Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 152: Sara and Yuzuha.

Sara and Yuzuha.

Ding dong…

“Yes…?”

“It’s Tachibana. I’ve come to pick you up.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

Clack

The door opened, and a woman stepped out.

There was no smile on her face—only an expression that seemed awkward, even apologetic.

“…Tachibana-kun… it’s been a while. I’m sorry you had to go out of your way to come pick me up.”

We had arranged this beforehand, so she appeared to be ready.
She got in the car first, and once I joined her, we set off toward the party venue.

“…I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Hearing her mutter this, I found myself saying something a bit harsher than I’d intended.

“That’s something you should be saying to Kazunari, not me. He never once brought up your name, but from my perspective, this isn’t something I can pretend I’m unrelated to.”

My words made her shrink even more, her gaze dropping to the floor.

“As we discussed on the phone—are you prepared to hear the truth?”

She gave a small nod.

When a grown woman behaves like this, it makes me feel as if I’m the one doing something wrong.
…Give me a break, seriously.

“Even after everything that happened, Kazunari still holds out hope that Yuzuha will one day regret what she’s done and reflect on her actions. But from where I stand, that’s never going to happen if things continue as they are. How long do you and Yuzuha plan to burden Kazunari like this? As her mother, don’t you feel any remorse for what he’s been put through?”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

But I’m not as forgiving as Kazunari. Actions have consequences.

She is Yuzuha’s mother—Sasagawa Kumiko.

Yuzuha was raised by a single mother. Her father passed away shortly after she was born—something I learned over the phone. Since her mother had some connection with Kazunari’s parents, Yuzuha often spent time at his house, which led to them growing up together. Naturally, they did everything side by side.

But Yuzuha was always dependent—clingy, and spoiled. She may never have truly felt guilty about how much she relied on Kazunari.

“Kazunari-kun… he’s really…”

I had only told her the broad strokes until now, so on the way to the venue, I planned to fill her in on everything—past and present, everything I knew.

If Kazunari’s wishes were to be respected, it was up to the parents to discipline their children.
It shouldn’t fall on Kazunari to carry that burden.

Yuzuha stared blankly, watching Yamazaki being dragged away, tears in her eyes. Seeing her like that, I steeled myself. It was time to finish what I started.

“Yuzuha… you’re next.”

“Kazunari-san! Before that—are you hurt?”

It seemed Sara-san had noticed something. Her earlier fury had calmed, and she’d returned to her usual self.

Was she talking about me?

Sara-san quickly approached and pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket, gently wiping the corner of my mouth.

“You’re bleeding…! I’m so sorry, this happened because of me…”

She dabbed gently at the blood, her eyes glistening with tears.

But I had no regrets. I was the one who jumped in. I protected her—that was all that mattered.

“As long as you’re unhurt, I don’t care about something like this.”

When I said what I was thinking, she looked even more heartbroken.

“Kazunari-san, I’m truly grateful for how you feel. But… it hurts me to see you injured because of me.”

I understood her feelings. If the situation were reversed, I would feel the same.

This was nothing more than my own selfish desire. Still, if it meant protecting Sara-san, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. No hesitation.

“I get it… but this is just a man’s pride—wanting to look cool in front of the woman he loves. A kind of self-satisfaction, if you will.”

Hanako-san’s blunt words nearly made my knees give out. She wasn’t wrong… but could she not say it that way?

“If a man feels that way, it’s a woman’s role to quietly accept it. Just be kind to him in return.”

Despite looking the youngest in the group, Hanako-san spoke with a surprising sense of maturity… or perhaps just experience.

“Ah—wait, don’t say that now!”

Nishikawa-san raised her voice in panic. I wasn’t sure what she was reacting to.

Then, Sara-san smiled softly, though a trace of sadness lingered in her eyes.

“I see… very well. Then it’s my role—as a woman—to be even kinder, to heal the wounds of the man who was hurt for my sake… I welcome that role wholeheartedly.”

There was something strangely uplifting about the determined tone in her voice.

Having finished wiping away the blood, Sara-san whispered, “Hold still, please,” as she gently touched the area around my injury, checking with her fingertips.

“Kazunari-san… thank you. For protecting me. It meant so much.”

She whispered this with flushed cheeks, looking straight into my eyes… and then leaned in close.

“I love you…”

Chu.

She kissed the edge of my wound.

It was dangerously close to where the blood had been, but I could tell she’d been careful—especially after saying she wanted our first kiss to come from me.

Still… it lasted unusually long.
Five seconds? Ten? I lost track.

Just as I began to feel nervous, she finally pulled away.

Then she gently pulled my head against her chest, the same way as before, softly stroking the bruised area as she murmured:

“Pain, pain… go away…”

Her voice was so quiet only those nearby could hear.

“Ahh… see, this is what happens when you open your mouth.”

“Mistake…”

Hanako-san mumbled an apology—was she actually apologizing? Sara-san continued to stroke my cheek gently, and I remained still, letting her.

Smack!!

A sharp sound rang out—someone had slammed something forcefully.

Smack!! Smack!!

The slapping continued—then came a scream.

“What the hell… What the hell is wrong with all of you?! I got dumped by Kazuma after being told I was just a fling—and here you are, flirting like nothing happened!!!”

Yuzuha’s scream echoed across the hall.

When Sara-san let me go and I turned around, I saw her collapsed on the floor, pounding it as she sobbed.

“What is wrong with you people?! Are you trying to rub it in my face?! Are you mocking me!?”

Her thrashing and shouting resembled a tantrum—just like a child who didn’t get their way.

A child… Yes, maybe Yuzuha really is still a child.
That would explain her rash decisions and childish behavior.

“Mocking you? You sound just like that guy—what a funny thing to say. We’re not mocking you. You’re just… genuinely foolish.”

Sara-san’s voice was laced with scorn and mockery as she taunted Yuzuha.

“Sara-san, Yuzuha is—”

Before I could finish, she gently placed a finger on my lips to silence me.

Despite the soft gesture, her gaze held unwavering strength.

“Kazunari-san… for a little while, please allow me to speak with Sasagawa Yuzuha alone.”

With those words, she fixed Yuzuha with a piercing stare.

…I’ll leave it to her.

“The wife versus the childhood friend, huh—”

“Hanako-san, let’s stay quiet for a moment.”

Toudou-san quickly clamped a hand over Hanako-san’s mouth. Tachikawa, Nishikawa, and Hayato all held their breath as they watched.

“In a way, I’ve been waiting for this moment.
I’ve always wanted to confront the person who kept intruding on Kazunari-san’s painful past.”

“Wh-what is with you?! Acting like his girlfriend out of nowhere, flirting like that, hitting Kazuma-kun!!”

Yuzuha didn’t flee—she responded, though her voice was shaking. It was clear she was trying to act tough, but fear was written all over her face. She saw Yamazaki get knocked out, and now Sara-san was bearing down on her.

“Let me formally introduce myself. I am Satsukawa Sara. As you’ve probably guessed, I’m Kazunari-san’s girlfriend, and I stand proudly by his side.”

Sara-san introduced herself with calm resolve.

“I see… I’m—”

“There’s no need for your introduction, Sasagawa Yuzuha. I’m aware—regrettably—that you are Kazunari-san’s childhood friend. Anything beyond that is irrelevant. I don’t need your pleasantries, either. After today, we won’t be seeing each other again.”

“Guh…”

The difference in composure between Sara and Yuzuha was stark.
Already overwhelmed from the very start, Yuzuha winced in frustration, unable to say a word.

“…I’d rather not say this in such a way, but to be honest, I was envious of you.”

“…What? Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”

Sara’s sudden confession of envy left Yuzuha visibly confused, her face blank with disbelief.

“Being Kazunari-san’s childhood friend… no matter how much I desire it, it’s a role I can never have. So tell me, why is someone like you the one who gets to hold such a precious place in his life?”

“H-How would I know that!? That’s just how it’s always been! And besides, you’re his girlfriend now—so what does it matter!?”

“What was Kazunari-san like when he was little? You got to see the boy I’ll never know. Even someone like you… I wonder how much love he gave you back then?”

“…Huh?”

Sara was now delving into our childhood.
Yuzuha still seemed baffled by the question, her eyes darting nervously, unsure why this was being brought up.

Back then… I was always with Yuzuha. Playing with her was the highlight of my days.

“What about kindergarten? What about elementary school?”

“…We were always together.”

Pressed with questions, Yuzuha gave a halting, somewhat irrelevant response in a hushed tone.

“I heard you once called Kazunari-san a stalker… but from where I stand, it was you who couldn’t stand being away from him, wasn’t it?”

“……………”

The air had turned almost interrogative. Yuzuha’s previously puzzled expression began to shift to something more uneasy, her silence growing heavier by the second.

“What were you really looking at when it came to Kazunari-san? He always stayed by your side, didn’t he? Why do you think that was?”

“…Because… no one else would be friends with us…”

In a low, reluctant voice, Yuzuha finally spoke from the heart. From my perspective, it was almost unthinkable—this same Yuzuha who always talked over everyone and ignored what others had to say.

“…Kazunari-san couldn’t make other friends because of you, you know?”

“…What?”

“You didn’t realize it, did you? Because Kazunari-san is kind—so kind that he chose to stay with you instead of forming new friendships. Maybe it was his own decision, but you never once considered what it cost him. You only ever thought about yourself. You took his kindness for granted… and then you dared to call him a stalker?”

Sara’s voice was rising, her anger no longer concealed.

…It’s true.
Back then, I often turned down invitations just to be with Yuzuha—so she wouldn’t be left alone.
Eventually, people stopped inviting me altogether.

“Even now, it’s always been about you. You demeaned Kazunari-san—someone who has watched over you for so long—just to protect your own comfort. Don’t you feel even a shred of guilt for what you’ve done to him!?”

“But! Kazunari said I could do whatever I wanted… that he’d forgive me for anything…”

“Be quiet!!!”

“!?”

Sara’s fury reached its limit—her shout, sharp and laced with hostility, cut Yuzuha off completely.

“Stop twisting everything to suit your convenience!!! Even you should know the meaning behind his words was not that shallow!!!”

“…”

She’s right. Yuzuha must’ve used my words like a shield, convincing herself that no matter what she did, I’d always forgive her.
No—she wanted to believe that.

“…It honestly feels like I’m arguing with a child. Are you really a high school student? You act like a kindergartener who can’t even tell right from wrong. No wonder a worthless man like that could take advantage of you.”

Sara finally mentioned Yamazaki—bringing today’s events crashing back into Yuzuha’s mind. Tears welled up in her eyes as she began shouting through sobs.

“I was tricked too!!! He said that if I apologized, everything would be okay since we’re childhood friends! And even today, he said being with me was just a game—he never meant anything…!”

“I won’t let you pretend you’ve forgotten everything you’ve done to Kazunari-san!! Don’t you dare play the victim while brushing aside your own actions—how dare you!!”

“Eek…!?”

Sara suddenly closed the distance, yelling right in Yuzuha’s face. Terrified, Yuzuha recoiled, shrinking back and curling into herself in fear…