After Being Betrayed by My Girlfriend, I Kiss Her Little Sister - Chapter 8

Saying Goodbye (2)

Both Umi and I have ordered a drink, but I keep struggling with where to start.

Breaking up with Umi isn’t supposed to be this hard. All I have to do is say, ‘Let’s break up’, and that would be the end of our relationship. Yet, everything that we have been through together, our memories together, they all keep holding me back. Just like Hina, Umi has been by my side for more than ten years. It’s really hard to break up with someone I’ve known for so long.

Even though Umi is the one who betrayed me, I’m thinking about what I can do to avoid hurting Umi. We’re childhood friends…so I don’t want to hurt Umi when we break up. I don’t want it to be painful for her. I want it to be a clean break.

Deep down, I wish we can still be good friends, just like before.

I truly hope for that.

“So? What do you want to talk about, Kanata-kun?”

Umi takes a sip of her orange juice and says so.

In the end, there is no way to breakup without hurting someone.

At least…one of us is going to get hurt from this breakup.

“Umi, let’s break up.”

“Eh? All of a sudden? What’s wrong?”

“……”

“Can I ask the reason why…?”

If I bring up about Umi’s cheating here, it will definitely turn into an argument, so I’m looking for another reason for our breakup.

But still…I never expected Umi to ask me the reason for the breakup. I thought the moment I said we should break up, she would just accept it. After all…I’m nothing more than just a nuisance to Umi. It’s actually quite strange for Umi to ask me the reason for the breakup.

You went to a hotel with a guy who is way cooler than me, right?

A rich, good-looking, outgoing guy…that’s the kind of man you like, right? I know that.

That’s enough. There’s no point thinking about such things now.

“I don’t even know why we’re dating each other. We’ve been dating for a year, but we haven’t done anything together, right? Other than holding hands…we haven’t done anything like a couple. It’s not like I want to do it with you, Umi. I just thought…if this is the kind of relationship we have, then maybe being friends would be enough.”

“That’s surprising. Did you fall for someone else, Kanata-kun?”

“No, you always check my phone, so you should know, Umi. I don’t contact any girls besides you and Kisaragi. I don’t even have any other girls’ contact info. There is no way I’ve fallen for someone else.”

“I don’t get it, Kanata-kun. Just two days ago, you said you wanted to spend Christmas Eve with me, and now you suddenly want to break up?”

“Is that so? But I think being friends would be enough. We…”

“You won’t regret it? Breaking up with me?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll ask you one more time. Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“I understand. Let’s break up then. Goodbye, Kanata-kun. Thanks for everything.”

“…yeah.”

After saying so, Umi leaves the café.

With nothing left, I just sit there, looking back on my life. I’m the one who asked Umi to break up with me, but yet here I am, shedding tears…how pathetic. But I think it’s better for both Umi and I to break up sooner than later.

I still remember what Umi said about me at the family restaurant.

There is no way an ordinary high school student like me can surpass someone born into a wealthy family. No matter how hard I try, there will always be a limit. If she wants to cheat on me with someone better than me, then maybe it’s best to let her.

It’s ridiculous, but I know I can’t compete with that guy.

Well, right now, I’m truly alone.

“……”

I just broke up with Umi, I can’t just contact Kisaragi and tell her about it, she is also Umi’s friend. On top of that, I don’t want to bother her either. In the end, I’m left alone…with no one I can talk to about how I feel right now.

I know that very well…but it still hurts like hell.

Come to think of it, it was always just Umi. My whole life…

No, get it together! Miyauchi Kanata.

Why am I so depressed? I just broke up with my girlfriend, that’s all!

“……”

I should start heading home now…

I feel like walking again. If I take the train…I feel like I’ll start crying right away.

……

“Hina…”

When I get home, I find a bento that Hina has made on the table.

And on top, there is a note from her that says, ‘Make sure to eat properly!’

She could’ve just gone home…why did she go out of her way to make me a bento?

That idiot…

“……”

Winter break isn’t that long, so I’ll meet Umi again soon.

I need to get myself together for when that time comes.

Even though we’ve broken up, Umi is still my friend. So I should just act like a friend in front of Umi.

As I tell myself so, I start eating the bento Hina has made for me.

It’s been snowing heavily outside all day…I crawl into bed, admiring the view.

Come to think of it, I don’t have any plans for winter break…last year, I think I went on dates with Umi and did all sorts of things with her. But this year, it seems that I’ll be alone the whole time. Actually, is it just my imagination, or does my house feel even colder than it is outside?

I don’t have any friends to reach out to, and even though Hina told me to contact her whenever I feel lonely, I can’t bring myself to do it that easily.

After all, Hina hated me in the past—or rather…I guess you can say she rejected me.

I can’t just casually rely on her like I did back then. Yesterday was an exception. I never thought she would come see me without even messaging me first…also, my mom could’ve at least given me a heads-up about it.

“Alright, let’s just sleep. There’s nothing else to do anyway…”

‘Heyy, are you still alive, Miyauchi-kun?’

Just as I’m about to fall asleep, I receive a message from Kisaragi on Line.

‘How did it go, Kanata? I made you a bento before I left, so make sure to eat it, okay?’

Ah, I also received a message from Hina.

Usually, I would’ve responded to them right away, but instead, I turn off my phone. I feel bad for the two of them, but right now…I just don’t want to talk to anyone.

I just want to stay in bed until the winter break is over.

“……”

Even though it’s really warm under the blanket, my body feels really cold…

Perhaps, it’s the same for my heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Ah, yeah. My boyfriend broke up with me today…”

“……”

“So, stay with me today.”

“……”

“Yeah.”

After breaking up with Kanata, Umi stands in front of the station, talking to someone on the phone.

She has a smile on her face.