Parasitic Love

"Ho... Honami, was everything he said true?"

Shiranami Chihiro continued to ask, still looking utterly unable to believe it.

If Ichinose had been willing to speak up and prove herself, she would have chosen to believe Ichinose without hesitation.

But Ichinose clearly could not bring herself to say anything.

Ever since Suzuki Tsubame had started laughing like some Soul Hall Protector, the upper half of her face had been hidden beneath the shadows cast by her bangs.

She had completely shut herself off from the outside world.

The two sides remained deadlocked for a long time.

"Ha... hahahaha!"

Suzuki Tsubame suddenly burst into a hearty laugh reminiscent of the Uchiha Clan.

His laughter drew both of their attention back to him.

Suzuki Tsubame withdrew the hand he had placed on Ichinose's shoulder.

The sinister look vanished from his face, replaced by an amused expression as he looked at Shiranami Chihiro.

"Shiranami, don't you like Ichinose? How could you believe someone's random nonsense after just a few words?"

Upon hearing that, Shiranami's expression shifted repeatedly before she turned to look at Ichinose again.

Sure enough, Ichinose's complexion had improved considerably, though she still looked somewhat melancholy.

Shiranami merely assumed that Ichinose was blaming her for not trusting her firmly enough.

Taking in their little exchange, Suzuki Tsubame continued.

"Sigh... To tell you the truth, Ichinose specifically asked me to act out that scene just now to test how sincere your feelings for her were."

"Tsk, tsk... What a pity. It seems your feelings for her weren't sincere enough after all."

"No, that's not it."

Shiranami Chihiro hurriedly grabbed Ichinose's hand, wanting to explain but not knowing what to say.

"Honami, I..."

Ichinose tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing out an extremely strained smile.

"It's okay, Chihiro. It might be better if we just stayed friends."

The moment Shiranami heard Ichinose say that, tears began streaming down her face as if they cost nothing.

"No!"

Her voice was thick with tears. Women really were born actresses.

When Ichinose had looked utterly devastated just now, she had barely reacted.

Yet the moment Ichinose rejected her, she immediately burst into tears.

Suzuki Tsubame could not bear to watch any longer. Wasn't this just shameless?

He said mockingly,

"Shiranami, right? You didn't cry when you were doubting Ichinose just now, but the moment you heard her reject you, you started crying."

"Do you actually like Ichinose herself, or are you just clinging to the status that comes with staying by her side?"

There was nothing wrong with Suzuki Tsubame's question.

Without Ichinose, Shiranami would not even count as a background nobody in the class.

It was only because she was close to Ichinose that no one dared bully her.

"N-No, that's not true. I like Honami herself."

Shiranami Chihiro clung tightly to Ichinose's arm, afraid that she would leave her.

She could not imagine how she would survive in the class if Ichinose left her.

"Tsk... Do you even believe that yourself?"

At any rate, Suzuki Tsubame did not.

The current Ichinose was both gentle and strong, attracting a huge number of followers.

But when Sakayanagi began exerting pressure and targeting Ichinose, not a single person in Class B had been able to step forward.

"Honami, please, believe me."

Shiranami looked at Ichinose with pleading eyes, hoping Ichinose would comfort her like she had before.

Watching the scene, Suzuki Tsubame secretly shook his head.

She was completely exploiting Ichinose's kindness to emotionally blackmail her.

Why did it suddenly feel like these people from Class B had an even worse case of Kamito syndrome than Class D?

They were nothing but a bunch of giant babies.

Ichinose looked at the pitiful Shiranami Chihiro with exhaustion written all over her face.

None of her usual warmth remained.

Right now, she only wanted to return to the Dormitory and rest. She did not even want to attend afternoon classes.

"Suzuki, thank you very much for what happened today. I'm a little tired, so I'll be leaving first."

After saying that, Ichinose did not even spare Shiranami Chihiro a glance. She shook off the hand clutching her and walked away.

"Honami..."

Shiranami Chihiro's tears fell one drop at a time as if they cost nothing.

She wanted to say something to make Ichinose stay, but she could not bring herself to speak.

"Once, we were envied by others too~"

"We measured the roads blanketed by nightfall~"

"That tall tree stood not far away."

"We once stopped in front of it~"

Just as Suzuki Tsubame was moved by the scene and passionately began to sing,

A small fist suddenly slammed into his chest.

It was immediately followed by a flurry of blows like a raging storm.

Unfortunately, she did not even have enough strength for it to count as a massage.

"It's all your fault... If it weren't for you, Honami wouldn't have gotten angry. If it weren't for you, Honami wouldn't have left!"

After hitting him for a while, she grew tired, crouched down with her hands over her head, and began to cry.

"It's all your fault... sob, sob..."

"Huh? What do you mean, it's all my fault? Don't you bear even a little responsibility?"

Suzuki Tsubame had no intention of indulging this miniature parasite, so he immediately opened with the standard routine.

"If it weren't for your parasite-like love, would Ichinose be under so much pressure?"

"Do you know how much of a burden you've placed on her?"

The little girl cried even louder. Anyone who did not know better would have thought Suzuki Tsubame was bullying her.

Though that was indeed the case.

Although he was reluctant, Suzuki Tsubame still had to take responsibility and soothe her, worried that this little thing might do something rash.

He crouched down and poked his head beneath the crook formed by Shiranami Chihiro's arms.

"Yo, you really are crying?"

Unfortunately, her arms blocked his view of her eyes. Aside from her snot-and-tear-streaked mouth, Suzuki Tsubame could see nothing.

"Baka!"

Sensing Suzuki Tsubame's proximity, Shiranami tried to use her nails to give him some heavy makeup.

Suzuki Tsubame could not let her have her way. After all, he made a living off his looks.

He grabbed the hand preparing to commit its crime with one hand. Trying to damage a work of art was a crime, wasn't it?

"Do you want to stay by Ichinose's side forever?"

"Since you look so pitiful, I can help you."

Staying by her side was actually quite simple, considering Ichinose was kind-hearted.

"R-Really?"

Shiranami Chihiro trembled as she slowly moved away the hand covering her tearful face. Her eyes had been soaked in tears and were already red and swollen.

"Really, really."

Suzuki Tsubame nodded in promise.

"Then what should I do?"

Her voice was clearly thick with tears, and as she spoke, more tears began to fall uncontrollably.

"It's simple. Retreat in order to advance."

"Don't go looking for Ichinose today. When she returns to class tomorrow, tell her that it would be better if the two of you just stayed friends."

"Will that let me stay by Ichinose's side forever?"

Through tear-blurred eyes, Shiranami looked at Suzuki Tsubame, hoping for a definite answer.

"Of course. Listen to me."

"Liking someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to be with her. As long as you can watch her be happy, that's enough."

That was complete nonsense. Anyone who believed it was set for life.

Shiranami seemed to understand, though it looked like she believed him.

[Ding! Long-Term Task: Fragile Child. Completion: 10%. Reward: Cupid's Arrow. As long as it is inserted into someone, that person will subconsciously think about the host at every moment. Note: This arrow is visible only to the host. Once bound, only the host can retrieve it.]