Chapter 5: A Date Filled with Suspicion

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Translator: Soafp

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Unpleasant sweat clung damply to my skin as I woke up.

This time's nightmare—

Yuzuki carrying Nagasawa-senpai's child and pushing the responsibility onto me.

The more I struggled to avoid ruin, the deeper the situation sank into a swamp.

(There's nothing I can do.)

I was completely at a loss.

If this was how things were going to end up, maybe I shouldn't have started dating her in the first place.

Looking at it another way, thanks to this precognition ability, at least I could avoid the worst possible outcome—being forced to raise someone else's child.

(…Yeah. Let's think positively.)

Yuzuki simply wasn't the person I was destined to be with.

I was nothing more than someone who happened to pass through her life.

She would choose a man who wasn't me.

The only thing I could do now was give up.

(They always say first love doesn't come true…)

But I never imagined it would end like this.

A sigh slipped out naturally.

Even so, a strange sense of relief slowly crept in, like a burden lifting from my shoulders.

Whatever happened to Yuzuki from now on had nothing to do with me anymore.

Thinking that, I reached for my usual stock trading app—

when suddenly—

“Ren! You forgot we promised to go on a date today, didn't you!?”

Yuzuki suddenly opened the door and stepped into my room.

She stood there with her hands on her hips, pouting angrily.

Come to think of it, it was the weekend.

Right… we had a date planned.

Honestly, I wasn't in the mood at all.

“Yeah. I forgot.”

“You said that way too proudly! I'm already ready, so hurry up! At this rate we'll be late for the movie!”

“No, actually—”

Let's cancel today's date.

I was just about to say it when she slammed the door and left.

Reluctantly, I started getting ready to go out.

There wasn't even a shred of enthusiasm left.

I didn't bother putting effort into my appearance.

Before, I would've dressed up as best I could.

Now I didn't even have the energy for that.

“Ren, you're not putting any effort in today, are you?”

When I went downstairs, Yuzuki looked at my clothes and complained.

She, on the other hand, had clearly put effort into everything—makeup, hair, and outfit.

A white shirred blouse with a light blue denim mini skirt.

And a pastel-colored cardigan lightly draped over her shoulders.

“Ugh…”

A groan slipped out.

That cursed photograph flashed through my mind.

The one where Nagasawa-senpai had called Yuzuki away during a date, lifted her skirt outdoors, and poured his desire deep inside her.

The clothes in that photo looked almost exactly like what she was wearing now.

Of course I knew she liked this style of clothing.

But I couldn't stop myself from recalling that scene.

Suddenly nausea rose in my throat.

…Yeah.

I really couldn't stay with Yuzuki anymore.

“…Sorry. Let's cancel today's date after all.”

“Huh? But I already paid for the movie tickets.”

“I'll pay you back.”

I pulled bills from my wallet and pressed them into her hand.

Then I turned to head back upstairs.

But Yuzuki grabbed my arm.

“S-Sorry! Did I say too much? I wasn't actually angry… I didn't say it because the movie money would be wasted. I just wanted to go on a date with you, Ren… Because that time together is important… okay?”

“…I'm important?”

“Of course! I'm completely devoted to you!”

Before, those words would have made me happy.

Now they sounded like nothing but dirty lies.

Still, thinking calmly, the Yuzuki of the present hadn't done anything yet.

Maybe pushing her away so coldly was wrong.

“I'm sorry too. Lately I've just… had something weighing on my mind. I haven't slept properly for almost a month.”

“That explains why you've looked so worn out lately! You need sleep or it'll hurt your health. Let's make today's date something relaxing for you.”

“…Yeah.”

Yuzuki wrapped herself around my arm as we left the house.

We arrived at the theater and watched the movie she had reserved.

But none of it registered in my mind.

At one point, she gently touched the back of my hand—

and goosebumps ran across my skin.

Even so, I tried my best to act normal.

“Ahh, that was fun! What did you think, Ren?”

“Yeah… it was pretty good.”

“Then let's get lunch next! It looks like there's a thirty-minute wait though. Is that okay? There are benches while we wait!”

Her cheerful voice grated on my ears.

Honestly, I didn't feel like talking at all.

“Okay.”

I responded mechanically and ate lunch.

She talked almost the whole time while I gave distracted replies.

This wasn't a date anymore.

It was just torture.

After we finished eating, we paid the bill.

“Oh, I'm going to the restroom for a second!”

The moment she said that, my heart froze.

Was she going to run to Nagasawa-senpai while she had the chance?

Suspicion—dark and ugly—quickly drowned out my reason.

Yuzuki jogged toward the restroom.

Then she came back.

I had no sense of how much time had passed.

“R-Ren? What's wrong? Your face is pale…”

Without a word, I grabbed her wrist tightly.

I didn't hold back my strength.

Then I left the restaurant and started walking quickly.

I didn't slow down for her pace.

“R-Ren!? Wh-what's going on all of a sudden!? It hurts!”

“…Let's go to a love hotel.”

“Huh? Already? It's still daytime—”

I stopped walking.

Then I glared at her.

“So you're saying you can't do it with me today?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I know. So you're already involved with Nagasawa-senpai, huh?”

“What are you talking about!? I'm not cheating! I just went to the restroom! Why would you say that!?”

“The restroom? …No. Didn't Nagasawa-senpai call you out?”

“No! Ren, why would you think that!?”

“Then prove it. What you went there for.”

“P-prove…?”

Even I knew I was making unreasonable demands.

But emotion had already overtaken my reason.

“I just rinsed my mouth… I was worried about my breath…”

“Then open your mouth.”

“Huh?”

“Don't want to?”

“O-Okay!”

Yuzuki nervously opened her mouth.

I leaned in and checked her breath.

She trembled slightly in surprise but stayed still.

“…Yeah. I smell mouthwash.”

“Ren… you've been acting strange lately. Why are you doubting me so much?”

“You wouldn't understand even if I told you.”

I had never told anyone about my ability to see the future.

And even if I did, no one would believe me.

“If you talk like that, I really don't understand! What's going on!?”

“I can see the future. And in that future, you cheat on me with Nagasawa-senpai. What would you say to that?”

“What…? Ren, are you feeling okay?”

Of course she didn't believe me.

If anything, she looked a little scared and stepped back.

Naturally. I must look insane.

“You probably hate me now. I'll give you taxi money. Let's end the date here—”

“N-No! I like you, Ren! I love you! S-so let's go to a love hotel, okay? I'll do anything for you today.”

Anything.

The word almost made me laugh.

Anything… except when it mattered.

I was already tired of it.

This was the most boring, irritating date of my life.

---

As soon as we entered the hotel room, I pushed Yuzuki onto the bed.

Then I lifted her denim skirt and pulled down her underwear.

“W-what!? R-Ren, are you that impatient!?”

“…Stay still.”

What if there were already traces left by someone else?

My trembling fingers checked between her legs.

Like opening Pandora's box.

But there was nothing.

She was still untouched.

(So she hasn't been taken yet…?)

For a moment I thought that.

But I couldn't be certain.

Maybe she simply hadn't been trained enough yet to run to him during a date.

Endless doubt swirled in my mind.

(Even so… if she hasn't been taken yet…)

Then I wanted to claim her completely.

To make her mine in the truest sense.

Yes.

Before Nagasawa-senpai could tame her, I would tame her first.

Maybe then I could avoid that worst future.

“Yuzuki. You said anything, right?”

“Y-yes…”

“Then today we can do it without protection, right?”

“W-what? B-but today is my risky day…”

I grabbed both her wrists and pinned them above her head.

“Every single time…! Why is it only me who's not allowed!? Aren't I your boyfriend!?”

“N-No! You are my boyfriend! O-okay! Then just pull out—”

“No. I'm finishing inside.”

“What!? I'll get pregnant! Ren, what are you thinking!?”

She stared at me in shock.

“You don't want to get pregnant with my child?”

“That's not what I mean! It's just too soon!”

“Even if I say I'll take responsibility?”

“I still haven't achieved my dreams yet! I'll do anything else, so please don't finish inside me!”

She finally broke down crying.

That sound slowly brought me back to my senses.

…She hated the idea that much.

“So it's not okay with me… but it's fine with Nagasawa-senpai.”

“Eh…?”

“…I had fun until now. See you.”

“R-Ren?”

I silently placed a few bills on the table for taxi fare.

Then I left the hotel.

That day, I realized something clearly.

I could never become someone like Nagasawa-senpai.

Yuzuki would belong to that man.

That was her “fate.”

(I need to break up properly.)

When I got home, I threw every photo and keepsake I had with Yuzuki into the trash.