I Got Cheated On, so I Thought I’d Cheat Back and Went to a Group Date, I Ran Into a Classmate Who Used to Boss Me Around and Now We’re Living Together - Chapter 35

Monday morning, right at the start of the week. Summer break was just around the corner, but instead of going to school like I was supposed to, I skipped class and wandered through the morning streets with Nene-san.

This wasn’t my neighborhood. It was the neighborhood where Iijima lived. Yes, today was the day we came to tell his wife the truth.

“Hey, Sousuke… what if his wife isn’t home because of work?”

“Then we wait. I heard they have a kid in kindergarten. She might come home earlier than Iijima to pick them up.”

If possible, I was hoping she was a housewife or maybe working from home. With that thought in mind, we finally reached Iijima’s house. There was always the risk he might be the one to answer the intercom, but I had already checked with Rogiku-san that he was at work.

“Alright, I’ll ring it.”

I pressed the button at the door as my heart was pounding as I waited. It was possible no one would answer, but then―

“―Yes, who is it?”

A woman’s voice came through, and I froze for a second. At least we had a chance to talk.

“Um, excuse me. Are you Iijima Ikuo-san’s wife?”

“Yes, that’s me… and you are?”

Her tone was careful, as if she were watching us through the camera. I tried to sound as honest as possible.

“This may sound suspicious, but we’re people who have been troubled by your husband’s actions.”

“Eh… what do you mean by that…?”

“To be direct, your husband has been unfaithful.”

I pressed on.

“We’re the victims in this matter, and it’s been a real problem. We’d like to explain the situation and ask for your help. Would you be willing to give us a little of your time?”

That should’ve been enough to get the main point across.

Now…what kind of response would she give?

Please, just not a flat-out rejection at the door…

“…By unfaithful, you mean that he’s cheating?”

“Ah, yes… Cheating, and a bit of stalking too.”

“I see… Could you please wait a moment? I’m working remotely right now… so I just need to let them know I’ll be stepping away.”

The line went silent.

Oh, this might actually work…

“…So… not a rejection?”

“Yeah… I think she’s willing to at least hear us out.”

About two minutes later—

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting…”

The front door opened, and a beautiful woman with black hair tied back looked out at us.

“…My name is Emiko, his wife.”

She introduced herself politely, then added,

“Please… come inside. I’d like to hear the details myself.”

It seemed she really was interested in what we had to say.

Of course, this wasn’t something she could just ignore as his wife.

“Thank you very much.”

I bowed my head. After thanking her, we were led into the living room. I noticed a few toys scattered around. Things for a child’s learning.

“Is it really true… that my husband is cheating? And even… stalking someone?”

She asked as she handed us glasses of barley tea, urging us to sit on the sofa.

We didn’t hide anything. We told her everything.

About Rinne, the cheating.

And about the ongoing harassment of Nene-san.

After hearing it all,

“I knew it… people don’t change that easily.”

Emiko let out a weary sigh.

“…You knew?”

“Yes… It’s an old story, but back in our student days… while we were dating… he would still chase after other women and cheat on me again and again.”

…What a guy. Then again, thinking about how high the rate of repeat offenses is for certain crimes, maybe a wandering heart like his can never really be fixed.

“Even so… when I found out back then, he promised me he’d stop… he swore it. And yet, here he is again…”

She covered her face with both hands and began to sob softly.

I felt awkward, guilty even while sitting there as she cried.

Still, between tears, she whispered “…I’m sorry,” and dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

“…Is it really true?”

She wanted confirmation again. About cheating and harassment.

So, we brought out the proof.

First, I showed her my evidence. A video I had taken in a rush from the balcony, capturing Iijima running away toward the station after sleeping with Rinne in my room. 

Rinne’s desperate excuses could also be heard in the background. More than enough to serve as proof.

Nene-san then placed down the business card she had kept. The one Iijima had given her during his unwanted approaches.

After seeing both, Emiko sighed deeply.

“…There’s really no saving him… is there…”

Her voice was heavy with disappointment.

“Thank you for showing me this proof… In that case, please allow me to help you.”

“Really?”

“Yes… My suggestion is about his cheating and stalking… it would be best if I pretend that I found out on my own. What do you think?”

She seemed firmly on our side now.

She even offered us such an idea.

“You shouldn’t tell him you came here today… I’ll act as if I discovered it myself and confront him. Would that work?”

“That would help a lot, but… are you sure? There’s no benefit to you.”

“It’s fine… This is the least I can do… to make up for the trouble my husband has caused. I’m truly sorry.”

Emiko even bowed her head to us.

She really was… far too good for a man like Iijima.

Before I realized it, I had bowed my head too.

“I should be the one to apologize… I may have told you something you never wanted to hear.”

“No, please don’t feel that way… Hearing it has actually helped me make up my mind.”

“…Make up your mind?”

“Yes… I think I’m going to leave him.”

“!”

…I was stunned.

But from the way she said she had made up her mind, it sounded like Emiko had already been carrying doubts about Iijima for a long time.

As if she had read my thoughts, she continued,

“…He’s always been childish, in a bad way. Even after our child was born, he never really tried to be a father… He doesn’t help with childcare, housework, or even cooking. All he says is… An editor’s job is busy. You handle everything… If I weren’t working remotely, I think I would’ve collapsed by now… In that sense, I’ve already grown tired of him.”

“But… will you really be okay divorcing him?”

“I’ll be fine if I go back to my parents’ house… I can keep working from there. And since our child hasn’t entered grade school yet, they don’t have close friends to worry about. It’ll be easier on them if I take them with me now.”

I see…

“In any case, this gave me the push I needed to separate from him… So please, don’t apologize. On the contrary, I should thank you for coming here to tell me.”

…She actually thanked us.

I didn’t know how to respond, so I simply said,

“No… really…”

And with that, we took our leave.

“Does this mean… It’s settled?”

On the way home.

Nene-san and I swayed in the train and felt oddly deflated.

“I’m not sure… For now, we should check whether Iijima still shows up at work during our next shift.”

“Yeah… since we don’t work today, we might see tomorrow whether our little report had any effect.”

…All we could do now was hope things really would change.

◇

~side: Iijima~

(…So today wasn’t her shift.)

That night, after finishing work, Ikuo stopped by Maltvono. But when he saw that Nene wasn’t there, he left without ordering anything and headed home.

Lately, Ikuo has been living almost for Nene’s sake.

Of course, he wouldn’t deny that his family was important, but Nene had become his way to ease the stress he felt from both home and work.

It was love at first sight.

That day, when he happened to enter the Italian restaurant, the sight of Nene working so hard in the kitchen had struck him deeply.

He didn’t really plan to divorce his wife, but if he could at least get a physical relationship out of it, that would be the best.

With such thoughts in mind, he eventually arrived home, only to notice something strange.

“Emiko… what are you doing?”

While their son played with toys, his wife Emiko was packing up luggage.

“Ah… welcome back.”

“What’s with the bags… Are you going on a trip or something?”

“No, that’s not it… Come here for a moment.”

She walked into the hallway.

Though he was confused, he followed after her.

“Listen… let’s separate.”

The sudden words left Ikuo frozen.

“…Huh?”

“I said, let’s separate. Those bags are for me to go back to my parents’ house. With Yuuto.”

“W–why… What does that even mean…”

“You don’t understand? You really have the nerve to say that?”

Her eyes narrowed sharply.

“You cheated with a college girl before, didn’t you?”

“!?”

“And now you’ve started chasing after someone else. Don’t play dumb.”

“H–how did you find out…”

“I’m not such a clueless wife that I wouldn’t notice.”

“W–wait… you’ve got it wrong…”

He rushed to make excuses, but—

“―Do you remember what you wrote back when we were students?”

“…T–that…”

“You even stamped it. I still have it, just so you know. You promised that if you ever did it again, I’d cut ties with you completely. And if we had a child by then, I’d cut ties with the child as well. Don’t tell me you forgot.”

“Ah… Ahh…”

Yes, he had written that note. He hadn’t forgotten. If things ever reached divorce court or a custody battle, that paper would serve as solid evidence. Ikuo’s face turned pale.

“W–wait, please…”

“I won’t wait. We’re finished. And since my feelings are already cold, it’s actually easier this way.”

“N–no, please, don’t… I can’t live without you…”

Of all the women he had met, Emiko was the one he thought was best.

That was why he married her, why they had a child together.

But—

“Just empty words? I’ve had enough.”

With a sigh of disgust, Emiko turned her back and walked into the living room.

At that moment, Ikuo could feel that his family was over.

“…Damn it…”

In the dark hallway, he clutched his head as wave after wave of regret welled up inside him.

But judging from Emiko’s attitude, it was already too late. His regrets meant nothing now.

“Why… Aah, damn… it!”

He couldn’t bring himself to step back into the bright living room.

Then Emiko appeared in the hallway again, carrying their son and the luggage she had packed.

“If you won’t swear to never cause trouble for other people again… then you’ll never see the two of us again.”

With those words, she walked out the door.

The sound of the car engine echoed and soon faded into the distance.

“――Aaaaahhhhhhh…!!! Please wait!! I won’t do it again!! I swear I won’t!! Please come back…!!”

Screaming like a man in despair, Ikuo ran outside, yelling in the direction the car had gone, not caring in the slightest about the neighbors hearing him.

Only now did he realize just how much Emiko and his son truly meant to him.

His endless shouting brought complaints from the neighbors, and the police were called.

Ikuo was taken in, and all he could do in the interrogation room was drown in regret for his own foolish actions.