[Vol 1] The Secret Life Of An Honor Student Epilogue

Epilogue

 

“──So, Mamiya.”

“What is it?”

“Even after all that happened, you’re still not quitting this, huh.”

After school, in the classroom.

Outside the window, autumn had deepened. Trees with leaves dyed yellow and red had begun to shed them. I gazed at the view while speaking to Mamiya, who stood quietly by the window.

It was because of that incident—when Utsumi had found out partway about my and Mamiya’s secret, leading to that mess the other day. In the end, the secret stayed safe, Utsumi’s actions were brushed off as if they never happened, and our school life remained peaceful.

Mamiya had also remade her ura-aka account, but continuing something like this carried the constant risk of someone finding out her secret—just like I and Utsumi had by accident.

Even though she should’ve realized how dangerous it was to do that kind of thing at school, she still refused to stop taking pictures for that account.

“I don’t plan to stop. At least, not for now.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s one of the few places where I can truly be myself.”

She said that, her expression dimming with loneliness.

At school, Mamiya acted the part of a perfect honor student, but I knew her true self—an ordinary high school girl like anyone else.

I also knew the reasons why she had to live that way, and how the ura-aka account had started in the first place.

For me to try and force her to stop would be wrong.

“But, you know… I actually enjoy my life right now. Ever since Aisaka-kun found out my secret and started getting involved with me… I don’t feel so alone anymore. It might be annoying for you, though.”

She gave a small, apologetic smile. Seeing that made me recall the day I first met Mamiya after school.

That day, I went back to the classroom to grab something I’d forgotten—and caught Mamiya taking a selfie as she was changing clothes. Before I knew it, I’d been threatened into silence, and somehow we ended up in this strange relationship.

Just classmates—that was all I’d thought we’d ever be. Never did I imagine I’d end up helping her take photos for her ura-aka account after school.

…Well, I was more dragged into it than anything else, though.

After learning about her past, and her learning about mine, there was no turning back.

Maybe calling it 'sharing the same fate' sounds dramatic, but in a way, it’s true—both of us have to protect each other’s secrets no matter what.

Still, I never planned to say that out loud. By pretending I was just reluctantly going along, I could talk to her without overthinking things. I didn’t want her worrying about my trust issues with women.

Letting out an exaggerated sigh, I said,

“Yeah, it’s definitely a pain. As long as that photo exists, I can’t go against you. And you make me take those kinds of photos, and my wallet keeps crying every time we hang out.”

“...Hearing it like that makes me feel kind of guilty.”

“Then delete the photo.”

“Nope. Impossible. Absolutely not.”

Mamiya shook her head so hard her hair swayed. Not that I’d expected her to agree anyway.

And honestly… whether she deleted it or not didn’t really matter anymore.

Mamiya had never once seriously tried to threaten me. After learning about her past, I knew she wasn’t the kind of person who could betray someone like that.

Mamiya Yuu—she was hopelessly kindhearted.

Even with everything she’d gone through, she still hadn’t lost that gentleness. I couldn’t help but admire that about her, even if it came from a place of weakness. Her kindness was still the same.

After running her fingers through her slightly messy hair, Mamiya turned to look straight at me.

Her eyes trembled faintly. Her hands were clenched tight against her skirt. For some reason, she seemed… nervous.

Then, after taking a breath, she asked,

“...Aisaka-kun, do you understand what it means to like someone?”

Such a random, abstract question came out of nowhere.

“That’s pretty sudden. But unfortunately, no. My sense of love or romance kind of disappeared before I even got to experience a first crush.”

“I figured. I don’t understand it either. Or… I didn’t. But when that whole thing with Utsumi-san happened, I think I understood a little.”

Her eyes softened.

And then, she slowly walked toward me—

“Huh!?”

Before I could react, she pulled me into an embrace, my head pressed against her chest.

A soft, warm sensation surrounded me, along with a faintly sweet scent that filled my nose with every breath. I could practically hear her heartbeat. It was that close.

My own heart raced wildly, my temperature rising in sync with it.

Even if I wanted to move away, she was holding me with surprising strength—and I couldn’t just push her off and risk hurting her.

“...What are you doing?”

“...You really don’t get it even after this?”

Her voice, cool and composed, carried a sharp edge that made it obvious even without looking—she was serious.

And then came a sigh.

...Hold on, why does it sound like I’m the one at fault here?

Even though she was the one doing this without any explanation, she looked at me like I was at fault. As my mind scrambled to make sense of it, the pieces finally connected—though the conclusion felt unreal.

No way. It can’t be that. Definitely not.

“...I don’t get it.”

“Liar. You figured it out but decided it was impossible, didn’t you?”

“...How do you know that?”

“Because I led the conversation that way on purpose.”

............What?

My mind went blank.

The strength in her arms loosened, and my face was lifted from her chest.

Our eyes met—and I could see, clearly, that her face was flushed red, too vivid to mistake for sunlight. I couldn’t look away.

Taking a small breath, Mamiya whispered,

“──Aisaka-kun, I like you.”

She said it plainly, without hiding a thing.

It was exactly what I’d feared—or maybe expected—but hearing it out loud still didn’t feel real.

Maybe because I didn’t want it to be real.

As I tried to avert my eyes, Mamiya cupped my cheeks with both hands. Her palms felt warm—almost feverish.

Her gaze was unwavering, filled with pure, earnest emotion, and just the faintest trace of embarrassment.

“You saw me for who I really am. You didn’t deny it. We learned each other’s pasts and shared each other’s secrets, and yet… you still stayed by my side, Aisaka-kun.”

“...No. I only did that for myself. I figured if I helped you out, it might benefit me somehow.”

“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change what you’ve done for me. You helped me when I needed it, said the words I wanted to hear, and accepted my weaknesses without judgment.”

She rejected my denial, her tone firm, her sincerity impossible to ignore.

The scene before me overlapped with an old memory—one that made me want to run away. But I couldn’t. Not now.

Because if her confession was genuine—if it wasn’t a lie—then I had to face it.

I clenched my fists, forcing my shaking legs to steady themselves.

Mamiya’s worried expression softened when she noticed my unease.

“...I’m sorry, Aisaka-kun. You look really pale. It’s my fault, isn’t it? I brought up all those memories by confessing to you…”

“...Yeah. But, let me hear the rest anyway.”

If her words had been a lie, I would’ve run away. But I knew—she wouldn’t lie about something like this. Not her.

So I had to face her properly.

Encouraged by my words, Mamiya nodded softly.

“──I love you, Aisaka-kun.”

She repeated it again, her voice clear and unwavering.

Like a stone dropped into still water, her words rippled through my heart.

I didn’t overthink it. I just let her words sink in.

It felt… warm. Like sunlight gently melting away the ice that had built up inside me. A warmth that filled the emptiness I’d carried for so long. I felt comforted—and confused.

Maybe it was something I’d always wanted deep down, even while telling myself I’d given up on it.

But did I really deserve it?

Silence fell over the classroom.

“...Uh, is that… it?”

“Yeah.”

Her casual reply took me off guard.

The tension drained out of me all at once.

“A confession’s usually, you know… followed by a 『will you go out with me』 or something, right?”

“Normally, yeah. But looking at you, I figured it’s still too soon. You still look unwell, and there’s your trust issue with women too.”

She was right about everything.

Because of that fake confession from my past, I still couldn’t fully trust women. I couldn’t give her the answer she probably wanted—not yet.

“...Yeah, maybe so. Sorry for making you worry.”

“That’s okay. But at least tell me how you feel right now.”

How I feel about Mamiya, huh.

“──At the very least, I don’t see you in a romantic way yet. But as a friend, I’d like us to stay close.”

It might’ve sounded selfish, but it was the honest truth.

Because of the secret we shared, neither of us held back around the other. And maybe that’s why it felt comfortable. Despite how it started, Mamiya never pushed me too far, and I never did to her either.

Even the threat was just to make sure her secret stayed safe—not because she meant harm. Now I understood that.

If the honor student persona had been her true self, I probably would’ve felt distant. But the real Mamiya—selfish, stubborn, and human—was just a normal girl with her own struggles.

With the excuse of protecting each other’s secrets, even I, someone who’d stopped trusting women, could stay by her side without fear.

And honestly, if it’s the Mamiya who understands my past… I’d be glad to stay friends.

“I figured you’d say that. But that doesn’t mean you’ll never fall for me, right?”

“...Who knows. Not until I get over my issues.”

I couldn’t promise anything, so I just shook my head.

But there was no hint of disappointment in her eyes—only a bold, determined gleam.

Pointing a finger at me, she declared,

“Then I’ll make you say you love me someday.”

With a fearless grin, Mamiya announced her challenge.

Even though I’d technically turned her down, she still said she liked me. Her sincerity burned bright enough to make my chest ache.

Someday, would I be able to tell her "I love you” from the heart?

I hoped so. Watching her smile in the soft sunset light, I truly did.

“Hey, take a picture. A normal one this time.”

She handed me her phone, already on camera mode, and walked to the window. Turning toward the crimson sky outside, she then spun around with a smile.

“Make it a good one, okay? This’ll be my ‘confession anniversary’ photo.”

“...That’s a lot of pressure.”

I steadied my breathing and adjusted the focus on her face. Finding the perfect angle where the backlight softly framed her expression, I gave a small cue.

The wind gently lifted her long hair.

The sunset dyed her pale cheeks a warm shade of red.

Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings as she opened her eyes wide, meeting the lens head-on.

A tender smile, wrapped in the colors of autumn.

I pressed the shutter at just the right moment—

“──Aisaka-kun. Let’s keep getting along, okay?”

She said that, with a soft smile.

Feeling the sudden rush of embarrassment, I quickly pressed the shutter again to hide it.

 

◆

 

“Ahhh… finally, the committee meeting is over…”

Stretching both arms up toward the ceiling in a gesture of freedom as she walked down the hallway was a petite short-haired girl—Hikari. She had just attended a meeting for the broadcasting club and was now heading back.

The sun was already beginning to sink, the deepening autumn season hastening the twilight. Outside the window, the scenery was gradually swallowed by the coming dusk.

“Nakkun’s club activities should be ending around now too… maybe if I grab my stuff, I’ll make it just in time.”

Usually, Hikari spent her after-school time watching Natsuhiko practice soccer. She didn’t work as the team’s manager because she knew herself too well—if she did, she’d end up flirting with him in front of everyone. And she knew that would only stir up resentment from the others. So, Hikari chose not to join the club.

Of course, she wanted to be with Natsuhiko as much as possible. But she also believed that just being apart for club hours wouldn’t change their feelings for each other. After all, they’d been together for nearly a decade as childhood friends. Honestly, it was hard to imagine ever being apart.

Humming happily as she walked down the corridor, looking forward to going home with him, Hikari suddenly caught the sound of voices coming from a nearby classroom. It wasn’t her own classroom—but she recognized those voices.

Akito and Yuu.

It was an unexpected pairing, but somehow, the two of them seemed like they’d suit each other surprisingly well.

“...What are they doing?”

Driven by curiosity, Hikari quieted her footsteps and stationed herself by the door. Carefully, she opened a small gap and peeked inside.

There were two figures. Just as she’d thought, it was Akito and Yuu. Standing by the window, Yuu wore a cheerful smile, while Akito was… pointing his smartphone at her for some reason.

The soft click of a shutter echoed.

They were taking pictures. But why? Hikari had no idea.

Just the two of them, alone in a quiet classroom after school—it naturally sent her imagination spinning.

『This one’s no good for that, huh.』

『Yeah. My face is showing too clearly. Oh, but if you want it, Aisaka-kun, you can have it.』

Wait, wasn’t it normal for photos to show faces? Hikari tilted her head. She didn’t understand why that would be a problem.

(…Could they be dating? They said they weren’t before, but looking at them now… it’s hard to believe otherwise. Ugh, now I’m curious…)

There was something irresistibly interesting about other people’s romances—and Hikari was no exception. She kept peering through the gap, eager to figure out what kind of relationship the two of them had.

The two continued to take several photos, seemingly unaware of Hikari’s watchful gaze. Though she couldn’t see Akito’s expression clearly, Yuu’s gentle smile made it obvious that their relationship was a good one.

(I want to see more. I know it’s bad, but… come on, who wouldn’t be curious about this?)

Despite the guilt gnawing at her, curiosity won out easily.

When did it start? How far had they gone? Those questions filled her mind entirely.

By high school, holding hands wasn’t the limit anymore—couples kissed, and sometimes even went further. Hikari knew that much.

Her heartbeat quickened with nervous excitement as she forgot all about her original purpose for being here, lost in watching their quiet interaction. Maybe it was better described as a secret meeting… or an after-school date. But such details didn’t matter much to Hikari.

What mattered was that they were alone together after school, taking pictures in an empty classroom. And that expression on Yuu’s face—it was unmistakably the look of a girl in love.

Her smile, bathed in the setting sun.

It looked more natural than any smile Hikari had ever seen from her before. And honestly, even from another girl’s perspective, it was… charming.

(What are they talking about? And look—Yuu-chan is casually touching Akikun, and he’s not even pulling away…)

Her thoughts began to spiral endlessly. She wanted to know. She wanted to ask them directly what kind of relationship they had.

What if she just barged into the classroom right now? How would they react? That mischievous thought crossed her mind—

And at that exact moment, the chime signaling five o’clock rang out.

The sudden sound startled Hikari so badly her shoulders jumped, and—

“Gah—!”

Her hand struck the door hard, producing a loud thud. The noise echoed through the hallway.

Her heart nearly stopped.

Immediately, both Akito and Yuu turned toward the source of the sound—the very door Hikari was hiding behind. Through the small gap she’d been peeking from, their eyes met. Realizing what she’d done, Hikari froze.

There was no escaping this one. She sighed in defeat and slowly opened the door herself.

“Um, okay, so… it’s not like I was trying to be creepy or anything, alright? I just happened to walk by and heard your voices, and, uh…”

Her eyes darted around as she scrambled for an excuse. Akito and Yuu listened silently.

Apologizing was important, sure—but Hikari couldn’t ignore her burning curiosity either. She took a deep breath and asked them directly.

“I saw it. You know… Akikun, when you were taking pictures of Yuu-chan.”

“……………………I see.”

Akito’s short response carried a strange, heavy weight.

So she hadn’t imagined it after all. Hikari was sure of it now. Then, finally, she asked the question she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“So… what exactly is your relationship? Friends? You’ve always seemed close, but this is a bit much for just friends, don’t you think? I mean, taking pictures together alone after school and all.”

To her, there was really only one possible kind of relationship that fit that description.

Feeling her tension build, she looked at them seriously—and asked the decisive question.

“...Akikun and Yuu-chan… are you two dating?”