Oneshot: A Man Who Found Happiness After Running Away

Translator: Soafp

---

A return to Japan after ten years.

There were many reasons, and I had no intention of ever coming back, but as a final closure, I decided to make a temporary return this time.

“So much has happened.”

I got into the rental car I had reserved from the airport and started driving. Two figures appeared in my mind.

One was Fukino, my former fiancée from ten years ago.

And the other was Yasuho Mitsuo, my best friend.

I never expected that Mitsuo, whom I had been friends with since high school, would cuckold with my fiancée.

I had been dating Fukino for three years at that time, and she had been cheating on me for a year.

I realized something was wrong when I felt a strange attitude from Fukino towards me.

I had the private detective agency investigate, but I didn’t immediately choose to break up with Fukino.

It wasn’t because I intended to start over with her.

I just wanted to inflict lasting damage on them.

We had already completed the engagement and were less than six months away from the wedding.

Before the truth came out, Mitsuo casually congratulated me during a drinking party with friends, and Fukino thanked him with a smile. That image made it impossible for me to be satisfied with just ending things as a result of infidelity.

To sever the lingering regrets, I quit my job and transferred to a company in the United States that my college friend, Ryoji, had started. I made preparations.

I also called my parents to inform them.

[I see, well… there’s no helping it.]

[Well, make sure you do it thoroughly. We’ll be waiting.]

My parents had also been living in the United States due to a job transfer, so I was thankful that I had only met Fukino a few times.

In this way, Fukino was completely unaware of my busy preparations for the day to come.

Whether it was because she had no interest in me or because the report stated that her relationship with Mitsuo was just a fling, she must have intended to continue playing around until our marriage.

Fukino had said she planned to quit her job, but I stopped her.

I didn’t want her to lose her source of income, as I wanted to make sure she paid the appropriate compensation, and I also didn’t want to her to be dependent on me later.

Unaware of my true intentions, Fukino reported to Mitsuo, and they were getting excited about how stupid and poorly paid I was. But I didn’t care. It just gave me more evidence.

And then the day of fate arrived.

I carried the documents and went to say my final greetings to Fukino’s parents.

I thought it would pain me to see Fukino’s parents, who knew nothing, but surprisingly, it didn’t affect me at all.

[I’m sorry, but I cannot marry someone who is unfaithful during the engagement.]

I presented the evidence documents on the table for Fukino’s parents to see.

[Wha…]

[Is it a lie, right… Fukino… you can’t be serious.]

Fukino’s parents were dumbfounded.

Fukino, on the other hand, was speechless, frozen with a pale face.

The smiles of the family moments before had completely transformed.

[I’ll leave the rest to my lawyer. Excuse me.]

I hastily left Fukino’s parents’ house and jumped into the taxi I had been waiting for me. As I looked back, I saw Fukino running barefoot outside, shouting my name.

That was the last time I saw Fukino ten years ago.

Our rental apartment, which we had planned to stay in together after the marriage, had already been canceled at the end of the month, and the household goods had been disposed of by the previous day.

I blocked her calls on my phone and sought refuge in a hotel. I entrusted all the subsequent arrangements to my lawyer and left for the United States the following week.

They say the opposite of love is indifference, and it applied to me as well.

Even when I heard the report from my lawyer, my heart remained unmoved. I received a letter of apology written by Fukino, but when I read it…

(Is she stupid?)

That was the only thought that came to mind.

I don’t need words like “I was lonely” or “I want to start over.” I don’t want any of that. I just wanted to end the relationship quickly.

Mitsuo’s relationship with Fukino became known to our friends, and he became isolated. Although I did claim compensation, I didn’t reveal their secret.

It became public knowledge when Fukino consulted acquaintances and asked for reconciliation with me. Our friends were all appalled, and it goes without saying that no one cooperated.

The compensation amount wasn’t significant, so Fukino promptly transferred it to me. I heard from my lawyer that Fukino had sent another letter, but I told them to return it.

After that, despite having no interest in Fukino’s current situation, meddlesome friends occasionally informed me through emails.

Two years after the broken engagement, Fukino married a colleague from her workplace and had two children, but they divorced after five years.

It seems the cause was her husband’s affair.

“It’s your punishment for betraying.”

Is what people around her say, but it’s not punishment. It’s simply a matter of lacking discernment.

But I was the same.

I was engaged to a woman who would cheat with my friend.

Mitsuo argued about the payment of compensation. He claimed it was just a fling or that Fukino had initiated it. He even said that I should have kept Fukino from leaving, according to his lawyer.

I felt like an idiot, so I suggested that the alimony be paid in monthly installments, and he said 10,000 per month, which I agreed to.

In the end, I couldn’t collect the full amount of compensation from Mitsuo.

That idiot continued to date several other married women, and it was exposed by someone related to those affairs.

“Come to think of it, this year was the 7th anniversary of his death, or the last of the fools.”

“What’s wrong, Masashi? Did you say something?”

My girlfriend, Saori, who was sleeping next to me, woke up and asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“Really? Do you feel anything special being back in Japan after a long time?”

“Yeah…”

Saori looked up at me with a flirtatious gaze. She was Ryogi’s sister, nine years younger than me at 26 years old. She has a height of 175 centimeters and beautiful chestnut-colored hair. I had known Saori since my high school days.

Despite her excellent grades and working for a top company after graduating from university, she joined Ryogi’s company three years ago.

[Please go out with me!]

[Huh?]

I was completely surprised by Saori’s confession at that time. I had always treated her like a sister.

[You may not believe it, but Saori has liked you for a long time. I’m counting on you.]

Ryogi said, laughing. But even I couldn’t believe it.

Well, we started dating right away.

Saori seemed to know about my breakup with my fiance due to her cheating, so she expressed her affection intensely. She would say “I love you” multiple times every day. She worried that I would feel insecure if she didn’t say it. I wonder what Ryogi told Saori about me. Well, I’m happy about it, though.

“I have to say hello to Masashi’s grandmother.”

“Saori, you met her in America, so this is not your first time meeting her.”

This time, I came back to inform my grandma about my upcoming marriage with Saori. Ryogi and Saori were born in America, with their mother being half Japanese and half Caucasian, and their father being of French-American descent. That’s why they don’t look Japanese.

Last year, when my grandma came to visit America and I introduced Saori to her, her voice trembled with excitement.

[Cute grandma!] (Said in English)

Saori said with a laugh.

“I’m happy.”

“I am too, Masashi.”

I gently squeezed Saori’s hand. My work is going well, and my personal life is fulfilling.

“Being happy is the best revenge…”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a saying, from someone.”

I smiled back at Saori’s smiling face. It seems my judgment of people is doing just fine.