Chapter 25: Confession

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Translator: Soafp

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[Shiho PoV]

(So this is the space where Haruki lives…)

Haruki had invited me to his home, and I was extremely nervous.

The living room wasn't that big, but it was neat and well-organized.

“Sit wherever you like. You're okay with tea, right, Shiho?”

“Ah, yeah. Thank you.”

There were reference books left open on the desk—he must've been studying until just now.

(Haruki… he’s working hard.)

“How's your graduate school entrance exam prep going, Shiho?”

“Good. My seminar professor said I have no problems academically. I just hope the interview goes well.”

“Yeah, interviews can be tough. I've done a few job interviews myself.”

Haruki placed a teacup filled with warm tea on the low table in the middle of the living room.

I sat down in front of it, thanked him, and took a sip.

He sat across from me, sipping coffee. He looked very mature.

“Your job hunt going well, Haruki?”

“Yeah. I've already gotten unofficial offers from two companies.”

“Really?! That's amazing—congrats!”

“Well… I'm still trying to decide which one to go with.”

“I see… That's still really impressive. You'll be working next year, huh…”

“Yeah. You're heading to grad school in Osaka, right? Good luck.”

“Um… Haruki, wasn't your dad's company in Osaka too? That company…?”

I remembered that Haruki once told me his father had invited him to join his company.

If Haruki took the offer, he'd be living in Osaka—and I'd be going to grad school there…

“Yeah, I turned that down. I want to choose a company myself after seeing it with my own eyes.”

“Oh… I see… That makes sense…”

I had been holding onto a fleeting hope… but things were never going to be that conveniently aligned.

“Shiho… about the other day… I'm sorry. I just kept talking about myself…”

“Huh…?”

A few days ago, when I visited Haruki's family home, he kept talking about his girlfriend, Endo-san.

I got jealous, stormed out of the house, and caused trouble.

“No, it was my fault! I'm so sorry! You even came looking for me, and I didn't even thank you properly…”

“No, I was at fault too.”

Haruki looked down slightly and continued.

“Seina tends to build walls around herself, so she doesn't have many close friends. I guess I'm no better, though.”

I see… That's why he was talking about her.

He wanted others to know about Endo-san… just out of a desire to share her with the world.

“Anyway, it must've been boring. Me going on and on about my girlfriend… I guess I've always been like this. That's why you… found me disgusting, huh…”

Hearing Haruki speak in such a quiet, lonely tone gave me goosebumps.

[Disgusting!]

That cruel word I spat out in middle school. A shameful moment I could never forget.

“N-no! That's not true at all!”

I desperately tried to deny his words. The thought that something I said in the past could still be hurting him now… was unbearable.

“That's not it! It's not! I'm so sorry! I'm so, so sorry!”

“Hey, hey, calm down, Shiho.”

Haruki gently placed his hand on my shoulder to soothe me.

As I began to settle down, I noticed how close his face was. He looked confused but genuinely concerned. Of course—suddenly crying and shouting in front of him like that…

“You okay?”

“Yeah… Haruki, back then…”

I started to tell him about what happened in middle school. How I didn't want anyone to take him from me and ended up hurting his reputation.

How I kept badmouthing him to fit in. How memories of Senda-senpai triggered me into blurting that horrible word.

“I see…”

Just apologizing wouldn't have been enough. I needed to explain what led to that behavior. I had felt relieved that Haruki forgave me, but I hadn't thought about the scars I left on his heart.

I haven't changed at all… Even at this age, I still only think of myself…

“You might not believe me, but… I never actually thought you were creepy. Not even once. So…”

“Yeah… hearing all that made me feel a lot better. Thanks for telling me.”

Haruki said that with a gentle smile, almost… apologetically.

“I'm really sorry. I don't know how I can make it up to you…”

“You don't have to do anything. Like I said before, it's all in the past. Don't worry about it.”

“But still…”

“More importantly, Shiho—there's something you said that's been on my mind…”

He scratched his cheek with his index finger, clearly finding it hard to say.

“W-what is it…?”

I braced myself, wondering if he was actually angry and about to scold me harshly.

“Back in middle school… you said you didn't want anyone to take me away…Did that mean… you liked me?”

“Wha… what!?”

Oh no—based on what I said earlier, it totally sounded like a confession.

“U-uh… that is…”

(What do I do… I didn't think it'd lead to this… What should I say…)

“Well, I guess we were really close as childhood friends. It makes sense you'd feel that way.”

“Y-yeah…”

Haruki helped me out of my awkward silence by wrapping up the conversation himself. Maybe he'd already figured out how I felt—especially after I got jealous over Endo-san. But… for now, I was grateful he didn't push further.

But… is this really okay?

We've come this far… Am I just going to run away again without telling him how I feel?

I can't…

“…I liked you.”

“…Huh?”

Haruki's eyes widened.

“I… I liked you, Haruki.”

I didn't want to let this moment slip by. Haruki looked visibly shaken by my sudden confession. Of course he would. He has a girlfriend now.

No matter how I felt back then… bringing it up now only confuses him.

Haruki closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly deep in thought.

“Shiho…”

His voice sent a jolt through me.

“Thank you… for liking someone like me.”

He looked down slightly and continued.

“Back then, I didn't have anything going for me. I wasn't particularly smart, I wasn't working hard at club activities or any hobbies…”

“T-that's not true! You were always kind, you had your own sense of self, and… you were cool.”

“Thanks, Shiho. Only you and Seina ever complimented my looks, so I really appreciate that.”

He scratched his head shyly… and even that gesture felt dear to me.

“I never would've guessed you felt that way about me back then…”

“Y-yeah…”

I still like him. But what I said was only about the past. I had the chance to say I still loved him…
But I couldn't.

“S-speaking of… when I stormed out of your house the other day, I ran into Senda-senpai.”

Trying to fill the silence, I blurted out whatever came to mind.

“Wait, you saw Senda? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. He's really changed. He seemed calm… and had a kid.”

“Shiho… did you talk about anything else with Senda? Like… the past?”

“Y-yeah. He apologized for back then.”

“I see… anything else?”

“N-no, not really…”

I actually talked more with Senda-senpai… but I didn't say anything.

“So Chida's a dad now, huh. It's kind of weird to think someone our age is already a parent.”

Yeah…

We're adults now. Not kids anymore. We have to figure out our own paths and live our lives.

Not just in school or work, but in our personal lives and love too.

“I'm home!”

Just as I took another sip of tea, the front door opened—and a woman's voice echoed through the house.

I could hear her footsteps approaching the living room.

“I'm home, Haruki.”

“Welcome back, Seina.”

The one who opened the door and stepped into the room was Endo-san—Haruki's girlfriend.

That casual “I'm home” / “Welcome back” exchange…

It made them seem like more than just a couple—like they shared something even deeper.

“Fukase… huh.”

She looked down at me with a sharp gaze. I remembered this cold stare from middle school.

A look of disdain… definitely. Or maybe anger—like “What are you doing in my boyfriend's room?”

Facing her now… I couldn't speak.

I was frozen in fear.