Chapter 7 Shuu (4)

Shuu (4)

It wasn’t a real discussion, but it was a turning point for me.

Aki-chan also seemed to be worried about the result, so she sent me a message of concern.

When I came back, Aki-chan asked me as if she had been waiting for me.

“How did the discussion go?”

“What can I say? It wasn’t a discussion.”

I explained the circumstances.

“What’s that? Shuu-niisan, you are being used too much by Nee-san. She thought it would be easy to forgive her if she apologized.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I think her feelings of apology and remorse were genuine. But that’s why I can’t forgive her. I’m sorry, I can’t put it into words well.”

“It’s okay, Nii-san. Nee-san just needs to realize how important the feelings she has accumulated are.”

Aki-chan is in what we used to call, ah, an angry and furious state.

I feel comfortable with the sight of her getting angry for me.

“Thank you, Aki-chan.”

“What’s the matter all of a sudden? I didn’t do anything to be thanked.”

I pat her head in an old habit.

“Ah, what’s really wrong with you, Nii-san?”

“Well, you know, I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m ready to move on. I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

I laugh and cover it up.

“You don’t have to worry about it. It’s my family’s fault, to begin with.”

“Yes. But you know, I can’t let you take care of me like this anymore, and even though the battle is just beginning, it’s also a good opportunity. I’ll rent a room and live by myself.”

“eh?”

Aki-chan’s expression becomes complicated at my words.

“Well, Aki-chan still has to go to college, and you’ve taken care of me enough. So I can’t cause you any more trouble.”

It might be a little late to say this, but even though she is my sister-in-law, a working adult moving in with a college girl is not a good thing in the eyes of the public.

“I don’t care about that….”

Aki-chan says so, but I have my own pride.

I don’t want to be a bad brother who depends on his sister.

So I decided to move out of Aki-chan’s place and live on my own.

After I decided on a new place, I asked Mari to send me my personal things from the house.

Mari didn’t even want to do that, but I told her that we were separating to think about each other, and finally, I managed to get her to send my things.

Aki-chan was reluctant to let me leave her apartment until the very end, but in the end, she agreed and let me go.

It was good that she let me go, but I wonder if it’s really okay for her to come to my place almost every day and take care of me out of concern for me?

I was grateful for her help, but it would be a disservice to Aki-chan if she had to carry more burden.

I tried to tell her that it would be okay to leave me alone, but it didn’t work at all.

“Shuu-niisan will try to take over everything by himself if I leave him alone. I can’t watch you do that.”

She said that as if she could see right through me.

In fact, when I am alone, I feel a rush of uncontrollable fantasies and unexplainable, confused emotions, and I want to throw everything at Mari.

I must’ve been crazy since I saw that video.

I wanted to believe that the love I had for Mari was real, even though I knew that what I thought was my greatest love was only temporary.

But what should I believe in Mari, who did that but so easily says she wants to rebuild our relationship?

I found myself letting my anger get the better of me and lashing out at everything around me to cover up my smoldering emotions.

It was only when Aki-chan came to see me that I was able to stay sane.

Her smile, similar to Mari’s, stopped me in my tracks, reminded me of precious memories, and brought me comfort.

I was a pathetic person, clinging to the past, but I felt that Aki-chan was the only one that kept me from going completely insane.

That’s why I couldn’t deny Aki-chan, who always wanted to come to my place.

Even though I know how cowardly it is….