TLPSO 09

chapter 9:

 Testimony of My Partner, Yuto

My “Top Secret Investigation” was escalating day by day.
By now, Rei-kun had grown a little used to it. When I approached him with my “Observation Journal” in hand, he’d sigh and say,
“…So, what’s today’s question?”
That resigned expression of his only made it more amusing.

One day during lunch break, Rei-kun was unusually called away by some of the boys in our class.
A perfect opportunity.
I headed straight to Takagi Yuto — the only person (well, according to me) who knew Rei-kun’s secrets.

“Hey, Takagi-kun! Tell me a bit about Rei-kun, please!”
“Whoa, Saeki. You’re still doing that? Thanks to you, Rei’s turning into a total weirdo in everyone’s eyes lately.”
Yuto laughed as he chewed on his yakisoba bread.

“That’s fine! It’s all part of my investigation! So—what was Rei-kun like back in middle school?”

At that, Yuto’s usual playful grin faded from his face.
“…Why do you want to know that?”
His voice dropped slightly, as if searching for my true intentions.
He was Rei-kun’s real friend — and I could feel that he wouldn’t allow anyone to pry into Rei’s past just for fun.

I shook my head quickly.
“Don’t get the wrong idea! I’d never make fun of him or turn it into a joke, I promise!”
Then, in a slightly more serious tone, I added:
“I just… want to know. How the perfect Kirishima Rei we see today came to be — and how hard he must’ve worked to become that person.”

When Yuto looked into my eyes, it seemed he understood that I was being sincere.
He exhaled deeply, and his gaze drifted into the distance.

“…He used to be really bad at everything,” Yuto began quietly.
“He was bad at sports, always alone, just reading books all the time. The girls in class used to talk about him behind his back. Honestly, I thought he was just another dull guy.”

But one day, when Yuto was being hassled by upperclassmen, Rei — shaking with fear — had stepped in to help him.
“That’s when I realized — deep down, he’s an incredibly kind guy, and he’s got a strong sense of justice.”

From then on, they became best friends.
And when they entered high school, Rei decided to completely reinvent himself.

“He worked himself to the bone. He went on a diet, ran every single day. Even though studying wasn’t his strong point, he stayed up late every night doing it. Of everyone I’ve ever known, he’s the hardest worker.”

Each word Yuto spoke weighed heavily on my heart.

“So, Saeki,” he said finally, looking me straight in the eye,
“Just promise me one thing — don’t ever make a joke out of his effort.”

“…I won’t. I understand.”
I nodded firmly.

After hearing Yuto’s story, my feelings toward Rei-kun changed a little.
It wasn’t just funny or cute anymore.
I felt something deeper — a profound respect for his unseen struggles and his relentless effort.

(You really are amazing, Kirishima Rei-kun.)

When Rei-kun returned to the classroom, he noticed my gaze.
“…What?” he said, looking slightly wary.
I gave him the brightest smile I’d ever given.

“It’s nothing! I just realized again how unbelievably cool you are, Rei-kun!”

At my overly straightforward words, his face turned the deepest shade of red yet, and he fumbled his textbook, dropping it loudly onto the floor.
Even that clumsy moment — to me now — sparkled like a medal honoring all his hard work.