Chapter 51: Invisible Shadows

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Translator: Soafp

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“Oh, it's rare not to have any overtime today. I can't remember the last time I got to leave work on time.”

“…Yeah.”

Work ended for the day. Ironically, there was no overtime today. Katsuragi, pleased by the fact, cheerfully remarked. He's been covering my overtime for the past few days. I do feel guilty about it.

Katsuragi likely realized who made the lunch I brought to work, but he didn't mention it. The unspoken understanding felt somewhat ticklish.

“Well, it's still light outside. How about we spend some time together as buddies… huh!?”

Just as Katsuragi, a bit hyper from finishing work on time, started suggesting something, Mizuki Konno appeared unexpectedly before the two of us. Katsuragi’s exaggerated reaction to seeing her seemed almost routine to me.

“…Good evening, Ono-kun. Could I have a moment?”

Ignoring Katsuragi entirely, Mizuki addressed only me. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen her recently. The last time I saw her was probably when she seemed to be having a confrontation with Maya at my house.

“What do you want, Konno? We were just about to have some guy time…”

“Quiet, Katsuragi. I need to talk to Ono-kun.”

Feeling a bit of awkwardness from Mizuki calling me “Ono-kun” formally, I couldn't just brush her off, especially since her serious expression suggested the conversation might involve Maya and me.

“…Shall we find a different place to talk?”

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For the time being, Katsuragi and I followed Mizuki to a café we used to frequent during our school days, ‘Fräulein’. It's been so long that it almost brought tears to my eyes.

The unchanged interior evoked nostalgia as the three of us sat at a discreet four-person table at the far end.

“By the way, I needed to talk to Ono-kun alone. Why is Katsuragi here?”

“You idiot! I can't leave Kazunari alone with a woman like you who's capable of anything. I'm his bodyguard, so to speak.”

“…Well, whatever. I'll just pretend you're not here.”

After giving Katsuragi a look that could have been either exasperation or resignation, Mizuki turned to me and began to speak.

“…By the way, Ono-kun, are you planning to demand compensation from Naoki?”

Her sudden question caught me off guard. However, I had already made up my mind on that issue, so I didn't hesitate to reply.

“I am.”

“…I see. Then, you should do it sooner rather than later.”

“Why?”

“Naoki is breaking up with his current girlfriend and planning to move somewhere. Well, even if you formally demand compensation, it's questionable whether he'll actually pay it.”

“…How do you know that?”

“If you want to find out something like that, you can easily look into it. After his affair with Maya was exposed, even Naoki’s current girlfriend seems to have lost patience with him. He's basically been freeloading off her, so she's probably going to kick him out.”

This was a story I wasn't sure I wanted to hear, but I never imagined that Naoki had been living off someone else. If you end up tangled with him, your life could fall apart, and you’d be left with nothing but to hang yourself—he really is a leech.

…However, I hadn't realized that Naoki’s current girlfriend also knew about the affair. At least from my side, I haven't taken any action against Naoki yet, and he doesn't seem like the type to confess on his own.

That narrows down who might have spilled the beans.

“…You just had to interfere, didn't you?”

I couldn't help but spit those words out, but Mizuki was unfazed.

“Oh, I'm involved too, you know. I'm entitled to ask for something back, right?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“I lent money to Maya. For what she spent on Naoki when they were together. It's not a huge amount, and I told Maya I'd forget about it if she cut ties with Naoki.”

“…What did you say?”

This was news to me.

“I wanted to help Maya in my own way. But in the end, Maya still didn't need me. It feels pretty stupid when even friendship is one-sided, doesn't it?”

Though her tone was playful, Mizuki's expression as she spoke those self-deprecating words looked only pained.