Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 154: Serves you right!

Serves you right!

“Mom!! What on earth are you saying!?”

Yuzuha’s voice rang out, full of irritation at being ignored, even though the conversation was clearly about her.

But all of us—myself included, and most likely even Kumiko-san—had come to the unspoken understanding that involving Yuzuha in the discussion would only cause more disruption. So we chose to keep ignoring her.

What I had wanted was simple…

Through everything that happened, Yuzuha finally realized how Yamazaki truly saw her—and that she had merely been used. Through her conversations with Sara-san and our former classmates, I believe she also came to understand, if only slightly, the pain and suffering I had felt.
She must have experienced her own kind of emotional distress as well.

And yet, despite all this—when she should be reflecting on her actions—I don’t see a hint of remorse. Worse, she’s now trying to shift part of the blame onto me.

It’s not as if I was demanding an apology.

In fact, I never intended to forgive her in the first place.

As a childhood friend, all I wanted was to help her open her eyes by revealing Yamazaki’s true nature. If that led her to genuinely reflect on her actions… that alone would have been enough for me.

But now I can’t even begin to understand what she’s thinking.

Does she feel no guilt? No sense of shame? No realization that what she did was deeply wrong?

While I struggled for words, unable to make sense of Yuzuha’s behavior, Sara-san stepped in once again to speak up on my behalf.

“You truly are a hopeless fool, aren’t you? Kazunari-san went out of his way to free you from that garbage, Yamazaki, and only hoped you would reflect sincerely on your actions afterward. That’s the only reason we agreed to help him in the first place.”

“I… I know I did something wrong to Kazunari, but I was hurting too…”

Yuzuha muttered, her voice a feeble excuse. Sara-san responded with a heavy sigh.

Then, suddenly, she turned a piercing gaze toward Yuzuha and glared sharply.

“You know, I’ve been wondering for a while now… You do realize the seriousness of what you’ve done, don’t you? You’re just scared, so now you’re thinking only of self-preservation, aren’t you?”

“!?”

Yuzuha’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden accusation. But when she noticed that I was watching, she quickly averted her gaze in discomfort.

“I thought so. You’ve been saying that Kazunari is somehow at fault—but is that just because being deceived by Yamazaki made you feel like a victim? You convinced yourself you were one too, just to ease your guilt, didn’t you?”

“…………”

She said nothing, but her silence was as good as an admission.

So even now, after all that’s happened, she’s still thinking only about herself!?

“Yuzuha… Are you freaking kidding me!?!? What the hell is wrong with you!? After everything, you’re still only thinking about yourself!? You haven’t changed at all, have you!?!?”

“No, wait…! I didn’t mean it like that!!”

“‘Not like that’—so you did think that way to some extent? I was giving you the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe it was unconscious—but no, you deliberately clung to that delusion. Kazunari-san was ready to forgive you if only you sincerely repented—and this is how you repay him? That’s why I called you hopeless.”

Sara-san’s biting words, laced with cold dismay, cut off Yuzuha’s excuses.

She had hit the nail on the head, and Yuzuha once again fell silent. At that moment, everyone around her began to speak out in anger.

“Wow… So you knew, but you still tried to shift the blame and run away instead of apologizing? What a terrible person.”

“Takanashi-san, there’s no need to hold back anymore. I’ll offer any help I can.”

Even Natsumi-senpai and Nishikawa-san glared at Yuzuha, their faces clouded with anger.

“Takanashi-kun, don’t go easy on her. She needs to suffer the consequences. She’s obviously still clinging to the idea that being a ‘victim’ will get her off the hook.”

“I wanted to forgive her for your sake, Takanashi-kun… but this is just too much. She’s the worst.”

“Unbelievable… I didn’t think people like this actually existed.”

Hanako-san’s harsh judgment didn’t feel misplaced given Yuzuha’s current behavior. And the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

“I’ve met a lot of women before, but you’re one of the worst I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s over. Kazunari, remember what I said? I warned you I wouldn’t forgive her a second time. It may put Kumiko-san through some hardship, but Yuzuha must be held accountable. Being lenient will only do her more harm.”

Even without being told, I had already made up my mind to hold Yuzuha responsible.

Still, out of respect for Kumiko-san, I intended to keep it within reason.

“Yuzuha, I realize now that I was too soft on you. But if this is how you truly are, then I’m changing my approach.”

“Kazunari!! I’m sorry!! I’ll apologize—properly!! Please, just—”

Yuzuha, flustered and desperate, kept repeating the word “sorry.” But it was obvious she wasn’t apologizing out of remorse—she just didn’t want to face the consequences.

“Don’t you dare mock me!!! Enough already!!!!”

“Eek!?”

My shout made Yuzuha flinch.

Thinking back, I had never yelled at her like this before. I thought I was being kind—but maybe I had only been spoiling her all this time.

“You don’t even mean your apology! It’s pathetic!! I was willing to let it go if you just showed some real remorse—but I’m done! I’ll never forgive you!!!”

“I’m sorry!! I really mean it!! I’ll reflect, I swear!!”

Even if she was serious now, it was far too late.

If our indulgence created this self-centered version of her, then maybe it’s best to let her struggle on her own.

“Kumiko-san, please arrange for her to transfer schools—somewhere she has no friends or connections. No allowance. Make her cover all her living expenses with part-time work. No distractions—just school and work. That’s the only way.”

I blurted out the first plan that came to mind.

Kumiko-san, visibly shaken by Yuzuha’s true colors, gave a firm nod—more resolved than ever.

“…Understood. Then we’ll vacate the house and move. I’ll transfer Yuzuha to a new school in a completely unfamiliar area, where she’ll live alone. I’ll move nearby and monitor her properly this time. She’ll work a part-time job, and her entire income will go toward her living expenses. Would that be acceptable?”

Kumiko-san considered my words and presented a realistic plan.

The discussion had escalated quickly—but she was serious. And clearly willing to follow through with my request.

“I don’t want to transfer!! I just made lots of friends, I don’t want to be alone agai—”

SLAP!!!

Sara-san, furious at Yuzuha’s selfish objection, struck her hard across the cheek.

“Those ‘friends’ you made were built on sacrificing Kazunari-san!! Grow up already!!”

Her shout echoed through the room.

And she was right—how could Yuzuha even say something like that?
I ended up alone because of her, and even now she’s still focused on herself.

As Yuzuha sat in silence, tears streaming down her face, Nishikawa-san began speaking with Kumiko-san.

“I know the perfect place. There’s a private school affiliated with one of our group’s facilities. The academic bar isn’t high, so transferring shouldn’t be an issue. I’ll take care of the arrangements. It’s far from here, but I assume that’s not a problem? Oh, and I can help find a place to live and a part-time job as well.”

“Thank you very much. I hate to impose further, but I appreciate your help.”

With Nishikawa-san’s involvement, the conversation continued rapidly—ignoring Yuzuha entirely.

And once things had progressed this far, even Yuzuha finally understood—this was no joke. This was really happening.

“Wait—this is a joke, right!? Mom, you’re not seriously doing this!? Moving away is too much! I’ll apologize to Kazunari, I swear, just give me a little—”

“Kazunari-kun, I’ll visit your parents to formally apologize. And to ensure Yuzuha takes responsibility for her actions, we’ll prepare financial compensation. I’ll cover it upfront, but she’ll pay it back. As you said, she’ll live a life of school and work—no leisure. Letting her do whatever she wanted was my failure as a parent. But from now on, I’ll stay close and raise her properly. I sincerely apologize for everything.”

Tears welling in her eyes, Kumiko-san bows her head deeply in apology.

Perhaps to prevent Yuzuha from interfering, she presses forward, deciding on the terms and finalizing the discussion without pause.

In a matter of moments, it’s all settled: the relocation, school transfer, a part-time job, and even compensation. On top of that, Ms. Nishikawa has offered her full support in helping with the new school, a place to live, and employment.

“I understand. If you’ve considered things this thoroughly, then I will accept these terms. Honestly, I hadn’t even thought about compensation…”

“Kazunari-san, this too is a form of accountability. You have every right to receive it, and Sasagawa-san has the obligation to pay. Therefore, you should accept it.”

She’s right.

If I’ve decided that Yuzuha must take responsibility, then this is part of it.

“Understood. Yuzuha—you heard all that, didn’t you? Take responsibility for what you’ve done.”

Yuzuha, who thought an apology would suffice, likely didn’t expect me to be this resolute.

Hearing my words, her face froze in shock.

Then, just as the conversation seemed nearly settled, Ms. Nishikawa suddenly turned to Yuzuha with a sharp glare.

“As for your school life, I have an acquaintance who will be in your class. I’ll make sure they know everything they need to.”

That merciless declaration cast a heavy shadow over Yuzuha’s future in high school.

Sensing the moment, Sara joined in, driving the point home.

“How fortunate for you. By the time you transfer, I’m sure a few rumors—something you love so much—will already be circulating. And this time, you’ll be the one they’re about.”

If that happens, Yuzuha will end up walking a path much like mine.

And that path—marked by struggle, by humiliation—will force her to truly understand the weight of what she’s done. It’s the form of justice I seek: to make her face both her guilt and its consequences.

This is the result of her own choices.

“This is too cruel! What am I even supposed to do now!?”

“Be quiet!!! Everything happening to you now is exactly what you did to Kazunari-san!!!!”

As Yuzuha teetered on the brink of tears, Sara silenced her with a furious shout.

Then, watching her coldly, Sara let out a deep, exasperated sigh.

“Even until the very end, Kazunari-san was thinking of you. And yet, you only ever think about yourself. Why is it that someone like you was his childhood friend? Why wasn’t it me?”

Glaring at Yuzuha with disdain, Sara continued, her tone now filled with a somber intensity.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve suffered because of boys. In middle and high school, I was constantly harassed by creeps like Yamazaki and loud, brainless guys. It was exhausting. No one ever came to help me. Even the other girls mocked me, calling me arrogant. So I had no choice but to fight through it all alone.

“And yet, look at you. You had someone who was always kind, someone who would put your needs ahead of his own—even if it meant sacrificing himself. If it were me, I would’ve cherished Kazunari-san more than anyone. Because there’s simply no way I wouldn’t fall for a man as wonderful as he is.”

With that, she suddenly smiled softly and looked at me with eyes full of affection.

Even though she was still angry at Yuzuha, the way she looked at me made me feel flustered.

I could feel my face turning red and instinctively looked down, trying to hide it.

As if unwilling to let me escape, Sara gently reached out, held my face in place, and stared into my eyes.

After a moment, she pulled me into her embrace, resting my head gently against her chest, wrapping me in warmth without saying a word.

“That’s exactly why I can’t forgive you, Yuzuha. For belittling Kazunari-san’s kindness. For betraying him. For hurting him and dragging him through such pain—I’ll never forgive you.”

Her words were harsh, but her touch was gentle—her hands occasionally stroking my hair and cheeks with such care that it felt like she was expressing her love through every motion.

“Do our actions seem strange to you? If so, perhaps that says everything about what you and that worthless man had together.”

Sara suddenly eased her tone, unexpectedly bringing up Yamazaki.

Then, as if comparing their relationship to ours, Yuzuha mumbled bitterly, “What are you trying to say?”

“When you truly love someone, you want to be kind to them—anytime, anywhere. You want to make them happy, because their happiness becomes your own. That’s how I feel about Kazunari-san. I want to treat him this way always, because doing so fills me with happiness too.”

You could call it “Sara’s philosophy” perhaps—but she explained it so earnestly.

And while I didn’t disagree, “anytime, anywhere” might be something we need to consider more carefully in practice…

“That’s why I’m happiest when I can treat Kazunari-san like this. Kazunari-san… do you feel happy too?”

She pulled me closer, her voice soft and sweet as she whispered into my ear.

“…Yes. Being treated like this by you, Sara-san… it really does make me happy.”

Hearing my honest answer, she pulled back slightly—

Chuu—
—and kissed my forehead.

Then, with a gentle smile, she turned to face Yuzuha once again.

“This is the happiness you threw away. You sacrificed someone as important as Kazunari-san, thinking only of yourself—and chose that worthless man, Yamazaki, instead. And you even crushed the last chance he gave you. Things will be very hard for you now, won’t they? I hope you enjoy your brand new high school life. Though every bit of this is your own doing.”

With those parting words, Sara gently released my head and guided my body so I was now fully facing Yuzuha.

Then she wrapped her arm around mine.

“And finally, let me thank you again. I said this even when that man was still here, but—thank you for choosing the trash. Thanks to you, I got to meet someone as precious as Kazunari-san. I’m honestly glad you were such a fool.”

Then Sara looked into my eyes, flashing her most radiant smile.

“Kazunari-san, I promise—I will make you truly happy.”

That’s supposed to be my line, isn’t it?

In truth, ever since meeting her, since we became connected… I’ve already felt more happiness than I could have imagined.

I want to give Sara happiness too. I want her to feel as happy as she’s made me.

“Sara-san, that’s my line. I’ll make sure you’re the happiest woman in the world.”

Matching her words, I spoke with equal conviction.

Sara, looking delighted, threw her arms around me, and I embraced her tightly in return.

“Fufu… Then let’s be happy together. I truly love you, Kazunari-san…”

“I love you too, Sara-san.”

I returned her warm smile with one of my own.

Then Sara, shifting slightly, turned her head toward Yuzuha.

“Sasagawa-san, as you can see, Kazunari-san is perfectly fine now. So please, go ahead and do your best in your new life. I’m rooting for you.”

“Yuzuha, make sure you take responsibility, alright?”

Sara’s farewell was gentle and polite—but for Yuzuha, it was the most cutting remark possible.

Mine was blunt and direct, a clear reminder that what had been decided was now reality.

“…………”

Perhaps she finally understood the inevitability of it all.

Perhaps she had resigned herself.

At last, Yuzuha began to cry, silently and without protest.

There were no angry outbursts, no sobs—just tears falling quietly, regretfully, as if trying to contain the pain.

After that, Yuzuha said nothing during the remaining discussions between Kumiko-san and the others.

She stayed silent to the very end, neither speaking nor stopping her tears.

“Yuzuha… don’t cause Kumiko-san any more trouble. And also… take care of yourself.”

Even in response to my final words, Yuzuha gave nothing back.

In the end… right up to the very last moment, she never once apologized, nor showed any sign of remorse.