Chapter 7: The Unforgivable Rumor

Rumors on a college campus are like a virus. They’re invisible, yet they spread faster than a group assignment that’s due in an hour. By that morning, my name was at the very epicenter of the outbreak.

“Kengo and Kurumi are officially dating!” “Seriously? I heard Kengo was a total ice king.” “It’s just a rumor, right? Why is everyone buying it?”

I nearly choked on my morning coffee as the whispers swirled around me like a persistent fly. Official? We hadn't even reached the proposal stage of a friendship, let alone a relationship!

Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the campus—specifically, a dimly lit room with a cheap, crooked lightbulb—a group of Kurumi Mitsuzu fanatics had gathered for an "emergency national summit."

A photo of my face was pinned to the center of a corkboard. I don’t even remember when that was taken.

One of the members held a plastic toy bow. He notched a rubber-tipped arrow. Thud. The arrow stuck right between my eyes on the photograph.

“UNFORGIVABLE!” “He is a sinner!” “How dare a lowly mortal lay a finger on Kurumi-sama!”

Goddess? Since when did Kurumi get promoted to a mythological being?

At the same time, Kurumi was walking down the hallway, her face a shade of red that would put a ripe tomato to shame. She clutched her bag to her chest as if she were harboring a state secret.

Why do I keep thinking about him? Come on, Kurumi… get a grip.

Ever since the chocolate incident—ever since he had eaten her "spicy" cake without a single complaint—the name Harumasa Kengo had refused to leave her mind. When she spotted me at the end of the corridor, she immediately averted her gaze.

“H-hello…” “Good morning, Kurumi.” “G-good morning to you too, Kengo-kun!”

Her movements were stiff, and her heart was flatly refusing to cooperate.

On my end, the atmosphere was suffocating. Glances followed me everywhere. In the classroom. In the hallways. Even during lunch. Why was everyone looking at me like I’d just committed a federal crime?

Suddenly, a faint, raspy voice hissed from behind me. “Unforgivable…”

I spun around. There was no one there. This was starting to feel like a plot from a bargain-bin thriller.

Just as I was about to enter my classroom, a hand shot out and grabbed my arm. It was fast. Before I could react, someone wearing a chimpanzee mask shoved a black sack over my head.

“What the—?!”

Hurried footsteps. A creaking door. The bag was ripped off. I found myself in a dark room—again. A single bulb flickered overhead, dying a slow death.

The walls were plastered with oversized posters of Kurumi. Candles flickered on a table next to permanent markers and a small whiteboard that read: “THE COUNCIL IN THE SHADOWS OF KURUMI-SAMA.”

On the front desk lay my photo with "SUSPECT" scrawled across it in bright red ink. This wasn't a secret society; it was a fanatic club with a shoestring budget and way too much free time.

A circle of figures stood around me. A chicken mask. A cat mask. An alien. A bear. And at the center—a gorilla mask. Clearly, the leader.

“What is your relationship with the Goddess Kurumi?”

I was tied to a wobbly plastic chair with a cheap clothesline. “How can a sinful creature like you be so close to her?!”

The drama was intense. It was like a hostage scene from an anime, but on a severe budget.

“I don’t have a relationship with her!” “DON’T LIE!” the Gorilla roared. “We have undeniable proof!” “What proof?! I don't even know who you guys are!” “He denies it! Look! He lies in the presence of the Goddess!”

Sharpened whispers cut through the air. “Since you have sinned by approaching Kurumi-sama, we shall grant you penance so you may repent, mortal!”

Someone brought out a wooden cross. The paint was still wet. Why do they have these props ready? Do they rehearse this every week?!

“Crucify him!” “Punish the sinner!”

SLAM!

The door was kicked open. Light flooded the room. All the masks turned in unison. Kurumi stood at the threshold, silhouetted by the hallway light like a deity descending from the heavens. The room went dead silent.

“Kurumi-sama?!”

She stepped inside. She wasn't smiling. “That’s exactly my question.” Her gaze swept across the room. “What are you doing to Kengo-kun?”

The Gorilla mask bowed low. “He insulted you!” “Insulted me how?” “He dared to claim he was close to you!”

Kurumi blinked, then let out a long, weary sigh. “Oh… so this is all about that stupid rumor?” “The rumor is true, isn't it?!” “No.”

That one word made the room freeze. “Kengo and I are not dating.”

I nodded frantically. “She’s right. We’re just close friends. Please emphasize that, Kurumi…”

“We only exchanged friendship cakes. Is that a crime?” Kurumi asked, her voice steady as the candles hissed.

“Friendship…?” My bonds were cut. I stood up, feeling a bit lightheaded. “Thank you…”

Kurumi stood by my side. For a moment, we genuinely looked like a hero and heroine emerging from a low-level Demon King’s lair.

However—her voice suddenly softened. “I never said he was just a friend.”

The room plunged back into silence. “What does that mean?!” “What are you saying, Kurumi-sama?!”

Kurumi looked straight at me. “If I’m being honest… you could say we’ve become very, very close.”

My heart stopped for a fraction of a second. Why did she have to add that?!

The Gorilla mask began to tremble. “Our Queen… she’s been taken!” “TAKE HER BACK!”

Chaos erupted again. Plastic chairs were overturned. Posters began to peel. The candles flickered violently. I turned to Kurumi.

“Kurumi… you just started a world war.”

She gave me a tiny, mischievous smile. “Oops. My bad. Tee-he~”

I could only sigh in resignation. But amidst the madness, one thing was becoming clear. The rumors might have been a lie, but the feelings? Those were shifting into something I could no longer control.

And this time, it wasn't the masked weirdos making me nervous. It was Mitsuzu Kurumi standing beside me, laughing with the same warmth she had shown last night.

Without even realizing it, I found myself smiling back.