Chapter 23: Salesman’s Declaration

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

---

After leaving Mizuki behind, I decided not to go home right away. I wanted to gather my thoughts for a bit.

During this time, I received a message from Katsuragi.

“If you don’t mind, why not come to my place this weekend? There’s something I want to talk about.”

What on earth could it be? We had just seen each other and talked earlier.

With that thought, I decided to leave the message on read. I’d reply after I got home and had my talk with Maya.

Naturally, I didn’t inform Maya that I’d be late. I knew I should, but maybe I wanted to give her a taste of what I went through when she was cheating on me.

And so, I returned home.

“…Welcome back, dear. Do you want dinner or a bath?”

Not the classic newlywed three choices, but two. At least she figured that much out. But I didn’t choose either.

“I need to talk. About our future.”

I had lost count of how many times I’d started a conversation this way. Maya’s little attempt to avoid it with those two choices was futile. Without changing her expression, she accepted my suggestion, and we both sat at the dining table where dinner was prepared.

Even after sitting down, Maya’s demeanor didn’t change. Lately, her emotional state had been blatantly reflected on her face, so she was probably bracing herself for whatever I was about to say.

If that’s the case, there’s no need to hold back.

“I’ve figured out how to stop my suffering. I want to accomplish this within the next month.”

“……”

She remained silent. No matter.

“I realized that while pretending to be indifferent to you, I still have some lingering feelings of love deep inside.”

“Eh…”

Finally, Maya’s expression changed. What she thought in response didn’t matter at this moment.

“That’s why I’m suffering. Because the woman I love, my wife, betrayed me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I don’t need an apology. You understand that, don’t you?”

“……”

Her gaze drifted away.

“But there is only one way to ease the pain of betrayal. And that is—”

Maya looked down and simply trembled. It looked almost like she was shaking her leg out of nervousness, but I couldn’t afford to care about that.

“—for me to completely erase all feelings for you, Maya.”

At that moment, all the background noise seemed to vanish.

How many seconds, no, how many minutes did the silence stretch on?

“…Eh…?”

Maya finally made a foolish sound, indicating she had grasped my words.

Time to explain.

“Over the next month, I’m going to work on erasing all my feelings for you, whether they are of love or hate. I’ll try to forget everything about you. By doing this, my anger, resentment, and all other negative emotions toward you will disappear.”

“……”

“There will be nothing left of you in me. That should help me move on.”

“……”

“So I want you to try as well. To forget everything about me…”

“Noooooo!!! No, no, nooooo!!! Please, anything but that, anything! No, no, no, nooooo!!! Please, I’m begging you, please, no, no, nooooo!!! Please, forgive meeee…!!!”

The silence shattered as Maya descended into hysteria.

What the hell?

“Like I said, I can’t forgive you. Isn’t it better this way? If I forget, you won’t be blamed by me anymore.”

“No, no, noooo, the idea of not even being blamed by you anymore is unbearable…!!! The idea of my existence no longer remaining with you is absolutely, absolutely unbearable…!!!”

Sobbing, sobbing, shaking her head and sobbing again. What a mess.

The conclusion a month from now is already obvious. I thought this was a kind proposal, sparing Maya from being insulted by me anymore.

Is she really trampling on even my kindness?

If I could forget everything about Maya, everything would be neatly resolved.