Chapter 75: Impact

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Translator: Soafp

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Facing Forward.

Just in words alone, how easy it seems, right?

But I still can’t move forward. Regarding Maya and also about Mari-san.

The closest woman to me right now is Mari-san.

Even though there’s barely any romantic feelings there.

With that Mari-san, and if, if, just speaking hypothetically,

if we were to become necessary partners for each other so I can face forward and keep on living, I’d somehow have to do something about the Maya in my heart that ties me down.

…Well, let’s put aside the fact that it’s annoying that Katsuragi calls me “brother-in-law”.

I haven’t gone a day without thinking about why Maya remains in my heart.

Even though I loved Maya, Maya betrayed me.

—I should have punched her.

Even after betraying me, Maya came clinging to me for some reason.

—Was the word “devote my life to making amends” a lie?

Despite that, after seeing Naoki’s death, she easily chose to break up.

—In the end, was it all just talk?

If there’s a life at stake, the true nature of that person is also revealed.

In the end, to Maya, I wasn’t a person worth staking her life for.

—Damn it. Why did Maya abandon me?

I was thinking about such things alone at home.

Even though it’s a house with a remaining loan, it’s too big for me to live alone and I still can’t get used to it.

Just when I thought seriously about whether I should move, the intercom unexpectedly rang to announce a visitor.

I wondered who it could be and pressed the button.

“Long time no see. Kazunari… no, Ono-kun.”

The visitor was Maya’s father. It’s inevitable that my voice would turn cold.

“…What can I do for you?”

“Sorry to disturb you late at night. I came to deliver something. Is that alright?”

Something to deliver. Probably the compensation Maya said she’d pay.

Because Maya was found to have br*ast cancer and hospitalized, the promise to return it in person became ambiguous.

“…Please come in.”

I welcomed my former father-in-law who looked tired for some reason.

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“Wouldn’t you meet with Maya?”

For the time being, I accepted what was offered.

Though it wasn’t explicitly in exchange for that, when my former father-in-law brought it up, it stirred me slightly.

Calm down. Don’t let him perceive my agitation.

“…For what reason?”

“Maya… she’s not moving forward.”

“…”

“She seems to lack the energy. She has no motivation for anything.”

“…And you think meeting me would somehow restore her motivation?”

I couldn’t grasp what my former father-in-law was trying to say, so I retorted coldly, trying not to reveal my agitation.

“…I don’t know if that would help. But Maya has lost everything. She’s not very proactive about her treatment, and the progress isn’t promising. So, knowing that you’ve also lost something important, and despite being aware of my own overprotectiveness, I’m swallowing my pride and asking you to somehow help Maya face forward.”

I too have lost something important.

It’s too late for that now, considering Maya’s affair came to light.

Given that premise, what does it mean to “face forward”?

I pondered on it suddenly.

If I were to think for myself, the only trite answer that comes up is to “forget about Maya, let go of resentment, and live a new life.”

Hah, so holding onto resentment towards Maya means she still matters to me in some way.

Seemingly dragging myself down, it’s not because of me. It’s because Maya wanted a divorce, and I’m disgusted with my own indecisiveness.

“…Understood. I’ll meet her.”

Maybe it was because I was annoyed with myself, I reflexively gave that response.

I’ll just easily cut ties with Maya. That’s how my strange sense of competition was controlling me.

But seeing Maya in the hospital room— I was shocked.