Chapter 20: The Final Touch

The Final Touch

It had been a week since Rindo stopped coming to school.

Honestly, it was getting tedious, but I kept messaging her—just in case she did something drastic.

From our exchanges, I gathered that she had broken up with her boyfriend and was struggling to move on.

People like her tend to shift the blame onto others, so I had to make sure she believed she had chosen me of her own will. Otherwise, things would get complicated later.

Lately, her messages showed signs of slight recovery, so today, I was heading to her house to make sure she fell completely.

Rindo had told me her parents were out, so I visited without hesitation. She let me into her room without much resistance.

Seeing her for the first time in a week, she looked a little worn out. The cheerful, lively girl from before had become fragile and sorrowful.

“…What do you want with someone like me, Senpai?”

Her first words were filled with self-loathing. Based on our messages, I had expected her to be in a better state, but perhaps seeing me had made her spiral further.

“I’ve been worried about you.”

“Is that so…? But I’m not someone worth worrying about.”

Truthfully, she wasn’t. But for the sake of completing this, I smiled gently and said.

“Why do you think that?”

“I’m a terrible person. I betrayed my childhood friend, lied, and pretended nothing happened. I’m nothing but a worthless, pathetic woman—a b🬀🬀ch who didn’t even hesitate to accept Senpai’s advances.”

Rindo spoke bitterly, mocking herself.

To me, she was absolutely right. But, of course, I couldn’t say that here.

“…You might not be perfect, but you’re not worthless.”

“That’s a lie… I don’t deserve kindness. So why? Why are you still being nice to me? Is it just because you want to sleep with me again? Because I’m easy?”

Rindo’s voice trembled, raw with self-destruction.

I made sure not to look away, listening silently until she finished.

Once she had poured everything out, I spoke.

“In the end, yes, you betrayed him. But I kissed you because I truly liked you… Even after that… Hey, is it really wrong to love someone? Back then, didn’t you feel the same way?”

“What are you saying? The one I loved was Yuki, not you…”

“But… wasn’t there even a small part of you that felt something for me? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let me hold you. I don’t think you’re the kind of person who sleeps around for no reason. We were drawn to each other—that’s why it happened. If that’s not true, then I’d feel empty too.”

Even if it was just a fleeting moment of weakness, words like “love” and “affection” could be twisted to justify anything.

Some people believe love is the ultimate virtue, convincing themselves that infidelity or betrayal is acceptable if it’s for “true love.”

In reality, dramas that glorify affairs as “pure love” often become popular hits.

Personally, I find such stories more unethical and psychologically harmful than graphic violence or s🬀🬀ual content in anime.

And this woman, oblivious to my thoughts, was just another one of those people.

“…Maybe I was starting to fall for you, Senpai. But…”

The fact that she was even trying to acknowledge her own guilt made her slightly better than most.

And that’s precisely why I had to cut her off before she finished that sentence—before she faced her sins.

I needed to lure her into seeing me as her escape.

“Then let’s bear it together. If falling for you was a sin, then I’m just as guilty.”

Shared guilt.

Most weak-willed women would cling to that.

Because they wanted someone to help lighten their burden, even just a little.

“But… it’s not like I could help it. You can’t control who you fall for, right?”

Just as I expected.

She was beginning to convince herself that everything had been inevitable, that it was beyond her control.

“That’s right. If loving you hurt others, then I’ll apologize to him with you. But don’t lie to yourself, Rindo. Don’t deny what you really feel.”

She probably didn’t even realize it herself—how she was trying to use her feelings for me as an excuse, a means to justify her actions.

“Senpai… would you still accept someone like me?”

Of course, I had no intention of accepting her.

Tonight was just the last time—a farewell gift before I discarded her like all the others.

“Of course. No matter what, I still love you. So please… be mine, for real this time.”

I bowed my head, feigning desperation.

“…You really mean that, Senpai?”

When I looked up, her eyes were brimming with tears.

Women are truly shameless creatures.

Even when they are the cause of tragedy, they still crave the role of the tragic heroine.

And yet, for the sake of their own happiness, they have no problem casting others aside—just like this woman.

Without revealing my true feelings, I pulled this tainted woman into my embrace.

“N-no… wait!”

And yet, she pushed me away.

“…”

“No, that’s not what I meant… But when you held me just now…”

She clammed up, eyes downcast.

The perfect farewell had been ruined, leaving an awkward atmosphere hanging between us.

Whether she noticed the tension or not, my phone suddenly buzzed with a new message.

“Oh, hell yes!”

I couldn’t help but react out loud, genuinely excited for the first time tonight.

“What is it, Senpai?”

She looked up, curiosity overtaking her earlier hesitation.

There was no point in hiding it now, and it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of.

“Do you know YOUKNOW? He just did a limited fan lottery for early access to his new song, and I won.”

“What?! No way!”

She looked completely shocked—so she was a fan too. Perfect. It was the best way to break the lingering tension.

“If you want… we can listen together?”

“…Yes, if it’s not a bother.”

“Of course not. Let’s enjoy it together.”

A short pause lingered between us before we both sat down on the bed.

Following the link from my notification, I accessed the special site.

I entered the provided ID and password.

A new page opened, displaying nothing but a play button.

The simplicity felt very much in line with YOUKNOW’s style.

The thought of hearing YOUKNOW’s new song before anyone else made my excitement soar.

I could sense that the woman beside me was equally thrilled.

Riding the wave of our heightened emotions, I tapped the play button on the darkened screen.