Chapter 14: The Act Before My Eyes

The Act Before My Eyes

Once the new semester began, I got a message from Hitomi-chan: [Yayoi already left for school.]

Apparently, she’d gone ahead without telling us.

When I met up with Hitomi-chan and the two of us headed to school together, we found Yayoi chatting happily with Michiru and the others.

Seeing that, I did my best to stay calm as I approached Yayoi and spoke to her.

She said, “Sorry. I was just busy. Hey, Kouta-kun, could you come behind the gym after school? Just you—please come alone.”

It had been so long since I’d heard Yayoi’s voice.

That thought crossed my mind for a fleeting second—and then it hit me. Was this it? Was she finally going to break up with me?

Before heading to the back of the gym after school, I told Hitomi-chan, “I’m going to talk with her.”

Hitomi-chan said, “I’m worried, so I’m coming with you. I’ll stay hidden, so don’t worry,” and I agreed to let her come.

When we got there, Yayoi was already waiting.

I looked around, but there was no sign of Michiru.

She really had come alone.

Playing dumb, I asked, “Yayoi, what’s going on? What happened over summer break?”

“I told you I had plans, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, and now I want to know—what kind of plans?”

“I was doing the same thing you were, Kouta-kun. You seemed pretty busy too, right?”

“Same thing? You were working part-time too?”

The same thing as me?

What is she talking about?

I knew she hadn’t taken up a job, so I asked, not understanding what she meant.

“No. I wasn’t working. —Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Kouta-kun, let’s break up.”

So it really came to this.

I knew it.

She’s been going on dates, sleeping with Michiru—more than once, even.

She must like him more than me now.

Still… I at least wanted to know why.

“Huh? Break up? Why?”

“Because… there’s someone I like more than you now. Someone I care about more than the person who betrayed me. Someone who healed me when I was hurting.”

I betrayed her?

And… someone healed the pain I caused her?

I couldn’t make sense of her words—and as I stood there, speechless, I noticed someone approaching from behind the gym.

It was Michiru.

“Hey! Michiru? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Come on, Kouta. You heard the conversation. You can guess, can’t you?”

“What the hell are you—?”

I was already pissed off at Michiru’s smug grin and moved in to confront him.

And then, right in front of me, Michiru grabbed Yayoi’s chin and kissed her.

Not only did Yayoi accept it, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back—eagerly.

And it wasn’t just any kiss.

Their tongues were tangled, deep and passionate.

I couldn’t take it. “S-Stop it—” I begged, tears slipping down my face before I even realized.

But my plea didn’t seem to reach them. Their kiss only deepened. Michiru’s hands moved to Yayoi’s chest, fondling her without hesitation.

Yayoi let out soft, breathy moans—“Ah… mnh… mm…”—pressing her hips against Michiru’s.

I couldn’t take it anymore. My stomach turned, and I vomited right there on the spot.

Even seeing me like that, Yayoi didn’t stop kissing him.

On the contrary—their actions only grew more intense.

And then, as if satisfied with showing me everything, Yayoi finally turned to me and said, “Ugh, how disgusting. Anyway—don’t ever talk to me again, Hamasaki-kun,” in a cold voice I’d never heard from her before.

As I crumpled to the ground, I heard Yayoi’s sweet, indulgent voice behind me, “Let’s go have sex now.”

Hitomi-chan came to where I’d collapsed. She wiped my mouth clean with her handkerchief—just like she always did.

I’ve shown this girl such pathetic sides of myself, over and over.

After that, I walked home with Hitomi-chan. We sat on the bench at the park again and talked.

Honestly, I was a wreck inside.

I had no energy to do anything. I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything at all.

Even so, Hitomi-chan stayed by my side the whole time.

“Hitomi-chan, it’s okay… you can go home. You don’t have to stay with me.”

I laughed bitterly as I told her to leave me alone.

“No. I can’t. There’s no way I can leave you when you’re hurting this much, Koutarou-kun.”

When I turned to face her, I saw tears streaming down her cheeks, her gaze full of unwavering resolve.

I couldn’t meet her eyes. I looked away.

“No. Look at me.”

She cupped my face with both hands and firmly turned it toward her.

Her face was so close—so close it made my heart race, even after everything I’d just seen.

“Koutarou-kun, you didn’t do anything wrong. So please, don’t let this break you. I’ll talk to Yayoi tomorrow. I’ll find out the real reason. I promise.”

“Why are you doing all this for me, Hitomi-chan? Not just now, but even during summer break…”

“That’s because…”

The words came so easily before, but now Hitomi-chan’s voice faltered.

“It’s because… I love you, Koutarou-kun…”

“Huh?”

“I love you, Koutarou-kun. I’ve loved you since our first year of middle school. But when you started going out with Yayoi… it was painful, so painful. But she was my best friend, so I gave up.”

Hitomi-chan… loved me?

Since the first year of middle school?

“I tried to give up, I really did. But I just couldn’t. I started talking to Satoshi-kun about it—asking for advice, trying to sort things out.”

“I… I didn’t know…”

“Yeah. And, well… I know I’m a bad person. But I thought… maybe if I could be the one to comfort you after you broke up with Yayoi, maybe then you’d finally see me as a girl. —Ahaha… awful, right?”

I see.

So that’s how Hitomi-chan felt about me, all this time.

But even so…

“I’m really grateful. I am. But… I don’t think I can start a relationship with you right now.”

“I understand. I know something like this isn’t easy to move on from. But… can I still stay by your side? I want to be the one to support you.”

“Support” sounded kind of pathetic coming from her, but still, I was touched by her feelings.

So I said, “Yeah, of course. But instead of ’supporting’ me, I’d be happier if we could just be like we’ve always been—just be close, like before.”

Hitomi-chan smiled. “I’m glad. But you’d better be ready, okay? —Here I come!” she said, throwing herself into my chest. “Sorry… just for now, let me stay like this,” she whispered, crying softly against me.