Chapter 5: Let’s talk about it.

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Translator: Soafp

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“… So, you were working overtime so hard for that reason?”

“… Yeah.”

“Man, that’s rough. But seriously, you’re overworking yourself. Kazunari, you’ve already clocked over a hundred hours of overtime this month, right? If you keep this up, the company’s going to be all over us, and we’ll get labeled as a black company. Ease up.”

“… Sorry.”

It’s Friday, and I’m out drinking with my coworker, Daisaku Katsuragi.

The feeling of not wanting to go home has led to us stopping by the izakaya more times than usual.

“But still, your wife… I never thought she’d be the type to cheat.”

“You can tell just by looking?”

“Haha, I’ve been betrayed by women more times than you think.”

“…”

“Just kidding, just kidding. It’s not exactly a joke though, but I’m still in a situation where I can laugh it off.”

With a pat on my shoulder, Katsuragi, who was considerate, though a bit too carefree, suggested he’d treat today.

“So, what happened to your wife after that?”

“She had an abortion. No, it’s more like she was forcibly aborted. My in-laws were furious.”

“I see…”

Considering the matter involved a life, Katsuragi refrained from making any jokes. Well, abortion may have been the only choice. It sounds cold, but I certainly had no intention of raising a child, yet I also wasn’t prepared to have it with Maya.

When the pregnancy test turned positive, I was filled with regret and didn’t know what to do.

As Katsuragi extended his sun-kissed, sturdy arms with closed eyes, perhaps contemplating the life lost before it even began, he raised his glass.

“Anyway, Maya should have properly used contraception to prevent it.”

“But… according to your wife, she only didn’t use contraception once, right?”

“And that act was on our wedding anniversary, and I always used contraception with Maya.”

“That’s… tough. If it were me, I’d just ‘overwrite it!’ and go all in.”

“…I can’t even get it hard anymore.”

“Haa?”

“Towards Maya.”

Maybe it’s the alcohol, but I find myself blurting out things that would make anyone feel uncomfortable to hear. Katsuragi probably doesn’t want to hear this kind of stuff, but he’s enduring it.

I just can’t bring myself to talk about it unless I’m in this situation.

“She married me even though she didn’t like me, and she shamelessly cheated with other men. I don’t even want to touch her. She tried to seduce me a few times, but I didn’t even flinch.”

“…You’re really messed up. But I guess it can’t be helped. Since you can’t do it.”

“That’s not good. And erectile dysfunction is a legitimate illness too.”

Whether it’s physical or psychological, it’s a legitimate illness. The world may not see it that way, but it is.

“You can’t even get an er*ction under those circumstances. Do you want me to fix it for you?”

“I’m not interested in same-sex relationships. Don’t tell me you don’t have a girlfriend…”

“Where did that came from… Oi, stop it you *sshole.”

With a satisfying clink, Katsuragi places his glass on the table and looks at me seriously.

“You just have to forget about that woman. If you’re interested, I could introduce you to one or two.”

“…No, if you have the time to introduce me, prioritize yourself…”

“Haha, if I could, I would. I’ll introduce you to my sister. As her big brother, I have to say, she’s pretty good-looking.”

“…Haa?”

It was a sudden proposal.

I didn’t expect him to have a sister. Katsuragi’s sister… does she look like him? Well, Katsuragi’s looks aren’t bad either.

But calling Katsuragi my brother-in-law… Please spare me from that.