Chapter 3: The Reality Behind the Envy (2)
The Reality Behind the Envy (2)
“Hey, Natsuki.”
Natsuki had somehow endured the awkward walk home, but unfortunately, that did not mean he was free.
As always, he had been taken into Sae’s room.
Sae’s parents would not be home at this hour. In other words, in this closed space it was just the two of them.
Sitting on the bed with her legs crossed and her arms folded, glaring at him, Sae looked like the queen of this castle.
And Natsuki, like a servant, could only lower his head in silence before his angry master.
“Do you understand that I’m angry?”
“I-I’m sorry, Sae.”
“I’m not asking for an apology. I asked if you understand that I’m angry.”
Her expression, her tone, everything about her was completely different from how she was at school.
This was Sae’s true nature, the one only Natsuki knew.
Her bad mood only made it more intense, but when they were alone, Sae was basically a tyrant.
“I understand. I’m sorry. I understand.”
“Then say why I’m angry.”
“Because I said something arrogant.”
The reason Sae had become upset was clearly the conversation they had right before leaving school.
That talk about independence had been a joke from Sae’s friend, but Natsuki had agreed with it.
Sae must have hated that.
She always restricted Natsuki.
It looked as though she was taking care of him, but in reality it was the opposite.
She was selfish and made things difficult for him, forcing him to obey and using him as she pleased.
Even when she was in a good mood, the version of her seen at school disappeared once they were alone. And when she was in a bad mood, she could even become violent.
Their relationship was truly that of a tyrant and a servant.
Natsuki believed that Sae probably saw him as something convenient and disposable.
That was why she restricted him and kept him close.
If she sensed even the slightest sign that he wanted to distance himself, Sae would immediately fall into her worst mood, yell, threaten, and force him to obey.
With just one careless remark or one wrong action, Sae could suddenly grab him by the collar.
Living like that, Natsuki had developed a habit.
He had always been a gentle child. His mild expression and small build showed that. His appearance alone made it clear he was not suited for conflict. When Sae came at him with overwhelming force, the gentle Natsuki would end up apologizing even when she was completely in the wrong.
Every day, he moved carefully while watching Sae’s mood.
Every day, he lived under severe stress.
Of course he sometimes wanted to run away. Even so, Natsuki never felt hatred toward Sae.
No matter how much she had changed, she was still his precious childhood friend. He did not want the happy days they once shared to become a lie.
Their relationship had not been like this from the start. When they first met, it was nothing like this.
But little by little, before he realized it, things had turned into what they were now.
Natsuki had considered confiding in someone. But Sae, who acted like she had two sides, played the role of a perfectly caring childhood friend in front of others and never showed this side to anyone but him.
That was why everyone envied Natsuki. They said he was lucky to be doted on by such a beautiful childhood friend.
Sae’s image control was that perfect. Natsuki had once tried to mention it lightly to his friends, but they took it as a joke and brushed it aside.
He could not talk to his family either. He was afraid of what would happen to Sae if her true nature was exposed, so he could not bring himself to speak honestly about his struggles.
But perhaps, to Sae, Natsuki’s internal conflict meant nothing.
“If you understand, then isn’t your attitude strange?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“No. How are you supposed to apologize?”
Her stare sharpened. Just being glared at made Natsuki instinctively apologize again. It was a habit ingrained over many years, but this time, simply apologizing did not satisfy Sae.
“You kneel. Why are you just standing there?”
Sae glared as if to ask how he could fail to understand something so basic.
Natsuki usually obeyed her immediately.
Because he knew from experience that it was safer that way.
He knew that if he resisted and worsened her mood, things would become even harder for him.
So he had always answered her demands without resisting.
But being forced to kneel over something so small was too much, and this time Natsuki could not agree right away.
He had spent many years with Sae since they were little.
At first, Sae never said things like this. But at some point, she began trying to assert control and force him to obey.
At first, the demands were small, like harmless whims. But over time, they became unreasonable.
As if testing him, the demands grew. Eventually, she treated him like a servant, something far beyond what could be considered fair.
Natsuki had not been obedient from the beginning.
When she tried to treat him like a servant, he had clearly refused. But Sae would not accept that.
She threw tantrums, lashed out at objects, and wounded him with harsh words.
Natsuki, who had always been timid and also felt guilty toward her, could not strongly refuse.
And before he knew it, their relationship had become what it was now.
Trying not to anger her, trying not to upset her mood, Natsuki had become used to responding with instant agreement to everything she said.
But after living like this for so long, he was nearing his limit.
The only reason he had endured was because he wanted the old Sae to return.
But no matter how long he hoped for that, nothing improved. Sae’s behavior continued to worsen, and Natsuki’s heart was being worn down.
That was why now, words he had always held back were beginning to slip out. The truth that he wanted to escape this life was starting to show.
That was how deeply Natsuki’s heart had been hurt.