After Being Betrayed by My Girlfriend, I Kiss Her Little Sister

Changing Atmosphere (4)

How should I even explain this to Hina…?

More importantly…is it okay to talk about Umi in front of Hina? However, it’s my fault for making Hina feel uneasy about Umi, so I have no choice but to explain about it. Otherwise, neither of us won’t be able to sleep tonight. I have all the evidence, but honestly…I didn’t want Hina to get involved in this mess, that’s why I kept quiet about it.

I guess I have no choice but to tell her…

I sit up and look at Hina.

“You know…after I bought a reference book at the bookstore today, I went to the shopping mall to buy cake for you, but…I saw Umi on a date with some guy I don’t know.”

“A guy you don’t know…?”

“Yeah, he is not someone our age…umm, it’s more like…”

“Was she doing papa katsu?”

“……”

“I see…so that’s why you were looking at Umi’s social media.”

“Before Hina transferred into my school…honestly, I had given up. No matter what they said about me, I just accepted it. I just didn’t care anymore. But when you came and told me you will always be on my side, I just want to protect you no matter what. That’s why…”

“Yeah, I understand. Kanata…you’ve always done your best for me, haven’t you?”

Hina gently touch my cheek while saying so, it feels incredibly comforting.

How should I put it, as long as Hina is by my side, I feel like I can do anything.

Every time I see Hina’s smile, I’m reminded of all the good memories I have with her.

“I want to know what she’s posting on her social media, that’s why I keep checking.”

“Yeah…”

“When we were dating, she never uploaded photos like this. But after we broke up…she started posting these kinds of photos almost every day. If it’s just photos with friends or something like that, I wouldn’t really care. But she keeps uploading things like luxury brand accessories and bags.”

“……”

“I just feel like…there has to be something behind it.”

“And then you happened to see Umi with a guy you don’t recognize at the shopping mall, right?”

“Yeah.”

Hina looks at me in silence.

After a short silence, she finally speaks again.

“Umi has always been the kind of person who would do anything to satisfy her need for approval.”

“Eh?”

“Hey, Kanata. What do you think is necessary to live?”

“Umm…money? Food?”

“That’s right. To keep living, you need to eat properly and earn money. That’s how everyone in the world survives. But besides those two essential things, there is one more thing—love.”

“Love…?”

“What do you feel when you’re alone with me, Kanata?”

“Eh? W-Wait, suddenly? Well…I guess, like, happiness? Something like that?”

“Don’t you ever feel your heart racing when you’re with me, Kanata?”

Wait, wait, wait…why is Hina suddenly asking me something like this?

More importantly, when did Hina’s hand end up on my chest…!? Calm down.

Yeah, I mean…of course, being with Hina makes my heart race. But there’s no way I can just admit that in front of her!

“Do you feel your heart racing, Kanata?”

“Y-Yeah…I do.”

Why am I suddenly talking so formally?

I’m getting really nervous in front of Hina…this is really embarrassing.

“Of course, I feel the same way. Being close to Kanata feels so nice, and I never want to let you go. That’s love. I think anyone who has ever filled their heart with love will surely understand, just having that one special person by your side is enough to make you incredibly happy. But unfortunately, Umi has never felt love, nor has she ever received it.”

“That means…”

“She doesn’t know her own worth. She just defines her value based on how others see her and what they say about her. She puts all her effort into meaningless things. The luxury brand accessories and bags you saw? Sure, that kind of things might make girls our age jealous, but what real value do they have? Brands don’t determine a person’s worth. Appearance alone don’t change anything. She’s truly pitiful.”

“Yeah…that’s true.”

“People who have never received love don’t know how to give it. Since she’s always been showered with attention by those around her, she probably thinks she’s someone really important.”

“Yeah…honestly, I don’t think this will change Umi’s reputation much. It’s the same with that time at the family restaurant. As long as Umi says they were just talking, everyone will believe it. Unlike with me, everyone sees Umi as a cute and kind girl.”

Even though the atmosphere has changed, Umi’s reputation remains the same.

After all, Umi is like everyone’s idol, cute and adored by all.

“One day…Umi will have to lose everything she has. And it won’t be material things, but the one thing she wants most—”

“Hey, about the person who threw your uniform in the trash…do you think it was Saito?”

“I don’t know. I think Umi is behind it, but…she probably wasn’t the one who actually put it in the trash. She probably had someone else do it, just like last time.”

Last time…?

“I see. So that means the culprit is someone in our class.”

“Yeah…”

Then, without a word, Hina gently hugs me.

I just stay still like that.

“But now isn’t the time to reveal it, Kanata…”

“I-Is that so?”

“There has to be…a better moment.”

“Yeah.”

“Kanata…I’m sleepy…”

“Yeah. You should get some sleep, Hina…”

“Hugging you really calms me down. Kanata, you smell nice…it feels…really good.”