I Love To Hate You - Zetro Translation

I got into one of the best colleges in Tokyo with a scholarship.

At the time, my full focus was on studying. I majored in accounting—and I genuinely enjoyed it.

My dream was to become someone like my father—someone dependable. And of course, I wanted to earn enough to give my family a good life.

Dating? That was never part of the plan. I entered college to fix my future. I had a bad record in high school, so I avoided making friends too. Dating was the last thing on my mind.

But some things… You just can’t control.

That’s how Sayuri entered my life.

Like a summer breeze—gentle and welcome.

Like color added to my grey world.

Like that small smile you can’t hide when rain finally falls after a hot day.

She came into my life so suddenly, and I couldn’t resist her kindness.

We started dating in the middle of our first year and stayed together for two years.

We were in the same class, studied the same subjects, and spent a lot of time together.

People even called us the golden couple of the university.

And somewhere along the way… I started seeing my future with her in it.

But then, at the beginning of our third year—I made the worst mistake of my life.

I cheated on her.

With her friend.

She caught us right before we entered a love hotel.

After that day, we never saw each other again.

Until today.

“Long time, Ryuuta,” she said, leaning back in her chair.

She smiled—but her eyes didn’t. They were cold.

I said nothing. What could I say?

Even though I wanted to walk out of the room and never come back—I couldn’t.

I work here now. And even though I knew this company belonged to the Hoshigaki family, I still joined.

Who would’ve guessed she’d find out one day?

“That look of regret on your face… I’m really enjoying it,” she said, and this time, her smile was real.

My chest tightened.

I had just been promoted recently. Life was finally getting back on track. But now… she might fire me.

And honestly, she had every reason to.

I ruined her life. She had to drop out mid-semester because of me.

Firing me wouldn’t even be revenge—it would just be justice.

“I was reading your file recently,” she said, pulling out a document, “…the one who helped you get in… Nakamura Shoji, right?”

My eyes widened.

Why… why did she check my file?

And if she did… that means—

“You didn’t graduate from university,” she continued, “yet you started working here. Looks like someone used the backdoor.”

My face went pale.

This was bad.

I didn’t finish college because of my father’s health. Later, through one of his connections, I got this job.

So yes—she was right.

I was doomed.

“For this,” she said as she tossed the file onto the table, “you could be imprisoned. And Nakamura would be in trouble too.”

No… Not Nakamura-san.

He helped me when I had nowhere to go.

I can’t drag him down with me.

“Please don’t do this,” I said, finally finding my voice. “I’m the one at fault. If you want to fire me, do it. I’ll leave and never show my face again. But please… Nakamura-san did nothing wrong.”

This wasn’t revenge. She was pointing out the truth. I was the one who committed fraud.

But still—I couldn’t let Nakamura be punished for my mistake.

He has a family, people who depend on him. I don’t want to ruin his life for helping me.

She let out a soft chuckle.

“You never change. Even when you’re drowning, you still try to protect the person next to you.”

I lowered my head and told her, “He has helped me at a very crucial time…I don’t want him to regret helping me.”

Sayuri didn’t say anything for a few moments.

And then,

“Then sign this,” she pushed something towards me.

I looked at it…it was a contract.

“If you don’t want me to kick you two out, sign the contract.”

I took a strong gulp before taking the document in my hand.