Having Had My Bride Stolen, I Just Want to Live Peacefully - Chapter 24

A shabby, four-and-a-half-mat apartment that is about to collapse.

“I’m home.”

“Welcome back, Minato-kun.”

At present, Himeno and Minato live there.

◇◆◇

After visiting Fujisaki’s house, Minato and his parents, who were on a business trip abroad, returned home together.

“What have you done, Minato!”

“Yes! What are you going to do with the people’s weddings?!”

“Father, mother, I’m sorry. But I found true love! I’m going to live with this love!”

Minato was trying to push through the question from his father and mother with only the word true love.

It was Haribote’s empty words.

“You are a child… You’ve always been so strong that you don’t listen to others once you’ve decided, but how could you bother others? Where did I raise you wrong…”

His mother wept uncontrollably.

His father continues while rubbing his mother’s back.

“Minato, We’re going to apologize to the victims. We may be able to reach an out-of-court settlement.”

“Why, is it not a crime to apologize?”

“No, I don’t know. You have to get permission from the other party, and you have to pay the right amount of money. That way, we may not be prosecuted.”

His father was thinking about what to do from now on.

Since property damage and injury are criminal cases, it will be difficult for his son to live in the future if he is indicted and has a criminal record.

They must at least avoid that.

“I don’t have any money because I don’t work.”

“Father will pay for it. But this is the last thing you can do.”

“What do you mean by the last!”

Minato yells.

“I thought you could do it, so I let you go all the time, but I seem to have spoiled you too much. So I will ask you to leave this house when everything is done.”

“What…”

“I have made up my mind. Think of it as the least mercy to pay.”

His father’s will was firm.

And he always thought that he could keep NEET at home all the time, and he did nothing.

In other words, the timing of leaving the house has come this time.

“And you―”

“My name is Himeno.”

Himeno interrupts his father’s words.

“Wait at home till everything is over. And when it’s done, leave the house with Minato.”

His father says without turning his head to Himeno, that will cause his death.

“Such! Where should we live if we leave this house?!”

“Make your own decision! You’re both adults!”

Himeno falters at Minato’s father’s angry voice.

Minato has just tilted his head.

◇◆◇

After that, an out-of-court settlement was concluded, and Minato was not charged with any crime.

However, the lives of the two who were kicked out of the house were terrible.

While looking for a joint guarantor or a house that doesn’t require proof of income, they spent several days living in an internet cafe.

Until then, Minato worked part-time as a day worker and didn’t eat anything.

At last, they found the house and were able to live together.

“Oh, Himeno. Are you back already? What’s your part?”

“I was forced to quit my part-time job.”

“Haa… again. This is the fifth time.”

“Why, listen to me, Minato-kun. The aunt at my part-time job is making a lot of noise. Besides, I don’t want to have a part-time job.”

Himeno, who had no experience working hard and had a sense of being out of touch with the world, could not work in a normal place.

“You don’t want to, but you have to work to make ends meet, you know!”

“Don’t be so angry, I’m trying!”

“Then don’t quit your job! I don’t want to do it either!”

Even after being kicked out of the house and found a home, their quarrels continued every day.

They were not two people who could think positively about this extremely poor life.

“If you’re working hard, make more money! Every day I eat instant food, my skin gets rough and I’m getting fat!”

“Why, that’s the way of saying it! You often say it when you can’t make money. Most of the time, you’re not good at cooking, so it’s all instant food. Do you understand?”

“My cooking was bad?! That’s what you have always thought!”

“Aaah, no! I don’t know. I don’t want to be fed anymore!”

“Then Minato-kun should cook!”

“Aah? I’m working. Why should I cook?”

The quarrel between the two was always parallel.

“Most of the time, you. You spend too much money on cosmetics! Think about the finances of this house.”

“I don’t just want to be cute because I’m a girl. Why don’t you let me do that? It’s not worth it.”

“What’s wrong with you! Who do you think makes you live in this house and eat? Ah, gosh!”

“What’s wrong with saying it’s worthless? And clothes are always a T-shirt with strange letters on it, so it’s not good enough?”

Himeno put herself on the shelf and pressed Minato.

If they were considerate of each other, they might have been able to support each other and lead a modest life, but the collapse was just around the corner.

Then the quarrel continued, and the next room knocked on the wall.

It had become the usual sight.

In a small space of four and a half tatami mats, each of them was silent without seeing each other.

Other than fighting, there was hardly any conversation anymore.

When they first moved, they thought this was an ordeal to overcome.

They couldn’t get over two people who had no sense of responsibility, no ability to live, and couldn’t think of others.

Minato reminds her of Mizuki, another woman who is not here.

(He was the one who always helped me when I was having a hard time, and who helped me cook and take care of me. I think now. Perhaps this is the truth―)

Himeno had a gloomy feeling.

(I’ve been getting in trouble lately. It was a lie that even if the whole world denied this love before I moved, I was the only one who said I would protect you… Now Minato-kun denies me. I don’t want to live like this anymore. The food, cosmetics, clothes, everything is low-level and boring. And Minato-kun’s heart is not here. I wonder if he is thinking about Mizuki-chan. I looked into his phone and it seems like they’re in touch. Then I’d―)

When Himeno was about to realize that Minato was there, she acted outrageously.

◇◆◇

One morning.

There was a knock on the door of the apartment, and Minato went to the front door.

“Good morning, this is the police.”

Minato was startled by the sudden incident.

“Excuse me, what do you think the police are here?”

“There was a report that there was kidnapping.”

“Kidnapping or reporting?”

Minato frowns at words he doesn’t know.

Then Himeno shows out from the back.

“Police! Help me! I was kidnapped!”

“What are you talking about, Himeno!?”

“I was forcibly taken away by this person at the wedding! I followed him. I was scared because I was in front of everyone, but I didn’t like it!”

“Ha?!”

Minato is embarrassed by Himeno’s unexpected remark.

“It’s been investigated that you took Fujisaki-san out of the ceremony hall. You were arrested red-handed.”

Minato is secured before he can resist.

“What, what, what! Say something, Himeno!”

“I’m scared! Please help me!”

Himeno gave a white performance with a shrill scream.

“We will hear the story at the police station. Be quiet.”

“Hey! Himeno, don’t be silly! Hey! Heeeeeeeey!”

Minato’s voice reverberates in a worn-out apartment.

Some of the residents showed up and watched the situation.

Thus Minato was taken to the attention of the audience.

Himeno realized that Minato’s feelings were far from her, and this was the result of thinking about how she would live.

If she doesn’t agree to the bride’s plunder, it applies to kidnapping.

The dreaded intention of saving money by bringing it to an out-of-court settlement.

It was the worst betrayal.

However, there was a higher possibility that the charges would not be prosecuted due to insufficient charges.

Even if Minato is charged with a crime and Himeno temporarily receives money, it is obvious that he will not be able to stand.

Whatever the outcome, it was only true that this action brought the end of a pretense of love.

Minato didn’t know that Mizuki dated Yamaguchi, a member of the same close group and Minato’s best friend.

And no one knew what had happened after Himeno, who had lost even their pretense of love and had lost everything.