Chapter 3 Shuu (2)

Shuu (2)

Although I felt a little regret, I visited places where I had fond memories with Mari. Then I was approached by an unexpected person.

“It’s been a while. Shuu-niisan.”

A woman with a short bob and beautiful black hair.

My heart jumped when I saw her, who looked just like Mari.

“Ah, long time no see, Aki-chan.”

I managed to calm my racing heart and smiled back at her.

“…Nii-san, what’s wrong with you today?”

“Ah, well, since it’s a little closer, I felt nostalgic and stopped by, but I see Aki-chan went to the same university as us.”

“Yes. I was a ronin for one year, so I’m in my fourth year this year.”

“I see. Aki-chan, who always followed us, will also graduate from the same university.”

I look at Aki-chan in front of me with deep emotion.

She really is a perfect duplicate of Mari from our college days, so much so that if you compare her with the photo of Mari from our college days, you could easily mistake them for twins.

Maybe that’s why memories of our happy high school days flashed through my mind.

“Um, what’s really going on? Shuu-niisan.”

Aki-chan is worried about me with a surprised look on her face.

I try to keep as calm as possible, but I don’t know why, I ask back.

“Eh, what do you mean?”

Then Aki-chan said with a sad expression on her face.

“Because, Shuu-niisan. You’re crying.”

Apparently, I was shedding tears without even realizing it.

I was so disturbed by Aki-chan’s resemblance to Mari that I didn’t even notice.

“Ah, I’m sorry, Aki-chan.”

I couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to leave.

But she grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

When I turned around, Aki-chan was looking at me with a sad face.

“You can’t go. If I go now, Shuu-niisan…”

She looks at me with a look that expresses feelings that cannot be fully expressed in words.

I surrendered to Aki-chan’s gaze and went where she led me.

She takes me to the apartment she rents.

She welcomes me to her room and offers me a cup of tea.

We both sip the tea, and a moment of silence follows.

Aki-chan was the one who started the conversation.

“…So what happened with you and Nee-san?”

She suddenly got right to the point.

I didn’t know how to answer, so I told her the truth.

It was something that was going to come out anyway.

I told her everything without lying, and I also told her that I was thinking of divorcing Mari.

I felt sorry for Aki-chan who had to listen to the horror of my story, but I felt a little lighter because I had told someone else.

“I’m sorry, Aki-chan. It’s such a shameful thing.”

I was close to Aki-chan and have considered her my own sister, but not as close as Mari. Divorcing Mari means saying goodbye to that relationship as well.

I apologize to Aki-chan as the feelings of adoration I had for her.

“Why is Shuu-niisan apologizing? It is Nee-san’s fault. Why should my relationship with Shuu-niisan be destroyed because of her?”

Aki-chan, who should take a more sisterly position as her younger sister, was so angry with Mari that I felt overwhelmed by her.

“Shuu-niisan. If you’re going to do something, do it well. Just divorcing and saying goodbye is not enough. First, let’s apply for alimony properly.”

For some reason, Aki-chan was more willing to fight back.

“…Maybe Aki-chan is on my side?”

“Isn’t it obvious? No matter how I look at it, Shuu-niisan is not to blame. It is my stupid Nee-san who is to blame.”

“But maybe Mari cheated on me because I wasn’t good enough.”

“This is what I don’t understand. Is it okay to cheat on your partner if he/she is not perfect? Is it always the case that a partner has to be perfect to be a good partner? Shuu-niisan and Nee-san love each other and became a couple to support each other, right? If that’s the case, it’s 200% the fault of that stupid Nee-san who ignores the person she’s supposed to support and neglects her kind husband…”

I was surprised at how firm she was, which was hard to believe for someone so much younger than me.

At the same time, my feeling of self-loathing that it might have been my fault that Mari had cheated on me diminished.

“Thanks, Aki-chan. I feel a little better now that you said that.”

“…I’m glad. I made you smile, even if only a little.”

From Aki-chan’s words, it seems I was able to smile.

I still haven’t wiped away the emotional sludge that’s stuck with me since then, but it seems I was able to move forward a little, just a little.