Chapter Text
“Yo.”
Chisa Yukizome paused when she saw Juzo leaning against the wall. She tightened her grip on her documents, face becoming neutral as she started walking away.
“—Chisa, wait!” Juzo stood, meeting her walking with a few short strides. “You're being childish—hold on, don't just run from us—”
Chisa stopped abruptly, whirling around to face him.
“You think I'm being childish ?” Her voice shook. “You and Kyosuke really think so little of me, huh. You thought I was just… some supporting side character in your life, right? That I was a good love interest, to match Kyosuke, that I had no thoughts or feeling of my own?! Ah, yes, Chisa Yukizome- always smiling , always ready to help ! I bet if I was brainwashed, none of you would even notice !”
Juzo scoffed. “Seriously, you're talking about your brainwashing theory again? Look, I know you don't want to believe your students could be “bad apples” as you'd say, but—”
“Rotten. Oranges.” She corrects.
“What?”
“The phrase I have always used is rotten oranges , not bad apples.” Her eyes blaze into him. “And if you really can't remember that, you're an even worse friend than I thought.”
“What?” He repeats. “Chisa, that's—look, that's besides the point. You can't… you can't just run from us, just because we didn't believe your brainwashing theory. You have no proof, Chisa. And you've always… seen the best in people. It's possible you just don't want to admit—”
She laughs, ragged. “Yes, I have seen the best in people. People like Kyosuke. People like you . Even when you beat Hinata-kun for the crime of breathing the same air as the elites, I defended you. I stood up to you in the moment, sure. But I stuck by you. Maybe I shouldn't have .”
He looks stricken. “You… You don't mean that.”
“Don't I?” She smiled cold. “Juzo, answer me something. Did you… did you ever honestly think I was more than Kyosuke's love interest, in all the time I've known you? Or did you just think… I would go blindly with what Kyosuke wanted, because I loved him, and that's what you do when you love someone? Do you think that's what you do when you love someone? Because it isn't.”
Juzo flinches. Chisa continues to press. “Juzo, you have the worst self esteem I've even seen.” She frowns. “Except for maybe Komaeda-kun.” She muttered, before she shook her head. “You act as if your existence is some sort of sin, and if you just… repress whatever you hate about yourself, it won't exist. That's why you beat up Hinata-kun, right? He questioned how the world worked. And maybe it was so he didn't dig , didn't press , maybe you were protecting him in your own way, but… Did it make you feel tall? Can you honestly say it didn't make you feel tall ?”
“Chisa, you… you know why I did that. It was for his own good.”
“And how did that work out?” Chisa asks. “With Hinata-kun likely plummeting to his death with the rest of the reserve course. Believing he was less than, because of people like you.” She barks a sharp laugh, before she faltered at his strikened face. “...No, I didn't mean that. But that's besides the point. The point… the point is, you have always felt small. When you weren't exerting your strength, you felt small. And I have tried to be there for you, I really have. But you're never going to see me as anything but the love interest. Because if you'd dedicate your whole life and soul to Kyosuke, why wouldn't I? It's natural to adore him in your mind, so why would anyone not ?” Her eyes bore into him. “You're projecting. Your self hate has twisted things—it's not common sense to love Kyosuke. It's not natural and inevitable. It's something I choose to do. And just as well, I can choose to stop.”
Juzo swallowed. “How?” He pleads. “How do you stop loving him?”
“Juzo, I'm not asking you to stop loving him. I'm asking you to stop expecting me to.” She shook her head. “Your love, Juzo, is not a sin. You are not a sin.” She faltered. “You have to know why I never asked Kyosuke out.”
“...Wh… Why?”
“Because I was waiting for you to.” She admits. “Because I didn't want to steal him from you . Apart of me… I did know if I just asked, he'd date me. But, well… If he did that, wouldn't that break my best friend's heart? Wouldn't that break your heart?”
“What are… what are you saying? Me and Munataka, that's… It isn't like...” He was pale and trembling, but her gaze never wavered.
“Life isn't a story.” Her face was hard. “I know if I asked, Kyosuke would date me, Juzo. But I didn't want to ask. I didn't want to destroy our happiness. To you, I was destined to be with Kyosuke… but to me… I just wanted us three to be together forever. I didn't need… need romance. I just needed you. Both of you.” Her eyes, usually so gentle, flinted. “But if I have to choose between you and believing in my students, then…” She sighed. “You didn't even believe me. You just disregarded my words, even though they were my students. Dismissed me as emotional. Biased. As if I didn't know what I was talking about, my kids… ”
Juzo straightened. “Chisa… You're not going to do anything reckless, are you?”
Chisa Yukizome smiled. “What can I do, Juzo?” She asked. “Without Munataka's backing, what can I even do for my students in the first place? You know… Enoshima didn't send me into despair. My students turning didn't send me into despair. Not being believed didn't send me into despair… You know what really would make me despair? What does ? Not being able to help my students. And that's what you've doomed me to. You , not just Enoshima.”
Juzo faltered at her speech. She sighed, a moment later, melancholy lining her face. “I guess I can't really blame you. For how you see me, I mean. I played the role. Desperate to be loved, to hold onto both of your love… I tried to be everything. Always holding on too tight. But, you know what… I can't be everything. No one can. I can just be me, and if you're really my friends, that will be enough.” Once more, with one more sigh, she began to walk away, tossing over her shoulders. “And… It's your choice if that is enough. I'll be here, waiting, either way.” She shook her head. “But I'm not waiting forever, Juzo. So talk to me when Kyosuke gets his head out of his ass.”