I’m Betrayed by My Childhood Friend Who is Also My Lover, but My Other Childhood Friend Healed Me, So I Feel Like I Can Recover and Be Happy ~Is it True That Friendship Between a Man and Woman is Impossible? - Chapter 13

Childhood Friends Can Sometimes be Annoying Yet Precious (2)

After finishing our meal, we take a moment to relax.

Then, Airi looks straight at me.

I nod without averting my gaze from her.

“Now, let’s cut to the case. Chitose has severed ties with that guy.”

Since it’s so sudden, it’s hard for me to believe it.

But if Airi says so, then I want to believe it.

However, for some reason, I feel a prickling pain deep within my heart when I think so.

“Do you want to know about that guy?”

“I know him, Hiruma Yosuke, right!?”

My voice came out a bit stronger.

“I see, so you knew.”

“I’ve seen him in person, and he’s quite famous.”

As I speak, the scene from that time flashes back in my mind.

There is no need to dwell on it anymore.

I shouldn’t be thinking much about Chitose, but for some reason, the pain in my chest intensifies.

“Akito, don’t push yourself too hard—”

Airi says so to me with a worried expression on her face.

“I’m fine. So, what did Chitose say to you?”

“…she wants to regain our trust first.”

“I see…”

It seems like she isn’t trying to reconcile with me right away.

I feel a little relieved.

I don’t know how she plans to regain our trust, but…

When I think about it again, I feel a sharp pain deep within my chest again.

“So, what do you want to do, Akito?”

I wonder, what do I really feel about Chitose now?

Even I don’t know the answer to that question myself.

All I feel right now is…calm.

“Airi…to be honest, I can’t imagine myself being with Chitose anymore. Laughing together, getting angry, feeling sad or being happy with Chitose…I just can’t imagine it anymore.”

When I say so, I feel a throbbing pain deep within my chest again.

“…I knew it, but Akito…you really love Chitose, don’t you?”

Airi’s expression turns sorrowful.

I don’t understand why is she making that expression.

“No, that’s not true. I don’t feel anything towards Chitose anymore…I shouldn’t think about her anymore…”

I desperately try to deny Airi’s words.

The pain in my chest won’t stop.

“That can’t be true…I’ve watched you two for so long. That’s why, you don’t have to pretend, you don’t have to lie to yourself!”

Airi gets emotional and stands up.

Her eyes are filled with sadness.

I don’t understand, am I making Airi sad?

“That’s not true! I’m not lying to myself!”

I firmly deny my feelings towards Chitose again.

“I’ve moved on from Chitose! I don’t feel anything anymore! There no way I can feel anything!”

Because at that time, I should’ve thrown away all my feelings towards Chitose.

So there is no reason for me to feel this pain.

That’s right, I shouldn’t be feeling anything at all.

Every time I deny my feelings towards Chitose like this, Airi looks really sad as if she’s been hurt.

Airi denies my words again and approaches me.

I retreat as if being cornered.

Each denial makes my chest ache, it’s really painful.

Unable to bear it, I raise my voice and shout.

“It’s true! I really…I don’t feel anything at all!!”

Upon hearing my words, Airi’s expression becomes even sadder.

No, it’s as if she is suffering from it.

Airi’s face is so saddened by my words that her beauty is ruined…yet, her words doesn’t stop.

“…no, that’s not true, because Chitose…someone really important to Akito, betrayed you! When someone you love betrays you…there is no one who wouldn’t be hurt! There is no one who wouldn’t feel sad!”

“…what?”

I’m at a loss for words.

“That’s why Akito, you should be angrier! You have every right to feel betrayed! You have every right to feel sad! It’s okay to cry, it’s okay…”

I’ve never seen Airi like this before.

Seeing her like that, the pain that has been gnawing at my chest seems to reach its limit.

“Airi…why are you crying?”

“Because…because…Akito seems to be in such great pain.”

Ah, I finally understand.

The reason why Airi looks so sad.

Instead of letting me feel the pain of denying my feelings and hurting myself, she is grieving for me.

Even though it hurts so much inside…it’s so painful that I can’t cry.

So, Airi is crying for me.

Airi…why would you…

“Why…why…? How can you be so kind to me?”

“…because you’re the most precious to me.”

With those words, Airi gently embraces me.

I can feel the sincerity of her feelings.

Tears naturally begin to fall.

The pain deep within my chest reached its limit.

All of my lost feelings and emotions come flooding back at once.

The truth is…I…

I’m hurt by Chitose’s affair.

I’m frustrated by Chitose’s carelessness.

I’m saddened by Chitose’s lies.

I can’t forgive Chitose for trampling upon my feelings.

I’m despaired at how easily she gave up on our relationship.

That’s why, on that day, I broke down.

However, there is someone who stayed by my side the whole time.

Always caring for me, smiling at me, cooking delicious meals for me, accompanying me to school in the morning, saying ‘Itadakimasu’ with me.

Even feeling sad and cry for me…

She healed me—

My precious childhood friend who stayed by my side as a true friend.

Having such an irreplaceable presence beside me, I feel like I can somehow recover and move forward!