Chapter 25 His Sister Saw Everything
#Sareta OtokoHis Sister Saw Everything
“Well, anyway, about that. Last summer, during the Obon Holidays, I saw Chika-chan….”
While I tried to hold back my tears, Eriko-san continued the story.
I immediately realized that this was the main point.
I lowered my face and turned to Eriko-san.
“I was at the convenience store near the east exit of the station. When I came out of the store, I happened to see Chika-chan walking by. I wanted to call out to you then, just like today.”
“…”
“But you were walking with a guy who wasn’t Taichi. You were walking really close and didn’t look like you were just friends. If someone who didn’t know you were dating Taichi saw you, they’d think you were a couple.”
“Yes….”
“And that area, it’s a drinking area. Usually, high school students don’t go there very often. And in the direction you two went, there were some hotels lined up. Not ordinary hotels, but love hotels.”
“…”
I couldn’t look up anymore.
“So I had a feeling, and I followed you. And I was right. But at that time I thought Taichi trusted you completely, so I thought he wouldn’t believe me even if I told him. So I waited in front of the love hotel and took a picture of you coming out with my smartphone as proof. It was hard waiting, you know. People were staring at me, and you were having a good time for two hours….”
I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I wanted to disappear.
“When I got home, I told Taichi, and he was so shocked. But when I showed him the picture as proof, he said, ‘I see. Now everything about her recent attitude and behavior makes sense.’ It seemed like he had sensed something was wrong. He told me that he had sensed a distance between the two of you since the third semester of your second year. He didn’t think much of it at first, but when you gave him chocolate on Valentine’s Day, you refused his invitation to walk home together. Remember that? Valentine’s Day your second year. He came home alone with the chocolate you gave him. He also canceled his attendance at the end-of-season kendo club at the last minute. He thought he would finally have more time with you after club activities ended, but you still prioritized your friends, and the two of you only went home together occasionally.”
“…”
“Also, Taichi was worried that your grades were dropping in your third year. So he invited you to study together many times during the summer vacation, but you completely ignored him, and he felt that you were annoyed with him, so he stopped asking. That’s why he didn’t contact you much at that time. He was being considerate.”
“…”
“So when I told him what I saw, he said, ‘Now everything makes sense.’”
The first time Satoshi and I were alone together was during the winter break of our second year.
That’s when Taichi first felt something was wrong.
Taichi had noticed my changes from the beginning.
I hadn’t noticed any changes in Taichi, but he had been watching me all the time.
Even though he was busy with club activities and studying, he still paid attention to me.
“What do you think? It’s a terrible story to hear again, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s a terrible story.”
“Even though it’s too late and I’m an outsider, there’s something I really want to ask you.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you cheat? Why did you cheat on Taichi instead of breaking up with him? Oh, I’m not asking because I want to blame you; it’s just a real question. Like I said, I don’t care if you regret it or not, and I don’t blame you for what you did since you already broke up with Taichi. It’s just a question. I won’t tell Taichi about this conversation, so if you can, please tell me.”
“Yes.”