Chapter 15: Something unexpected

Translator: Soafp

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[Haruka Pov]

Several years had passed since then.

I had taken a job at a company affiliated with Narimiya in the next prefecture. It was the maximum concession I could get from my father, as I had refused to marry and had moved out of my parents’ house.

“Narimiya-san, what should I do about this place…”

“Oh, this huh, if you do it this way…you see…”

“Thank you very much!　I knew I could count on you!　You should learn from her, Harada-senpai!”

Having a cute junior colleague, she was devoting herself to her work in her own way.

“Why, I taught you well! Right, Narimiya.”

“Fufu. Yes, you taught her properly. If you listen to Koizumi-san properly, you will definitely understand. Okay?”

“Yess”

“What’s with that attitude!　Just because Narimiya is so nice to you…”

Harada-kun, a fellow colleague of mine, glances at me. His attitude toward me has not changed since he was a small child.

Only Toki-kun was straight forward.

“Ah, dressing up in front of Narimiya-senpai again. Well, please do your best.”

“Such a thing…right, Narimiya?”

“..Eh?　What is it?”

“Kusu kusu. Narumiya-senpai has a fiancee. Give up.”

“Hey, Narimiya… how about tonight?　Dinner.”

“No…I’m sorry. I feel bad for my fiancé.”

“Right~Haa…let’s go to work.”

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I don’t have a fiance. It became hard for me to say no over and over again, so that’s what I did.

After Toki-kun became happy.

That’s what I had decided. I told my father everything and got him to understand why I was leaving home and why I couldn’t get married yet.

I made my parents look very sad.

But I wanted to make it happen even if I had to, it was my ego.

However, living alone was unexpectedly lonely, and I would fool myself by looking at pictures of Toki-kun from elementary school.

I wonder what happened with the girlfriend of that time. We only met in person and talked about one thing.

Scars, I hope it hasn’t widened…

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When Toki-kun had made good friends and junior staff, and had become a member of society in his own way, Toki-kun learned that his father had become seriously ill.

Moreover, Toki-kun was going to join my father’s company to take care of him.

I felt indescribable.

I want to go visit Seiji. But I couldn’t see Toki-kun.

When I went back to my parents’ house to hide in agony, I heard their voices laughing next to each other.

The closest and the farthest distance between me and him.

I felt like crying.

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A few months have passed since then. I had returned to my parents’ house again. I used to go home once every two months, but now it’s about once every two weeks.

“Haruka-chan, over here.”

One day after dinner, my mother handed me a piece of paper. Was she talking about a marriage proposal again? There was no mention of the sender.

“It is from Toki-san.”

“…I don’t want it”

I can’t accept it. I want to see it, but I can’t. It has a definite future in it. It contains a sharp scythe that will cut off my unresolved feelings.

“Really?　Then let’s throw it away.”

“Eh?　Oh, don’t!”

Watching her go to throw it in the trash, I hurriedly snatch the letter away from her. Sometimes my mother’s jokes go too far. What kind of a thing to do to a precious letter out of the blue.

“Ah, mou!　You crumpled it up!”

“Fufu… Read it properly.”

“Suwako-san…”

“Ara, I have done my job well.”

“……,Right….”

My father was taken aback by my mother saying that with her chest puffed out. After all this time, I still think they make a good couple.

I didn’t see anything.

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I didn’t dare look at the letter at my parents’ house, so I brought it back to my house where I lived alone.

For some reason or another, I had stretched to break the seal.

I’ve been thinking about it since the day I graduated from high school. …… Yes, I was scared.

No, I won’t bat an eye. Right. I’m not going to close my eyes. I have to properly accept Toki-kun’s thoughts.

But…what will he say to me now?

Is it abuse…maybe he has found someone good…maybe…an invitation…to the wedding…or something?

I suppress my trembling hands and read the letter.

Ah, it brings back memories…Toki-kun’s handwriting. It’s real.

“…Wha….”

But there was something written there that I never expected.

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