Don’t Look Back, Megumi Kato [16]

After leaving the classroom, Kato Megumi and Izumi Yuu slowly made their way toward the school gates, chatting casually as they walked.

“Come to think of it… tomorrow’s the weekend.”

Megumi’s voice was gentle, but there was a faint hint of melancholy woven into it.

Which meant… she wouldn’t get to walk to school with Izumi-kun tomorrow.

“Yup, the wonderful weekend’s here again.”

Yuu smiled as he nodded. “Any plans, Kato-san?”

“Mm… I’ll probably be going to the mall with Tomoya-kun to do some fieldwork,” she said thoughtfully, tilting her head.

“We made arrangements beforehand. It’s for our club project—to get inspiration. Since it’s related to our work, it’s not really a date or anything. It wouldn’t be right to ditch him just because I don’t feel like going.”

Perhaps to avoid a misunderstanding, Megumi added a hasty clarification.

“I see. You and Aki-kun are both serious about your responsibilities—I respect that.”
Yuu smiled warmly.

“Hope the two of you have a productive outing. Still… I’ve gotta admit, I’m a bit jealous of Aki-kun. Getting to spend his weekend with Kato-san must be nice.”

Megumi was momentarily taken aback.

Rather than showing even a hint of jealousy, Yuu expressed only understanding—and even congratulated Tomoya. No probing questions. No accusatory tone.

Just simple, genuine kindness.

She smiled softly.

“Then I’ll take your blessing, Izumi-kun. Besides, it’s just a work thing, not a date! And if you ever needed help with something important, I wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand.”

If it were Tomoya-kun…

He probably would’ve gotten upset. Maybe even said something bad about Izumi-kun.

The thought left her with complicated feelings.

“Then it’s settled,” Yuu grinned. “If I need your help one day, I won’t hold back.”

That radiant smile of his left Megumi momentarily dazed. She quickly composed herself and nodded.

“Right! Um… so, Izumi-kun, do you have any plans for the weekend?”

“Hmm… probably some work-related stuff. I’ve got to meet with a part-time collaborator to discuss a job. Other than that, I’ll just be taking care of my sister at home,” he replied.

“You really are such a dependable person, Izumi-kun,” Megumi said, her eyes softening. “Juggling part-time jobs and still looking after your sister… that’s amazing.”

Her sweet smile was like the first spring sun—so radiant that even the cherry blossoms blooming across campus seemed to pale in comparison.

Before they realized it, the two had arrived at the clubroom.

Yuu gave her a small wave, a touch of reluctance in his voice.

“See you next time, Kato-san.”

“Why are you here?”

Before Megumi could respond, a low, irritable male voice cut in from behind them, shattering the gentle mood.

“Huh? Tomoya-kun?”

Megumi turned to see Aki Tomoya standing there with a dark expression.

“Izumi-kun was just heading home, and our paths happened to align. That’s all.”

“Right. We were just going the same way.”

Yuu smiled, looking at Tomoya with polite concern.

“You don’t look too well, Aki-kun. Are you feeling sick?”

To Tomoya, though, that handsome, composed face of Yuu’s looked like pure provocation.

“This is our clubroom. We discuss confidential material here. If you have no business with us, don’t loiter around,” he snapped.

“And I’m perfectly fine—don’t need concern from some two-faced fraud like you.”

“Everyone’s not here yet, and club hasn’t even started,” Megumi said with a troubled frown.

“There’s no need to be so hostile. Izumi-kun was just being considerate. You don’t have to treat him like that.”

“Oh? So now you’re siding with him?!”

Tomoya’s chest heaved, clearly holding back a flood of emotion.

Yuu raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Looks like Aki-kun really does have a problem with me. Is it because I’m spending too much time with Kato-san?”

He tilted his head innocently.

“But I thought you said you and Kato-san were just clubmates. Friends. I can’t imagine I’ve done anything to interfere with your work.”

“You—!”

Tomoya’s face turned beet red with rage and humiliation. He opened his mouth to retort—but couldn’t find the words. Instead, he snapped:

“I just don’t want Megumi getting influenced by someone like you. She’s supposed to be the ideal heroine! And we don’t need you around our club!”

[You gaze at the broken protagonist with a touch of pity. You think: “In this chilly spring, perhaps he needs a warm little ‘hat’ for comfort.” You could sabotage tomorrow’s outing by waiting at their meeting spot, then catch the heroine alone during a restroom break… and let him overhear the sounds of your passionate embrace…]

Not a bad idea, Yuu thought. But a bit premature.

Still, it was worth keeping in mind—for later. Assuming Tomoya even gets another chance.

“Tomoya-kun, that was too far!”

Even Megumi’s usual expressionless face now held visible displeasure. Her voice, normally soft and mild, carried a chill.

“Well, it’s clear I’m not welcome here.”

Yuu shrugged, stepping back.

“Still, if you’re not dating Kato-san—or even interested in her romantically—maybe it’s not your place to interfere. Those rights are reserved for boyfriends, aren’t they?”

He turned to Megumi with a smile.

“Then I’ll be off. Kato-san, good luck with club today.”

“I will. See you, Izumi-kun.”

Her lips curved into a gentle smile as she waved goodbye.

Yuu glanced once more at the floating affection meter above her head, then turned and walked away.

[Name: Kato Megumi]
[Status: A once-background heroine, now discovering a new path in life]
[Affection: 57 (A young girl whose feelings for you are blossoming rapidly)]

Waving farewell, Yuu left the clubroom area and headed for the school gates.

Behind him stood only a scowling Tomoya and a silent Megumi.

“Izumi-kun really is such a thoughtful person,” Megumi murmured to herself.

“He left just to avoid making things worse between us. And… he was right. Tomoya-kun’s acting like he’s my boyfriend—even though he’s never shown any interest in me that way.”

Her heart warmed with newfound affection for Yuu, but her feelings were complicated.

She glanced at Tomoya beside her, his face still dark with frustration.

Does Tomoya-kun actually like me? she wondered. If not, why is he so hostile toward Izumi-kun?

But he’d never said anything—no confession, no hints of affection. If anything, he seemed eager to avoid the topic.

Is he just using me emotionally for the sake of the club? Or is it that he only ever cares about the project, and nothing else? Is he, deep down… just a selfish person?

Her thoughts spiraled into a daze.

“Eh?! Was that Izumi-kun just now? Wow, he really is handsome!”

A lively voice broke the tension between them.

The blonde Eriri trotted over, blinking at the weirdly heavy atmosphere.

“Tomoya, Kato-san—what happened? You two look like something major just went down.”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s get started with club,” Megumi said quickly, snapping out of her daze. She shook her head and walked into the room.

Tomoya followed—face grim, steps heavy, like a zombie trudging toward its grave.

“Something’s definitely up with those two,” Eriri muttered, scrunching her cute little nose.

The loser-hound heroine had just picked up the scent of a looming crisis.

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T/N: hes such an ick :sob:

This is a fan translation of 加藤惠别回头，我是伦也君 by 故人归 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!