I Married the Girl Who Used to Bully Me - Chapter 7

I have a childhood friend. His name is Itsuki Yamamoto. At first, I genuinely liked him. Even now, somewhere deep in my heart, that feeling remains. But back then, I couldn’t even bring myself to voice those emotions.

Friends and people around me never stopped talking. “He’s lame.” “You two don’t match.” “Why are you even with him?” I was bombarded with words like these every day. Words hurled at me with laughter laced with malice. I couldn’t just ignore them all.

Because I liked him. Because I liked him, I couldn’t avoid it, couldn’t even argue back. No matter how much it hurt, no matter how much I wanted to cry, I couldn’t stand up for him; I could only endure.

But the “like” I felt back then might be different from the “like” I feel now. The familiarity of a childhood friend, the desire to protect him, and jealousy and frustration I couldn’t even understand myself. All of it mixed together, leaving me tangled in contradictory emotions.

Maybe that’s when my gears started slowly coming undone.

One day, Chinatsu said to me:

“Itsuki doesn’t like you.”

My mind went blank when I heard those words.

“…Huh? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“Nah, it’s just—he never gets jealous, right? If you were really dating, he’d get jealous sometimes. He never invites you out either, does he? And he never says he likes you, right?”

She was right. Lately, Itsuki hadn’t said “I like you” even once. He never invited me anywhere. I was always the one reaching out—he just existed there, passive.

Even when I mentioned Akiyama-kun’s name, Itsuki’s expression didn’t change at all. Back then, I hadn’t noticed, but now it hit me. I had never once seen Itsuki act jealous.

Maybe the “like” I thought I knew had never included Itsuki’s feelings at all.

Anxiety tightened around my chest. Why was I even thinking about this? But Chinatsu’s words wouldn’t leave my head.

“Don’t make that face. Oh! How about this? Why don’t you test him?”

“Test him…?”

“Yeah, like, bring up Akiyama-kun or some other guy friend and see if he gets jealous. If he really likes you, he’ll do something about it.”

At first, I hesitated. Was this really okay? But Chinatsu was my best friend. I had even gotten together with Itsuki because of her. So, before I knew it, I nodded.

Chinatsu was usually right about these things. I just wanted to feel a little more secure, so I had to trust her.

Deep inside, a faint tremor of expectation mixed with guilt—the feeling that I shouldn’t be doing this.

“…Maybe I’ll try it.”

I muttered it quietly, as if convincing myself by saying it out loud.

I was impatient. The anxiety in my heart was slowly seeping out. No matter how much I brought up Akiyama-kun or other guy friends, Itsuki didn’t react at all. His expression didn’t change in the slightest.

(…Why aren’t you bothered at all?)

My tone unintentionally sharpened. My voice carried both anger and confusion. My chest tightened painfully, thoughts swirling in my head.

(Do you really like me?)

That question wouldn’t disappear. If he liked me, he’d react even a little. At the very least, he could show a hint of jealousy.

Hey, Itsuki am I not important to you? Why is it only me…? Why do you make me feel so insecure?

I told Itsuki how anxious I was, but he never said anything back to me. I started wondering. Does he even care?

I don’t know. Because you never say anything, I can’t read your feelings at all. Why are you even with me? Maybe, maybe you’ve found someone else you like. The thought made my chest burn with frustration.

Even though I have this habit of trying to please you, you talk so happily with other girls. I want you to treat me the same way, but no matter what I do, nothing changes. All I can do is watch your expression.

I worked so hard to become cute for you. Everything I did was for you. I even became the queen of the class, and then you were the prince but the distance between us only grew. Why?

Why…? Even though I’ve given you everything, why won’t you change?

It pisses me off, pisses me off, pisses me off… My heart feels like it’s about to be crushed under the weight of your indifference.

“I’m gonna go watch Chinatsu and Sōsuke-kun’s soccer game later. You should come too, you can carry my stuff, okay?”

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about soccer. I was already sick of it. But I kept doing this just to make Itsuki jealous.

“I’m not going.”

Itsuki’s voice was unbelievably low, trembling faintly. But I heard it clearly.

—Wait, is he jealous?

That Itsuki jealous for me?

Just the thought made my chest flutter with warmth. I was happy but I couldn’t believe it, so I ended up blurting out:

“Ha…? What?”

“I said I’m not going. Can’t you hear me?”

Finally, he got jealous. It took long enough.

Just like Chinatsu said. She’s amazing—so sharp, always seeing right through me.

“Wait, are you jealous? If you don’t want me to go, you could just say so. Then I wouldn’t.”

“Just leave me alone!!!”

His voice carried a rage and frustration I had never heard from him before. The expression on his face in that moment stripped of all embarrassment and hesitation, felt like his true self laid bare. I stared, wide-eyed.

For the first time, I witnessed Itsuki truly explode with emotion. In all our years together, I had never seen him like this.

After that, I don’t remember anything. I can barely recall what was said. The only thing lingering in the corners of my memory is the sensation of my chest tightening and even that is hazy.

No, maybe I just don’t want to remember. Maybe I was afraid to face reality. I quietly buried that moment deep in my mind, shut the door on my heart, and ran from the truth.

I tried to stop Itsuki, but he shook me off and walked away.

“One chocolate, one happiness.”

“Misaki’s done all this for Itsuki, but what has he ever done for her? Nothing.”

“Hey, you’ve noticed too, right? Itsuki probably likes someone else.”

“It’s not your fault, Misaki. He’s the one in the wrong.”

When I told my classmates about what happened, they all took my side. Yeah, of course. I’m not the one at fault here. He is.

It’s his fault for never saying what he wants, for hiding his feelings. I did everything I could—tried to become cute, reached out to close the distance. But he never took my hand.

“Hey, what if we teach him a lesson?”

“Yeah, sounds good. He’s been getting way too full of himself lately. You’re cool with it too, right, Misaki?”

“Eh… me?”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words. I hadn’t expected to be dragged into this.

“Yeah. You’re way too nice. We’ll put him in his place for you.”

It’s true! He’s the one who treated me like this. I’ve established myself as the queen of the class. There’s no doubt I’m the most important. And yet, Itsuki acted so cold and rude toward me.

But that doesn’t mean I want to break up. If anything, I don’t want to. This feeling is unbearably strong. So this time, it’s my turn to teach him a lesson. I’ll be a little mean, make him sweat, wait for him to come crawling back to me. And then… in that moment, I’ll smile inside. Of course, I’ll take him back.

I didn’t even realize it myself; how my jealousy, my desire for control, my possessiveness were all growing.

From that day on, the bullying started. Scribbles on his desk, small things but Itsuki’s expression never changed. It pissed me off. Just apologize already, I’ll forgive you. But his face remained the same.

Days passed, and Itsuki never apologized. Instead, he calmly resorted to violence. Akiyama was coughing up blood, collapsed on the floor.

Disgusting.

My chest burned with fury. I like Itsuki. But this, I can’t forgive this. I can’t overlook such irresponsible, disrespectful behavior. If I don’t punish him, my heart won’t settle.

Resolved, I used my parents’ influence to threaten Itsuki. I dragged his mother into it, applied pressure and finally, he gave in. A little cold, a little resentful, but I could feel him opening up.

Finally, I had won.

“Misaki isn’t at fault. Itsuki is.”

“Misaki hasn’t done anything wrong, okay? So, hold your head high.”

“The one who resorted to violence is the real problem here. He deserves what’s coming to him.”

My classmates always affirm me. A faint warmth seeps into my heart. That’s right! I’m not the one at fault. He is the violent, irresponsible one.

So, does that mean it’s okay for us to do the same? No, that’s not it. Precisely because it’s wrong, my heart grows restless, my anger builds. Playing with my feelings, then resorting to violence. I can never forgive that.

“Itsuki, do it.”

At my words, Itsuki looked embarrassed but he still went through with it. A shiver ran through me.

Until now, he had barely shown any emotion toward me. Days of being ignored, brushed off but this Itsuki was different. The embarrassment, the hesitation, the faint obedience he showed right in front of me.

Yes, this is what I wanted. This feeling… What is this? This indescribable exhilaration and possessiveness swirling hotly in my chest.

At my words, everyone laughed. Light, carefree laughter and Itsuki’s flustered expression was unbearably cute.

My chest burned. I want you to stay like this… forever mine. My plaything. I can’t help but wish for it.

—Itsuki, stay awkward and embarrassed in front of me forever. Stay in my control, in my world—just stay cute like this.

Maybe that’s why. This was my punishment. The inevitable retribution for my foolishness, my arrogance, my all-consuming possessiveness.

It happened after school, after I parted ways with Itsuki. My steps were heavy, my heart still swaying in the afterglow of excitement. Then, I don’t even know what happened.

The next moment, pain and impact mixed together, warping the world in an instant.

I had been hit.