Chapter 21 Return Home and Confrontation

Return Home and Confrontation

One night, in front of the apartment.

The day had finally come.

Several days had passed since the visit to Rina’s parents, and I had been waiting for this day to come.

“Phew….”

Even though I had just returned to my own house, my hand trembled as I grabbed the doorknob, feeling strangely nervous.

Rina should be home from work by now.

When I think about what’s to come, I’m a mess of excitement and fear.

Next to me, Tokudou-san, the lawyer, looked at me with a reassuring expression.

“Uchida-san, are you okay? Your face is pale.”

“Oh, sorry… I guess I’m just nervous.”

“No wonder. Few people go through experiences like this, so your reaction is actually natural.”

Well, Tokudou-san is right.

But just having her by my side gives me a lot of courage, and I can be brave.

I can talk to Rina face-to-face.

“It’s okay. I’m with you. So don’t worry.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Encouraged by Tokudou-san’s words, I grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

As I walked in, I smelled a faint, strange odor.

Ah, I quickly realized what it was.

“I can’t believe it’s gotten this bad….”

There was trash all over the entrance.

I hadn’t been home much the last few days.

I didn’t want to see Rina’s face, so thanks to Hana-chan’s suggestion, I stayed at her parents’ house.

Ryohei-san and Mana-san welcomed me warmly.

Of course, Rina had no way of knowing that.

So Rina had to do the housework herself, but she was probably reluctant to do so because she had always left the housework to me.

Empty food containers were probably bought at convenience stores, and a large number of empty beer cans and discarded clothes were scattered around.

“This… is pretty bad, isn’t it?”

Tokudou-san, who was standing next to me, also looked discouraged, pinching her nose with a handkerchief and narrowing her eyes.

I’m stunned that it could get this dirty in just a few days, but I don’t care now.

Avoiding the trash, I went into the living room.

Rina was asleep on the sofa, surrounded by a pile of trash.

She must have fallen asleep right after returning from work, still in her suit but without her jacket, her shirt wrinkled and crumpled.

For the time being, in order to have a discussion, I cleaned up the minimal amount of trash scattered on the table together with Tokudo-san, and when we were done, I decided to wake Rina up.

“Wake up, Rina.”

“…Nnn…nn…?”

When I called out to her, Rina slowly opened her eyes.

She must have been drinking a lot because her face was slightly flushed and her eyes were slightly vacant.

When Rina, with such a terrible face, saw me, her half-open eyes widened.

“Eh, oh, welcome back… You’re finally home.”

“Yes….”

I answer Rina, who speaks to me in a weak voice, although I’m a bit taken aback.

Thinking back, this was the first conversation we had since I decided to ignore her. But I didn’t feel any agitation in my heart. Rather, it seemed that Rina was the one who was upset.

“I was waiting for you. You suddenly stopped coming home, and when I tried to contact you, you didn’t answer… I wanted to call the police….”

Her voice lacked strength. She didn’t seem like the usual Rina.

Who is this…? At least the Rina I knew wasn’t there.

The recent Rina was selfish, arrogant, and seemed to deserve the word "self-centered,” but the Rina before me seemed to have reverted to the Rina I used to like.

But knowing that didn’t make me feel any nostalgia or emotion.

“But I’m glad… You’re back safely….”

Rina, who showed a tearful yet relieved smile, made me feel intense disgust.

What is she saying, this woman…?

While I was thinking that, Rina slowly stood up, approached me with unsteady steps, and then, for some reason, opened her arms and tried to hug me.

What is she trying to do now…?

Of course, I refused Rina’s hug and stepped back to get some distance.

“Eh, eh… What happened? Why are you pulling away? You used to love hugs so much… This is the usual welcome hug….”

What time is she talking about?

We haven’t touched for over a year, and she rejected my touch, so what the hell is she talking about?

I had a lot to say, but I swallowed my words and tried to speak calmly.

“Rina, I have something important to tell you.”

“Important…? Yeah…?”

“Just sit there.”

When I pointed to the dining chair, Rina’s eyes showed a stunned expression.

“Eh…? W, who…? That woman….”

She must have just noticed Tokudou-san, who was already seated, and asked me with a trembling voice.

But before I could answer, Tokudou-san bowed and opened her mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Rina-san. I’m Tokudou, a lawyer.”