Chapter 17: Lust
Translator: Soafp
[Nao PoV]
Almost two hours have passed since Mom was taken to the police station. I finished my dinner earlier, feeling a sense of relief and determination. Finally, I could take a step towards getting justice for Onii-chan. But as I sat alone in the quiet house, my thoughts swirled with unanswered questions.
Why is Dad so vehemently(=intensely) against Onii-chan, his own blood? There must be a reason behind his hostility…
I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this story than meets the eye.
“…I guess I will have to dive deeper to know the truth.”
Just as I spoke those words, the sound of the door opening broke the silence. I turned to see Mom standing in the doorway, her expression vacant and her eyes hollow.
“…I…I am back.”
“Welcome back?”
It seemed as though Mom had heard something, perhaps the truth behind Nii-san’s arrest.
“Mom, what happened?”
She looked down at the ground in complete silence. After a minute, she started to speak.
“It is true….Yuto was behind Ryota’s arrest…”
Mom’s voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and sorrow.
“I wanted to deny all of it because I believed Yuto was not like that. However, they showed me evidences pointing towards Yuto crime.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she struggled to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
“I never thought that Yuto would do this. He was always behaving like a good kid. Have I failed him?”
Despite Mom’s evident remorse, I couldn’t find it within myself to sympathize with her. Where was this regret when Onii-chan was arrested? Instead of trusting him, Mom pushed him away, believing in his guilt without a second thought.
Was it because Nii-san is her blood-related son and Onii-chan wasn’t? But if that’s the case, why would Dad not believe Onii-chan?
I wanted to know the truth from the depths of my being. However, I knew I had to keep my inner thoughts to myself for now and wait for the right moment to confront them.
I didn’t want to linger near the entrance door, so I guided Mom to the living room where she could sit on the couch.
As she settled into the cushions, I busied myself with making a cup of tea, placing it in front of her. She sat there motionless, as if reality had finally caught up with her.
I couldn’t help but feel of déjà vu. I remembered all too well the numbness that had enveloped me when Onii-chan was arrested. Now, it seemed Mom was experiencing the same anguish and disbelief.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. There could only be one person.
“I am home.”
“Welcome back”
“….”
Dad walked in, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the scene before him.
“What is going on…”
“…Dear, there is something you need to know.”
Unexpectedly, Mom answered.
Dad made his way to the empty seat where he could sit. I also took a seat.
It took a moment before Mom could speak. She must have mustered all her courage to speak.
“Yuto got arrested today.”
Dad’s eyes widened in shock.
“He got…arrested…What did he do.”
“…Possessing a switchblade, framing, involved in the fight and assault on girl…”
When I glanced at Dad, his face had drained of color, his expression mirroring the shock and horror that gripped us all.
But I couldn’t help but notice the difference in his reaction compared to when Onii-chan was arrested. Back then, he had seemed merely sad and disappointed. Now, it was as if he had seen the end of the world.
“This has to be some mistake right?!”
“I went to the police station and they have clear evidence that Yuto is the perpetrator. His life is over…He won’t be able to live normally in this society..”
“…”
The room fell silent, the weight of Mom’s words hanging heavily in the air. Her expression betrayed a mix of disbelief and despair.
As the mood was too much for him, he stood up and walked away.
Why hasn’t he said anything about Onii-chan? A normal person would be devastated, maybe even break down in tears over the mistake they’ve made.
While Mom was lost in disbelief, I seized the opportunity to quietly leave the room and follow Dad.
Dad went upstairs and opened his room. I kept my distance until he entered his room. He closed the door and I walked up to his door putting my ear on the door.
Plop
Did he fall on the ground?
“…uuuggghhhh….I’m sorry, Ryota. I knew you would never commit a crime… I tried to satisfy myself, but I also tried to keep you happy. But you had to pay the price for it. I hate myself for this. It’s because of who I am…. I am sorry, Ryota. Deep down, I knew I should never have started it.”
What is he saying?? I don’t get it. He is mourning about what he has done, but there is something behind it. He knew Onii-chan is innocent and yet he chose to not to believe him…
As I stood there, listening to Dad’s confession, a whirlwind of emotions swept through me—anger, betrayal, and confusion.
How could he have let this happen? How could he have turned a blind eye to Onii-chan’s innocence, all for his own selfish desires?
It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks, the realization that our family was nothing but a web of lies and deceit, entangled in their own selfish motives and hidden agendas.
Onii-chan and I were merely pawns in their twisted game, sacrificed at the altar of their greed and ambition. We were collateral damage, casualties of their insatiable thirst for their desire.
As I pondered the uncertain future of our family, I turned away from the door and retreated to the solace of my own room.
[Hana PoV]
Sitting in the back of the police car, my mind was a whirlwind of confusion and despair. The realization that Ken-kun, someone I had once trusted implicitly, was the one who had framed Ryota, shattered my world into a million pieces.
As the car made its way back to our neighborhood, I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal that was swirling inside. How could Ken-kun have committed such a heinous act?
The weight of guilt pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, knowing that I had been unwittingly drawn into his deceit. I couldn’t help but wonder if there had been signs that I had missed, clues that hinted at the darkness lurking beneath his facade of friendship.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when the car came to a stop in front of my house.
Stepping out onto the familiar pavement, I felt a sense of dread wash over me, knowing that I would soon have to face the consequences of the action that I made.
First thing that came to my mind was how to face Ryota. I love him so much but does he still feel the same about me?
[If he doesn’t love you, make him love you]
Ever since I broke down after hearing what Ken-kun did, I’ve been haunted by voices in my head, urging me to do whatever it takes to win back Ryota’s affection. But deep down, I knew that forcing someone to love me was not the answer. True love cannot be coerced or manipulated—it must be freely given.
[What? You want to give up Ryota? Didn’t you say you love him?]
I did, but I don’t want to force my love on him….I just hope his love for me hasn’t faded away.
[Pffft, you have read the book. So, you know how the female protagonist winning her lover back, right? Use the same strategy.]
B-But those are kind of… too much.
[Do you want to win over Ryota or not?]
Yes!
[Then hurry up. If the first method isn’t working, add one level of intensity. Like if talking doesn’t work, touch him. If that doesn’t work, hold his hand and keep adding layers until he is yours.]
As conflicted as I was about resorting to such tactics, I couldn’t deny the desperation gnawing at my heart.
If there was even a slim chance of salvaging my relationship with Ryota, I had to take it, no matter how uncomfortable it made me feel.
You are right. I have to do everything to win back Ryota.
[That is the spirit!]
Feeling exhausted both mentally and emotionally, I made my way inside, eager to seek solace in the quiet of my room. Each step felt heavy, weighed down by the events of the day.
Once inside, I retreated to the sanctuary of my bedroom, seeking refuge from the chaos that surrounded me. The soft glow of the bedside lamp offered a gentle reassurance, casting a warm light over the familiar space.
With a sigh, I sank onto the edge of my bed, letting the events of the day wash over me. The voices in my head had fallen silent for now, leaving me alone with my thoughts and feelings.
Crawling beneath the covers, I allowed myself to succumb to the embrace of sleep, hoping that tomorrow would bring clarity and resolution to the turmoil that raged within me.
The next day, as I made my way to school, my thoughts were consumed by worry and uncertainty. The recent events had left me feeling adrift, unsure of how to move forward.
As I walked, I spotted Kenji up ahead. His posture seemed slumped, his expression weary and exhausted. Something seemed off about him, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled over me.
Summoning up my courage, I approached him and tapped his shoulder gently.
“Good morning, Kenji.”
He turned to face me, but his eyes held a distant look, as if he were lost in his own thoughts.
“….”
I pressed on, determined to break through the barrier of silence that surrounded him.
“Kenji, please wait. I know you’re upset about Ryota and me breaking up. But there’s a reason behind it, and I want to talk to Ryota about it. Can you tell me where he is?”
“….”
Kenji remained silent, his expression unreadable. It was clear that he was deeply troubled by something, but he seemed unwilling to share it with me.
“You…You have no idea what happened to Ryota these past few days, do you…”
His voice was cold, filled with a bitterness that sent a chill down my spine.
“Past few days? What do you mean?”
My heart began to race as a sense of dread washed over me. What had happened to Ryota?
“I guess you were too busy having fun with Yuto-kun to notice…”
His words cut through me like a knife, filling me with a sense of guilt and apprehension.
“How…how did you know I was with Ken-kun?”
“That’s not important right now. What matters is that you played a part in what happened to Ryota.”
My stomach churned with a sickening sense of dread as Kenji’s words sank in.
“Ryota…what happened to him?”
“Ryota…..”
Kenji’s facade cracked, and for a moment, I saw the raw pain and anguish in his eyes.
“Ryota jumped off a building.”
The words hit me like a ton of bricks, sending shockwaves through my entire being. My mind raced, trying to process the horrifying revelation.
Ryota…Ryota…had attempted to take his own life.
I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as the full weight of Kenji’s words sank in. Guilt, fear, and sorrow threatened to overwhelm me, and I struggled to find my footing in the midst of the storm raging inside me.
My mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the devastating news. Ryota, the person I loved more than anything, had reached such a point of despair that he felt there was no other way out.
The world around me seemed to blur as I grappled with the reality of the situation.
“Kenji…I…I had no idea. I didn’t know…”
My words felt hollow, meaningless in the face of such profound suffering.
“I know you didn’t, Hana. But that doesn’t change what happened. Ryota…he’s in the hospital now. In critical condition.”
His voice cracked on the last words, a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation.
Without another word, Kenji turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, numb and overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.
I stood rooted to the spot, feeling as though the ground had been ripped out from beneath me. Every fiber of my being screamed for me to go to Ryota, to be by his side in his time of need.
But a voice in the back of my mind whispered a cruel truth: I had no right to be there. Not after what had happened between us, not after the way I had hurt him.
Torn between my desire to see Ryota and the crushing weight of my own guilt, I stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do next.
Witler
April 16, 2024 at 12:07 amStay where you are, don’t go near him you cockroach.
Reni2425
April 16, 2024 at 12:20 amLolol it took me a 2nd read because i confused hana with the mom, so i was like what an odd twist
ak23playz
April 16, 2024 at 12:28 amThank you for the chapter
Alucard90
April 16, 2024 at 2:24 amLil sis is gonna go bat🤬 crazy…
MangHose
April 16, 2024 at 3:26 amYes Kenji. That’s the spirit. Hana does not get any shred of sympathy, only your unbridled anger, disgust and contempt. Remember that this is the person who abandoned your bestfriend without even trying to hear his side.
As for Ryota’s dad, nah, this ain’t cutting it. Feeling guilty ain’t enough. This man should be condemned and ostracized by literally everyone, from his work, to his friends and even their neighbors. Kenji, Nao and Ryota’s deceased mother are his only true family.
officialkarmalibra
April 16, 2024 at 5:05 amI think this is a nice touch to the reader,compared to those before