Chapter 12: Visitor

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Translator: Soafp

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I was being sarcastic—or perhaps rightfully angry—when I threw those jabs. Since then, Maya hasn’t come to the hospital room.

Thanks to that, my condition seems stable. But being alone, I can’t help but ponder various things.

In the end, I can’t find peace.

Is there no solution to this?

In the midst of such a depressive state, a visitor appeared without any prior notice.

“How are you feeling, Kazunari? Sorry for coming to visit you late.”

With her short bob hairstyle and a slender figure resembling that of a model, the visitor was Mizuki.

She was the woman who introduced Maya and me.

She has a very straightforward personality—a rare trait these days.

That’s why she’s so trusted by those around her, and it seems Maya relied on her too.

Uncharacteristically for a woman of her age, she brought a bag of packed bananas as a gift and placed it on the table.

Sitting on the chair provided, she faced me with a stern look. It wasn’t the kind of expression one would expect from someone visiting a patient.

Well, I understood what she wanted to say. Considering she was more concerned about my mood than my medical condition.

“First things first, let me make it clear that I don’t need any unnecessary meddling. If you’ve come to visit me, please refrain from making comments that would only increase my stress.”

“Even if no one says anything, aren’t you increasing your stress all by yourself, Kazunari-kun?”

“…”

This is it.

Her words are so harsh that I’m at a loss for words.

“Seriously. You’re not acting like a man at all.”

I don’t understand the intention behind why Mizuki said that, but hearing her say ‘You’re not acting like a man’ felt like a form of gender discrimination, which got on my nerves.

I opened my mouth in a reflexive manner.

“Are you implying that forgiving a cheating wife is what makes a man?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

But her response was within my expectations.

“Even if you felt burdened by everyone’s pleas and found everything tiresome, didn’t you decide to give Maya another chance?”

“…”

“If that’s the case, instead of blaming Maya all the time, shouldn’t you face her properly? After all, you’re still married.”

“…”

“But despite that, you keep blaming Maya and haven’t moved forward at all. Of course, I understand your feelings and anger. But if facing each other is impossible, then why didn’t you stick to your determination to divorce?”

“…”

“So that’s why I said you’re not acting like a man.”

I was completely defeated. When I calmly thought about it, there was no way I could argue with Mizuki.

“If you’re unable to face each other and work things out until you both agree, and if it’s really impossible, then I won’t stop you from getting divorced. In fact, I think it would be better to have a clean break for a fresh start. But if you both continue to stay closed off from each other, there’s no way to resolve anything. So, why not try looking forward just a little?”

“What do you mean by ‘looking forward’? What should I do? I’m already…”

I felt thoroughly defeated, and my words became self-deprecating.

“Everything Maya says seems like lies to me. It pains me to realize that Maya’s feelings aren’t for me.”

“I don’t know about that…”

“There is, isn’t there? I’m second best at best. Her ex is the one she loves the most. Not to mention, she was always careful to use protection with me, but she got pregnant after unprotected sex with her ex. Just seeing this, how can you say Maya’s feelings are for me?”

“…”

This time, Mizuki fell silent. It was my turn to pour out self-deprecating words.

“I’m like an ATM to her. That’s why Maya is in trouble. If we divorce, she’ll have trouble making a living.”

“…You know”

With an expression like she had just bitten into a bitter bug, Mizuki interrupted.

“I may think you’re truly foolish, I may even want to punch you for being so foolish, and you may be beyond help because you’re so foolish… but there’s a part of me that believes my best friend isn’t that rotten of a woman.”

“…”

“So… please. I won’t ask you to start over. Can’t you judge whether my friend Maya is truly rotten, or if it’s something else?”

“…”

“That’s all I’m asking for. With that judgment… you can reevaluate yourself and decide whether to divorce if it’s too much, or figure out what to do from there if it’s not.”

At first, Mizuki was forceful, but now she seemed humble. How should I respond to her now? I felt thrown off.

Well…

When I think about it from Mizuki’s perspective…

She may seem like an unrelated third party, but she’s actually in a delicate position where she’s not entirely detached, and she might be struggling quite a bit.

Moreover, it’s true that I have some degree of determination to try again, even if it’s just a little.

But if I continue to indulge in petty insults like this, it won’t benefit me in any way.

“…I understand. But could you give me a little time to think?”

That was the only response I could give to Mizuki.