack against someone else’s attack?”

“Exactly! Since Young Master Hiroki was attacked, my actions are justified!”

‘Mhmm… this is practically digging your own grave… but for an ordinary sixth-grade elementary student, this reaction is expected.’

“I don’t know at what point everyone started watching, but Nogami-senpai shoved Shoko from behind for no reason and even attacked me. Therefore, I was merely following what Senior Kohara calls a ‘justified action’ to escape Nogami-senpai’s clutches.”

“Wha—”

“…”

Yuka’s words caused not only Kohara Yuko but most of the people in the Salon to look away in flustered embarrassment.

Many gazes were cast stealthily toward Nogami Hiroki.

“It is true that I was the one who pushed Matsuyama Shoko first. I was in the wrong!”

Under the pressure of the surrounding gazes, Nogami Hiroki walked over to Shoko and bowed his head.

Although his tone didn’t carry much apology, the fact that the “arrogant” Nogami Hiroki could admit his mistake and bow in apology was already quite a feat.

The members of the Salon couldn’t hide their surprise and appeared somewhat shaken.

“I no longer mind it. Please, lift your head.”

Shoko spoke to Nogami Hiroki with a composed attitude.

She looked like a completely different person from not long ago.

The previous Shoko had always appeared more… tense and anxious, or perhaps more calculating in her actions.

If the Shoko who had been instilled with the obsession to marry into the Noyama family had encountered this, she likely would have been thinking of how to manipulate the situation to create favorable conditions for the marriage, forcing herself to endure.

But the current Shoko clearly had no such thoughts, instead revealing her original, sincere, and frank personality.

This was the true charm of Shoko.

“S-So what! Even if Young Master Hiroki laid a hand on the Matsuyama family! Laying hands on Young Master Hiroki is absolutely forbidden!”

As she spoke, Kohara Yuko raised her hand once more.

This time Yuka did not dodge; instead, she grabbed the girl’s wrist and twisted.

Toward an opponent who had said such things and gone this far, there was no longer any need for politeness.

According to the master’s teachings, she should have snapped her arm, thrown her to the ground, and followed up with an elbow strike to break her ribs as they fell together, or delivered a heavy kick to a vital area.

However, she felt that would truly be going too far, so she merely twisted the arm lightly to restrict her movement.

To ensure she wasn’t injured, Yuka gently rendered her immobile.

“When cornered, even a mouse will bite a cat. Taking action means risking a counterattack from the other party. Just like this…”

“Ugh!”

Yuka twisted Kohara Yuko’s hand behind her back so she couldn’t move, and then lightly patted her stomach.

This was purely because there was a height difference between a sixth-grader and a first-grader, and hitting her face would be too much trouble.

It wasn’t impossible; she could have kicked the back of her knee to force her down.

Or rather, normally, one would pin the opponent face-down on the ground from the start.

She hadn’t gone that far, merely patting the easily reachable stomach.

‘It is absolutely, definitely not because I have any impure intentions of touching a girl’s stomach! Definitely not! Certainly not!’

‘In the end? Even if her chest is starting to swell slightly and she’s taking on the silhouette of a young girl, she is still just a sixth-grade elementary student. In my eyes, she is just a child. I am neither a lolicon nor do I have any weird fetishes. I don’t!’

“If I am unfit to be a member of the Ōka Association because I used violence, I accept that. However, that also means that Nogami-senpai, who laid hands on Shoko, and Senior Kohara, who laid hands on me—none of you are fit to be members of the Ōka Association, are you?”

“Young Master Hiroki is the core of the Ōka Association! What nonsense are you talking!”

Even with her wrist twisted behind her and her movements sealed by Yuka, Kohara Yuko spoke with unwavering determination.

“In other words, you are saying that even if it is out of self-defense, counterattacking Nogami-senpai or someone from the Nogami faction is absolutely forbidden; while Nogami-senpai and the Nogami faction are permitted to use violence against others. Is that what you mean?”

“! That…”

Kohara Yuko was at a loss for words.

Perhaps she truly did think that in her heart.

She likely believed that the Noyama family and its faction—the most numerous, the most powerful, and the ones who had contributed the most to Ōka Academy and the Ōka Association thus far—were simply a level above the other factions and could do as they pleased.

However, what it meant to say such a thing in this place… even the hot-headed Kohara Yuko likely understood that.

She couldn’t bring herself to say the words out loud.

Because after hearing Yuka’s statement, the gazes cast by other faction members toward Kohara Yuko had clearly turned severe.

Kohara Yuko didn’t seem foolish enough to ignore the atmosphere and force out “that” conclusion.

Yuka released her grip on Kohara Yuko’s arm and freed her.

‘I definitely didn’t want to touch a girl’s stomach a bit longer… I’m not that kind of pervert, nor do I have any special affection for Kohara Yuko.’

‘If I had to choose, Shoko or Marina would be more… no, that’s not it either! I’m not a lolicon or anything!’

“Well then, everyone, though my time was brief, thank you for looking after me. I shall take my leave.”

After saying this, Yuka bowed and turned to leave the Ōka Association Salon.

She didn’t look back.

Because… if she looked back now…

The smirk on her face would be seen!

‘Ohoho! Finally, I can escape the Ōka Association! And since they were the ones who told me to get lost, I can leave without any reservations!’

Granted, in her future school life, she might be looked at as “someone expelled from the Ōka Association,” which would bring various inconveniences.

And even if she was kicked out by the other party, her mother would likely be angry.

Her mother, who hadn’t spoken to her since the party, would probably grow even more furious.

In the worst-case scenario, she might even be kicked out of the house.

If that happened, she wouldn’t even be able to attend Ōka Academy… and she wouldn’t be able to see Shoko, Marina, Tachiki, Kei… everyone.

She wouldn’t see everyone anymore… along with those characters from Love 100% who were supposed to appear but whom she hadn’t met yet…

‘Ah… what’s this…’

‘I should be happy that I can leave the troublesome Ōka Association… I should be happy…’

‘This feeling, just what is it…’

‘I truly… do love Love 100% after all…’

She was originally so happy to be living in the world of her favorite game.

She complained that being pestered by Nogami Hiroki was a hassle, and grumbled that Kurohara Masahira was a black-hearted strategist rather than a Snow Prince, but she found even those things somewhat interesting.

It was like the long-forgotten, rowdy times of childhood…

Furthermore, she would lose Shoko, the first true friend she had finally made.

The chance to become close with Marina, with whom she still felt some distance, would be gone.

And she hadn’t yet become true friends with the other children who surrounded her.

There were also the other capture targets and rival ojousamas who were supposed to debut, and… the game’s heroine…

‘I… won’t see them anymore…’

‘Is it Game Over for me here…?’

“Wait!”

The sound of someone running came from behind.

Without checking, she knew whose voice it was.

“Please wait, Big Sister Yuka-sama!”

“Shoko…”

The Shoko who caught up circled around to face Yuka, grabbing her shoulders tightly and looking her straight in the eye.

“If Big Sister Yuka-sama is leaving the Ōka Association, then I’m quitting too!”

“Shoko… thank you… but you can’t, okay? Shoko must act for Shoko’s own sake, right? Isn’t that so?”

She couldn’t let Shoko be implicated by her own affairs.

Therefore, it was enough for her to be the only one leaving.

“Yuka…………”

Then, another voice came from behind.

Again, there was no need to turn around to identify the speaker…

“Ishikawa-san.”

“Yuka.”

It was Kurohara Masahira, and her brother’s voice.

Everyone… had chased after her…

Just that alone made her chest feel hot, nearly choking her with emotion.

“Hey! Who said you could leave! Don’t you dare think of quitting on your own!”

“See, Hiroki is at it again… you’re always talking like that, which is why you aren’t popular with girls.”

Inadera Taichi responded helplessly to Nogami Hiroki’s words.

Indeed, Inadera Taichi was only in the sixth grade, yet he acted like a total playboy…

“Everyone…”

Yuka turned around to see them all standing there… Shoko, Marina, her brother Yota, the suspicious Inadera Taichi, the secretive Kurohara Masahira, and… the biggest nuisance of all, her greatest nemesis, Nogami Hiroki…

“I won’t let Yuka quit! I don’t permit it, so don’t even think about leaving on your own!”

“Wherever Big Sister Yuka-sama goes, I will follow!”

“The Kurohara family votes will all be cast according to my word, you know.”

“Exactly. We can’t let you decide on your own. If it comes to a vote, with all these factions gathered, anything can be passed.”

“The Ishikawa faction will naturally oppose Yuka’s expulsion in its entirety.”

“There isn’t much I can do… but even so, I won’t let them drive Yuka away.”

“!”

Their feelings… seeped deep into her heart.

She was supposed to want to leave so badly… she thought she would feel light and free if she were released…

“Thank you, everyone… May I… continue to stay here?”

“Of course!”

In the end, she didn’t shed any tears.

But… with a heart that felt as if the clouds had cleared, Yuka merged back into their circle once again.