Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"Do you genuinely believe she's been deceived and are acting on her behalf, or do you simply hope she's been deceived so you can feel better? At least that way you won't look like a clown."

"Shut up...shut up!"

Ryota Sumitomo rushed forward and grabbed Akira Kuroba by the collar, but Akira Kuroba kept his hands in his pockets, as if he disdained to fight him.

He just wanted Hei Yuming to shut up and stop saying things that would make him realize how terrible he was.

Because at this time, Sumitomo Ryota finally realized that he chose to turn a blind eye at that time because of his strong inferiority complex.

Do I really deserve to stand by her side?

If it were the omnipotent Xiao Tong, she could solve the problem herself...

She's just that amazing, so amazing that she doesn't need anyone's help at all, so...!

That's why it's even more unacceptable for her to fawn over you!

"What do you know...! What do you know about her!"

Kuroba Akira frowned and brushed his hand away.

"Yes, I don't understand her, but you do. So what exactly are you doing?"

"...!"

"I can see that you like the monitor."

It's so obvious that only a fool wouldn't see it.

Why did you suddenly bring this up?

Kuroba Akira scratched his head and said a series of words with a disgusted expression.

“It’s your business if you like the class monitor, that’s none of my business, but it’s ridiculous that you’re causing trouble for me because you like the class monitor.”

"Do you think that by showing off in front of the class monitor, insulting me, or even beating me up, the class monitor will like you?"

"Or rather, do you think the class monitor is the kind of shallow woman who would want to see two men fighting over her?"

Ryota Sumitomo was speechless.

Then Kuroba Akira delivered the final, fatal blow.

"I tell you, who do you like, the real Hitomi Asato, or the Hitomi Asato in your imagination?"

"...!!!"

Even before they had made a move, Sumitomo Ryota was already overwhelmed by the blow. His legs trembled, and he took a few steps back before collapsing to the ground, looking utterly dejected.

"Tsk..."

Kuroba Akira clicked his tongue in displeasure.

At this moment, Akira Kuroba also realized where his annoyance with Ryota Sumitomo came from.

Because he is very much like his past self, a naive and impulsive young man.

To think that one's own thoughts are reality, to insist that only one is right—that's just self-centered and immature brat behavior. It's infuriating to even think about.

Kuroba Akira also had a crush on a girl during junior high school; she was his first love.

The girl is very good at drawing and said she wants to become a cartoonist in the future, but because she can't make up stories, she hopes that Akira Kuroba, who writes essays very well, can help her make up stories.

So during the summer vacation after graduating from junior high school, the boy and girl spent every day together, meeting at school or in the ice cream parlor, discussing the plot, creating storyboards, and finally completing a short comic together, which they uploaded online.

The result was predictably a complete flop; nobody watched it, and the number of clicks was a pitiful double digit.

But this comic can be regarded as the starting point of Kuroba Akira's creation, which made this science and engineering man give up the career related to his major and choose to embark on the path of screenwriter and copywriter.

At that time, the girl said that her painting was not good enough and that it was a waste of the script that Kuroba Ming had carefully created. She said that she wanted to paint better, so she wanted to go to art school.

So the girl chose the path of an art student and went to another city for intensive training. In the end, Kuroba Akira was unable to express his feelings to her.

As time went by, the two, who had never been in a committed relationship, contacted each other less and less. Coupled with their busy studies, they eventually lost all contact, and the three years of high school passed by in a flash.

Then, after Kuroba Akira went to university, he kept dreaming about his first love. Finally, he decided to face his heart, found her contact information, and called her.

At that time, Akira Kuroba never thought that his feelings would be reciprocated. So many years have passed, and it's too late to confess now.

But deep down, he still harbored a sliver of hope... If she, like him, still cherished those beautiful, youthful memories... would there be a possibility of mutual affection?

Even if we can't be together, this is a way of saying goodbye to my past self.

With a mix of anxiety and trepidation, the phone call was made.

Akira Kuroba was unable to confess his feelings.

After he gave his name, the reply he received was: "Sorry, I... don't quite remember... were you my classmate before?"

Then Akira Kuroba completely understood.

She doesn't even remember herself.

In the other person's eyes, that memory is not important at all; three years is enough time for them to forget even the name of their 'old classmate'.

Aside from your parents, there aren't that many people in this world who really care about you.

On that day, Akira Kuroba abandoned all her innocence and lost all consideration for others.

He used to be someone who cared about how others perceived him, who would blush, who was shy, who was introverted, and who cared a lot about his image and self-esteem.

But later, Akira Kuroba became very casual.

Even if you run naked in the street, the onlookers will just watch the spectacle and forget about it after the commotion subsides.

The chances of a person leaving a mark on the memories of others are so small as to be negligible.

He transformed from a clueless youth who couldn't see himself into a self-aware mortal; the heart of a boy grew into that of an adult.

And now, it's your turn, Ryota Sumitomo.

Chapter 47 I promise I won't slap anyone in the face.

The inferiority complex made Sumitomo Ryota stop moving forward and unwilling to face reality.

He still thought Anri Hitomi was Hitomi, his childhood playmate who was very close to him.

But in reality, Hitomi Anri has changed; she has become unfamiliar and mature. She has moved into the future, while Anri is still living in the past.

It's time to face reality...

Not only did I keep harassing her, but I also caused her trouble... What have I been doing?!

Ryota Sumitomo felt so remorseful that he wanted to slap himself twice.

It turns out that even now, I haven't made any progress; I've always been a coward.

Some people, once missed, are missed forever, and that's how they're missed for a lifetime.

That's why the person next to Anri Hitomi now is him, not herself.

Hei Yuming still explained it to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

"My relationship with the class monitor is definitely not what you think. The fact that she made me lunch was just a deal I suggested on my own. I joined the arts and literature department, and she made me lunch. That's all. As for why she didn't let you join the arts and literature department, you'll have to ask yourself that."

"As for your statement that the class monitor only makes lunchboxes for her future husband, it may just be a childhood joke, and she may not even remember saying such a thing herself."

"So I can't really be considered your rival in love, after all, I'm not pursuing the class monitor..."

Akira Kuroba walked up to Ryota Sumitomo, who was sitting on the ground, squatted down, and asked.

So, should we still fight?

"……hateful……!"

Ryota Sumitomo clenched his fists. He hated Akira Kuroba from the bottom of his heart, the guy who forced him to face reality.

He stood up from the ground, pounded his thigh to cheer himself up, and then pointed a finger at Hei Yuming.

"One punch!"

"what?"

Kuroba Akira raised an eyebrow and asked for the specific meaning.

"One punch will do! Let me punch you once! Then this matter will be over!"

So that's how it is... This must be how Ryota Sumitomo bids farewell to his past self.

Just like that phone call I received.

Kuroba Akira also stood up, cracking his knuckles.

"You're not expecting me to just stand there and take a beating, are you? I'll fight back, you know?"

"Bring it on!"

Seriously, he has that resolute expression of a hero facing a great demon king... I'm not some final boss.

"Then let's go."

After taking a deep breath, Sumitomo Ryota raised his fist and charged at Kuroba Akira, swinging his fist wildly as if he were using all his strength.

They just went straight for the face.

In fact, fights between students rarely involve hitting the face, because it's easy to spot. So they usually hit the stomach or back.

However, since he had already made up his mind, we still had to respond politely.

Hei Yuming stood still, waiting for the other party to come to him.

Attacks aimed at the face are actually quite easy to predict, because a person's head is only so big, and it's not easy to get a headshot.

So he calmly stared at Sumitomo Ryota's fist, adjusted his body posture, and as Sumitomo Ryota approached, he turned to the side and swung his fist at the right moment.

Ryota Sumitomo's fist grazed Akira Kuroba's cheek, while Akira's fist struck him squarely in the face.

Cross counter-punch.

"Well……!"

Ryota Sumitomo stumbled back a few steps in pain, but managed to stand up without falling to the ground in disgrace, even though he really wanted to just lie down.

He covered his nose, blood was gushing out, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Men bleed but don't cry.

Since the nosebleed has already started, you should hold back your tears.