Chapter 69 That's All

That’s All

——After Hana-san’s story was over.

Perhaps because of the time that had passed, Ichika had stopped crying…but she was sitting on the sofa in a daze, not feeling any better.

Hana-san is taking a bath, so I’m alone with Ichika now.

“…”

She didn’t speak for a while. I guess she was in the mood not to talk.

So I sat next to her and watched TV without saying anything…But suddenly she grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.

“Chika-chan, what’s wrong?”

“Takumi-nii…one thing, can I ask you something?”

She seemed to calm down after a while.

I was relieved to hear her voice first since she had not answered any of my questions until a while ago.

“It’s okay. If it’s something I can answer.”

“…What made you fall in love with a woman like that?”

What was asked was the reason for my first love.

Why I fell for Enjo Kaori.

“Even though she’s the one who always hurts Takumi-nii…I don’t understand.”

The reason, huh?

There are many reasons why I like Kaori. She was a cheerful girl and could get along with everyone…As a friend, there was no doubt that she was a fun girl to be around.

As a lover, she was the worst…let’s leave that aside.

However, there was no clear reason…why I fell in love with her.

However, if I may say so——when I was in elementary school, that one word made me happy.

“…I was told that my handwriting was beautiful.”

It was the first time we were in the same class.

When we were in fourth grade, we sat next to each other…and she looked at my notebook and complimented me. After that, I think I became aware of her as the opposite sex.

I was happy.

Even though it was a childhood memory, I still remember it to this day.

It was a great encouragement to me, who at that time was constantly comparing myself to Takeshi and feeling down. I had some good points, I thought.

“Eh…that’s all?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

“Eh…Takumi-nii, you’re too simple.”

“I think so too. I’m too simple…I really feel like an idiot.”

Now that I think about it, I think it was a stupid reason.

I feel like an idiot for continuing to love her for seven years for that one reason.

But that feeling was already gone.

“Chika-chan…thank you.”

“Nn…? Thank you for what?”

“Thank you——for being angry for me…”

If she hadn’t made her angry, I wouldn’t have been able to say anything to Kaori.

But thanks to Ichika…I feel better somehow.

Maybe I regretted something with Kaori.

Maybe I still tried to love her even after she cheated on me.

But when I saw Ichika…thinking about me and getting really angry, I was able to break those unresolved feelings.

“Thank you for crying for me.”

Ichika did everything I should’ve done.

The truth is that I wanted to get angry. I wanted to cry. I wanted to denounce what she did…but I couldn’t do that——I had been in love with Kaori for too long.

If Ichika hadn’t been there, I might’ve been burdened with those feelings for a long time.

Or worse, I might’ve tried to help Kaori…and gotten into trouble.

But after today, I decided not to get involved with Kaori anymore.

Because I’m just a stranger to her now——