Chapter 1

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Translator: Soafp

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Originally, my relationship with my family was not good.

I became a delinquent as if rebelling against everyone around me, causing trouble for my family and those around me. I am aware of the trouble I caused and have reflected on it.

Being in a juvenile detention center made me reflect on my actions. Looking back, I realize I was just a child, perhaps too stubborn and selfish.

But not everything is my fault.

My neighbor, my childhood friend who was my girlfriend – it’s long been over. Not only did she betray me by being with another man, but I also caught them in the act, and in my anger, I beat the other guy so badly that he was unrecognizable, broke his ribs, and kicked him in the groin, although not enough to crush it.

This behavior, combined with my usual actions, made it so nobody listened to my side of the story. The testimony of the “other man” and my supposed “girlfriend”, who should have still been with me at that point, all aligned against me.

No teacher, no family member listened to my side, except for one person. My younger sister, the only one who listened to my side and supported me.

Normally, one or both of the parents would come to pick up the child, but my sister, who looked sad, probably decided by rock-paper-scissors-scissors, came to pick up the child.

My sister also said, “For the sake of appearances, I’ll go home first,” and walked away when the staff from the juvenile detention center were no longer visible.

She handed me a brand new mobile phone.

Of course, that mobile phone had no contacts saved, and it was a plain device that seemed to say, “I just got it under contract yesterday,” with no strap or cover, expressing a loneliness.

Nothing, I muttered to myself, does that mean I don’t want anything?

I don’t know why she did that, but I dialed one of the few numbers I remembered—the home phone number—and pressed the call button.

My mother answered the phone.

After exchanging the usual greetings, I hesitated before saying, “It’s me…” and continued with, “I’m sorry for everything until now.”

Her response was cold: “It’s fine as long as your actions speak louder than words.”

Although I had prepared myself for such a response due to my past actions, the damage was more profound than expected, making me keenly feel my lack of a place.

Nevertheless, summoning courage, I continued with just one more sentence.

“Do you know what day it is today?” I asked fearfully.

“I don’t know what day it is,” came a clear and strong reply.

Furthermore, she said, “We’re going out for a meal together. We’re busy preparing, so I’ll hang up now,” and promptly ended the call.

It’s impossible for my family not to know the day of my release.

No, of course, they know.

If they didn’t, my sister wouldn’t have come to pick me up.

However, she didn’t accompany me home, probably concerned about appearances.

She handed me a new mobile phone and promptly…

More than that, she didn’t give me the key to the house I was supposed to return to.

Well, let’s go back to the phone call. Today, the day I specifically asked about…

(I see. Am I such an undesirable existence that she forgets even my birthday, treating me as someone inconsequential… Is that how unwanted I am?)