My Girlfriend Wanted an Open Relationship, So I Broke Up with Her and Found a Sweet Yandere - Chapter 12: Haruka POV

The phone in Haruka’s hand vibrated softly, the screen lighting up. The message was from a contact saved as [SENPAI].

[You coming over? Door’s unlocked.]

Her thumb hovered over the notification for a moment before tapping it open.

Haruka stood outside the apartment, staring at the door. For a brief moment, her mind flickered back to Yuuta, to the way he’d kissed her forehead before inviting her in. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, reminding herself of all the reasons why she was doing this.

Her knuckles rapped lightly against the smartphone.

A moment later, the door opened. Standing there was Nakahara Daiki, her senior. His stature wasn’t particularly impressive—shorter than Yuuta by at least a couple of inches—and his face was plain, framed by thin glasses. Definitely not someone you’d call striking.

Haruka’s eyes flicked over him, her mind racing to justify why she was so curious about him in the first place. He’s not handsome enough to make me feel guilty, she told herself. If she were to do this with someone better looking than Yuuta, wouldn’t that give him permission to seek someone better too? This way, it felt… safer.

“Ah, Haruka-chan.” His voice was smooth, almost lazy, as he leaned against the doorframe with a smirk. “Didn’t expect you to show up tonight. Thought you had plans with your boyfriend?”

Haruka swallowed. “Something came up, and he had to leave early,” she replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I was going to go home, but… I’m glad you called.”

Daiki chuckled, stepping aside to let her in. “Well, aren’t I lucky then?”

She stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the floor. The apartment was neat but sparse, decorated with little more than the essentials. As Daiki closed the door behind her, Haruka couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of excitement and guilt bubbling inside her chest.

“I still can’t believe you made it,” he continued, his tone casual but teasing. “Honestly thought you’d be too busy playing the perfect girlfriend.”

Haruka shot him a half-hearted glare. “It’s not like that.”

“Mm-hmm.” He smiled knowingly, leading her further into the apartment.

As he showed her around, Haruka’s mind kept flickering between this moment and Yuuta. She imagined him back at home, waiting for her, probably worrying about what she was doing. The thought made her chest tighten, but then Daiki’s voice pulled her back to reality.

“This is the bedroom,” he said, opening a door and gesturing for her to step inside.

Her heart raced as she entered, the walls of the room feeling both suffocating and thrilling at the same time. The bed was neatly made, its crisp white sheets contrasting sharply with the mess of thoughts swirling in her head.

They talked for a while longer, his words smooth and confident, laced with compliments that made her cheeks flush despite herself. He leaned closer, his face mere inches from hers.

“You’re so much prettier in person, you know,” he murmured.

Haruka felt her resolve waver. This wasn’t supposed to happen. And yet, when his lips brushed against hers, she didn’t pull away. She hesitated, her body frozen in place, but then she kissed him back.

—

The room was dark now, the only sound the faint hum of the city outside. Haruka lay in the sheets, her eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. Daiki was asleep beside her, his arm draped lazily over her waist.

Her chest burned with frustration.

It hadn’t been worth it.

The kiss, the touches, the intimacy—it had all been so… empty. Daiki hadn’t made her feel cared for, cherished, or loved. Not the way Yuuta always did. With Yuuta, every moment felt special, like she was the only person in the world who mattered. This? This felt transactional, like she was just another conquest.

Yuuta would never make me feel like this.

Her heart ached as she thought about him, about the countless ways he’d shown his love for her. And yet, here she was, in a stranger’s bed, chasing after something she wasn’t even sure she wanted.

Daiki stirred beside her, pulling her closer as he mumbled something under his breath.

“Hmm… I’m heading to an island tomorrow,” he murmured groggily. “You should come with me.”

Haruka blinked, turning to look at him.

“It’s a seven-day trip,” he continued, his voice heavy with sleep. “A bunch of us are going—Karen, Sana, the whole group. You’ll love it. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Karen and Sana were going? Her friends, the ones who had planted the idea of this “freedom” in her mind?

For a moment, she considered saying no. After tonight, she wasn’t sure if this was even worth pursuing anymore. But then, a different thought crept into her mind: One bad experience doesn’t mean the next one will be the same.

She bit her lip, her fingers clutching the edge of the sheet.

Maybe the next time would be different. Maybe she’d finally find what she was looking for.

And after that, she’d go back to Yuuta. She’d dedicate herself to him completely.

Just… not yet.

***

[Author’s Note]

Hey there! If you enjoy my writing, I’d love for you to check out my latest work on the Webnovel app—The Skald of Death.

Give it a read and let me know your thoughts! I’m always looking forward to connecting with more readers and hearing your feedback. You can also join the discussion on Discord by grabbing the link from my profile or dropping a comment under any chapter of the novel.

Here’s the link: https://www.webnovel.com/book/31563692708880405

Happy reading, and thank you for your support!]