Chapter 49 | Dahlia’s Salvation, Shinji’s Proposal

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Shinji Ueda rushed to Dalia.

A few hours later.

“Nn…this place…?”

“Oh, Dahlia. Are you awake?”

“Shinji-kun…?”

Dahlia was lying on an ultra-luxurious bed.

The room was well heated.

Herself, she was dressed in the sweatshirt she had bought for me when I stayed here before.

“Uh…ah…what happened to you…?”

I remember the part where I was almost raped by the landlord and Shinji came to my rescue.

After that, I cried like a child on Shinji’s chest, and when I came to, I was here.

“Dahlia passed out after that, and you had to be carried to my house. Saburo’s sister helped change your clothes, so don’t worry.”

Shinji walked up to Dahlia and handed her a mug in his hand.

It was filled with warm coffee.

She thanked him, accepted it, and sipped it.

“It’s…delicious.”

It was better than any coffee she had ever had. It was warm.

“Drink it slowly. Oh, are you hungry? We have frozen food. Pizza?”

…While she was tempted to be spoiled by Shinji’s unconditional kindness, she held her ground and held back.

She must not lean on him. She can’t go back to him.

“I’m fine. Anyway, why did Shinji-kun come to my apartment?”

Shinji slowly tells the situation.

“Rika called me. Rika said that Dahlia was acting strange.”

Rika could sense Dahlia’s tragic resolve because she was her best friend.

What a kind girl, Dahlia thought enviously.

And, oh, how envious that they really are a perfect couple.

“I didn’t know where Dahlia’s house was or anything, so I felt bad, but I enlisted the help of my grandfather in the main family. So I went in with Saburo.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. I’m just glad I got here in time before they did something terrible to you.”

Just when you think you’ve solved one question, another one pops up.

“…Hey, why?”

I was so surprised that my voice trembled.

“Why did you help me?”

“Because you’re my friend, of course.”

A heart aches.

It hurts, it hurts… it’s painful…

He is so kind.

He is such a good man…

Why am I so dirty?

Why would he help a woman like this…?

It’s not a matter of being a friend.

“I am not someone worthy of being saved!”

I don’t deserve to be protected by such a wonderful man like Shinji.

“You know Shinji-kun! I’m an enko, you know? I’ve been touched by many, many creepy old men!”

I wanted Shinji to hate me.

I wanted Shinji to hate me for being such a woman.

I wanted him to be disgusted with me.

I am truly grateful for his help.

But…I must not rely on him anymore.

I am the one who lives in the darkness of the night, and I must not get in the way of him who lives in the place where the light shines.

“I’ve been doing it all since elementary school? So many that I can’t even count them anymore! I’m a b***h who fucks around with guys whose names I don’t even know! I’m living off their money…I’m the worst kind of scum! That’s what I am!”

That’s right.

That’s why I don’t deserve to have him save me.

That’s why…

“Don’t get involved with me anymore. Don’t…be…nice to me anymore…”

All Dahlia wants is the happiness of the man she loves and her best friend Rika, whom she loves.

She has already given up her own life long ago.

She wants them to be happy for a long time.

But…if Shinji is any kinder to her, I really won’t be able to go back.

Even now, I love, love, love Shinji so much…

“Forget about a b***h like me…”

Shinji gently hugs Dahlia’s body.

“That’s impossible.”

He hugs Dahlia gently, yet strongly.

The warmth of his body gives her the urge to give it all up.

At the same time, she feels a tremendous sense of security.

“Dahlia is very important to me, you know.’

“Don’t…don’t.”

“You say you’re dirty…but you’re not. You had to, to survive, didn’t you?”

I wonder how he could have known.

It’s just…he is incredibly wealthy and, according to Rika, the grandson of a powerful man.

If he knew the location of Dahlia’s apartment, it is not surprising that he had to some extent researched and knew about his situation.

“You’re not wrong. What’s wrong is that landlord who preyed on you and that mother who didn’t take good care of you.”

Shinji laughs at Dahlia, who is shedding tears.

“You are not dirty. You are very beautiful.”

Dahlia shakes her head.

“But my body is already…”

“I’m not talking about your body. I’m saying that your soul is beautiful.”

He gently strokes Dahlia’s hair.

She closes her eyes and surrenders herself to him.

“Even though you are going through a hard time, you don’t whine, you don’t hold a grudge against anyone, and you stay strong. It’s amazing. You can be kind to your best friend and her boyfriend even when you are in a difficult situation. This is not something anyone else can do either.”

Shinji compliments Dahlia in a gracious way.

“I don’t know about Dalia’s body, but her soul…I think she is more beautiful than anyone else.”

His words seeped into my wounded heart and body.

Until now, no one had ever recognized my efforts.

I could have given up.

But I did not do so, and I worked hard.

But no one praised me, and it was hard.

I couldn’t even confide in my best friend, so I was alone in the darkness, curled up and trembling.

Then…a ray of light shone through.

A ray of light shone through.

It shined on me and praised me. He acknowledged me.

He was like that…

Thank you, Shinji-kun.

Tears were falling.

Dahlia hugs Shinji’s body.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you…”

There were so many things I wanted to say.

But all that came out of her mouth were such simple things.

I was unable to put into words the emotions that were too great.

Mixed in with the words of gratitude towards him….

“Shinji-kun…”

“What?”

Dahlia couldn’t stop herself anymore.

She hugged his body and placed her own lips on his unprotected lips.

She didn’t use any of the kissing techniques she had acquired through her past experience.

I had forgotten how pure it was…kissing.

It’s a very impulsive thing, something you do because you like it.

“Dahlia…?”

Dahlia says to his puzzled face.

“I’m sorry. Shinji-kun. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Rika’s face comes to my mind.

Before, I was able to stop myself.

But I can’t do it anymore. “I’m sorry…,” I said to Rika in my mind, while expressing my love for him, which I couldn’t hide.

“I love you…, I love you.”

Once I said it, I couldn’t stop myself.

I couldn’t stop myself from saying, feeling, and doing everything.

“I know it’s annoying. I know it’s annoying, and I feel bad for Rika-tan. But…I’m sorry. I love you.”

I told her how I felt…and I became even sadder.

Because this love will never come true.

“I know…Shinji-kun. You can’t betray Rikatan. She is sitting in the chair in your heart. I know there is no place for me to sit. But…I love you. I love you…I love you…”

It was the first time.

I had never really fallen in love with someone like this.

Although I had dated guys many times, and even when they told me they liked me, I didn’t think anything of it.

For the first time, I truly thought…I love you, I love you.

And now, it’s her best friend’s boyfriend….

I am truly unlucky.

I can’t help but curse fate.

But there was one good thing.

I met Shinji.

If I had not met him, I would not have been able to purify my soul.

“I’m sorry, Dahlia. I’m sorry.”

Hearing Shinji’s reply, Dahlia was not shocked.

She knew that he was a man of integrity.

“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

Dahlia moves away from Shinji’s body.

“It’s all right now. My heart is saved. I’m already happy.”

But Shinji shakes his head.

“Not yet. You can’t say you’re happy yet, can you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You still have a lot of problems. I want to save you from them.”

Landlord problems, neglect problems, and money problems.

I guess he was referring to those things.

“What do you mean, ‘save me…?'“

“I’ll give you money. If you don’t have a place to live, I’ll provide it. I’ll give you money so you can go to school and live a normal life.”

That is the equivalent of providing for one person.

It is not a matter that can be said casually.

But for Shinji, who is rich, feeding Dahlia is a piece of cake.

But….

“I’m very grateful for your feelings, but you don’t have that kind of obligation, you know?”

“No, I do. You are an important person to someone I care about. You’re also important to me”

Even then…

“Even if that were true… you and I are still just strangers…”

You’re not my lover, you’re not my family.

I’m grateful to you for solving my money problem, but you have no obligation to do that much for a stranger.

Unless he chooses Dahlia over Rika and eventually welcomes her as his wife…

As long as he chooses Rika, she cannot be his wife.

“Hey, Dahlia. Can I make one proposal to you?”

“A proposal?”

“Yes… It may be an unfavorable way for you. But this way, I’ll have a good reason to feed you.”

Shinji looks straight at Dalia.

“If you accept my proposal, I promise I will definitely make you happy.”

His eyes were serious.

He was not joking about saving her life.

He was serious about taking responsibility for Dahlia’s life.

“What do you mean by…a proposal?”

Shinji utters the idea that came to him.

That…could certainly be a good enough reason to support someone else.

But he was right, it would be in an unwilling way.

At the very least, her wishes would not be fulfilled forever.

“Well?”

…Still.

“Please, Shinji-kun.”

…If I can still be by his side.

If it is in this way I will not betray my precious best friend.

If I could have an unbroken relationship with my beloved Shinji for the rest of my life.

“Please let me accept your proposal.”

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