I Broke Up With My Girlfriend Who Was Cheating On Me, But She Was So Deeply Sorry That I Couldn't Help But Forgive Her.

Reminiscing Thursday.

After returning from the Diete and talking to Marin, I laid down on my bed, but I couldn’t fall asleep.

It must be already past the date.

I thought back to what Sorahashi had told me.

I repeated the same words over and over again

“Weakness… huh?”

Is it okay to show weakness to one’s lover?

Looking back, I wonder if I wasn’t always concerned about Ayaka.

I thought about what an ideal boyfriend would be and tried to be that way.

Because I loved her so much.

But…

I thought I was trying not to make her feel insecure.

But as a result, I made her feel insecure.

Maybe Ayaka saw through my stubbornness.

That’s why I wanted her to tell me anything, to rely on me, and to be spoiled.

But I couldn’t say it out loud.

Relationships that take care of you and make you care.

Was there trust in our relationship?

Isn’t it a true relationship between lovers to be able to let each other down?

It’s the same with family.

From that day in eighth grade, I tried to be there for my family.

I had to quit basketball, but I didn’t need to put family and basketball in the balance, it was all about family.

I learned how to stand up for my family.

One day after a year had passed, Marin said

“From now on, Mom and I will cook breakfast, so my brother, you can sleep in the morning.”

How can I put it into words how happy I was?

I had been taking care of my mother and Marin, perhaps unconsciously. I made breakfast, I didn’t force myself to do so, it was natural for the sake of the family, or so I thought.

But when Marin told me that, I finally relaxed my mind and let go of the tension that I had been trying so hard to muster.

“Hmm, thanks.”

Yes, I answered. There was trust there.

Then, from now on, the relationship of trust with Ayaka…?

How is it too late for that for me?

Is it really late…

First of all, Ayaka cheated on me.

This fact will never change.

I kept seeing my mother hurt in front of me because of my father’s cheating, and I thought what an unreasonable, inhumane and disgusting act that is similar to a weapon that leaves deep scars on the other person without any questions asked.

I hate cheating, I hate it, I hate it.

…I wonder if Ayaka will come to apologize again today.

As if she’s trying to redeem herself.

Am I going to pretend that I don’t see it again?

Will I let Ayaka continue to do that kind of never-ending to and fro to my house?

Hey, Ayaka…

I…

…

Waking up to the sound of your alarm.

My head felt heavy, maybe I’m a little sleep deprived.

I walked into the living room and found breakfast on the table.

Breakfast was prepared as a matter of course nowadays.

“Thank you for the food.”

…Ahh, come to think of it, Marin had morning practice all through the summer vacation before the volleyball team’s tournament, right?

Yeah, I’ll go cheer for the tournament during summer vacation.

When I went out the front door, Ayaka was there as a matter of course and mumbled sorry.

I went in front of Ayaka.

“Good morning… Well, from tomorrow morning, let’s talk a little at out usual place.”

I said that and walked past her.

I never forgave her.

It’s just… I just couldn’t pretend that I didn’t see Ayaka anymore.

“Sup- Hey, Umi.”

I was in class before I knew it, and Yomogi called out to me

“Hmm? Good morning. What’s up?”

“Are you free after school today?”

“I was just thinking about going home and studying.”

“How about a study group? I want you to teach me math.”

A study group……yeah, that might be a nice change of pace.

Oh, yeah,. Maybe I can help her out.

“Is it okay if I call someone else?”

“?…Sure?”

“Oii, Manji.”

“Yoyo. What’s up? Umi-chi.”

“I’m having a study session with Yomogi today.”

“Okay! If Yomogi’s joining us, I’ll have to call Nana-chan-.”

And then he started to call someone.

Nana-chan?

Ah! is it like, ‘If you want to shoot the general, shoot the horse first.’

After school, our study group began at a family restaurant…….

Yomogi sat next to me and Nana-chan sat… next to Manji?

Manji was holding Nana-chan (?) by her arm, and he was looking sloppy the whole time.

Ahh? Is it like, hunter got hunted?

If your horse is shot, you end up just like your horse.

No, if Manji is happy with that, I won’t say anything.

No, one word, seriously, Manji!

“Huh… Yomogi, which part do you not understand?”

“Hey, Umi.”

She started talking over my words.

“Would it make you happy if someone do the same to you?”

“Hmm? Well, it depends on the person.”

“Hmm…”

The two people across from us were grinning at us.

Don’t… these guys…

“Hey, Yomogi, you’re pretty smart, aren’t you? You’re studying hard, is there a college you want to go to?”

Nana-chan (?) asked Yomogi.

“I don’t have anything in particular. I’d like to get into a good college, I just thought… anything that would make my aunt happy…”

The second part was so quiet that I was probably the only one who could hear it.

Her aunt…

I didn’t ask her about her family situation, but I think I feel some kind of sympathy for Yomogi.

The study went smoothly after that, and when Yomogi and Nana went off together, I had to tell this guy.

“Oii, Manji, don’t even think about it, okay? I’ve just had my heart broken and Yomogi has declared that she has no intention of having a boyfriend, as I recall. This doesn’t matter at all.”

I made it very clear.

“Well well, chill. When you have a broken heart, you should always keep moving forward. Umi, you are probably thinking too many complicated things. Your eyebrows are wrinkled.”

He just evaded me.

Well…

Forward… hmm…