From a certain day, false rumors and criticism about me began to spread relentlessly. Claims that I touch girls, that I slept with them. Even though they were fake and baseless facts, people around me began to avoid me like I was a bug. The cicadas kept chirping as if mocking me, and on days filled with meaningful gestures like people brushing off their shoulders right in front of me if we bumped into each other, you appeared.

At first, I thought it was kindness. Ah, come to think of it, you were the one who confessed to me and got rejected last time. Right. ...You must have heard the rumors too, so why did you come—

I was suspicious at first because you spoke as if you knew everything about me. However, just having someone following me around seemed to slightly deflect the arrows of the rumors aimed at me. Yes, that's how it was. That summer was like that. I had no idea that an even more terrible and absurd scene was about to unfold.