Chapter 13: Regret
Translator: Soafp
[Hana PoV]
I was walking with Ken-kun, and it seemed like he had something important to tell me. He indicated that he didn’t want anyone else to overhear, so we quietly made our way to the park.
As soon as we entered the park, a wave of emotions washed over me. This was the very park where Ryota had confessed his feelings to me—a moment etched into my memory as one of the best days of my life.
I had always harbored feelings for Ryota, hoping deep down that one day he would confess his love to me.
Even though our relationship didn’t last long, the time I had spent with him was unforgettable.
Sometimes, I couldn’t help but feel jealous when he talked with other girls.
Even though we weren’t officially together, in my mind, we were already a couple. He belonged to me, and the thought of him being with anyone else stirred a possessive longing within me.
As we continued walking, we eventually reached a bench. My mind was still with memories of that unforgettable day with Ryota, engulfing me in a mix of nostalgia and melancholy.
Ken-kun must have noticed the change in my demeanor because he paused and gently asked.
“You look sad, Kobayashi-san. Is something wrong?”
I forced a smile, trying to mask my emotions.
“No, it’s just that this place reminds me of Ryota. He confessed to me at this park.”
Ken-kun’s expression appeared somewhat displeased.
“Hmm…”
“But let’s set that aside. What did you want to talk to me about?”
I eagerly changed the subject and avoid dwelling too much on the past.
Ken-kun nodded, his demeanor serious.
“Right, let me get straight to the point.”
My heart began to race with anticipation, unsure of what Ken-kun’s intentions were. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling of apprehension that gnawed at my insides.
“I like you, Kobayashi-san. Please go out with me.”
Ken-kun confessed, his words hanging in the air between us.
A whirlwind of emotions swept through me, leaving me breathless and uncertain. His words echoed in the stillness of the park, hanging in the air like a delicate thread.
For a moment, I was speechless, caught off guard by his unexpected confession. My heart raced with conflicting emotions—surprise and confusion.
But I couldn’t respond with the same feeling because I was still not over Ryota yet. It wouldn’t be fair to Ken-kun.
So with that, I hesitated, my thoughts tangled in a web of conflicting emotions.
“I—“
As I was about to answer his confession, a man suddenly emerged from behind a tree, running away hastily. Was he eavesdropping on our conversation?
However, my gaze remained fixed on his back. Why couldn’t I tear my eyes away from him? Could it be…
“Ryota…”
“Ryota?”
“Ah, no, it just I am still not over Ryota and not ready to pursue a new relation ship. I am sorry.”
“Why…Why? Am I not good enough compared to Ryota?!”
“Ken-kun…?”
His behavior was unsettling, completely unlike the Ken-kun I thought I knew.
“I thought everything was going as planned. Even with Ryota out of the picture, it isn’t working. Damn it!”
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, I attempted to leave the park.
“Hold on.”
He grabbed my arm firmly, preventing me from escaping.
“Let me go!”
“If being nice won’t work, maybe I should try a different tactic.”
His grip tightened, overpowering my attempts to break free. With a sudden force, he pushed me to the ground, pinning my arms down.
“I’m going to make you forget about Ryota and make you feel good.”
“No, please stop. This isn’t like you, Ken-kun.”
“Kukuku, then apparently you don’t know me well enough.”
His laughter sent shivers down my spine as I struggled against his hold, panic rising within me like a tidal wave threatening to engulf me.
“Please, let me go!”
But my pleas fell on deaf ears as he leaned in closer, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
“Just relax, Kobayashi-san. You’ll enjoy it, I promise.”
The fear coursing through me was suffocating, my mind racing as I searched desperately for a way to escape his grasp.
“Police, stop right there.”
A commanding voice rang out, slicing through the tension like a knife.
I turned to see a group of officers approaching, their uniforms a welcome sight in the chaos of the park.
“Yuto Ken, you are under arrest for possessing a switchblade, being involved in the fight, framing, and assault.”
One of the officers declared, his voice firm and authoritative.
Yuto’s expression shifted from one of defiance to confusion.
“Huh? I didn’t do any of that.”
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything that you say will and shall be used against you.”
The officer continued, his words carrying the weight of authority as he began to read Yuto his rights.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, but did he really do all of that?”
I was still trying to process the events that had just unfolded.
“Yes, the tipper’s friend was framed and he provided us the evidence we needed to arrest him.”
His friend was framed? His friend was framed…It can’t be… My thoughts spun in a dizzying whirlwind of disbelief and horror.
My mind broke down. As the truth sank in, a wave of guilt washed over me, knowing that I had been manipulated into doubting Ryota’s innocence.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Miss, are you alright!”
The agonizing scream ripped through the air, echoing off the walls of the park as if to mirror the turmoil raging within me.
Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked, mingling with the bitter taste of regret and self-recrimination.
How could I have been so blind, so foolish to doubt Ryota, to let myself be swayed by baseless accusations and lies?
He was innocent, and I had betrayed him.
The agony of my regret intensified as I never heard what he had to say.
I just believed a mere rumor over listening to him, allowing doubt and suspicion to cloud my judgment and poison my heart.
How could I have been so blind, so quick to cast aside the trust and faith that Ryota had placed in me?
And now, as I knelt alone in the park, the weight of my regret pressing down on me like a leaden shroud, I knew that I would give anything to turn back time, to undo the damage I had done.
But it was too late. Ryota won’t be by my side and I was left to bear the burden of my betrayal alone.
The realization filled me with a profound sense of emptiness, a hollow ache that echoed through the depths of my soul.
Despair washed over me in a tidal wave, dragging me down into its depths with suffocating force.
“I hope Ryota will ever forgive me….”
But deep down, I knew that forgiveness was beyond my reach. The damage I had caused was irreparable, the pain I had inflicted too deep to be healed by mere words.
As I whispered his name into the void, the weight of my regret bore down on me like a crushing weight, threatening to crush me beneath its relentless pressure.
The park, once a place of cherished memories, now felt like a prison, trapping me in a cycle of remorse and anguish from which there was no escape.
With each passing moment, the realization of what I had lost grew more acute, a constant reminder of the love I had foolishly thrown away.
The echoes of my despair reverberating through the empty spaces around me, I knew that I would carry the pain of my mistake with me for the rest of my days.
For in losing Ryota, I had lost a part of myself—a new part started to develop…
[Hey]
Witler
April 10, 2024 at 12:44 amDon’t feel bad about her at all, you believed so easily without even trying to hear Ryota out, hopefully we don’t see her again.
MangHose
April 10, 2024 at 5:20 amNah, no one here feels any shred of sympathy for you. You’re quick to fall for a rumor without trying to even know the story from the other side. Enough of your crocodile tears.
And I do sincerely hope Ryota’s father and Ken go through a lot of condemnation, criticism and get pushed to the brink of despair, much more than what Ryota unfairly had to go through.
Declis
April 10, 2024 at 6:20 amJust want to say, thanks for translating at this speed, @Soafp.