[Sad News] Living Together with the Unattainable Beauty—Her Overwhelming Affection Is Way Too Calculated - 46-47

Chapter 46: A Call from My Parents

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The day after the school festival was a lethargic school day for cleanup. The whole school was wrapped in that peculiar, burned-out air that comes after a festival.

My heart was the same — no, it was even heavier and sank deeper. The chest-gnawing pain and the helpless regret from last night’s after-festival still tormented me as vividly as if it had happened yesterday.

When I entered the classroom, Fujigaya-san was already at her seat. When our eyes met, she looked like she wanted to say something and slightly parted her beautiful lips. But I couldn’t bring myself to look properly at her.

“…Good morning.”

In a voice as thin as a mosquito’s chirp I muttered that and fled to my seat. I thought I caught a glimpse of her sad, lonely expression at the edge of my vision, but I pretended not to notice.

Even during the cleanup I kept avoiding her. If she went right, I went left. If I felt she might speak to me, I immediately took refuge with Kimura or Satou.

I thought my behavior was pathetic and cowardly. But I couldn’t help it. I had no idea how I was supposed to look when talking to her anymore.

Of course, the oppressive, suffocating atmosphere continued after I got home. Normally we’d watch TV in the living room or play games or chat about trivial things, but that day we ate dinner in silence.

When the meal ended, as if by some unspoken agreement, we retreated to our respective rooms. I lay spread-eagled on my bed staring at the ceiling.

This couldn’t go on. I knew that. But what could I do? Cowardly, spineless, jealous — how was I supposed to change from such a miserable version of myself? Time passed mercilessly with no answers.

Then my phone on the bedside table rang with a jaunty ringtone that felt entirely out of place for how I felt. The screen read “International Call.” It was Mom. I took a deep breath and tapped the call button with heavy fingers.

『Hello? Genji? How are you doing?』

Mom’s unnaturally bright voice came through the speaker.

“Ah — uh, okay. How are things over there?” 

I replied without much interest, counting the wood grain on the ceiling. Then Mom casually dropped a bombshell.

『So, we’re going to be able to come back to Japan the month after next!』

…What? Did I just hear that right? The month after next? They would come back to Japan the month after next? My thoughts froze completely. My mind went white.

“…The month after next, really?”

『Yes, really! Fast, right? So your living on your own will be over soon. Aren’t you lonely without us there?』

Mom laughed cheerfully. But her voice no longer reached me.

My cohabitation was over. These days, living with Fujigaya-san… Were over. The fact hit me like a heavy, concrete weight dropping into my chest.

I’d been trying not to think about it. I’d known someday it would end, but I’d treated it like it was someone else’s problem. Now it was suddenly a concrete, painfully short deadline: “the month after next.”

I slowly sat up. I looked around the room.

The scattered piles of manga. The game consoles on the floor. And, beyond the wall, her room.

The kitchen where she made breakfast for me every morning. The living room where we watched anime together and laughed until our stomachs hurt. The sweet scent of her shampoo.

Her bright, sunny laugh. Her alluring body. Her moments of disarray.

All of that.. Was it going to disappear? Was her presence going to be wiped clean from this room? Just imagining it made my heart seize painfully as if it were being grabbed by a hawk.

“Lonely” was far too small a word to describe it. It felt like color would be stripped from the world — an overwhelming sense of loss.

『…Hello? Genji? Are you listening?』

“…Yeah, I’m listening.” 

I managed to answer.

『Good. That’s great, then. …I’ll call you again when the details are decided.』

Silence filled the room. I stood there, dazed. This was the beginning of the end. The chill of that reality closed in on the part of my heart that had nowhere left to run.

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Chapter 47: The Beginning of the End

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From the day after the school festival, Gen-chan’s behavior was clearly strange. He avoided me. Thoroughly. Was it because I danced with Yamada-kun at the after-festival party? Or was it guilt because he turned me down when I invited him to dance?

I didn’t know the reason. Not knowing made it all the scarier. It felt like a thick, cold, invisible wall had risen between us again. Even when we came home, that awkward atmosphere didn’t change. Even though we were together, I felt lonelier than when I was alone.

I hate this.

I just wanted us to go back to the way we were. But not knowing how to do that, time passed mercilessly.

That night. After dinner, as I sat in the living room staring blankly at the TV without really watching, Gen-chan, who had shut himself up in his room, unusually came out. His face was pale, and he wore a strained expression I had never seen before.

“…Fujigaya-san”

He called my name. His voice was low, a little hoarse.

“What is it?”

“You see… I received a call from my parents and…”

He looked uneasy, letting his eyes wander toward the floor.

“In two months… The month after next… They’re supposed to return to Japan”

It took several seconds for my brain to process his words. Two months later. Returning. Which meant…

This miraculous cohabitation would come to an end. The shock hit me like a heavy blow to the head. My heart thudded with an awful sound.

I had always known that one day, this moment would come. That these days were special, but limited. But I had thought it was much further in the future. I wasn’t prepared for this at all.

“…I see.”

I forced, desperately forced, a smile. I absolutely couldn’t let him see me on the verge of tears.

“That’s great! You’ll finally get to see your parents again!”

Even I could hear how my voice trembled.

“…Yeah”

That was all he said before retreating back to his room as if running away.

I was left alone in the living room. The cheerful laughter from the TV rang hollow in my ears. It felt as if a huge, cold hole had opened in my chest.

Lonely. I hate this. I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to be apart from him. I don’t want to be apart.

Anxiousness surged into me like a flood. There wasn’t much time. Only two months left.

In these two months, I had to make his feelings turn toward me. I had to tell him my true feelings. There was no way I could let it end with us being just “housemates.” Absolutely not.

There was no more room for indirect approaches. No time for making him jealous or playing little games. I needed to be more direct, more daring. I had to confront him with my feelings so clearly that he couldn’t escape.

When I returned to my room, I looked at the calendar on my desk. I gripped a red pen tightly. On the date exactly two months from today, I drew a big, bold circle.

Time limit. The day of decision. The beginning of the end.

At the same time, it was also the gong announcing the start of my final, all-out battle. No more wavering. No more hesitation. Because the one thing I could never allow was regret. Staring hard at the calendar, I swore it to myself with unshakable resolve.

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