My dear wife, I still love you more.

That's right, that whole speech was the persona Hasegawa created for himself.

Well, actually, from the very beginning, from the moment his face changed, he was already thinking about how to minimize the impact.

Later, rumors circulated that he had a close relationship with Hiratsuka Shizuka. He had already formed a plan in his mind.

Tobu Sho was a scapegoat he found, though it can't really be called a scapegoat, since his own actions were indeed wrong.

He had originally intended to find an opportunity to resolve the matter. He had planned to present this opportunity only after Hiratsuka Shizuka's operation failed and the rumors could not be dispelled.

However, he did not expect that something would happen with Yui Yuigahama at this time, and Hasegawa had to act ahead of schedule.

However, it seems to be working well.

Not only did he create a persona for himself to minimize disturbances and troubles, but he also cleared up his relationship with Hiratsuka Shizuka and even incidentally resolved the situation with Yuigahama Yui.

Everything was perfect. Apart from people like Megumi Kato, Tomoya Aki, or Yui Yuigahama who knew Hasegawa to some extent, no one could see the flaw.

Because Hasegawa really was just a poor boy from the countryside. And Hasegawa was indeed a top student, ranking first in his entire grade.

In a normal person's mind, even if Hasegawa is very smart and can get the top score in the whole grade, he should still put a lot of effort into his studies.

Therefore, what Hasegawa said seemed perfectly normal, or even completely correct, to others.

In particular, Hasegawa mentioned more than once that he was a poor boy from the countryside when he was speaking.

Being from the countryside means being a target of ridicule, even mockery and contempt. It's often these kinds of people from the countryside who are bullied in schools.

However, Hasegawa cleverly used his language skills to position himself as the weaker party.

People always admire the strong, yet pity the weak.

Therefore, Hasegawa successfully created the image of a bullied and weak person, and thus won a lot of sympathy.

Almost everyone sided with Hasegawa. And Tobe Sho, that unfortunate guy, clearly became a victim.

Although Tobe Sho looks pitiful, he actually deserves what he got.

He may not have done anything particularly bad. But as Hasegawa said, just because he wasn't aware that he was doing something bad doesn't mean he didn't do anything bad.

Furthermore, Hasegawa genuinely disliked his flamboyant personality. In fact, he was probably the most disliked person in the class by Hasegawa. If he didn't become the scapegoat, who would?

Chapter 69 Yui Yuigahama and Megumi Kato

In the office, Hiratsuka sat quietly in his chair, just looking at Hasegawa.

Hasegawa stood calmly in front of Hiratsuka Shizuka, showing no sign of guilt.

"Hasegawa, do you know that what you did today could ruin Tobe Sho's life?" Hiratsuka Shizuka finally couldn't help but speak first.

Normally, when teachers and students face each other like this, the students usually can't handle the pressure and end up confessing everything. But in Hasegawa's case, that didn't work at all.

Finally, Shizuka Hiratsuka had no choice but to speak first.

"So, Professor Hiratsuka, you think what I did was wrong?" Hasegawa frowned slightly.

“I already told you that I would find a way to solve the problem, you didn’t need to do that at all. Especially such extreme behavior, Tobe Sho is still lying in the infirmary. Do you know what what you did means to Tobe Sho?” Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn’t help but feel a headache when she saw Hasegawa like this.

"Tobu Sho? He'll probably feel guilty and hide after school, then go home. Maybe he won't come to school tomorrow, and then his family will transfer him to a new school to start a new life. I don't think my actions will have much of an impact on him. Even if they do, it will probably correct some of his personality issues," Hasegawa said very rationally.

"..." Hearing Hasegawa say that, Hiratsuka Shizuka realized that what Hasegawa said was actually true.

"Furthermore, I don't believe that someone like Tobe Sho shouldn't be punished. He doesn't consider the consequences at all when he acts. Perhaps, because of the actual situation, what I'm saying doesn't apply to us. But if it were someone else, they might really be driven to suicide. Hiratsuka-sensei, I think you, as a teacher, must have seen or heard of similar cases." A mocking smile appeared on Hasegawa's face.

"You rascal, okay, I admit it. I have indeed seen similar situations, and there have been students who couldn't take it and dropped out, and even committed suicide. Honestly, you've taught me a lesson. But, I am a teacher, a teacher. How can I condone such actions that harm students? This is really a headache." Hiratsuka Shizuka couldn't help but scratch her head.

"So, Hiratsuka-sensei, you just need to keep watching." Hasegawa shrugged.

"You brat—fine, I'll let you off this time, but this absolutely cannot happen again. Even if there's something to deal with, I should handle it. You just stay put and behave yourself. Understand?" Hiratsuka Shizuka felt like she couldn't do anything with Hasegawa.

"Actually, I didn't want to make things so complicated. But when the time came, I had no other choice."

"Alright, alright, you always think you're right. Now go back, I don't want to see you anymore." Hiratsuka Shizuka waved her hand impatiently.

Hasegawa left the office with a smile.

Actually, it's quite simple. She probably felt that Hasegawa's actions had a significant impact on Tobe Sho. So, even though Hiratsuka Shizuka was acting out of a teacher's perspective, she had no choice but to call Hasegawa over and reprimand him.

But it's that simple. Because in Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes, Tobe Sho wasn't pitiful, or rather, didn't deserve pity. After all, if those rumors really spread, it would be a very serious matter for Hasegawa and for her.

So Hiratsuka Shizuka just went through the motions, and Hasegawa didn't even need to write a formal letter of self-reflection.

And that was the end of it.

As Hasegawa left the office, Yui Yuigahama immediately came to greet him.

"Hasegawa, are you alright? Did Hiratsuka-sensei give you a hard time?" Yui Yuigahama asked with concern.

"No, nothing's wrong. This matter is over, so don't worry," Hasegawa said with a smile.

"That's good. I was a little worried when I saw you being called away by Hiratsuka-sensei. I'm so glad you're alright." Yui Yuigahama patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, after all, the source of this kind of thing is Tobe Sho spreading rumors, and Hasegawa is a victim, so even the school won't bother Hasegawa with this kind of thing."

"Huh?" Yui Yuigahama's eyes suddenly widened: "Who, you, who are you? When did you get here?"

“I’ve always been here. Always.” Kato Megumi looked at Yuigahama Yui and answered calmly.

"What? It's always been here? But, but, but there was no one here before." Yui Yuigahama stared wide-eyed at Megumi Kato in horror.

“No, it’s always been there.” Kato Megumi shook her head.

"You... a ghost? Are you a ghost???" Yui Yuigahama's body trembled.

"A ghost? That's a bit much."

"Alright, alright. Yuihama, this is Kato Megumi, also a classmate of ours, but her presence is a little subtle. Quite special. She's probably always been here, you just haven't noticed." Hasegawa, seeing Yuihama's expression, felt he had to say something, otherwise Yuihama might really be scared.

"Huh? But, but, but I don't remember anyone in our class named Kato Megumi?"

"Yes, she's always been there. It's just that you haven't noticed her. In fact, in our class, apart from me, no one else had noticed Kato Megumi before." Hasegawa shook his head.

"Huh? No, really?" Yui Yuigahama's eyes widened in surprise. Then she looked at Megumi Kato cautiously, and carefully extended a finger to gently poke Megumi Kato's shoulder.

"This behavior seems a bit excessive, Yuihama-san," Kato Megumi said in her usual calm tone.

"Ah, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I... I was just... just curious," Yui Yuigahama quickly apologized.

"Well, I forgive you."

"Thank you. But Kato-san, you, you, you're amazing! Is what Hasegawa said true? Nobody in the class knows you exist? It feels like an unbelievable legend at school." Yui Yuigahama looked at Kato Megumi with curiosity, even excitement.

"An unbelievable legend about the school? I think there really was such a legend when I was in junior high school." Kato Megumi raised her head slightly, tapping her chin with her index finger, as if she was thinking about the situation back then.

"Is it really a legend? That's amazing! Kato-san, can you tell me how you did it?" Yui Yuigahama seemed to suddenly become enthusiastic.

Chapter 70 Saeko Busujima: My Bed is Big

Seeing Yui Yuigahama and Megumi Kato become familiar with each other again, Hasegawa shook his head. Yui Yuigahama's social skills are really impressive.

It seems there's no one Yuigahama Yui can't get close to. It seems she can quickly build relationships with anyone if she wants to.

"Yuigahama, I'm going back now. Goodbye. Goodbye, Hasegawa too."

"goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Kato." Yui Yuigahama said goodbye to Megumi Kato with great energy and even a friendly tone.

Watching Kato Megumi leave, Yui Yuigahama secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Hey, Hasegawa, Kato, is she the girl you often chat with?"

"Huh?" Hasegawa paused for a moment, looking at Yui Yuigahama.

"Um, I mean, I sometimes see you chatting with other people, but I just can't seem to remember who you're chatting with. That person, it's Kato, right?" Yui Yuigahama quickly explained.

"Oh, I see. Well, that must be it then. After all, her characteristics are quite unique. Alright, it's getting late. I'm going to the kendo club now. You're going to the light music club too, right?" Hasegawa said nonchalantly.

"Ah, yes, yes." Yui Yuigahama nodded, but inwardly she felt wary of Megumi Kato.

Although Kato Megumi seems like someone you can't bring yourself to hate, and is almost completely ignored by everyone, she's actually quite cute, and she often chats with Hasegawa. Keep in mind that even Yuigahama Yui barely speaks to Hasegawa at school.

"Okay, see you later." Hasegawa nodded and turned to walk towards the kendo club.

Yui Yuigahama watched Hasegawa's retreating figure, opened her mouth as if to speak, but then hesitated. She had so much to say to Hasegawa.

Well, after hearing what Hasegawa said on the podium, Yui suddenly felt sorry for him. He already needed to expend a lot of effort to get into the University of Tokyo, yet he still had to find ways to make money—well, make money by writing novels. That's one way to earn money, too.

She felt that this was already a lot of pressure for Hasegawa. But she also had to take time out of her schedule to tutor her and teach her music. She even had to correct her mistakes in her spare time.

Yui Yuigahama felt a pang of guilt, as if she were wasting Hasegawa's precious time.

So, what she actually wanted to tell Hasegawa was that he didn't need to teach her music and that he didn't need to waste his time on her.

However, upon seeing Kato Megumi, she felt a renewed sense of pressure, and the words she had intended to say to Hasegawa remained unspoken.

After all, Yuigahama Yui felt that although she was living with Hasegawa—well, Hasegawa was temporarily staying at her house—she still felt that her interactions with Hasegawa weren't quite natural, and that there wasn't enough time between them.

When Hasegawa taught her music, he spent at least an hour every day with her, and Hasegawa belonged to her alone.

She couldn't bear to give up this time alone together.

"Oh, Yui Yuigahama, you, you really are a bad girl. Hasegawa is working so hard, you're putting in so much effort, and you still want to take up his time. It's so, so despicable. Despicable." Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but say this to herself, even despising herself. However, despite her self-loathing, she was still reluctant to let go.

This made Yui Yuigahama feel extremely guilty. It can only be said that Yui Yuigahama, this little girl who fell in love, had her head made of mush.

Despite living in the same house as Hasegawa and being quite aware of some of his actions, she still naively believed what Hasegawa said on the podium.

Perhaps this is the power of love. Although she seemed to have always been in a secret crush, it was enough to turn her into a brainless, foolish girl.

……

In the kendo club, Hasegawa, wielding a wooden sword, sparred repeatedly with Saeko Busujima. Due to his increased proficiency in kendo skills, Hasegawa's current strength was no less than Saeko Busujima's, and he rarely found himself being suppressed by her anymore.

Most of the time, the two are evenly matched, and occasionally Hasegawa is even able to turn the tide and win a game.

Hasegawa's behavior only excited Saeko Busujima more, and she looked at Hasegawa with even stranger eyes.

Snapped!

After the wooden swords clashed, Hasegawa and Saeko Busujima separated again.

"Hasegawa-kun, I think I heard something about you today." Saeko Busujima looked at Hasegawa with a strange expression after sheathing her wooden sword.

"About me? Probably just rumors or gossip." Hasegawa didn't care. He already knew these things would get out. Fortunately, he had already taken steps to remedy the situation.

"That's right, so I'm a little curious, what's the relationship between Hasegawa-kun and Hiratsuka-sensei?"