Chapter 3: If he breaks, I’ll…

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Translator: Soafp

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[Soari PoV]

After finishing my day's work, I hurried home.

The sea breeze from the Seto Inland Sea, blowing in through the open car window, felt pleasant.

I listened to the music flowing from the car stereo.

It was nostalgic Western pop. Not really my taste, nor Masashi's either.

“…Wait, whose is this… ah!”

I quickly turned off the car stereo.

I hadn't realized some of those songs were still stored in the system's memory. If Masashi had heard them, it could've been dangerous.

“I'll have to delete them later.”

I hadn't expected there to still be traces left behind.

This car was Masashi's beloved vehicle, which I had taken over from him.

He had used it for 15 years, filled with memories—and filled with memories of me, too. Well, it was a one-sided love on my part, though.

“Oops.”

Caught up in thought, I almost drove past the house.

It's been two years since I moved to this town.

“I'm home.”

I parked the car.

The neighborhood ladies chatting on the street corner greeted me. Since we had moved here from elsewhere, it was important not to get on the bad side of the locals.

“Welcome back, Ishii-san.”

“Welcome home.”

They smiled warmly at me. Looks like I managed to blend in well here.

“Your husband helped carry out the shipment boxes again—so helpful.”

“Mine too. Sorry for troubling him, especially since he's still recovering.”

“Oh, it's fine. He seems happy to be able to help you all.”

I had carelessly referred to him as “husband.”

But he really was kind. He couldn't just stand by when someone was in trouble.

He was easygoing, the kind of person who naturally made everyone around him smile.

“It's been, what, a year since you moved here? How's your husband's health lately?”

“He seems well, thanks to everyone here.”

“Ara! That's wonderful.”

“Yes. I do hope he stays here with us even after he's fully recovered.”

“We're really glad to have younger folks around. It feels healing, you know?”

Laughter erupted among them.

The story was that Masashi had moved here after his mind was worn down from work, and he was recuperating.

As for me, I explained that I was his girlfriend, who had come along with him.

Masashi had denied it, though.

Everyone assumed we'd get married someday, but sadly, that was still far from reality.

“I'm back.”

“Welcome home.”

When I entered our 2LDK apartment, Masashi greeted me with a smile.

The room was filled with the savory smell of sauce—must be okonomiyaki tonight.

“It's just finished cooking.”

“Smells delicious!”

Two fresh okonomiyaki sat on the hot plate, the aroma of the sauce making my mouth water.

“There's oyster inside. One of the neighborhood ladies gave them to us.”

“Wow, that's amazing.”

That must've been from the ladies he helped earlier. They worked part-time at oyster farms.

“There's beer, too.”

“Nice!”

He pulled a can of beer from the fridge for me.

I felt a little guilty.

“I'll just have oolong tea.”

Masashi rarely drank alcohol—not because of his constitution, but because back in university, seniors had forced him to drink at a party, and he ended up with acute alcohol poisoning.

“Does it taste good?”

“Yes.”

He smiled warmly.

It was moments like these, so small yet so precious, that made me feel happy.

“I need to find a job soon. I can't just rely on you forever to pay for everything.”

“Don't rush yourself. It's fine.”

As he washed the dishes, he muttered quietly.

But he wasn't ready to work yet. His heart was still broken from the divorce.

“Still, it's not fair to make you shoulder everything. I do have some savings…”

“That's why we're living together. You help with the housework, and it really helps me, too.”

“Still, it doesn't seem enough.”

“Don't worry. I'm doing it because I want to.”

“‘Because you want to,' huh…”

He always called me “you.” I wished he would say my name, but right now, that was impossible.

Masashi could no longer recognize people's names or faces properly.

Not just that—he struggled to recognize relationships, and even emotions like liking or disliking.

“What's wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

I couldn't let myself feel down. I had decided to support him.

“The bath is ready.”

“Thanks, I'll go in first.”

Noticing something in my expression, he gently urged me to take a bath.

I grabbed a change of clothes and stepped in.

Sinking into the tub, a heavy sigh escaped me.

“…This isn't right, is it.”

This relationship was far too warped.

I knew Masashi felt no romantic love for me.

To him, I was just a housemate.

Just his friend's little sister.

Proof enough—there was no physical intimacy, not even a kiss.

Of course, separate bedrooms.

“…I'll call my brother.”

I should talk to my brother in Tokyo.

He was eight years older, Masashi's university classmate, and had been close friends with him for 17 years.

Since he often visited our family home, I'd known him just as long.

“Hm?”

When I came out of the bath, Masashi was dozing at the table.

“…What's wrong?”

His face was a little red. Was he sick? That would be bad—he didn't have insurance, and hospital bills would be…

“Eh?”

In his hand was an empty beer can.

Did he actually drink?

He had started drinking a little in this new life, but this was the first time he'd finished a whole can.

“…Hey.”

I shook him, but he didn't wake.

His breathing was steady—so not drunk, just asleep.

“Guess I'll leave him.”

Not wanting to disturb him, I brought a sheet from his bedroom and draped it over him.

That should do.

I turned off the light and went into my own room.

I messaged my brother.

[What is it, Saori? Did something happen with Masashi?]

His reply came immediately.

[No, nothing happened. I was just thinking about him.]

[About his ex's side?]

[Yeah.]

His “ex's side” meant Masashi's former wife.

After Masashi went missing, her family had hired a detective, and they quickly found my brother.

They begged for a way to contact Masashi, saying they wanted to apologize. But my brother refused.

[“Do you want to kill him for good this time?”]

When he said that, they went silent.

[Don't worry. They haven't contacted me again. Seems they finally gave up.]

[I see.]

Gave up… could it really be that simple?

[Do you have enough money? If not, I can send some.]

[I'm fine. You have your own family.]

Three years ago, my brother married a woman named Shiori Mitana. They had a child and built a happy family.

He also ran a restaurant, which was doing well—but I didn't want to burden him.

[Don't worry. My wife understands.]

[You two are still close, huh.]

[Of course. We're still lovey-dovey.]

He bragged right away. But honestly, a happy marriage is a good thing.

[Has Masashi said anything about his child?]

[Not at all. Not once.]

[…I see.]

I could almost picture my brother's downcast expression.

The Masashi we remembered had doted on his son. He always talked about his child.

[You think he'll never recover?]

[He won't go back to how he was before.]

[Yeah, but still…]

We had tried counseling at the hospital. It had cost a lot, but in the end, they dismissed it as just “a mental issue.”

[More importantly, how's your life there?]

[It's comfortable.]

[Seems like it.]

I was working at a seafood trading company's branch in the Seto Inland Sea—thanks to my brother's introduction.

It had been two years since I switched jobs, partly to get Masashi away from his old home.

[Damn it… my best friend… those people…]

I could feel his anger through the words.

My brother had once suffered from heartbreak, and Masashi had helped him through it.

[She destroyed Masashi's heart twice. Unforgivable.]

[Yeah…]

“She” must have meant Fumika.

I knew everything about her affair and its aftermath.

She was utterly despicable, the root of all evil.

[What about Masashi's family?]

[Same as ever. I call sometimes, but they're busy caring for his elderly grandparents. They just ask me to look after him.]

[I see…]

With two elders to care for, they couldn't worry about him too.

[So, Saori—how are things between you and Masashi?]

[What do you mean?]

What did he mean?

[Like… any progress?]

Ah, that.

[None.]

[Got it.]

His reply was curt, but I could feel his concern behind it.

[I'll come visit on my next break.]

[Okay. Let me know.]

[Yeah. Later.]

Our conversation ended.

There wasn't much progress, but time kept moving forward.

I couldn't rush it. At first, Masashi had even refused to live with me.

But after a year, he had agreed to cohabitate.

Now, we shared meals together, and recently, we'd even gone fishing and driving.

“I'll definitely…”

I whispered to myself.

I would make my first love come true.

As for his ex's family—whatever they were thinking, I was grateful they stayed quiet.

But really, could a woman like her ever truly repent?

Adultery wasn't just a fleeting lapse in judgment. No sane person would carry on an affair for six months.

Hoping for remorse was pointless.

That much was clear from the fact that she'd secretly kept calling her affair partner.

For all I knew, she had already resumed her affair, or found a new partner.

A woman who would cheat despite having a child—what a piece of trash.

And her family too.

They were probably relieved to be rid of Masashi, happy to have “that nuisance” gone.

“Saori…”

“…Huh?”

A voice from the living room. What did he just say?

“What… what was that?”

I quietly opened the door and stepped closer to Masashi.

“…Nothing. Must've been talking in my sleep. Thanks for the sheet.”

“Uh, yeah. You'll catch a cold if you sleep out here. You should go to your bedroom.”

“You're right… Yeah. Saori, thank you.”

Maybe it was just sleep talk.

But somehow, it felt like a big step forward.