Chapter 28 The Happiness of a Girl Who Had Nothing but Unrequited Love

The Happiness of a Girl Who Had Nothing but Unrequited Love

One big suitcase.

That was all Sasha had.

She threw away all the beautiful dresses and clothes she had before she came to Japan.

It was her own “will” that she didn’t bring much luggage.

—— I cut all ties with that man and my parents.

When she got married, all her personal things were from him.

She hated that so much. So when she decided to live her own life, she took only the bare minimum.

When she divorced him, all she wanted was “custody”.

When she told him that she didn’t even have to share their property as a condition, her ex-husband, Max, agreed very easily.

Of course, her parents were against the divorce. They said it was not good for their business.

But she threatened to cut all ties with them and did so publicly. So they were forced to accept it.

A girl who had been treated like a doll had a complete and late rebellion.

But thanks to it, there was no way to back down.

—— What if Itsuki-kun rejects me?

At that time, Sasha is not the only one who suffers. She was afraid that she might not be able to give young Satsuki a happy life.

But after all, Itsuki was still kind.

“If Sasha wants, I’ll protect her.”

Without asking why, he accepted Sasha and Satsuki.

With his usual gentle smile, he held out his hand.

In truth, she wanted to tell him everything.

She wanted him to understand her situation, her weaknesses, and her life.

But… At the last moment, Sasha remembered that she didn’t deserve him.

“Sasha. Can you please… not tell me about the man you married?”

When Itsuki said that, it was the saddest look Sasha had ever seen.

—— Oh, what have I done…? I hurt such a kind person.

Whatever the circumstances, Sasha’s weakness ended up hurting her first love. She flirted with him, and even though their love was mutual, her cowardly nature got in the way, and they couldn’t move forward with their relationship.

She recognized this as her “sin”.

—— I don’t deserve to be protected by him. I was aware that I was a bad person. But my daughter was different.

Satsuki has no “sin”. She, more than anyone else, needs to be happy.

So Sasha bowed her head in shame.

“Please… make Satsuki happy.”

This is what she wished for.

Sasha had no intention of asking for forgiveness for her past sins.

She would spend her whole life from now on to make up for the things she had done to Itsuki.

For the pain she had caused. For the disappointment she had caused. For the betrayal she had caused. She was ready to spend the rest of her life to make up for it.

So she didn’t tell him that she was divorced.

No, it would be more accurate to say that she was unable to fully deliver the message.

—— I’m a weak person, so I’m sure I would have clung to Itsuki-kun. I’m sure if I told him that I was divorced and confessed it, he would accept it, but… that shouldn’t be allowed. After all, I hurt him so much.

It’s too late to be a lover now.

That’s how important Itsuki was to Sasha.

—— I can’t even touch him because I’m so dirty.

She could not forgive herself.

For Sasha, Itsuki is a hero.

—— Thank you for always, always, always helping me.

She can’t count how many times she has thanked him in her heart.

Soon after arriving in Japan, Sasha and Satsuki went to live with Itsuki’s houseparents. The house Itsuki’s parents had built was comfortable and warm.

Itsuki, who had already found a job, also supported them financially. Thanks to him, they were able to live a life without a lack of food, clothing, or shelter.

Of course, their lives were more luxurious when she was married to Max.

But her happiness was… undoubtedly “now”.

The year she spent with Itsuki was the first time Sasha experienced “happiness”.

He is kind. He never treated Sasha like a doll. He always respected her will, cared about her, thought about her, and helped her.

It’s the same with Satsuki. For Itsuki, she is the child of a love rival… but he only showers her with love. He looks after her as if she were his own child.

This gave Sasha a feeling of relief.

—— Now, even if I die… Satsuki won’t be unhappy.

She felt that way.

Itsuki would certainly make Satsuki happy.

That’s why Sasha wanted to repay Itsuki and make amends.

She had vowed to dedicate the rest of her life to her daughter.

Sasha also had another goal in mind.

—— What could I do for Itsuki?

She wanted to make him happy.

Again and again, she thought about what she should do.

But the answer did not come right away. That was how big her gratitude and sins towards Itsuki were.

—— I will take my time and think about it. We have plenty of time, so I should be able to come up with another answer sometime.

If Sasha can forgive herself,

Then maybe she could have a different relationship with Itsuki again.

If that time ever came, maybe true “happiness” would be waiting for her.

But that time never came.

One day, Sasha died suddenly.

The cause of death was a car accident.

Satsuki was only three years old at the time.

Only about a year had passed since she and Itsuki had met again.

There were still things she wanted to do. But her sleeping face was very, very peaceful.

Considering the fact that she had died in an accident, Sasha’s face was calm when she entered eternal sleep.

It was as if she was saying,

—— I’m sure Satsuki will be fine now that Sasha is with you.

And so, at the young age of 23, Sasha’s life came to an end.

The life of a girl, who was nothing but a doll, was full of suffering and regret.

But for the last year of her life, she was very, very happy.

—— I was so happy to live with my beloved Itsuki and my beloved Satsuki.

—— I wonder if it is okay to be so happy.

—— Was it right for someone like me to be so happy?

—— It was such a warm time that I felt uncomfortable.

—— I made you both sad… I’m really sorry.

Before her consciousness was enveloped in darkness, Sasha spun her thoughts in her mind.

—— I’ll be watching over you from heaven. So, Itsuki-kun and Satsuki, please be happy.

She only wished for the happiness of these two precious people.

Sasha breathed her last.

It was only 14 years after Sasha’s death that Itsuki learned about her life….

In a cafe, he nodded his head when Sophia told him about Sasha’s husband and the circumstances of their marriage.

“After all, Sasha was…!”

She loved Itsuki with all her heart. She didn’t want to get married.

But it was Itsuki who doubted, feared, and rejected her love.

He did not have the strength to accept it.

“I always remained weak.”

If only he had known then.

If Sasha had told him the whole truth, the story would’ve been different.

He realized that now, and he could only gasp with regret——