I Don’t Like Endings Where the Person who Cheats Gets Forgiven, so I Will not Forgive Her - Chapter 20

Emptiness

“Sorry, Setsuna. I’m a little late.”

“It’s okay. I just got here too, so I haven’t been waiting long. Anyway, let’s go home together now.”

“Yeah.”

I’m a little bit late because Yukina called out to me in the class earlier.

I feel a bit annoyed…but when I take a deep breath and walk beside Setsuna, it calms me down.

“Ah, by the way, can I go to your place today?”

“Eh? Ah, sure. It’s fine.”

“Really!? Thank you. Since Yukito started dating Onee-chan, I haven’t been to your place, I’ve been wanting to go for a long time.”

“Well, yeah.”

While dating Yukina, I tried to avoid getting involved with other girls as much as possible.

I even distanced myself with Setsuna during that time.

“I’ve gotten a lot better at cooking, you know. It’s must be though for you to cook everyday Yukito, so let me cook for you today.”

“Eh, are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, I want to do it.”

“Then…how about we cook together?”

“Hmm?! Yeah, let’s cook together.”

Setsuna smiles happily as she says so.

For some reason, seeing her so genuinely happy makes me feel embarrassed.

I can’t bring myself to look at her face.

Setsuna is so cute…

Wait, just how easy I am to fall in love?

Especially after what happened with Yukina so recently.

I try to not be conscious of Setsuna as much as possible and walk home side by side with her.

We take the train and then do some grocery shopping for dinner before heading home together.

“I feel kind of nervous. Maybe because it’s been a while since the last time I went to your place?”

“Could be, but it hasn’t changed much, right?”

“Yeah, nothing has changed. Ah, it makes me feel relieved when I think of that.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

“So, should we get cooking right away?”

Setsuna and I stand in the kitchen together.

It’s usually just me, so having Setsuna here feels refreshing and comforting at the same time.

As soon as we start cooking, I notice that Setsuna is quite skilled with a knife, as if she had practiced a lot.

Her knife skills are like someone who cooks regularly.

With her help, we are able to prepare dinner much more quickly than I had been cooking alone.

“Setsuna, you’re really good at this.”

“Ehehe, you think so? I’m glad all that practice paid off.”

“Hmm!?”

I avert my gaze from her smile and make up some excuse to leave the kitchen.

If I stayed there, I might have ended up staring at Setsuna or thinking about her the whole time.

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Yukina’s POV

“Something seems off since last week, are you okay?”

“Eh, ah, yeah. I’m fine, senpai.”

“Well, that’s good to hear, but if something’s troubling you, please let me know.”

I’m now on my way home after my part-time job.

Despite senpai’s concern, there is no way I can tell him, ‘I’m like this because of you’, nor do I feel entitled to say so.

Suddenly, senpai hugs me tightly.

I don’t resist at all. I can feel his warmth…

However, I still feel empty, it’s like there’s a hole in my heart.

…ah, I see. It seems I’ve been seeking validation for my self-worth by pampering this person.

So even if I were to rely or confide in him, my heart would still feel empty.

…maybe I should get to know this person better?

Is being hugged by him not enough?

Would the wounds in my heart heal if our skin touched more intimately?

Will he be able to fill this hole in my heart?

As I find myself entertaining such thoughts, I shake my head, trying to regain control of my wavering heart.

I mustn’t do that…I absolutely mustn’t.

Because, if I do that…I really won’t be able to go back.

After all…I still love Yukito after all this time.