You Will Regret This Ichinose! [175]

On the third day since the rumors began, the situation started to spiral out of control.

Uesugi Gen’s name was still circulating among the students, but now, new rumors about other people had begun flooding the school forum.

[Nagumo Miyabi is secretly in love with Student Council President Horikita Manabu and has an ambiguous relationship with First-Year Class C’s Ryūen Kakeru.]

[Ryūen Kakeru was once brutally bullied by Uesugi Gen.]

[Onitō Hayato’s gloves harbor the power of the Dark Side.]

[Ayanokōji Kiyotaka is actually a pervert who enjoys spying on girls in the changing room.]

[Kanazaki Ryūji has a crush on a girl in his class.]

[First-Year Class D’s homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, is a mentally unstable lunatic.]

[All of the above are absolutely true—I swear!]

Kanazaki Ryūji stared at his phone screen, his usual emotionless face twitching uncontrollably.

Uesugi, you bastard.

Spreading rumors about others is one thing, but dragging your own classmates into this mess too?

I can’t believe I actually wasted time worrying about you. Just go to hell already!

If Uesugi Gen had heard Kanazaki’s thoughts, he probably would’ve just chuckled.

"I go all out—even against myself. Why the hell would I spare you?"

Kanazaki took a deep breath and put his phone away.

By now, the other classes had probably erupted into chaos after seeing the forum. With some people fanning the flames, the situation had escalated beyond control, sweeping through the entire school.

If things continued like this, it would inevitably disrupt the normal school environment. The administration would be forced to step in sooner or later.

And when the mastermind was caught, they would undoubtedly face the wrath of the entire student body.

But that… had nothing to do with Kanazaki Ryūji.

Leaning back in his chair, he scanned the classroom.

The heavy atmosphere that had loomed over them for the past two days had mostly dissipated.

Though the students were still somewhat subdued, the worst had passed.

Unlike other classes, the former Class B had barely been affected by the rumors—likely due to their relatively good reputation.

Except… for Kanazaki himself.

At that thought, Kanazaki cursed internally.

Damn you, Uesugi Gen!

Just then, the classroom speakers crackled to life.

[Due to the large-scale rumor incident within the school, all students are required to assemble in Gymnasium No. 1 in thirty minutes. I repeat…]

The entire class exchanged glances, then subtly shifted their gaze toward a certain absentminded girl.

So it’s finally coming to an end…

---

I Am a Thief.

Ichinose Honami repeated the words in her mind.

Standing in the middle of the crowd, the murmurs and chatter around her seemed to pull her back to that fateful afternoon.

She turned her head slightly, glancing at the scene around her.

A department store.
A strict mother.
A crying younger sister.
A helpless store clerk.
The hushed whispers of bystanders.

A distant, bitter smile crossed her lips.

She had thought that after nearly a year, she had finally buried that memory.

But the truth was, she had never really left that moment behind.

---

"Regarding the recent string of rumors within the school…"

Horikita Manabu’s voice echoed from the podium.

---

I grew up in a single-parent household.

Ever since I was little, it was just my mother, my younger sister, and me.

We weren’t wealthy, but I never felt unfortunate.

Because we had each other.

My mother worked tirelessly to raise us, coming home late every night. My sister was always considerate, never asking for new clothes, never going out with friends.

Just living with the people who loved me—that alone made me happy.

That happiness lasted until my third year of middle school, the summer before my sister’s birthday.

For the first time in her life, she had something she wanted—a simple hairpin.

And because of that… my already overworked mother collapsed.

I stood there, watching her lying in a hospital bed.

Watching my sister’s smile disappear.

Watching myself, silent and motionless—until my hand reached toward the department store shelf…

---

"Where is Uesugi Gen, the one at the center of these rumors?"

A voice suddenly cut through the crowd.

"Yeah, the rumors all started because of him. If anyone knows the truth, it’s probably him. Why isn’t he here?"

---

My theft didn’t go unnoticed.

My mother found out.

Everything that followed played out in my mind like a film on rewind.

In front of my terrified sister, my mother slapped me across the face.

Then, despite still being hospitalized, she personally dragged me back to the store and forced me to kneel and apologize—publicly, in front of everyone.

That scene burned itself into my soul, an unshakable shadow lingering deep within me.

Ichinose Honami stood there, watching her past self kneeling, tears streaming down her face.

She glanced at her mother, still pale from illness, standing beside her.

For the past year, she had revisited this memory countless times, wandering through it like a ghost, never truly escaping.

So it wasn’t that I forgot. I just forced myself not to think about it.

But… that’s not good enough.

Ichinose turned her gaze toward a certain direction.

She could feel it—outside this scene, someone had been waiting for her.

Not just recently.

Maybe since the deserted island exam.

Maybe even earlier.

I made him wait for so long…

She let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

Then, she took a step forward.

---

In front of the entire school, Ichinose Honami walked past her classmates and stepped onto the podium.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

She could feel their stares—just like that afternoon, when strangers had pointed fingers at her.

Is that all?

Compared to how much she missed him, this was nothing.

Ichinose Honami smiled calmly, took a deep breath, and with all her strength, declared:

"I, Ichinose Honami, am a thief!"

Her voice, amplified through the speakers, echoed beyond the gymnasium—through the doors, the windows, into the sky, across the ocean—until it reached a certain person’s heart.

Then, without hesitation, she stepped down from the podium.

She took off running.

Dashing through the dumbfounded crowd, heading straight for the gymnasium exit.

---

"Disperse!"

Kanazaki Ryūji and Shibata Sō shouted at the same time.

BOOM!

The former Class B—usually the most obedient class in the school—became the first to break the rules.

Like fish scattering in a burst of energy, they rushed after Ichinose, surging toward the gymnasium doors.

---

Sunlight glinted off strands of golden-pink hair, fluttering freely in the November breeze.

Ichinose Honami sprinted toward the dormitory, leaving everything behind—

The judgmental stares.
The store clerk’s disapproving eyes.
Her crying sister.
Her strict yet guilt-ridden mother.

None of it mattered anymore.

Gen-kun, did you hear me?

Your Ichinose… is a criminal too.

So I’m coming for you.

Stay right there—don’t run away.

---

T/N: WOAHHHH 0 to 100 REAL QUICK

This is a fan translation of 人在实教，一之濑你会后悔的 by 作者：白良. 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!