If I had to name the exact moment my quiet high school life took a nosedive…
it would be last Tuesday.
Not the Tuesday when I forgot my homework.
Not the Tuesday when I overslept and nearly missed first period.
No…
It was the Tuesday when a single, harmless favor turned into a school-wide scandal.
---
Second period had just ended, and I was packing away my notebook when a familiar voice called out from the hallway.
"Haruto! Give me a hand with this!"
I leaned back in my chair and peeked through the open door.
Sure enough, Yui Tanaka was there — ponytail bouncing, face slightly flushed, and looking like she'd just lost a wrestling match with the PE equipment cart.
We've known each other since we were kids.
Some people call that "fate."
I call it "knowing exactly how much she'll yell at me if I ignore her."
So, sighing in defeat, I got up and followed her to the gym storage room.
---
The air inside smelled faintly of dust and old leather.
Yui was tugging at a tangled volleyball net, muttering to herself.
"Here," I said, grabbing the other side of the cart. Together, we hauled it toward the gym.
"You're a lifesaver," she said with a grin.
Her smile had that same energy it's always had — bright enough to make you forget she once pushed you into a pond for eating her candy.
---
Click.
I froze.
That sound — sharp, electronic — could only mean one thing.
Glancing over my shoulder, I caught sight of two first-year girls peeking in through the open doorway.
One was holding a phone.
When our eyes met, they squeaked like startled squirrels and darted away.
"…Friends of yours?" I asked.
"Nope," Yui said, tilting her head. "Why?"
"…No reason."
---
At the time, I thought nothing of it.
People take pictures all the time, right?
It wasn't until lunch break that the consequences arrived… in the form of my phone buzzing nonstop.
---
Our class has an unofficial group chat.
It's where people share homework answers, dumb memes, and occasionally scandalous rumors.
Pinned right at the top was a fresh post:
[PHOTO] Haruto Aizawa spotted helping Yui Tanaka carry basketball equipment after class!
💖 Are they dating?! 💖
Underneath:
"Childhood friend route confirmed!"
"Called it!"
"First Yui, then who? Harem King speedrun???"
---
I set my phone down and rubbed my temples.
"This is bad," I muttered.
"This is amazing," Yui said, peeking over my shoulder.
"You finally get some popularity. You should thank me."
"Popularity isn't worth the headache," I replied.
---
Before I could argue further, a shadow fell over my desk.
"Aizawa Haruto. The Student Council President wishes to see you."
I looked up.
A tall boy from the student council stood there, arms crossed like a bouncer.
Every head in the room turned to stare.
Yui's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"
"Apparently… something scandalous," I said.
---
Ten minutes later, I found myself in the immaculate Student Council room.
The scent of fresh tea lingered in the air.
Across the table sat Mizuki Hayasaka, the Student Council President herself.
Her long black hair framed a face that looked like it belonged in a magazine.
Her posture was perfect. Her gaze was sharp.
And she was staring at me like I'd just committed a serious crime.
---
"Rumors spread quickly in this school, Aizawa," Mizuki began, folding her hands.
"Especially when they involve the captain of the girls' basketball team… and a certain underachieving boy from Class 2-B."
"…Underachieving?" I muttered.
"That's not the point," she said, ignoring me.
"As Student Council President, it's my duty to maintain the moral image of this school."
"…And that involves…?"
"I need to confirm whether or not you are… romantically involved with Tanaka-san."
---
I opened my mouth to deny it — but the door slammed open.
"Haruto! What's going on here?"
Yui stepped inside, her eyes darting between me and Mizuki.
The air in the room shifted instantly.
Mizuki straightened in her chair.
"Ah. Tanaka-san. I was just clarifying certain rumors with Aizawa-kun."
"…Sounds like you're interrogating him."
"Clarifying," Mizuki corrected.
"Interrogating."
The two of them locked eyes, and for a moment, it felt like the temperature dropped.
---
I raised my hands. "Um, maybe I should just—"
"Sit down," they both said in perfect unison.
And that's when I knew…
The rumor was only the beginning.
---
[To be continued…]