V2Ch2: An indescribable feeling of emptiness. A broken brain.

Translator: Soafp

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“Taiga… I’m really, really sorry!!”

“I’m so sorrryyyy….Gusu… Onii-chan…”

Since yesterday, when Yuki-sensei directly proved my innocence, it has been like this. Every time my older sister Shion and my younger sister Tsumugu see my face, they apologize.

Every time, I’ve been saying, “It’s okay, really”…

“I’ve told you a million times that’s enough.”

“But, even though you say that, you don’t have any expression… I just want you to smile a little… I’m so sorry!!”

“Gusu….Gusu….Onii-chan”

“Both of you! I can’t forgive you so easily! Anyway, breakfast will get cold, so eat quickly!!”

Even during breakfast with the family, it’s been like this.

It’s so bothersome. How do I even smile again?

In truth, I don’t feel any emotions towards them. I don’t feel any anger in particular. It’s true that I’m fine with everything. No, “I don’t care anymore” might be more accurate.

I don’t understand. When I try to think about it, a fog fills my mind, and my thoughts stop there. And once that happens, I give up on even trying to think, “Well, whatever.”

I don’t even feel the need to have any kind of emotions towards them. Those two, who used to be so important to me, have become completely insignificant and insignificant in my eyes.

Yesterday, everything became utterly unimportant from the depths of my heart. It was such a sudden and unexpected event.

I pretended not to see what happened with Mio and my mother the other day, and yesterday, I did try to go to school. However, I was suddenly hit by an unprecedented chill and nausea, so I decided to skip school and slept at home.

It seems like I slept until just before Yuki-sensei came to the house in the evening, probably because I was sleep-deprived.

Since waking up, I’ve been feeling a headache so intense that I momentarily thought I might die, and it has been like this ever since.

That being said, I feel like my physical condition is much better than usual. It’s as if an immense burden has been lifted, as if the shackles that had been restraining me for so long have been released… Anyway, I don’t feel unwell.

Have I reached enlightenment? No… That would be too conceited. Besides, I feel like something important as a human is missing. It’s just a feeling, but everything has become empty… that might be the most accurate way to express it.

I can understand the cause of how I ended up like this. It has been exactly one month since that day. In the midst of what I can only describe as hellish days, I couldn’t sleep properly every night and my thoughts tormented me endlessly.

One month is not an exceptionally long period of time. However, for me, this time has been incredibly intense.

Perhaps it’s because I wasn’t originally someone with strong mental fortitude. For me, that period of time was enough to destroy my brain.

I believed I cherished my connections with people. I had many who could be called friends.

But what about it? How many people believed and stood by me when I asserted my innocence?

Only Mio and my mother. They were the only ones. Other people wouldn’t even bother talking to me properly. Even my sisters, who were extremely close to me. They are my family, who I had always lived with.

How fragile were the bonds that I had spun so dearly. I painfully understood that in this short period of time.

It’s like… meaningless? Worthless?… The feeling of emptiness is overwhelming. I can’t do anything about it.

Basically, I think my brain has exploded and gone haywire. But strangely, I don’t feel any desire to return to my old self.

It’s much better than struggling and suffering, forgiving someone again, forming bonds, and being betrayed.

The only problem is that I seem to have completely forgotten how to express my emotions, as if I can no longer convey them through facial expressions.

Fortunately, even in my current state, I still recognize that Mio and my mother are important people. They have always supported me. I want to express my gratitude that despite witnessing or hearing something unfavorable, I haven’t degraded them into being treated like any other person, as hopeless scum.

Conversely, apart from those two, I couldn’t care less about what happens to anyone else. Of course, that includes my older sister Shion and my younger sister Tsumugu.

There’s no need to consider Shion’s future path anymore, so I thought about going to the police, but I refrained from doing so because it would make my mother sad.

Speaking of the police, it was revealed that Rinto Kirishima and Rena Saito were the ones who framed me… I remember Yuki-sensei mentioning something about it yesterday.

The result is that they are literally living in hell. Apparently, they are still enrolled in school. In just one month, this is what happened to me. They will experience that until they graduate.

Both of them wanted to drop out, but well, just like what happened to me, they must have been blackmailed by the principal or something. It means their right to escape through dropping out and seeking redemption has been taken away.

Yuki-sensei said she wants to somehow drag the principal down from his throne and get both of them expelled, but I wonder what will happen in the future.

Well, as a homeroom teacher, that’s how it should be. I think she’s a person who can be considered a model teacher.

Of course, I have no obligation or desire to save those two. It doesn’t matter. That’s all there is to it.

I should have the right to harbor murderous intent towards them, but strangely, I remember listening to the teacher’s words with a nonchalant attitude.

Well, regardless, I’ll try my best to remain as the old me in front of Mio and my mother. It seems difficult, but I have no choice but to get used to it.

I should go to school soon. Since it would be troublesome if they ask me to go together, I completely ignore my older sister and younger sister, smile at my mother, greet her, and then leave the house.

Yesterday, my mother was so delighted that my false accusation was proven. I hope I didn’t put on an unnatural smile.

“Taiga… I’m so glad! Your false accusation has been proven!”

The moment I left the house, someone embraced me as if they were waiting for me.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”

I immediately recognized it as Mio’s familiar scent, but for some reason, I let out a scream.

My heart started racing, and my breathing became erratic.

“I-I’m sorry… Did I startle you too much? Are you okay?”

“I’m the one who should apologize! Why did I scream like that… I really scared you… Sorry…”

Strange. I never thought my body would react like this to Mio…

Since we attracted the attention of passersby, I lightly nodded to indicate that everything was fine.

My family came out, worried about what happened, but I reassured them that it was nothing, and I regained my composure, walking together with Mio.

Considering what happened the other day, I didn’t know what to say and ended up staying silent. Mio also seemed like she wanted to say something, but we both continued walking in silence, already halfway through our usual route to school.

“Uhm… Taiga… About the day before yesterday… I’m really sorry… I made you sad… But, you see… I…”

“You must have some circumstances you can’t talk about, right? I know. I believe in you, Mio.”

In the end, I couldn’t bring myself to listen to the voicemail. But just by looking at Mio now, even the dumbest person would understand.

She didn’t betray me, at least that much was clear.

“I can make as many replacements for the broken things as you need.”

When I said that, tears welled up in Mio’s large eyes.

“Thank you… Thank you, Taiga…”

Mio slowly extends her right hand, and I timidly reach out my left hand.

We walk hand in hand, just like on the first day we became lovers.

“Taiga? Your hand is trembling so much…”

Mio looks at me with concern, and all I can reply is, “I’m just nervous.”

It seems that the abnormalities in my body might be more troublesome than I thought.