Chapter 36: The Second Step to the Truth

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Translator: Soafp

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[Miyabi Pov]

The afternoon sunlight was still lingering, and the cool breeze swayed the skirt of my uniform.

I was standing in front of Godai-senpai. His surprised eyes were fixed directly on me.

“We’re… breaking up!?”

Senpai’s voice echoed behind the school building.

In his voice, there was shock, panic, and a level of distress far greater than I had expected.

“…Yes. I’m sorry, Senpai.”

I bowed politely.

I had no hesitation in saying these words.

I understood that I had been wrong.

That’s why I had to properly end things here.

“Wait! We were getting along just fine until just now! So, you chose me over him, right!? And about the incident at the park, you said it was a misunderstanding, didn’t you?!”

Godai-senpai stepped closer.

──”Him.”

The “him” he was referring to was definitely Hajime.

I slowly shook my head.

From the beginning, I hadn’t chosen Godai-senpai.

I had just used him to hurt Hajime.

It made me feel terribly pathetic.

“I’m not saying I chose you, Senpai. It’s just…”

“Just?”

Senpai’s voice cracked with anxiety as he responded.

I pressed my hand to my chest and continued.

“I… I was wrong about my feelings.”

The emotions deep inside me were now clear.

“I did something awful to you. I’m really sorry.”

“…Didn’t you like me?”

Godai-senpai’s voice dropped low.

I slowly shook my head.

“Senpai… you made my dream come true. You’re a wonderful person. But that wasn’t love.”

“What do you mean by that?”

The smile disappeared from Godai-senpai’s face.

In that moment, his demeanor shifted.

The calmness and gentle smile he had shown until then disappeared instantly, and I could feel it.

I unconsciously shuddered at the change.

“I’m really sorry… Senpai!”

I turned and ran away from him.

Senpai’s voice calling out “Wait!” echoed behind me.

But I couldn’t bring myself to look back.

Tears welled up as I ran.

──I'm the worst.

I used Godai-senpai to hurt Hajime.

In the end, I had just been taking out my own emotions.

At that moment, the words of Kyoko-san came to mind.

“You rely on others and only see what you want to see… that’s why you lose sight of the truth…”

Kyoko-san had seen right through me.

I had been believing only what I wanted to believe, interpreting things conveniently, and avoiding getting hurt.

I had been afraid to face Hajime.

That's why I had used Godai-senpai to divert Hajime’s attention.

I felt so ashamed of myself.

“…I have to stop this.”

I wiped my tears with the sleeve of my uniform.

I didn't have time to cry.

I couldn't let this end like this.

This time, I had to face Hajime directly.

I had to ask the things I really wanted to ask.

To clear up the misunderstandings.

…And,

To confirm my true feelings.

“…This time for sure.”

I faced forward.

I took a step, different from the ones I had taken before.

There would be no more hesitation.

The one to find the answer was me.

But what was important was that

I would never lie to myself again.

The wind blew.

I felt the traces of my tears drying.

I took another step forward.